IP Library Granted Patent US 11,594,123
Granted Patent B2
US 11,594,123 · App. 17/564,774 · Granted Feb 28, 2023

Method for using a drone to test monitoring system sensors

Inventors: Gary Franklin Bart (Weston, FL); Dean Constantine (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)
Assignee: Alarm.com Incorporated
G08B29/145B64C39/024B64C2201/126B64C2201/146
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,594,123
App. No.
17/564,774
Granted
Feb 28, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a storage device, for using a drone to test a sensor. In one aspect, the method includes actions of detecting a message (i) broadcast by the drone and (ii) indicating that the drone is going to administer a test of a sensor, determining, by the monitoring system and based on the message and (i) sensor data generated by the sensor in response to the administration of the test, by the drone, within a predetermined period of time of the message or (ii) a lack of sensor data generated by the sensor in response to the administration of the test, by the drone, within a predetermined period of time of the message, whether the sensor is functioning properly, and in response to a determination that the sensor is not functioning properly, storing data indicating that the sensor is not functioning properly.

Claims (64)

1. A method comprising:

determining, by a monitoring system, to initiate a test on a monitoring system sensor,

providing, by the monitoring system, an instruction to a robotic device to navigate towards the monitoring system sensor and administer the test;

determining, by the monitoring system and based on a message from the robotic device, that the robotic device has arrived at the monitoring system sensor to be tested;

based on determining that the robotic device has arrived at the monitoring system sensor to be tested, determining to temporarily prevent an alarm from being triggered based on sensor data generated by the monitoring system sensor;

determining from the sensor data that the monitoring system sensor is functioning properly; and

storing, by the monitoring system, data indicating that the monitoring system sensor is functioning properly.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining to temporarily prevent an alarm from being triggered based on sensor data generated by the monitoring system sensor comprises:

determining to prevent the sensor data from triggering the alarm for a predetermined period of time.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining to prevent the sensor data from triggering the alarm for a predetermined period of time comprises:

receiving a timestamp from the robotic device that indicates that the test is imminent after the timestamp.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining to temporarily prevent an alarm from being triggered based on sensor data generated by the monitoring system sensor comprise:

receiving an indication from the robotic device that the test has been completed.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the monitoring system sensor includes a motion sensor; and

the test includes the robotic device navigating through a portion of a property that is within range of the motion sensor.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the monitoring system sensor includes a glass break sensor; and

the test includes the robotic device using a speaker to output, within range of the glass break sensor, audio signals having a frequency that is sufficient to trigger the glass break sensor.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the monitoring system sensor includes a smoke detector; and

the test includes the robotic device outputting smoke within range of the smoke detector.

8. A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

determining, by a monitoring system, to initiate a test on a monitoring system sensor, providing, by the monitoring system, an instruction to a robotic device to navigate towards the monitoring system sensor and administer the test;

determining, by the monitoring system and based on a message from the robotic device, that the robotic device has arrived at the monitoring system sensor to be tested;

based on determining that the robotic device has arrived at the monitoring system sensor to be tested, determining to temporarily prevent an alarm from being triggered based on sensor data generated by the monitoring system sensor;

determining from the sensor data that the monitoring system sensor is functioning properly; and

storing, by the monitoring system, data indicating that the monitoring system sensor is functioning properly.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein determining to temporarily prevent an alarm from being triggered based on sensor data generated by the monitoring system sensor comprises:

determining to prevent the sensor data from triggering the alarm for a predetermined period of time.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein determining to prevent the sensor data from triggering the alarm for a predetermined period of time comprises:

receiving a timestamp from the robotic device that indicates that the test is imminent after the timestamp.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein determining to temporarily prevent an alarm from being triggered based on sensor data generated by the monitoring system sensor comprise:

receiving an indication from the robotic device that the test has been completed.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein:

the monitoring system sensor includes a motion sensor; and

the test includes the robotic device navigating through a portion of a property that is within range of the motion sensor.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein:

the monitoring system sensor includes a glass break sensor; and

the test includes the robotic device using a speaker to output, within range of the glass break sensor, audio signals having a frequency that is sufficient to trigger the glass break sensor.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein:

the monitoring system sensor includes a smoke detector; and

the test includes the robotic device outputting smoke within range of the smoke detector.

15. At least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

determining, by a monitoring system, to initiate a test on a monitoring system sensor,

providing, by the monitoring system, an instruction to a robotic device to navigate towards the monitoring system sensor and administer the test;

determining, by the monitoring system and based on a message from the robotic device, that the robotic device has arrived at the monitoring system sensor to be tested;

based on determining that the robotic device has arrived at the monitoring system sensor to be tested, determining to temporarily prevent an alarm from being triggered based on sensor data generated by the monitoring system sensor;

determining from the sensor data that the monitoring system sensor is functioning properly; and

storing, by the monitoring system, data indicating that the monitoring system sensor is functioning properly.

16. The medium of claim 15 , wherein determining to temporarily prevent an alarm from being triggered based on sensor data generated by the monitoring system sensor comprises:

determining to prevent the sensor data from triggering the alarm for a predetermined period of time.

17. The medium of claim 15 , wherein determining to prevent the sensor data from triggering the alarm for a predetermined period of time comprises:

receiving a timestamp from the robotic device that indicates that the test is imminent after the timestamp.

18. The medium of claim 15 , wherein determining to temporarily prevent an alarm from being triggered based on sensor data generated by the monitoring system sensor comprise:

receiving an indication from the robotic device that the test has been completed.

19. The medium of claim 15 , wherein:

the monitoring system sensor includes a motion sensor; and

the test includes the robotic device navigating through a portion of a property that is within range of the motion sensor.

20. The medium of claim 15 , wherein:

the monitoring system sensor includes a glass break sensor; and

the test includes the robotic device using a speaker to output, within range of the glass break sensor, audio signals having a frequency that is sufficient to trigger the glass break sensor.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 30, 2021
From: BART, GARY FRANKLIN; CONSTANTINE, DEAN
To: ALARM.COM INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 058505/0301 →