Configurable security system
Systems, methods and apparatus are described to selectively monitor a portion of a premises by a security system. A security system may contain a central security monitoring device in communication with a plurality of security sensors, and central security monitoring device may receive a command to actively monitor a first portion of a premises monitored by the security system, and in response to receiving the command, cause one or more security alerts to occur when an alarm signal is received from a security sensor located in the first portion of the premises, while ignoring alarm signals received from security sensors located in other portions of the premises.
1. A method, performed by a central security monitoring device of a security system, for temporarily arming at least a portion of the security system, comprising:
receiving a command to temporarily transition at least a portion of the security system from an unarmed state to an armed state;
in response to receiving the command, arming the at least a portion of the security system until a predetermined event occurs; and
returning the at least a portion of the security system to the unarmed state when the predetermined event occurs,
wherein the predetermined event comprises expiration of a predetermined time period from when the at least a portion of the security system was armed.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein returning the at least a portion of the security system to the unarmed state comprises:
receiving the predetermined time period from a user of the security system;
determining an elapsed time from when the command was received;
determining that the elapsed time equals or exceeds the predetermined time period; and
in response to determining that the elapsed time equals or exceeds the predetermined time period, returning the at least a portion of the security system to the unarmed state.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein arming the at least a portion of the security system comprises:
actively processing signals received from a first subset of a plurality of security sensors monitoring various portions of a structure, respectively; and
ignoring other signals received from a second subset of the plurality of security sensors monitoring the structure.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein arming the at least a portion of the security system comprises:
determining that a person is moving through the structure;
actively processing still other signals from a third subset of a the plurality of sensors; and
ignoring yet still other signals received from a fourth subset of the plurality of security sensors monitoring the structure.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein arming the at least a portion of the security system comprises:
determining that a person is moving through the structure; and
actively processing signals from a plurality of sensors except for sensors that detect the person as the person moves through the structure.
6. The method of claim 3 , wherein arming the at least a portion of the security system comprises:
determining that a person is moving through the structure; and
actively processing signals from a plurality of sensors except for sensors that are located in a room where the person is located.
7. A method, performed by a central security monitoring device of a security system, for temporarily arming at least a portion of the security system, comprising:
receiving a command to temporarily transition at least a portion of the security system from an unarmed state to an armed state;
in response to receiving the command, arming the at least a portion of the security system until a predetermined event occurs; and
returning the at least a portion of the security system to the unarmed state when the predetermined event occurs,
wherein the predetermined event comprises detection by a security sensor or occupancy sensor communicatively coupled to the central security monitoring device of a presence of a person who caused the command to be transmitted, the security sensor or occupancy sensor monitors at least a staircase, and the presence of the person who caused the command to be transmitted is determined by:
after arming the at least a portion of the security system, receiving a signal from the security sensor or occupancy sensor when the security sensor or occupancy sensor detects movement in the stairway or occupancy of the stairway; and
determining that the signal indicates that someone is descending the staircase.
8. A method, performed by a central security monitoring device of a security system, for temporarily arming at least a portion of the security system, comprising:
receiving a command to temporarily transition at least a portion of the security system from an unarmed state to an armed state;
in response to receiving the command, arming the at least a portion of the security system until a predetermined event occurs; and
returning the at least a portion of the security system to the unarmed state when the predetermined event occurs,
wherein the predetermined event comprises detection by a security sensor or occupancy sensor communicatively coupled to the central security monitoring device of a presence of a person who caused the command to be transmitted, the security sensor or occupancy sensor monitors at least a room of a structure, and the presence of the person who caused the command to be transmitted is determined by:
after arming the at least a portion of the security system, receiving a signal from the security sensor or occupancy sensor when the security sensor or occupancy sensor detects movement adjacent to the room or occupancy of an area adjacent to the room; and
determining that the signal indicates that someone is exiting the room.
9. A central security monitoring device, of a security system, for temporarily arming at least a portion of the security system, comprising:
a sensor interface for receiving signals from a plurality of sensors;
a non-transitory memory for storing processor-executable instructions; and
a processor, coupled to the sensor interface, and the memory, for executing the processor-executable instructions that cause the central security monitoring device to:
receive a command to temporarily transition at least a portion of the security system from an unarmed state to an armed state;
in response to receiving the command, arm the at least a portion of the security system until a predetermined event occurs; and
return the at least a portion of the security system to the unarmed state when the predetermined event occurs;
wherein the predetermined event comprises expiration of a predetermined time period from when the at least a portion of the security system was armed.
10. The central security monitoring device of claim 9 , wherein the processor-executable instructions for returning the at least a portion of the security system to the unarmed state comprises instructions that causes the central security monitoring device to:
receive the predetermined time period from a user of the security system;
determine an elapsed time from when the command was received;
determine that the elapsed time equals or exceeds the predetermined time period; and
in response to determining that the elapsed time equals or exceeds the predetermined time period, return the at least a portion of the security system to the unarmed state.
11. A central security monitoring device, of a security system, for temporarily arming at least a portion of the security system, comprising:
a sensor interface for receiving signals from a plurality of sensors;
a non-transitory memory for storing processor-executable instructions; and
a processor, coupled to the sensor interface, and the memory, for executing the processor-executable instructions that cause the central security monitoring device to:
receive a command to temporarily transition at least a portion of the security system from an unarmed state to an armed state;
in response to receiving the command, arm the at least a portion of the security system until a predetermined event occurs; and
return the at least a portion of the security system to the unarmed state when the predetermined event occurs;
wherein the predetermined event comprises detection by a security or occupancy sensor communicatively coupled to the central security monitoring device of a presence of a person who caused the command to be transmitted, the security sensor or occupancy sensor monitors at least a staircase, and the processor-executable instructions for detecting a presence of the person who caused the command to be transmitted comprises instructions that cause the central security monitoring device to:
after arming the at least a portion of the security system, receive a signal from the security sensor or occupancy sensor when the security sensor or occupancy sensor detects movement in, or occupancy of, the stairway; and
determine that the signal indicates that someone is descending the staircase.
12. A central security monitoring device, of a security system, for temporarily arming at least a portion of the security system, comprising:
a sensor interface for receiving signals from a plurality of sensors;
a non-transitory memory for storing processor-executable instructions; and
a processor, coupled to the sensor interface, and the memory, for executing the processor-executable instructions that cause the central security monitoring device to:
receive a command to temporarily transition at least a portion of the security system from an unarmed state to an armed state;
in response to receiving the command, arm the at least a portion of the security system until a predetermined event occurs; and
return the at least a portion of the security system to the unarmed state when the predetermined event occurs;
wherein the predetermined event comprises detection by a security or occupancy sensor communicatively coupled to the central security monitoring device of a presence of a person who caused the command to be transmitted, the security sensor or occupancy sensor monitors at least a room of a structure, and the processor-executable instructions for detecting a presence of the person who caused the command to be transmitted comprises instructions that cause the central security monitoring device to:
after arming the at least a portion of the security system, receive a signal from the security sensor or occupancy sensor when the security sensor or occupancy sensor detects movement adjacent to the room or occupancy of an area adjacent to the room; and
determine that the signal indicates that someone is exiting the room.
13. A central security monitoring device, of a security system, for temporarily arming at least a portion of the security system, comprising:
a sensor interface for receiving signals from a plurality of sensors;
a non-transitory memory for storing processor-executable instructions; and
a processor, coupled to the sensor interface, and the memory, for executing the processor-executable instructions that cause the central security monitoring device to:
receive a command to temporarily transition at least a portion of the security system from an unarmed state to an armed state;
in response to receiving the command, arm the at least a portion of the security system until a predetermined event occurs; and
return the at least a portion of the security system to the unarmed state when the predetermined event occurs;
wherein the processor-executable instructions for arming the at least a portion of the security system comprises instructions that causes the central security monitoring device to:
actively process signals received from a first subset of a plurality of security sensors monitoring various portions of a structure, respectively; and
ignore other signals received from a second subset of the plurality of security sensors monitoring the structure.
14. The central security monitoring device of claim 13 , wherein the processor-executable instructions for arming the at least a portion of the security system comprises instructions that causes the central security monitoring device to:
determine that a person is moving through the structure;
actively process still other signals from a third subset of the plurality of sensors; and
ignore yet still other signals received from a fourth subset of the plurality of security sensors monitoring the structure.
15. The central security monitoring device of claim 13 , wherein the processor-executable instructions for arming the at least a portion of the security system comprises instructions that causes the central security monitoring device to:
determine that a person is moving through the structure; and
actively process signals from a plurality of sensors except for sensors that detect the person as the person moves through the structure.
16. The central security monitoring device of claim 13 , wherein the processor-executable instructions for arming the at least a portion of the security system comprises instructions that causes the central security monitoring device to:
determine that a person is moving through the structure; and
actively process signals from a plurality of sensors except for sensors that are located in a room where the person is located.