IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,645,813
Granted Patent B2
US 12,645,813 · App. 18/645,442 · Granted Jun 2, 2026

Systems and methods for generating artificial automation data to protect actual automation data

Inventor: Charles Edward Kindel, Jr. (Bellevue, WA)
Assignee: Snap One, LLC
G06F21/606G05B23/02G06F16/903G06F21/6254G05B2223/06
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,645,813
App. No.
18/645,442
Granted
Jun 2, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An automation server is described. The automation server includes a processor. The automation server also includes a memory in electronic communication with the processor. The automation server further includes instructions stored in the memory. The instructions are executable to generate artificial automation data to protect actual automation data. The instructions are also executable to send, from the automation server, the artificial automation data to at least one virtual assistant server.

Claims (42)

1 . An automation server including circuitry comprising:

a communication interface, a processor, and a memory, configured to:

establish respective communication connections with: (1) any number of any of virtual assistant devices and virtual assistant servers; and (2) a home automation network (HAN) including any number of any of automation controllers (ACs), automation devices (ADs), and virtual assistant devices, the HAN being associated with any number of identifiers (IDs) associated with a user of the HAN;

receive a user request voiced by the home user from any of the ACs, the ADs, and the virtual assistance devices, the user request including information associated with first automation data;

on condition that the first automation data includes private automation data associated with the user of the HAN, generate second automation data according to the first automation data; and

transmit, to at least one virtual assistant server, the second automation data,

wherein the first automation data includes information indicating: (1) identifiers (IDs) of one or more ADs associated with the home user, and (2) recorded audio information associated with the user request voiced by the home user,

wherein the second automation data is generated according to a mapping of the first automation data to a first set of IDs of the ADs associated with the home user, and

wherein the second automation data includes a second set of IDs of the ADs that is generated to be different than the first set of IDs.

2 . The automation server of claim 1 , further configured to determine, based on an analysis of the recorded audio information, that the requestor is the home user, and in response, to generate the second automation data to include actual state data associated with at least one of the ADs identified in the first automation data.

3 . The automation server of claim 2 , wherein the actual state data corresponds to an automation device indicated by the user request.

4 . The automation server of claim 1 , wherein the actual state data is communicated to the virtual assistant server in association with a defined time period, and wherein upon expiration of the time period, the automation server renders the actual state data unavailable to the virtual assistant server.

5 . The automation server of claim 4 , further configured to, at a time proximate to expiration of the time period, compile artificial state data associated with the automation device, and transmit the artificial state data to the virtual assistant server.

6 . The automation server of claim 1 , further configured to determine, based on the recorded audio information, that the requestor is a virtual assistant device or virtual assistant program, and in response, to generate the second automation data to include artificial state data instead of actual state data.

7 . The automation server of claim 6 , wherein the artificial state data comprises information that differs from corresponding actual state data associated with the ADs of the home automation network.

8 . A method comprising:

establishing respective communication connections with: (1) any number of any of virtual assistant devices and virtual assistant servers; and (2) a home automation network (HAN) including any number of any of automation controllers (ACs), automation devices (ADs), and virtual assistant devices, the HAN being associated with any number of identifiers (IDs) associated with a user of the HAN;

receiving a user request voiced by the home user from any of the ACs, the ADs, and the virtual assistance devices, the user request including information associated with first automation data;

on condition that the first automation data includes private automation data associated with the user of the HAN, generating second automation data according to the first automation data; and

transmitting, to at least one virtual assistant server, the second automation data,

wherein the first automation data includes information indicating: (1) identifiers (IDs) of one or more ADs associated with the home user, and (2) recorded audio information associated with the user request voiced by the home user,

wherein the second automation data is generated according to a mapping of the first automation data to a first set of IDs of the ADs associated with the home user, and

wherein the second automation data includes a second set of IDs of the ADs that is generated to be different than the first set of IDs.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising determining, based on an analysis of the recorded audio information, that the requestor is the home user, and in response, generating the second automation data to include actual state data associated with at least one of the ADs identified in the first automation data.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the actual state data corresponds to an automation device indicated by the user request.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the actual state data is communicated to the virtual assistant server in association with a defined time period, and wherein upon expiration of the time period, the actual state data is rendered unavailable to the virtual assistant server.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further configured to, at a time proximate to expiration of the time period, compile artificial state data associated with the automation device, and transmit the artificial state data to the virtual assistant server.

13 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising determining, based on the recorded audio information, that the requestor is a virtual assistant device or virtual assistant program, and in response, generating the second automation data to include artificial state data instead of actual state data.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the artificial state data comprises information that differs from corresponding actual state data associated with the ADs of the home automation network.

15 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable storage medium comprising executable instructions for:

establishing respective communication connections with: (1) any number of any of virtual assistant devices and virtual assistant servers; and (2) a home automation network (HAN) including any number of any of automation controllers (ACs), automation devices (ADs), and virtual assistant devices, the HAN being associated with any number of identifiers (IDs) associated with a user of the HAN;

receiving a user request voiced by the home user from any of the ACs, the ADs, and the virtual assistance devices, the user request including information associated with first automation data;

on condition that the first automation data includes private automation data associated with the user of the HAN, generating second automation data according to the first automation data; and

transmitting, to at least one virtual assistant server, the second automation data,

wherein the first automation data includes information indicating: (1) identifiers (IDs) of one or more ADs associated with the home user, and (2) recorded audio information associated with the user request voiced by the home user,

wherein the second automation data is generated according to a mapping of the first automation data to a first set of IDs of the ADs associated with the home user, and

wherein the second automation data includes a second set of IDs of the ADs that is generated to be different than the first set of IDs.

16 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , further comprising determining, based on an analysis of the recorded audio information, that the requestor is the home user, and in response, generating the second automation data to include actual state data associated with at least one of the ADs identified in the first automation data.

17 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the actual state data corresponds to an automation device indicated by the user request.

18 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the actual state data is communicated to the virtual assistant server in association with a defined time period, and wherein upon expiration of the time period, the actual state data is rendered unavailable to the virtual assistant server.

19 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18 , further configured to, at a time proximate to expiration of the time period, compile artificial state data associated with the automation device, and transmit the artificial state data to the virtual assistant server.

20 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , further comprising determining, based on the recorded audio information, that the requestor is a virtual assistant device or virtual assistant program, and in response, generating the second automation data to include artificial state data instead of actual state data, wherein the artificial state data comprises information that differs from corresponding actual state data associated with the ADs of the home automation network.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 22, 2025
From: KINDEL, CHARLES EDWARD, JR.
To: CONTROL4 CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 073285/0346 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 22, 2025
From: CONTROL4 CORPORATION
To: WIREPATH HOME SYSTEMS, LLC
Reel/Frame 073285/0372 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 22, 2025
From: WIREPATH HOME SYSTEMS, LLC
To: SNAP ONE, LLC
Reel/Frame 074028/0158 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 16410439 · May 13, 2019
Related Publication 20240273222A1 · Aug 15, 2024
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