Security scoring in a smart-sensored home
This patent specification relates to apparatus, systems, methods, and related computer program products for providing home security objectives. More particularly, this patent specification relates to a plurality of devices, including intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connected devices, that communicate with each other and/or with a central server or a cloud-computing system to provide any of a variety of useful home security objectives.
1. A method comprising:
receiving, at a computing system, home data from a plurality of network-connected smart devices of a smart-home environment;
processing, with the computing system, the home data received from the plurality of network-connected smart devices of the smart-home environment;
generating, with the computing system, a security score and a suggestion for a user action based on the processed home data, wherein the security score numerically characterizes a level of security of the smart-home environment, and wherein performance of the user action is operative to improve the generated security score;
in response to the generating, presenting information to at least one user of the smart-home environment, wherein the presented information comprises identification of the suggestion for the user action;
in response to the presenting, obtaining, at the computing system from at least one network-connected smart device of the plurality of network-connected smart devices of the smart-home, improvement data that is indicative of performance of the user action;
in response to the obtaining, processing, with the computing system, the obtained improvement data;
improving the security score, with the computing system, based on the processed improvement data; and
storing, with the computing system, the improved security score, wherein the processed home data comprises at least one of:
capability data indicative of at least one capability of at least one network-connected smart device of the plurality of network-connected smart devices;
opportunity data indicative of at least one opportunity afforded to at least one network-connected smart device of the plurality of network-connected smart devices by at least one influencer of the smart-home environment; or
environmental data indicative of at least one behavioral characteristic of the smart-home environment.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the processed home data comprises capability data indicative of at least one capability of at least one network-connected smart device of the plurality of network-connected smart devices; and
the capability data comprises at least one of:
device capability data indicative of at least one capability of a particular network-connected smart device of the plurality of network-connected smart devices; or
network capability data indicative of at least one capability of a network of at least two network-connected smart devices of the plurality of network-connected smart devices.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the at least one capability is independent of any influencers of the smart-home environment.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein:
the capability data comprises device capability data indicative of at least one capability of a particular network-connected smart device of the plurality of network-connected smart devices; and
the at least one capability of the particular network-connected smart device comprises at least one of:
a capability of a battery of the particular network-connected smart device;
a capability of a communication component of the particular network-connected smart device;
a capability of a security component of the particular network-connected smart device;
a capability of a sensing component of the particular network-connected smart device;
a capability of a processing component of the particular network-connected smart device; or
a capability of an output component of the particular network-connected smart device.
5. The method of claim 2 , wherein:
the capability data comprises network capability data indicative of at least one capability of a network of at least two network-connected smart devices of the plurality of network-connected smart devices; and
the at least one capability of the network comprises at least one of:
a shared communication capability of the at least two network-connected smart devices; or
a combined sensing capability of the at least two network-connected smart devices.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the processed home data comprises opportunity data indicative of at least one opportunity afforded to at least one network-connected smart device of the plurality of network-connected smart devices by at least one influencer of the smart-home environment; and
the opportunity data comprises at least one of:
device opportunity data indicative of at least one opportunity afforded to a particular network-connected smart device of the plurality of network-connected smart devices by the at least one influencer of the smart-home environment; or
network opportunity data indicative of at least one opportunity afforded to a network of at least two network-connected smart devices of the plurality of network-connected smart devices by the at least one influencer of the smart-home environment.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein:
the opportunity data comprises device opportunity data indicative of at least one opportunity afforded to a particular network-connected smart device of the plurality of network-connected smart devices by the at least one influencer of the smart-home environment; and
the at least one opportunity afforded to the particular network-connected smart device by the at least one influencer of the smart-home environment comprises at least one of:
a power source of the smart-home environment provided for the particular network-connected smart device;
each currently enabled communication protocol of the particular network-connected smart device;
each currently enabled security feature of the particular network-connected smart device;
each currently enabled sensing feature of the particular network-connected smart device;
each currently enabled processing feature of the particular network-connected smart device; or
each currently enabled output feature of the particular network-connected smart device.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein:
the opportunity data comprises device opportunity data indicative of at least one opportunity afforded to a particular network-connected smart device of the plurality of network-connected smart devices by the at least one influencer of the smart-home environment; and
the at least one opportunity afforded to the particular network-connected smart device by the at least one influencer of the smart-home environment comprises a position of the particular network-connected smart device with respect to the smart-home environment.
9. The method of claim 6 , wherein:
the opportunity data comprises device opportunity data indicative of at least one opportunity afforded to a particular network-connected smart device of the plurality of network-connected smart devices by the at least one influencer of the smart-home environment; and
the at least one opportunity afforded to the particular network-connected smart device by the at least one influencer of the smart-home environment comprises a position of the particular network-connected smart device with respect to the at least one influencer of the smart-home environment that has an undesirable effect on a sensing functionality of the particular network-connected smart device.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the at least one influencer comprises one of:
a vent;
a fireplace;
a window; or
an animal.
11. The method of claim 6 , wherein:
the opportunity data comprises device opportunity data indicative of at least one opportunity afforded to a particular network-connected smart device of the plurality of network-connected smart devices by the at least one influencer of the smart-home environment; and
the at least one opportunity afforded to the particular network-connected smart device by the at least one influencer of the smart-home environment comprises exposure of the particular network-connected smart device to the at least one influencer of the smart-home environment that has an undesirable effect on a security feature of the particular network-connected smart device.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one influencer comprises one of:
a large number of authentication codes activated for the particular network-connected smart device;
a weak authentication code activated for the particular network-connected smart device;
an amount of contact information associated with at least one occupant of the smart-home environment associated with the particular network-connected smart device; or
an amount of time for an occupant to respond to an alarm of the particular network-connected smart device.
13. The method of claim 6 , wherein:
the opportunity data comprises network opportunity data indicative of at least one opportunity afforded to a network of at least two network-connected smart devices of the plurality of network-connected smart devices by the at least one influencer of the smart-home environment; and
the at least one opportunity afforded to the network by the at least one influencer of the smart-home environment comprises at least one of:
each currently enabled communication protocol of the network;
each currently enabled security feature of the network;
each currently enabled sensing feature of the network;
each currently enabled processing feature of the network; or
each currently enabled output feature of the network.
14. The method of claim 6 , wherein:
the opportunity data comprises network opportunity data indicative of at least one opportunity afforded to a network of at least two network-connected smart devices of the plurality of network-connected smart devices by the at least one influencer of the smart-home environment; and
the at least one opportunity afforded to the network by the at least one influencer of the smart-home environment comprises a position of the network with respect to the at least one influencer of the smart-home environment that has an undesirable effect on a communication functionality of the network.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the environmental data comprises micro-environmental data indicative of at least one behavioral characteristic of the smart-home environment; and
the at least one behavioral characteristic comprises
at least one of:
exposure of an environmental object with respect to public view;
security of a dangerous environmental object; or
security feature of an ingress of the smart-home environment.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the processed home data comprises environmental data indicative of at least one behavioral characteristic of the smart-home environment;
the environmental data comprises micro-environmental data indicative of at the least one behavioral characteristic of the smart-home environment; and
the at least one behavioral characteristic comprises at least one of:
a tendency of an occupant of the smart-home environment;
a food preparation within the smart-home environment; or
a smoking activity within the smart-home environment.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the processed home data comprises environmental data indicative of at least one behavioral characteristic of the smart-home environment;
the environmental data comprises macro-environmental data indicative of the at least one behavioral characteristic of a macro-environment related to the smart-home environment; and
the at least one behavioral characteristic comprises at least one of:
accessibility to the smart-home environment by an entity of the macro-environment;
current ambient environmental conditions of the macro-environment;
crime rate of the macro-environment; or
the number of other smart-home environments within the macro-environment.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the security score numerically characterizes a level of security of the smart-home environment that is designed to encourage a user of the smart-home environment to at least one of properly equip the smart-home environment with the plurality of network-connected smart devices, properly use the plurality of network-connected smart devices of the smart-home environment, or properly maintain the plurality of network-connected smart devices of the smart-home environment.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the generating the security score comprises comparing security features of the smart-home environment from the processed home data against a plurality of security criterions.
20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the generating the suggestion for the user action comprises:
comparing security features of the smart-home environment from the processed home data against a plurality of security criterions;
based on the comparing, identifying a security criterion of the plurality of security criterions that is not satisfied by the security features of the smart-home environment; and
defining the suggestion for the user action based on the identified security criterion.
21. A system for protecting a smart-home environment, the system comprising:
a plurality of network-connected smart devices at the smart-home environment; and
a computing system that:
receives home data from the plurality of network-connected smart devices;
processes the home data received from the plurality of network-connected smart devices;
generates a security score and a suggestion for a user action based on the processed home data, wherein the security score numerically characterizes a level of security of the smart-home environment, and wherein performance of the user action is operative to improve the generated security score;
presents information to at least one user of the smart-home environment, wherein the presented information comprises identification of the suggestion for the user action;
in response to the presentation of the information, obtains, from at least one network-connected smart device of the plurality of network-connected smart devices, improvement data that is indicative of performance of the user action;
in response to the obtainment of the improvement data, processes the obtained improvement data;
improves the security score based on the processed improvement data; and
stores the improved security score, wherein the processed home data comprises at least one of:
capability data indicative of at least one capability of at least one network-connected smart device of the plurality of network-connected smart devices;
opportunity data indicative of at least one opportunity afforded to at least one network-connected smart device of the plurality of network-connected smart devices by at least one influencer of the smart-home environment; or
environmental data indicative of at least one behavioral characteristic of the smart-home environment.
22. The system of claim 21 , wherein the security score numerically characterizes a level of security of the smart-home environment that is designed to encourage a user of the smart-home environment to at least one of properly equip the smart-home environment with the plurality of network-connected smart devices, properly use the plurality of network-connected smart devices of the smart-home environment, or properly maintain the plurality of network-connected smart devices of the smart-home environment.
23. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable instructions recorded thereon for:
receiving, at a computing system, home data from a plurality of network-connected smart devices of a smart-home environment;
processing, with the computing system, the home data received from the plurality of network-connected smart devices of the smart-home environment;
generating, with the computing system, a security score and a suggestion for a user action based on the processed home data, wherein the security score numerically characterizes a level of security of the smart-home environment, and wherein performance of the user action is operative to improve the generated security score;
in response to the generating, presenting information to at least one user of the smart-home environment, wherein the presented information comprises identification of the suggestion for the user action;
in response to the presenting, obtaining, at the computing system from at least one network-connected smart device of the plurality of network-connected smart devices of the smart-home, improvement data that is indicative of performance of the user action;
in response to the obtaining, processing, with the computing system, the obtained improvement data;
improving the security score, with the computing system, based on the processed improvement data; and
storing, with the computing system, the improved security score, wherein the processed home data comprises at least one of:
capability data indicative of at least one capability of at least one network-connected smart device of the plurality of network-connected smart devices;
opportunity data indicative of at least one opportunity afforded to at least one network-connected smart device of the plurality of network-connected smart devices by at least one influencer of the smart-home environment; or
environmental data indicative of at least one behavioral characteristic of the smart-home environment.
24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23 , wherein the security score numerically characterizes a level of security of the smart-home environment that is designed to encourage a user of the smart-home environment to at least one of properly equip the smart-home environment with the plurality of network-connected smart devices, properly use the plurality of network-connected smart devices of the smart-home environment, or properly maintain the plurality of network-connected smart devices of the smart-home environment.