Mobile device based authentication

• US 10,026,245 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2014
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Warren, Jeremy B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): MA, KAM WAN
• Application Number:
  US14/231,458
• Publication Number:
  US 20150279134A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,569 Days
• Field of Search: 340 585, 340 51, 340 58, 340 581
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/23 by means of a password
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/31 Voice input
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/60 Security, fault tolerance
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/082 applying multi-factor authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]

Abstract

Methods and systems are described for controlling an automation and security system. According to at least one embodiment, an apparatus for voice control of an automation and security system includes a processor, a memory in electronic communication with the processor, and instructions stored in the memory. The instructions are executable by the processor to receive input from the user to perform at least one function of the automation and security system, receive confirmation that the user has received an authentication message at an electronic device carried by the user, and initiate the at least one function.

Claims

1. An apparatus for authenticating a user of a home automation and security system, comprising:

a processor;

a memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to;

detect a presence of the user within a predetermined distance of the home automation and security system based at least in part on sensor data;

receive, from an electronic device carried by the user, a request to perform at least one function of the home automation and security system based at least in part on the detection, the at least one function including a rule of operation for an automation and security system component associated with the home automation and security system;

determine a level of authentication associated with the request to perform the at least one function based at least in part on the detection;

receive facial recognition information from the electronic device as a first level of authentication to authorize the received request;

confirm that the user is an authorized user based at least in part on facial recognition information;

communicate, to one or more separate electronic devices associated with one or more separate authorized users of the home automation and security system, an authentication message in response to confirming the user as the authorized user;

receive confirmation that at least one of the separate authorized users has received the authentication message at the at least one separate electronic devices carried by the at least one of the separate authorized users, wherein the received confirmation comprises a second level of authentication to authorize the received request; and

modify the rule of operation of the automation and security system component based at least in part on the first level of authentication and the second level of authentication.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a cell phone and the authentication message is a text message.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the authentication message includes information about the at least one function.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

receive confirmation that the user has received the authentication message at the electronic device carried by the user, wherein the electronic device includes an application that displays the authentication message to the user.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

receive a registration of the electronic device as being associated with the user.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

receive a user authentication input from the user.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the user authentication input is a password or PIN code of the user.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the request from the user is received at a control panel of the home automation and security system.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the request from the user is received as a voice command.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one function is one of arming or disarming the home automation and security system.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

receive confirmation that the user has authorized the at least one function using the electronic device.

12. A computer-program product for authenticating a user of an automation and security system, the computer-program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor to:

detect a presence of the user within a predetermined distance of the automation and security system based at least in part on sensor data;

receive input, at a control panel in a structure, from the user to initiate at least one function of the automation and security system, the at least one function including a request to change a value associated with a setting of an automation and security system component of the automation and security system;

determine a level of authentication associated with the request, to perform the at least one function, based at least in part on the detection;

receive a first user authentication input, at the control panel in the structure, from the user;

confirm that the user is an authorized user based at least in part on the first user authentication input;

communicate, to one or more electronic devices associated with one or more separate authorized users of the automation and security system, an authentication message in response to confirming the user as the authorized user;

receive confirmation that at least one of the separate authorized users received the authentication message via at least one of the electronic devices in the at least one of the separate authorized user'"'"'s possession, the confirmation being a second user authentication input; and

modify the value associated with the setting of the automation and security system component based at least in part on the first user authentication input and the second user authentication input.

13. The computer-program product of claim 12, wherein the first user authentication input is one of a password and a PIN code.

14. The computer-program product of claim 12, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

receive confirmation that the user has authorized the at least one function using the electronic device.

15. The computer-program product of claim 12, wherein the first user authentication input includes confirmation of the user'"'"'s presence at a property monitored by the automation and security system.

16. The computer-program product of claim 12, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

send the authentication message to an electronic device associated with the user.

17. A computer-implemented method for authenticating a user of an automation and security system, comprising:

detecting a presence of the user within a predetermined distance of the automation and security system based at least in part on sensor data;

receiving, from an electronic device carried by the user, a request to perform at least one function of the automation and security system based at least in part on the detection, the at least one function including a rule of operation for an automation and security system component associated with the automation and security system;

determining a level of authentication associated with the request to perform the at least one function based at least in part on the detection;

receiving facial recognition information from the electronic device as a first level of authentication to authorize the received request;

confirming that the user is an authorized user based at least in part on the facial recognition information;

communicating, to one or more separate electronic devices associated with one or more separate authorized users of the automation and security system, an authentication message in response to confirming the user as the authorized user;

receiving confirmation that at least one of the separate authorized users has received the authentication message at the at least one separate electronic devices carried by the at least one of the separate authorized users, wherein the received confirmation comprises a second level of authentication to authorize the received request; and

modifying the rule of operation of the automation and security system component based at least in part on the first level of authentication and the second level of authentication.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the request from the user is received as a voice command.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving confirmation that the user has authorized the at least one function using the electronic device.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving confirmation that the user has received the authentication message at the electronic device carried by the user, wherein the electronic device includes an application that displays the authentication message to the user.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving a registration of the electronic device as being associated with the user.