Systems and methods of tamper detection

• US 10,062,249 B1
• Filed: 10/31/2017
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Modi, Yash, O'Neill, Conor, Ma, Shao-Po
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent
• Application Number:
  US15/798,446
• Time in Patent Office: 301 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/18 in two or more dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/08 by opening, e.g. of door, of window, of drawer, of shutter, of curtain, of blind
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/046 prevention of tampering with detection circuits

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for determining, at a controller of a device of a premises management system having a head unit and a backplate, at least a partial removal of the head unit from the backplate based on a position of a removal switch that detects connectivity between the head unit and the backplate. When the controller determines that the position of the removal switch is in an open position, an orientation of the head unit may be continuously determined based on an output signal from an accelerometer coupled to the head unit. A tampering signal is output based on the open position of the backplate removal switch and the determined orientation of the head unit.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining, at a controller of a device of a premises management system, the device having a head unit and a backplate, at least a partial removal of the head unit from the backplate based on a position of a removal switch that detects connectivity between the head unit and the backplate;

when the controller determines that the position of the removal switch is in an open position, continuously determining, at the controller, an orientation of the head unit based on an output signal from an accelerometer coupled to the head unit;

determining, at the controller, whether the orientation of the head unit is within a predetermined range of orientations; and

outputting, at the controller, a tampering signal based on the open position of the backplate removal switch, the determined orientation of the head unit, and when the determined orientation is outside of the predetermine range of orientations.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the controller determines that the position of the removal switch is in a closed position by determining a first average of a first vector for a first predetermined period of time.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the controller continuously determines the orientation of the head unit for a second average of a second vector for a second period of time that is less than the first period of time.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the determining the orientation comprises determining a 1-norm between the first vector and the second vector.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the outputting the tampering signal comprises:

outputting the tampering signal when the determined 1-norm exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

when the change in orientation of the head unit exceeds a predetermined value, outputting the tampering signal from the controller based on the open position of the removal switch.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

outputting at least one from the group consisting of;

a notification to a user device and an alarm based on the outputted tampering signal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the continuously determining of the orientation of the head unit comprises:

continuously determining, at the controller, an orientation of the head unit based on an output signal from one or more sensors.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more sensors are selected from a group consisting of:

a gyroscope, a compass, and an inertial movement unit (IMU).

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, at the controller, the predetermined range of orientations for the device based on a range of movement of the device in a mounted location.

11. A device for a premises management system comprising:

a head unit coupled to a backplate;

a removal switch to detect connectivity between the head unit and the backplate;

an accelerometer to determine an orientation of the head unit; and

a controller to determine at least a partial removal of the head unit from the backplate based on a position of the removal switch, and when the controller determines that the position of the removal switch is in an open position, the controller continuously determines an orientation of the head unit based on an output signal from an accelerometer and determines whether the orientation of the head unit is within a predetermined range of orientations, and the controller outputs a tampering signal based on the open position of the backplate removal switch, the determined orientation of the head unit, and when the determined orientation is outside of the predetermine range of orientations.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the controller determines that the position of the removal switch is in a closed position by determining a first average of a first vector for a first predetermined period of time.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the controller continuously determines the orientation of the head unit for a second average of a second vector for a second period of time that is less than the first period of time.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the controller determines a 1-norm between the first vector and the second vector.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the controller outputs the tampering signal when the determined 1-norm exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

16. The device of claim 11, wherein the controller outputs the tampering signal based on the open position of the removal switch when the change in orientation of the head unit exceeds a predetermined value.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the controller outputs at least one from the group consisting of:

a notification to a user device and an alarm based on the outputted tampering signal.

18. The device of claim 11, wherein the controller continuously determines an orientation of the head unit based on an output signal from one or more sensors.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the one or more sensors are selected from a group consisting of:

a gyroscope, a compass, and an inertial movement unit (IMU).

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the controller determines the predetermined range of orientations for the device based on a range of movement of the device in a mounted location.