Smart-home security system with keypad device resistant to anomalous treatment

• US 10,089,842 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2014
• Issued: 10/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Fadell, Anthony Michael, Rogers, Matthew Lee, Veron, Maxime, Sloo, David, Le Guen, Sophie, Peterson, Kevin, Matsuoka, Yoky, Honjo, Shigefumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Hallenbeck-Huber, Jeremaiah C
• Application Number:
  US14/508,183
• Publication Number:
  US 20150097958A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,456 Days
• Field of Search: 348152
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/06 by tampering with fastening
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/04 Monitoring of the detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2825 Reporting to a device located outside the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with telemetering systems H04M11/002
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42202 environmental sensors, e.g. for detecting temperature, luminosity, pressure, earthquakes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805

Abstract

Security keypad device for detecting tampering includes a keypad, a high power wireless module for communicating data via a local area network, a low power wireless module communicating data via a personal area network, and a cellular module for communicating data via a wide area network. The device further includes an active infrared position sensor comprising of a light source for emitting infrared light and an infrared sensor for detecting reflected infrared light. The active infrared position sensor is configured to sense the position of the device based on detecting the reflected infrared light. The device further includes an accelerometer configured to measure acceleration forces and a processor. The processor is configured to determine that the position of the device changed based on positional data from the active infrared position sensor or acceleration data from the accelerometer.

Claims

1. A system for detecting tampering of a security keypad device, the system comprising:

the security keypad device comprising;

a keypad,

a high power wireless module configured to transmit and receive data wirelessly via a local area network,

a low power wireless module configured to transmit and receive data wirelessly at a lower rate of data transfer than the high power wireless module, and further configured to consume less power than the high power wireless module,

a cellular module configured to transmit and receive data wirelessly via a wide area network,

a power cord configured to transfer power to the security keypad device from a primary power source, wherein the security keypad device is configured to remain moveably detached from a home in which the security keypad device is located;

a battery compartment configured to hold a secondary power source,

an active infrared (IR) position sensor including a light source configured to emit IR light and an IR sensor configured to detect reflected IR light of objects or walls within the home, the active IR position sensor being incorporated as part of the security keypad device and configured to determine a position of the security keypad device within the home based on measuring a time-of-flight of the reflected IR light,

an accelerometer configured to measure an acceleration force, and

a processor configured to;

receive positional data from the active IR position sensor,

receive acceleration data from the accelerometer,

determine that the position of the security keypad device changed based on the positional data, and

transmit a tampering event to a computer server system in response to determining that the position of the security keypad device changed, the tampering event indicating that the security keypad device has been physically tampered with; and

the computer server system being communicatively coupled to the security keypad device and configured to;

receive the tampering event, and

transmit the tampering event to a mobile device that is authorized to access an account associated with the security keypad device.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a video camera aimed at an area that includes the security keypad device, the video camera being configured to detect a change in image between a first image frame and a second image frame, and transmit a second tampering event to the computer server system.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the video camera is further configured to transmit a video recording to the computer server system, the video recording including the first image frame and the second image frame.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein at least one of the security keypad device and the video camera is configured to detect a panic gesture of a user.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an electronic device communicatively coupled to the security keypad device and configured to;

determine that a heartbeat signal has not been received from the security keypad device after a time interval since receiving a previous heartbeat signal, and

transmit a second tampering event to the computer server system in response to determining that the heartbeat signal has not been received.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the electronic device comprises at least one of a thermostat, a hazard detector, and a video camera.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the processor of the security keypad device is further configured to transmit a tampering signal to the electronic device via the low power wireless module, and the electronic device is further configured to activate an audible alarm in response to receiving the tampering signal.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor of the security keypad device is further configured to:

determine that an object has been placed in front of the security keypad device while the security keypad device is in a quiescent state, and

transmit a second tampering event to the computer server system in response to determining that the object has been placed in front of the security keypad device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor of the security keypad device determines that the object has been placed in front of the security keypad device by determining that the positional data indicates that the position changed and that the acceleration data does not indicate that the position changed.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the security keypad device further includes a sensor configured to detect that the security keypad device is not receiving power from the primary power source, and wherein the processor of the security keypad device is further configured to transmit a second tampering event via the cellular module in response to receiving a signal from the sensor indicating that the security keypad device is not receiving power from the primary power source.

11. A security keypad device for detecting tampering, the security keypad device comprising:

a keypad, wherein the security keypad device is configured to remain moveably detached from a home in which the security keypad device is to be located;

a high power wireless module configured to transmit and receive data wirelessly via a local area network;

a low power wireless module configured to transmit and receive data wirelessly via a personal area network at a lower rate of data transfer than the high power wireless module, and further configured to consume less power than the high power wireless module;

a cellular module configured to transmit and receive data wirelessly via a wide area network;

a horn configured to generate an audible alarm;

an active infrared (IR) position sensor including a light source configured to emit IR light and an IR sensor configured to detect reflected IR light within the home, the active IR position sensor being incorporated as part of the security keypad device and configured to determine a relative position of the security keypad device within the home based on measuring a time-of-flight of the reflected IR light, the relative position being relative to an external object;

an accelerometer configured to measure an acceleration force; and

a processor configured to;

receive positional data from the active IR position sensor,

receive acceleration data from the accelerometer,

determine that a position of the security keypad device changed based on the positional data, and

activate the horn in response to determining that the position of the security keypad device changed.

12. The security keypad device of claim 11, further comprising:

a power cord configured to transfer power to the security keypad device from a primary power source;

a sensor configured to detect that the power cord is disconnected; and

a battery compartment configured to hold a secondary power source,

wherein the power cord must be disconnected from the security keypad device in order to open the battery compartment, and

wherein the processor is further configured to activate the horn in response to receiving a signal from the sensor indicating the power cord is disconnected.

13. The security keypad device of claim 11, wherein the acceleration force is a gravitational force of an earth, and wherein the processor is further configured to determine that a direction of the acceleration force changed based on the acceleration data, and activate the horn in response to determining that the direction changed.

14. The security keypad device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive user input via the keypad, the user input indicating a code,

determine that the code is valid,

place the security keypad device into a quiescent state in response to determining that the code is valid,

determining that the position of the security keypad device changed while the security keypad device is in the quiescent state, and

not activating the horn in response to determining that the position of the security keypad device changed while the security keypad device is in the quiescent state.

15. The security keypad device of claim 14, further comprising:

a speaker configured to generate an audible alert at a lower volume than the horn,

wherein the processor is further configured to activate the speaker in response to determining that the position of the security keypad device changed while the security keypad device is in the quiescent state.

16. The security keypad device of claim 15, wherein the audible alert generated by the speaker is audible speech indicating that the position of the security keypad device changed.

17. The security keypad device of claim 11, wherein the keypad is a touchscreen keypad.

18. The security keypad device of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to disguise the touchscreen keypad when the security keypad device is in an armed state.

19. A security keypad device for detecting tampering, the security keypad device comprising:

means for receiving user input of a code;

means for communicating data wirelessly via a local area network at a relatively high rate of data transfer that consumes a relatively high amount of power;

means for communicating data wirelessly at a relatively low rate of data transfer that consumes a relatively low amount of power;

means for communicating data wirelessly via a wide area network;

means for emitting infrared (IR) light;

means for detecting reflected IR light reflected off objects or walls within a home;

means for sensing a position of the security keypad device based on detecting the reflected IR light and measuring a time-of-flight of the reflected IR light, wherein the security keypad device is configured to remain moveably detached from the home in which the security keypad device is located;

means for determining that the position of the security keypad device changed based on the sensed position; and

means for generating an audible alarm in response to determining that the position of the security keypad device changed.

20. The security keypad device of claim 19, further comprising:

means for disguising the security keypad device.