Vehicle integration with security and/or automation systems

• US 10,134,271 B1
• Filed: 03/19/2018
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Warren, Jeremy B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Blouin, Mark
• Application Number:
  US15/925,242
• Time in Patent Office: 246 Days
• Field of Search: 340 1254
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop

Abstract

A system and method for controlling a security and/or automation system using a aspects of a vehicle. The method may include receiving confirmation of a user'"'"'s presence in the vehicle, receiving confirmation of vehicle operation, displaying on a display of the vehicle at least one control option for a security and/or automation system of a property monitored by the security and/or automation system, receiving at least one user input on the display related to the at least one control option, and transmitting instructions to control the security and/or automation system based on the at least one user input.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a security and/or automation system using a vehicle, comprising:

receiving data associated with operability for controlling the security and/or automation system using the vehicle, the data comprising at least a first set of data corresponding to one or more geolocation indications and a second set of data corresponding to operational characteristics of the vehicle;

identifying and authenticating presence of a user within the vehicle based at least in part on the first set of data;

determining an action related to operation at the vehicle based at least in part on the second set of data;

permitting functional capability to at least one control option for controlling the security and/or automation system based at least in part on the identifying and authenticating of presence of the user and the determining of the action; and

transmitting instructions to control the security and/or automation system based at least in part on the permitting.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more geolocation indications comprise a position of the user relative to a geo locale of the vehicle, a position of the vehicle relative to a geo locale of an entity associated with the security and/or automation system, or a combination thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the data associated with the operability for controlling the security and/or automation system further comprises:

receiving, as part of the first set of data, one or more sensor indications associated with sensors of a property monitored by the security and/or automation system; and

determining a change in position of the vehicle relative to at least one geo locale associated with the property based at least in part on the one or more sensor indications.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the data associated with the operability for controlling the security and/or automation system further comprises:

receiving, as part of the second set of data, one or more sensor indications associated with components of the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the one or more sensor indications associated with the components of the vehicle comprise at least one of indication of an on/off state of the vehicle, indication of a gear state at a transmission of the vehicle, a movement speed of the vehicle, an acceleration or deceleration action at the vehicle, a direction of the vehicle relative to a static orientation, or a combination thereof.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying and authenticating presence of the user at the vehicle further comprises:

determining a location of a mobile computing device of the user within the vehicle, the mobile computing device linked to the vehicle; and

confirming presence of the user within the vehicle based at least in part on communication link establishment between the mobile computing device and a computing device of the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying and authenticating presence of the user at the vehicle further comprises:

receiving data related to proximity of the user relative to one or more components of the vehicle, the data corresponding to sensor indications associated with the one or more components;

confirming presence of the user within the vehicle based at least in part on indication of operation at some feature or functionality of the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein permitting functional capability to the at least one control option for controlling the security and/or automation system further comprises:

displaying the at least one control option associated with the security and/or automation system on a touch screen of the vehicle; and

receiving tactile input to the touch screen by the user, the tactile input associated with selecting a control option of the at least one control option.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein permitting functional capability to the at least one control option for controlling the security and/or automation system further comprises:

displaying, on a touch screen of the vehicle, content shown on a viewable display of a mobile computing device of the user; and

receiving tactile input to the touch screen by the user, the tactile input associated with selecting a control option of the at least one control option.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a touch screen of the vehicle comprises one or more actuation features for selecting the at least one control option, the one or more actuation features comprising a keyboard, manual buttons, drop down menus, or a combination thereof.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the instructions to control the security and/or automation system further comprises:

bypassing, by a computing device of the vehicle, communication with a mobile computing device of the user; and

establishing a communication link between the computing device of the vehicle and one or more components of the security and/or automation system.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the instructions to control the security and/or automation system further comprises:

routing, by a computing device of the vehicle, communication to a mobile computing device of the user for signaling to one or more components of the security and/or automation system.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the instructions to control the security and/or automation system further comprises:

establishing a communication link for bi-directional communication, the communication link comprising a direct communication link or an indirect communication link via one or more back end servers.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the communication link facilitates wireless communication between the vehicle and a control panel of the security and/or automation system.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes a global positioning system operable to determine a geo location of the vehicle.

16. An apparatus for controlling a security and/or automation system using a vehicle, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

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

receive data associated with operability for controlling the security and/or automation system using the vehicle, the data comprising at least a first set of data corresponding to one or more geolocation indications and a second set of data corresponding to operational characteristics of the vehicle;

identify and authenticate presence of a user within the vehicle based at least in part on the first set of data;

determine an action related to operation at the vehicle based at least in part on the second set of data;

permit functional capability to at least one control option for controlling the security and/or automation system based at least in part on the identifying and authenticating of presence of the user and the determining of the action; and

transmit instructions to control the security and/or automation system based at least in part on the permitting.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

determine a location of a mobile computing device of the user within the vehicle, the mobile computing device linked to the vehicle; and

confirm presence of the user within the vehicle based at least in part on communication link establishment between the mobile computing device and a computing device of the vehicle.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

receive data related to proximity of the user relative to one or more components of the vehicle, the data corresponding to sensor indications associated with the one or more components;

confirm presence of the user within the vehicle based at least in part on indication of operation at some feature or functionality of the vehicle.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

establishing a communication link for bi-directional communication, the communication link facilitating wireless communication between the vehicle and a control panel of the security and/or automation system.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable code for controlling a security and/or automation system using a vehicle, the code executable by a processor to:

receive data associated with operability for controlling the security and/or automation system using the vehicle, the data comprising at least a first set of data corresponding to one or more geolocation indications and a second set of data corresponding to operational characteristics of the vehicle;

identify and authenticate presence of a user within the vehicle based at least in part on the first set of data;

determine an action related to operation at the vehicle based at least in part on the second set of data;

permit functional capability to at least one control option for controlling the security and/or automation system based at least in part on the identifying and authenticating of presence of the user and the determining of the action; and

transmit instructions to control the security and/or automation system based at least in part on the permitting.