Method and system for providing alternate network access

• US 10,140,840 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2017
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iControl Networks, Inc. (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: iControl Networks, Inc. (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Cohn, Alan Wade, Battles, Ronald E., Proft, David, Shumate, Scott William
• Primary Examiner(s): King, Simon
• Application Number:
  US15/452,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20170301216A1
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/004 Alarm propagated along alternative communication path or using alternative communication medium according to a hierarchy of available ways to communicate, e.g. if Wi-Fi not available use GSM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2898 Subscriber equipments DSL modems H04M11/062; cable modems H04L12/2801
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

Methods and systems for configuring communication at a premises are described. A network device at a premises may be in communication with a first network and a second network. The network device may receive data from a security system and a communication device located at the premises. The network device may transmit the data via the first network or the second network based on configuration data, which may be received from a remote server located external to the premise.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a network device located at a premises and from a computing device, configuration data associated with a communication configuration of the network device, wherein the network device is in communication with a first network and a second network different from the first network;

receiving, by the network device and from a security system located at the premises, security data;

receiving, by the network device and from a communication device located at the premises, communication data for a remote device external to the premises;

determining, based on at least the configuration data, to use the first network to send one or more of the security data or the communication data; and

sending, via the first network and based on at least the determination to use the first network, the one or more of the security data or the communication data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration data comprises an instruction to prioritize using the first network above using the second network to send one or more of the security data or the communication data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first network comprises a packet-switched network and the second network comprises a public switched telephone network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first network comprises a public switched telephone network and the second network comprises a packet-switched network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending, via the first network, the one or more of the security data or the communication data comprises sending, via the first network the security data and the communication data.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending, via the first network, the one or more of the security data or the communication data comprises sending, via the first network, the security data, and further comprising sending, via the second network, the communication data.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a network condition of one or more of the first network or the second network, wherein determining the first network is based on the network condition.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the network condition comprises a connection state.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the security system comprises a plurality of sensors and a controller in communication with the plurality of sensors.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the security data comprises sensor data from the plurality of sensors.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device comprises a remote server located external to the premises.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication device comprises an audio communication device, and wherein the communications data comprises audio data.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication device comprises a video communication device, and wherein the communications data comprises video data.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration data is received based on a determination to enable a communication service for the premises.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the communication service comprises a voice over internet protocol service.

16. A system comprising

a security system located at a premises;

a communication device located at the premises; and

a network device located at the premises and in communication with the security system and the communication device, wherein the network device is configured to;

receive, from a computing device, configuration data associated with a communication configuration of the network device, wherein the network device is in communication with a first network and a second network different from the first network;

receive, from the security system, security data;

receive, from the communication device, communication data for a remote device external to the premises;

determine, based on at least the configuration data, to use the first network to send one or more of the security data or the communication data; and

send, via the first network and based on at least the determination to use the first network, the one or more of the security data or the communication data.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the configuration data comprises an instruction to prioritize using the first network above using the second network to send one or more of the security data or the communication data.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the first network comprises a packet-switched network and the second network comprises a public switched telephone network.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the first network comprises a public switched telephone network and the second network comprises a packet-switched network.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the network device being configured to send, via the first network, the one or more of the security data or the communication data comprises the network device being configured to send, via the first network the security data and the communication data.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the network device being configured to send, via the first network, the one or more of the security data or the communication data comprises the network device being configured to send, via the first network, the security data, and wherein the network device is further configured to send, via the second network, the communication data.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein the network device is further configured to determine a network condition of one or more of the first network or the second network, wherein the first network is determined based on the network condition.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the network condition comprises a connection state.

24. The system of claim 16, wherein the security system comprises a plurality of sensors and a controller in communication with the plurality of sensors.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the security data comprises sensor data from the plurality of sensors.

26. The system of claim 16, wherein the computing device comprises a remote server located external to the premises.

27. The system of claim 16, wherein the communication device comprises an audio communication device, and wherein the communications data comprises audio data.

28. The system of claim 16, wherein the communication device comprises a video communication device, and wherein the communications data comprises video data.

29. The system of claim 16, wherein the configuration data is received based on a determination to enable a communication service for the premises.

30. A device comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the device to;

receive, from a computing device, configuration data associated with a communication configuration of the device, wherein the device is in communication with a first network and a second network different from the first network;

receive, from a security system located at a premises, security data;

receive, from a communication device located at the premises, communication data for a remote device external to the premises;

determine, based on at least the configuration data, to use the first network to send one or more of the security data or the communication data; and

send, via the first network and based on at least the determination to use the first network, the one or more of the security data or the communication data.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein the configuration data comprises an instruction to prioritize using the first network above using the second network to send one or more of the security data or the communication data.

32. The device of claim 30, wherein the first network comprises a packet-switched network and the second network comprises a public switched telephone network.

33. The device of claim 30, wherein the first network comprises a public switched telephone network and the second network comprises a packet-switched network.

34. The device of claim 30, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the device to send, via the first network, the one or more of the security data or the communication data comprise instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the device to send, via the first network the security data and the communication data.

35. The device of claim 30, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the device to determine a network condition of one or more of the first network or the second network, wherein the first network is determined based on the network condition.

36. The device of claim 35, wherein the network condition comprises a connection state.

37. The device of claim 30, wherein the security system comprises a plurality of sensors and a controller in communication with the plurality of sensors.

38. The device of claim 37, wherein the security data comprises sensor data from the plurality of sensors.

39. The device of claim 30, wherein the computing device comprises a remote server located external to the premises.

40. The device of claim 30, wherein the communication device comprises an audio communication device, and wherein the communications data comprises audio data.

41. The device of claim 30, wherein the communication device comprises a video communication device, and wherein the communications data comprises video data.

42. The device of claim 30, wherein the configuration data is received based on a determination to enable a communication service for the premises.