Methods for providing notifications for follow-up actions in response to events detected by an automation system, and systems and devices related thereto

• US 10,217,090 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2017
• Issued: 02/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Warren, Jeremy B., Santiago, Todd Matthew, Thomas, Jeffrey G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wang, Jack K
• Application Number:
  US15/819,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20180158032A1
• Time in Patent Office: 462 Days
• Field of Search: 340540, 34028601, 340506, 34053913
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/016 After-sales
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/185 Signal analysis techniques for reducing or preventing false alarms or for enhancing the reliability of the system

Abstract

An automation system may include a control panel monitoring one more automation system components. When an event is detected at an automation system component, the control panel may automatically access a local or remote data source and identify procedures to be implemented in response to the event. The procedures may include follow-up actions and procedures specific to a particular dealer of the automation system. Dealer-specific procedures may then be displayed or otherwise communicated by the control panel to alert the user of what actions to take or to expect.

Claims

1. A method for communicating dealer-specific procedures associated with a home automation system, comprising:

detecting an event associated with the home automation system, the home automation system comprising at least one home automation system component;

identifying a dealer associated with the home automation system based at least in part on detecting the event associated with the home automation system;

determining at least one procedure specific to the event and to the dealer; and

implementing the at least one procedure specific to the event and to the dealer associated with the home automation system.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the at least one procedure specific to the event and to the dealer associated with the home automation system to a user of the home automation system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the dealer associated with the home automation system comprises accessing a remote server to identify the dealer.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a second dealer associated with the home automation system based at least in part on detecting the event associated with the home automation system, the second dealer different than the dealer; and

determining at least one second procedure specific to the event and to the second dealer, the second procedure different than the at least one procedure specific to the event and to the dealer.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

implementing the at least one procedure specific to the event, the at least one second procedure specific to the event, or both based at least in part on the event associated with the home automation system.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

display a user interface at the home automation system;

receive a user selection via the user interface, the user selection associated with the at least one procedure specific to the dealer; and

communicate the user selection to the dealer.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

implementing at least one follow-up procedure after implementing the at least one procedure specific to the event and to the dealer associated with the home automation system.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying the at least one procedure specific to the event at the home automation system.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the event associated with the home automation system comprises at least one of an alarm, a false alarm, a low battery, a water leak, a communication error associated with one or more components of the home automation system, or a combination thereof.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the event associated with the home automation system is detected via at least one of a motion sensor, a magnetic sensor, an intrusion sensor, a vibration sensor, an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic detector, a microwave detector, a contact sensor, a photoelectric beam detector, a smoke detector, a temperature sensor, a carbon monoxide detector, or a combination thereof.

11. A method for registering dealer-specific procedures associated with events in a home automation system, comprising:

accessing a procedure description system associated with a plurality of dealers associated with home automation systems;

identifying at least one dealer associated with the home automation system; and

registering a procedure at the procedure description system associated with the at least one dealer, the procedure associated with an event detected via the home automation system.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

authoring the at least one dealer to access the procedure description system based at least in part on a credential of the at least one dealer.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein identifying the at least one dealer is based at least in part on the credential of the at least one dealer.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein registering the procedure at the procedure description system comprises storing the procedure at a server associated with a plurality of home automation systems.

15. A control panel of a home automation system, comprising:

one or more processors;

a display device; and

non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the control panel to;

detect an event associated with the home automation system, the home automation system comprising at least one home automation system component;

identify a dealer associated with the home automation system based at least in part on detecting the event associated with the home automation system;

determine at least one procedure specific to the event and to the dealer; and

implement the at least one procedure specific to the event and to the dealer associated with the home automation system.

16. The control panel of the home automation system of claim 15, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable media further store computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the control panel to:

transmit the at least one procedure specific to the event and to the dealer associated with the home automation system to a user of the home automation system.

17. The control panel of the home automation system of claim 15, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable media further store computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the control panel to:

identifying a second dealer associated with the home automation system based at least in part on detecting the event associated with the home automation system, the second dealer different than the dealer; and

determining at least one second procedure specific to the event and to the second dealer, the second procedure different than the at least one procedure specific to the event and to the dealer.

18. The control panel of the home automation system of claim 17, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable media further store computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the control panel to:

implement the at least one procedure specific to the event, the at least one second procedure specific to the event, or both based at least in part on the event associated with the home automation system.

19. The control panel of the home automation system of claim 15, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable media further store computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the control panel to:

implement at least one follow-up procedure after implementing the at least one procedure specific to the event and to the dealer associated with the home automation system.

20. The control panel of the home automation system of claim 19, wherein the at least one follow-up procedure comprises:

an in-band procedure;

or

an out-of-band procedure.