Managing barrier and occupancy based home automation system

• US 10,274,909 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2014
• Issued: 04/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lyman, Jefferson
• Primary Examiner(s): Rashid, Wissam
• Application Number:
  US14/262,506
• Publication Number:
  US 20150309487A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,831 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2827 Reporting to a device within the home network; wherein the reception of the information reported automatically triggers the execution of a home appliance functionality

Abstract

Methods and systems are described for controlling access to a home based on user occupancy. According to at least one embodiment, an apparatus for controlling access to a home based on user occupancy includes a processor, a memory in electronic communication with the processor, and instructions stored in the memory which are executable by a processor to determine a location of a user of a home automation system relative to a barrier of a home being monitored by the home automation system. The instructions are executable to determine whether to permit a change in a locking mechanism of the barrier based in part on the determined location of the user, and maintain a current state of the home automation system.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

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

determine a location of a user of a home automation system relative to a barrier of a home being monitored by the home automation system, wherein the home automation system comprises a sensor, a wall-mounted control panel, and a locking mechanism of the barrier distinct from the sensor and the control panel, wherein the wall to which the control panel is mounted is a fixed wall of a building;

determine whether to permit a change in the locking mechanism of the barrier based at least in part on the determined location of the user and whether the user is authorized; and

if the user is authorized, maintain a current armed state of the home automation system when the authorized user accesses the barrier; and

if the user is unauthorized, maintain the current armed state of the home automation system when the unauthorized user accesses the barrier;

wherein maintaining the current armed state of the home automation system when the unauthorized user accesses the barrier comprises triggering an alarm when the unauthorized user accesses the barrier from inside the home while the current armed state is maintained;

wherein maintaining the current armed state of the home automation system when the authorized user accesses the barrier comprises refraining from triggering the alarm when the authorized user accesses the barrier from inside the home while the current armed state is maintained; and

wherein the home security system is powered on when the home automation system is in either the armed state or a disarmed state.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

determine an identity of the user, wherein determining whether to permit the change in the locking mechanism of the barrier is based in part on the identity of the user.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein determining whether to permit a change in the locking mechanism of the barrier includes:

unlocking the locking mechanism if the user is located inside or outside the home and is identified as an authorized person; and

maintaining the barrier locked if the user is located inside or outside the home and is identified as an unauthorized person.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

generate an alarm when the user is identified as an unauthorized person and attempts to open the barrier from outside of the home.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the current state of the home automation system is an active state.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein determining a location of the user includes determining whether the user is inside or outside of the home.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein determining a location of the user includes determining on which side of the barrier the user is positioned.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the barrier is one of a door or a window of the home, and the change in the locking mechanism includes locking or unlocking the locking mechanism to control opening of the door or window.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein determining the location of the user includes determining whether the user is touching an inside handle used to control opening the barrier or an outside handle used to control opening of the barrier.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein determining whether to permit a change in the locking mechanism of the barrier includes unlocking the locking mechanism if the user is inside the home.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein determining a location of a user includes receiving signals from at least one of a touch sensor, a voice recognition sensor, a motion sensor, and an optical sensor.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving feedback from the sensor, wherein the determined location of the user is based at least in part on the received feedback.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the signal feedback is receivable from the sensor irrespective of whether the state of the home security system is in the armed state or the disarmed state.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the sensor is operational irrespective of whether the state of the home security system is in the armed state or the disarmed state.

15. A computer-program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor to:

determine a location of a user of a home automation system relative to a barrier of a home being monitored by the home automation system wherein the home automation system comprises a sensor, a wall-mounted control panel, and a locking mechanism of the barrier distinct from the sensor and the control panel, wherein the wall to which the control panel is mounted is a permanent wall of a building;

determine an identity of the user;

determine whether to permit a change in the locking mechanism of the barrier based at least in part on the determined location of the user and whether the user is authorized; and

if the user is authorized, maintain a current armed state of the home automation system when the authorized user accesses the barrier; and

if the user is unauthorized, maintain the current armed state of the home automation system when the unauthorized user accesses the barrier;

wherein maintaining the current armed state of the home automation system when the unauthorized user accesses the barrier comprises triggering an alarm when the unauthorized user accesses the barrier from inside the home while the current armed state is maintained;

wherein maintaining the current armed state of the home automation system when the authorized user accesses the barrier comprises refraining from triggering the alarm when the authorized user accesses the barrier from inside the home while the current armed state is maintained; and

wherein the home security system is powered on when the home automation system is in either the armed state or a disarmed state.

16. The computer-program product of claim 15, wherein maintaining a current state include maintaining the home automation system in a constant active state.

17. The computer-program product of claim 15, wherein determining whether to permit a change in the locking mechanism of the barrier includes:

unlocking the locking mechanism if the user is located inside or outside the home and is identified as an authorized person; and

maintaining the barrier locked if the user is located outside the home and is identified as an unauthorized person.

18. The computer-program product of claim 15, wherein determining a location of the user includes determining if the user is touching an inside handle or an outside handle used to open the barrier.

19. The computer-program product of claim 15, wherein determining an identity of the user includes receiving a signal from an electronic device carried by the user.

20. A computer-implemented method comprising:

determine a location of a user of a home automation system relative to a barrier of a home being monitored by the home automation system, wherein the home automation system comprises a sensor, a wall-mounted control panel, and a locking mechanism of the barrier distinct from the sensor and the control panel, wherein the wall to which the control panel is mounted is a permanent wall of a building;

determining an identity of the user;

determining whether to permit a change in the locking mechanism of the barrier based at least in part on the determined location of the user and whether the user is authorized; and

if the user is authorized, maintaining a current armed state of the home automation system when the authorized user accesses the barrier; and

if the user is unauthorized, maintaining the current armed state of the home automation system when the unauthorized user accesses the barrier;

wherein maintaining the current armed state of the home automation system when the unauthorized user accesses the barrier comprises triggering an alarm when the unauthorized user accesses the barrier from inside the home while the current armed state is maintained;

wherein maintaining the current armed state of the home automation system when the authorized user accesses the barrier comprises refraining from triggering the alarm when the authorized user accesses the barrier from inside the home while the current armed state is maintained; and

wherein the home security system is powered on when the home automation system is in either the armed state or a disarmed state.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

unlocking a locking mechanism of the barrier when the user is identified as an authorized user; and

locking the locking mechanism when the user is identified as an unauthorized user.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

unlocking a locking mechanism of the barrier when the user is determined to be located on one side of the barrier; and

locking the locking mechanism when the user is determined to be located on an opposite side of the barrier.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein determining a location of the user includes determining use of a handle assembly used to open the barrier.