Methods for prompting a user to use enhanced automation system features, and systems and devices related thereto

• US 10,504,042 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2018
• Issued: 12/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dunn, Alex J., Nye, James E., Warren, Jeremy B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wang, Jack K
• Application Number:
  US16/140,361
• Publication Number:
  US 20190095826A1
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: 340541
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements
• 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 12/2829 involving user profiles according to which the execution of a home appliance functionality is automatically triggered
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/50 Systems or methods supporting the power network operation or management, involving a certain degree of interaction with the load-side end user applications

Abstract

A control panel is used to control and/or monitor an automation system. The automation system may also be used in connection with one or more enhanced services, such as a remote access service. The remote access service may allow a user to control or monitor some or all aspects of the automation system through a remote computing device. To use the remote access service, or other enhanced services, the user may register to associate the user with the control panel of the automation system. If it is determined that the user has not registered, the service provider may send a message to the control panel. The message may prompt the user to register for the enhanced service. Optionally, contact information may be requested to allow a message to be sent to a personal device of the user to facilitate registration or use of the enhanced service.

Claims

1. A method for prompting an automation system user to use one or more enhanced features, comprising:

identifying an automation system associated with the automation system user;

tracking usage of automation system services for which the automation system user is registered;

identifying a service for which the automation system user is registered;

determining that the automation system user has used a first feature relating to the service and that the automation system user has failed to use a second feature relating to the service based at least in part on the tracked usage; and

sending a message to a user device associated with the automation system based at least in part on the determining.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying one or more features relating to the service for which the automation system user is registered, wherein the first feature and the second feature are included in the one or more identified features.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second feature includes one or more enhanced features relating to the service for which the automation system user is registered.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the message includes information related to using the one or more enhanced features.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining that the automation system user has not used the one or more enhanced features for a predetermined time period after sending the message; and

sending a second message to the user device associated with the automation system, the second message comprising a reminder regarding the one or more enhanced features.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein sending the second message to the user device further comprises:

sending the second message to the user device associated with the automation system at regular intervals until a response is received.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the service comprises an interactive service providing remote access to the automation system.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the interactive service further provides one or more of remote control, or monitoring, or both of one or more automation components of the automation system.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the message includes a request for the automation system user to input contact information.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the user device comprises a cell phone, a smart phone, a computer, a tablet, or a control panel.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing a query to determine whether the automation system user has used the first feature and the second feature relating to the service, wherein determining that the automation system user has used the first feature and has failed to use the second feature is based at least in part on the query.

12. A method for prompting a user to use one or more enhanced features available for a security or automation system, comprising:

identifying the user associated with the security or automation system;

tracking usage of system services for which the user is registered;

identifying a service for which the user is registered;

determining that the user has used a first feature relating to the service and that the user has failed to use a second feature relating to the service based at least in part on the tracked usage;

receiving a message based at least in part on the determining; and

requesting input from the user in response to the message.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the message is received from one or more of a service provider, a web portal, or a network operations center.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

identifying one or more features relating to the service for which the user is registered, wherein the first feature and the second feature are included in the one or more identified features.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the second feature includes one or more enhanced features relating to the service for which the user is registered.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the message includes information related to using the one or more enhanced features.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

determining that the user has not used the one or more enhanced features for a predetermined time period after receiving the message;

receiving a second message based at least in part on the determining, the second message comprising a reminder regarding the one or more enhanced features;

displaying the second message on a display associated with the user; and

requesting input from the user in response to the second message.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the service comprises an interactive service providing remote access to the security or automation system.

19. An apparatus for an automation system, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

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

identify an automation system associated with a user;

track usage of automation system services for which the user is registered;

identify a service for which the user is registered;

determine that the user has used a first feature relating to the service and that the user has failed to use a second feature relating to the service based at least in part on the tracked usage; and

send a message to a user device associated with the automation system based at least in part on the determining.

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

identify one or more features relating to the service for which the user is registered, wherein the first feature and the second feature are included in the one or more identified features.