SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING A LOCATION

• US 20100097214A1
• Filed: 10/22/2008
• Published: 04/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sweeney, Jeffrey M., Rooks, Kelsyn D.S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,791,817 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/545.1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/08 by opening, e.g. of door, of window, of drawer, of shutter, of curtain, of blind
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons

Abstract

According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for monitoring a location is presented. The method includes monitoring one or more entryways of a building to detect when an entryway of the building is being opened and responsive to detecting an entryway of the building being opened, the method monitors for a presence of one or more wireless devices within a range of a residential wireless access point located within the building. In response to detecting the presence a wireless device within the range of the residential wireless access point, the method identifies an identifier associated with the wireless device. The method determines whether the identifier associated with the wireless device is registered with the residential wireless access point and responsive to the identifier associated with the wireless device being unregistered with the residential wireless access point, the method performs a user-specified event.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring a location comprising:

monitoring one or more entryways of a building to detect when an entryway of the building is being opened;

responsive to detecting an entryway of the building being opened, monitoring for a presence of one or more wireless devices within a range of a residential wireless access point located within the building;

responsive to detecting the presence a wireless device within the range of the residential wireless access point, determining an identifier associated with the wireless device;

determining whether the identifier associated with the wireless device is registered with the residential wireless access point; and

responsive to the identifier associated with the wireless device being unregistered with the residential wireless access point, performing a user-specified event.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the user-specified event includes triggering an audible alarm at the building.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the user-specified event includes sending an alert notification to a user associated with the residential wireless access point. (in case the person is not home)

4. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the user-specified event includes sending an alert notification to a specified user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the user-specified event includes notifying law enforcement of an unlawful entry.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the identifier associated with the wireless device;

storing time data corresponding to a period of time that the wireless device is detected by the residential wireless access point; and

providing the identifier and time data to an authorized recipient.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying a user associated with the wireless device by retrieving data from a service provider subscriber account database.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising performing a criminal background check on the user.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying a telephone number associated with the wireless device.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting a signal strength of a transceiver associated with the residential wireless access point based on the size of the building.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a data bus system;

memory coupled to the data bus system, the memory includes computer usable program code;

a processing unit coupled to the data bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the computer usable program code to;

monitor one or more entryways of a building to detect when an entryway of the building is being opened;

monitor for a presence of one or more wireless devices within a range of a residential wireless access point located within the building in response to detecting an entryway of the building being opened;

determine an identifier associated with a wireless device in response to detecting the presence of the wireless device within the range of the residential wireless access point;

determine whether the identifier associated with the wireless device is registered with the residential wireless access point; and

perform a user-specified event in response to the identifier associated with the wireless device being unregistered with the residential wireless access point.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processing unit executes the computer usable program code to trigger an audible alarm at the building.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processing unit executes the computer usable program code to send an alert notification to a user associated with the residential wireless access point.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processing unit executes the computer usable program code to send an alert notification to a specified user.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processing unit executes the computer usable program code to notify law enforcement of an unlawful entry.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processing unit further executes the computer usable program code to:

store the identifier associated with the wireless device;

store time data corresponding to a period of time that the wireless device is detected by the residential wireless access point; and

provide the identifier and time data to an authorized recipient.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processing unit further executes the computer usable program code to identify a user associated with the wireless device.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processing unit executes the computer usable program code to perform a criminal background check on the user.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processing unit executes the computer usable program code to identify a telephone number associated with the wireless device.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processing unit executes the computer usable program code to adjust a signal strength of a transceiver associated with the residential wireless access point based on the size of the building.