SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HOME AUTOMATION AND SECURITY

• US 20120023151A1
• Filed: 09/30/2011
• Published: 01/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ameritech Corp. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ameritech Corp. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bennett, Raymond Walden III, Griffith, Laura Marie, Lund, Arnold M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,242,900 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/202
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/22 Electrical actuation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/007 with remote control systems remote control in general G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/062 using different frequency bands for speech and other data

Abstract

A home automation and security system is provided in which a home automation and security controller in a customer premises is coupled with a remotely located central control facility using a continuous connectivity access line providing a data channel separate from a voice channel. The controller at the customer premises is responsible for monitoring and applying control signals to devices in the home and for supporting a human interface. The remotely located central control facility is responsible for providing the computational and database resources to the controller. By redistributing functionality, the network-based structure of this home automation and security system can overcome the disadvantages of conventional home automation and security systems.

Claims

1. A home automation system, comprising:

a first computer implemented application corresponding to a first premises;

an expected occupancy schedule stored in association with the first application, wherein the first application is to receive a signal from a controller of a second premises indicative of an identity of a person located at the second premises, wherein the first application is to, when the person is associated with the expected occupancy schedule, record a location of the person as the second premises, and wherein the first application is to report the location of the person in response to a request.

2. A home automation system as defined in claim 1, wherein the first application is to use the expected occupancy schedule to determine whether a security system should be activated in response to receiving a security signal.

3. A home automation system as defined in claim 1, wherein the second application is to send the signal indicative of the identity of the person in response to detecting a transponder associated with the person.

4. A home automation system as defined in claim 1, wherein the second application is to send the signal indicative of the identity of the person in response to receiving an identifier associated with the person.

5. A home automation system as defined in claim 1, wherein the first application is implemented on a server remotely located from the first premises.

6. A home automation system as defined in claim 1, wherein the first application is to adjust the expected occupancy schedule based on the location of the person being the second premises.

7. A home automation system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a network coupling a server implementing the first application to the first premises.

8. A home automation system as defined in claim 7, wherein the first premises is communicatively coupled to a home automation and security server via a central office over a continuous connectivity access line.

9. A method of operating a home automation system, comprising:

detecting a presence of a person at a first premises via a first controller associated with a first application of a home automation system, wherein the person is a resident of a second premises;

sending a signal indicative of the presence of the person at the first premises to a second application associated with the second premises, wherein the second application is to alter an expected occupancy schedule having information related to an expected occupancy of the second premises based on the signal, and wherein the expected occupancy schedule is to be used to determine whether a security system should be activated in response to receiving a security signal from a second controller associated with the second premises.

10. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein detecting the presence of the person at the first premises comprises detecting a transponder associated with the person.

11. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein detecting the presence of the person at the first premises comprises receiving an identifier associated with the resident.

12. A method as defined in claim 9, further comprising generating a report including information related to the adjusting of the expected occupancy schedule.

13. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein the first application is implemented on a server remotely located from the first premises.

14. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein the first premises and the second premises are communicatively coupled via a home automation and security server.

15. A method as defined in claim 9, further comprising a network coupling a server implementing the first application to the first premises.

16. A home automation system, comprising:

a first controller to;

detect a presence of a person at a first premises, wherein the person is a resident of a second premises; and

send a message indicative of the presence of the person at the first premises to an application associated with the second premises, wherein the application is to alter an expected occupancy schedule having information related to an expected occupancy of the second premises based on the message, and wherein the expected occupancy schedule is to be used to determine whether a security system should be activated in response to receiving a security signal from a second controller associated with the second premises.

17. A home automation system as defined in claim 16, wherein the first controller is to prompt the person for an identifier in response to the person entering the first premises.

18. A home automation system as defined in claim 16, wherein the first controller is to send the message in response to detecting a transponder associated with the person.

19. A home automation system as defined in claim 16, wherein the first controller is to send the message in response to receiving an identifier associated with the person.

20. A home automation system as defined in claim 16, wherein the application is implemented on a server remotely located from the second premises.