Remote Home/Office Monitoring and Control Using Skype

• US 20130117395A1
• Filed: 12/20/2012
• Published: 05/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dennis Bushmitch, Rajesh Khandelwal
• Original Assignee: Dennis Bushmitch, Rajesh Khandelwal
• Inventors: Bushmitch, Dennis, Khandelwal, Rajesh
• Application Number:
  US13/722,760
• Publication Number:
  US 20130117395A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• 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 12/2825 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 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for monitoring and control of local or remote premises using a peer-to-peer communication infrastructure. The method uses messages transmitted over the peer-to-peer communication infrastructure to relate various data and control signals.

Claims

1. A method of controlling remote premises, the method comprising:

receiving at a proxy computing device a message transmitted from a remote device over a peek-to-peer communication service, the message including a control instruction associated with actuation of an external device;

transmitting the received message from the proxy computing device to a hardware interface device, the hardware interface device including a relay electrically connected to the external device;

translating by the hardware interface device the control instruction from the message to a control signal associated with the relay; and

applying the control signal to the relay to actuate the external device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is one of a text message and an instant message.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the peer-to-peer communication service is SKYPE.

4. A system to control remote premises, the system comprising:

a proxy computing device configured to;

receive a message transmitted from a remote device over a peek-to-peer communication service, the message including a control instruction associated with actuation of an external device; and

transmit the received message from the proxy computing device;

a hardware interface device comprising;

an interface configured to receive the message from the proxy computing device;

a controller configured to translate the control instruction from the message to a control signal; and

a relay electrically connected to the external device, the relay configured to actuate the external device when the control signal is applied to the relay by the controller.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the message is one of a text message;

instant message, e-mail message, and voice message.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the peer-to-peer communication service is SKYPE.

7. A method of monitoring remote premises, the method comprising:

detecting at a hardware interface device sensor information associated with a sensor, the sensor electrically connected to the hardware interface device;

translating by the hardware interface device the sensor information to a status message including the sensor information;

receiving at a proxy computing device the status message from the hardware interface device; and

transmitting from the proxy computing device the status message to a remote device over a peek-to-peer communication service.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the sensor is one of a temperature sensor and a contact sensor.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the status message is one of a text message, instant message, e-mail message, and voice message.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the peer-to-peer communication service is SKYPE.

11. A system of monitoring remote premises, the system comprising:

a hardware interface device comprising;

a controller electrically connected to a sensor, the controller configured to sensor information associated with the sensor; and

an interface configured to translate the sensor information to a status message including the sensor information;

a proxy computing device configured to;

receive the status message from the interface of hardware interface device; and

transmit the status message to a remote device over a peek-to-peer communication service.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the sensor is one of a temperature sensor and a contact sensor.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the status message is one of a text message, instant message, e-mail message, and voice message.

14. The method of claim wherein the peer-to-peer communication service is SKYPE.