MANAGING HOME AUTOMATION SYSTEM BASED ON OCCUPANCY

• US 20150309487A1
• Filed: 04/25/2014
• Published: 10/29/2015
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 10,274,909 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 for controlling access to a home based on user occupancy, 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;

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.

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. A computer-program product for controlling access to a home based on user occupancy, the 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;

determine an identity of the user;

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

maintain a current state of the home automation system.

13. The computer-program product of claim 12, wherein maintaining a current state include maintaining the home automation system in a constant active state.

14. The computer-program product of claim 12, 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.

15. The computer-program product of claim 12, 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.

16. The computer-program product of claim 12, wherein determining an identity of the user includes receiving a signal from an electronic device carried by the user.

17. A computer-implemented method for controlling access to a home based on user occupancy, comprising:

determining a location of a user of a home automation system relative to a barrier of a home being monitored by the home automation system;

determining an identity of the user;

determining whether to permit opening the barrier based in part on the determined location and identity of the user; and

maintaining an active state of the home automation system.

18. The method of claim 17, 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.

19. The method of claim 17, 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.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein determining a location of the user includes determining use of a handle assembly used to open the barrier.