PROXIMITY BASED SECURITY MONITORING

• US 20170109985A1
• Filed: 10/16/2015
• Published: 04/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jenkins, Harrison Taylor
• Granted Patent: US 10,672,242 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/00 Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0225 Monitoring making use of different thresholds, e.g. for different alarm levels
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0227 System arrangements with a plurality of child units
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0244 System arrangements wherein the alarm criteria uses signal delay or phase shift
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0272 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect exact location of child or item using triangulation other than GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/38 for collecting sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/248 Connectivity information update
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0235 where the received signal is a power saving command

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method to monitor a proximity of an item within the confines of an automation system is described. The method may comprise setting one or more monitoring thresholds for an item. The monitoring threshold factors are communicating by a sensor proximate the item. The method may receive one or more notifications via the sensor that the item has exceeded at least one monitoring threshold and activating a monitoring aspect of the sensors based at least in part on the receiving. The method may monitor the item for one or more alarm thresholds based at least in part on the receiving. One or more alarms may be activated based at least in part on the monitoring.

Claims

1. A method for security and/or automation systems, comprising:

setting, by a control panel of a security and/or an automation system, one or more monitoring thresholds for an item, wherein the one or more monitoring thresholds are communicated by a sensor proximate the item;

receiving one or more notifications via the sensor indicating that the item has exceeded at least one of the one or more monitoring thresholds and that the sensor has exited an inactive state based at least in part on exceeding the monitoring threshold;

activating a monitoring aspect of the sensor based at least in part on the receiving;

monitoring the item for one or more alarm thresholds based at least in part on the receiving; and

activating one or more alarms based at least in part on the monitoring.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

deactivating the one or more alarms.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the monitoring thresholds comprises a predetermined distance from the control panel.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

calculating a distance between the item and the control panel.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

communicating with the sensor via a radio frequency.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

calculating the distance between the sensor and the control panel based on a speed of the radio frequency.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving Global Positioning System (GPS) information from a GPS sensor affixed to the item; and

determining if the item satisfies at least one of the one or more alarm thresholds based at least in part on the receiving.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring thresholds comprise one or more of a distance threshold, movement threshold, or motion threshold.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises at least a user interface, motion detection unit, and communication unit.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

contacting one or more authorities based at least in part on the activating.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

alerting a user of the automation system based at least in part on the activating; and

requesting feedback from the user to deactivate the one or more alarms or contact an authority.

12. A control panel for security and/or automation systems, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

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

set one or more monitoring thresholds for an item, wherein the monitoring thresholds are executed by a sensor proximate the item;

receive one or more notifications via the sensor indicating that the item has exceeded at least one of the one or more monitoring thresholds and that the sensor has exited an inactive state based at least in part on exceeding the monitoring threshold;

monitor the item for one or more alarm thresholds based at least in part on the receiving; and

activate one or more alarms based at least in part on the monitoring.

13. The control panel of claim 12, wherein the instructions are executable to:

deactivate the one or more alarms.

14. The control panel of claim 12, wherein the instructions are executable to:

calculate a distance between the item and the control panel.

15. The control panel of claim 12, wherein the instructions are executable to:

receive Global Positioning System (GPS) information from a GPS sensor affixed to the item; and

determine if the item satisfies at least one of the one or more alarm thresholds based at least in part on the receiving.

16. The control panel of claim 12, wherein the instructions are executable to:

alert a user of the automation system based at least in part on the activating; and

request feedback from the user to deactivate the one or more alarms or contact an authority.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable code for wireless communication, the code executable by a processor to:

set one or more monitoring thresholds for an item, wherein the monitoring thresholds are executed by a sensor proximate the item;

receive one or more notifications via the sensor indicating that the item has exceeded at least one of the one or more monitoring thresholds and that the sensor has exited an inactive state based at least in part on exceeding the monitoring threshold;

monitor the item for one or more alarm thresholds based at least in part on the receiving; and

activate one or more alarms based at least in part on the monitoring.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the code is executable to:

deactivate the one or more alarms.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the code is executable to:

calculate a distance between the item and a control panel.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the code is executable to:

alert a user of an automation system based at least in part on the activating; and

request feedback from the user to deactivate the one or more alarms or contact an authority.