DRONE CONTROL DEVICE

• US 20170205827A1
• Filed: 01/10/2017
• Published: 07/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alarm.com Inc. (Alarm.com Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Alarm.com Inc. (Alarm.com Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rezvani, Babak
• Granted Patent: US 10,228,695 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/10 Rotorcrafts
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/14 with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/25 Fixed-wing aircraft VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/70 for use inside enclosed spaces, e.g. in buildings or in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/10 autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS]
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/37 Charging when not in flight
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0022 characterised by the communication link data switching networks in general H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/02 Control of position or course in two dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/196 using television cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1965 the vehicle being an aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/00 Identifying, scaring or incapacitating burglars, thieves or intruders, e.g. by explosives
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/02 with smoke, gas, or coloured or odorous powder or liquid
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements

Abstract

In one general aspect, a drone control device includes a body, a motor that is configured to move the body, a network module, an input module, and a processor. The network module is configured to communicate with a security system that monitors a property and receive data associated with a location within the property. The input module is configured to receive user input. The processor is configured to perform operations that include: determine, from among the location within the property and other locations within the property, a target location within the property; move the body to the target location within the property by providing a signal to the motor; receive, from the input module, input data that is associated with an operation of the security system; and in response to receiving the input data, perform the operation of the security system.

Claims

1. An drone control device comprising:

a body;

a motor that is configured to move the body;

a network module that is configured to;

communicate with a security system that monitors a property; and

receive data associated with a location within the property;

an input module that is configured to receive user input; and

a processor that is configured to;

determine, from among the location within the property and other locations within the property, a target location within the property;

move the body to the target location within the property by providing a signal to the motor;

receive, from the input module, input data that is associated with an operation of the security system; and

in response to receiving the input data, perform the operation of the security system.

2. The drone control device of claim 1, wherein the input module comprises:

a display that is configured to display data in response to instructions from the processor; and

a keypad that is configured to provide keypress data to the processor.

3. The drone control device of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more sensors that are configured detect environmental conditions in a vicinity of the drone control device.

4. The drone control device of claim 3, wherein the one or more sensors comprise at least a camera and a presence sensor.

5. The drone control device of claim 1, wherein determining, from among the location within the property and other locations within the property, a target location within the property is based on the data associated with the location within the property and data received from the input module.

6. The drone control device of claim 1, wherein:

the drone control device is part of the security system, and

performing an operation of the security system includes performing an operation of the drone control device.

7. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, by a drone control device that is associated with a security system that monitors a property, data associated with a location within the property;

based on the data associated with the location within the property, determining, from among the location and other locations within the property, a target location within the property;

automatically navigating, by the drone control device, to the target location within the property;

receiving, by the drone control device, a user input that is associated with an operation of the security system; and

performing, by the drone control device, the operation of the security system.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein:

receiving data associated with a location within the property comprises receiving, from a user device at the location within the property, a request that the drone control device navigate to the location;

the target location within the property comprises the location of the user device within the property; and

the method further comprises;

after automatically navigating to the location of the user device within the property, providing, for display on the drone control device, a user interface that identifies the operation of the security system and one or more additional operations of the security system.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the operation of the security system and the one or more additional operations of the security system comprise:

checking energy usage of an additional device that communicates with the security system;

sending an alarm signal;

or

securing the property.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein:

receiving data associated with a location within the property comprises receiving, from one or more sensors of the security system, data indicating a security breach at the location within the property;

the target location within the property comprises a location of a user within the property; and

the method further comprises;

after automatically navigating to the location of the user, providing, for display on the drone control device, a user interface associated with the security breach.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the user interface identifies the location of the security breach within the property.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the user interface includes a selectable option to notify a third party of the security breach;

receiving a user input that is associated with an operation of the security system comprises receiving data indicating a selection of the selectable option to notify the third party of the security breach; and

performing the operation of the security system comprises notifying the third party.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein:

receiving data associated with a location within the property comprises receiving sensor data indicating a user has entered the property;

the target location within the property comprises a location where the user has entered the property; and

performing the operation of the security system comprises verifying that the user who has entered the property is authorized to enter the property.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein verifying that the user who has entered the property is authorized to enter the property comprises:

receiving user input indicating an access code;

comparing the received access code to a verified access code; and

determining whether the user who has entered the property is authorized to enter the property based on comparing the received access code to the verified access code.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein verifying that the user who has entered the property is authorized to enter the property comprises:

obtaining biometric data of the user who has entered the property;

obtaining reference biometric data associated with one or more authorized users of the property;

comparing the reference biometric data to the biometric data of the user who has entered the property; and

determining whether the user who has entered the property is authorized to enter the property based on comparing the reference biometric data to the biometric data of the user who has entered the property.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage device encoded with computer program instructions that, when executed by one or more computers, cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising:

receiving, by a drone control device that is associated with a security system that monitors a property, data associated with a location within the property;

based on the data associated with the location within the property, determining, from among the location and other locations within the property, a target location within the property;

automatically navigating, by the drone control device, to the target location within the property;

receiving, by the drone control device, a user input that is associated with an operation of the security system; and

performing, by the drone control device, the operation of the security system.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 16, wherein:

receiving data associated with a location within the property comprises receiving, from a user device at the location within the property, a request that the drone control device navigate to the location;

the target location within the property comprises the location of the user device within the property; and

the operations performed by the one or more computers further comprise;

after automatically navigating to the location of the user device within the property, providing, for display on the drone control device, a user interface that identifies the operation of the security system and one or more additional operations of the security system.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 17, wherein the operation of the security system and the one or more additional operations of the security system comprise:

checking energy usage of a device that communicates with the security system;

sending an alarm signal;

or

securing the property.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 16, wherein:

receiving data associated with a location within the property comprises receiving, from one or more sensors of the security system, data indicating a security breach at the location within the property;

the target location within the property comprises a location of a user within the property; and

the operations performed by the one or more computers further comprise;

after automatically navigating to the location of the user, providing, for display on the drone control device, a user interface associated with the likely security breach.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 19, wherein the user interface identifies the location of the likely security breach within the property.