MOBILE PREMISES AUTOMATION PLATFORM

• US 20170227965A1
• Filed: 11/17/2016
• Published: 08/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iControl Networks, Inc. (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Chris Decenzo, Wayne Fenton
• Inventors: FENTON, Wayne, KITCHEN, Jim, DECENZO, Chris, DAWES, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 11,258,625 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/10 Air crafts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/32 Waterborne vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 2025/028 using remote control means, e.g. wireless control; Equipment or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 25/02 Initiating means for steering , for slowing down, otherwise than by use of propulsive elements, or for dynamic anchoring
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/37 Charging when not in flight
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/16 by integrating acceleration or speed, i.e. inertial navigation
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0038 by providing the operator with simple or augmented images from one or more cameras located onboard the vehicle, e.g. tele-operation images analyzed by a computer and used for automatic navigation G05D1/0246
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0055 with safety arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0094 involving pointing a payload, e.g. camera, weapon, sensor, towards a fixed or moving target
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0206 specially adapted to water vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0276 using signals provided by a source external to the vehicle involving a plurality of vehicles G05D1/0287; automatically controlling vehicle speed responsive to externally generated signals B60K31/0058
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/106 Change initiated in response to external conditions, e.g. avoidance of elevated terrain or of no-fly zones
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• 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 2012/2841 : Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2843 : Mains power line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/029 : Firewall traversal, e.g. tunnelling or, creating pinholes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 : wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/166 : at the transport layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 : for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 : in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 : involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 : Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/033 : of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/38 : for collecting sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/44 : for communication between vehicles and infrastructures, e.g. vehicle-to-cloud [V2C] or vehicle-to-home [V2H]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A system including a drone or unmanned vehicle configured to perform surveillance of a premises. The drone surveillance includes autonomous navigation and/or remote or optional piloting around the premises. The drone includes a controller coupled to a plurality of sensors configured to collect drone data and security data at the premises, wherein the controller is configured to generate control data for the drone and the premises using the drone data and the security data. A remote device coupled to the drone includes a user interface configured to present the drone data, the security data, and/or the control data.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a drone comprising a plurality of sensors configured to collect surveillance data at a premises, wherein the drone includes a positioning system and propulsion system configured to control position and movement of the drone for premises surveillance;

a plurality of network devices installed at the premises;

a gateway comprising a rules engine, wherein the gateway is coupled to the drone and the plurality of network devices, wherein the gateway is configured to receive drone data and the surveillance data from the drone and device data from the plurality of network devices, wherein the rules engine is configured to generate control data for the drone and the plurality of network devices using the drone data, the surveillance data and the device data; and

a remote client device coupled to the gateway, wherein the remote client device includes a user interface generated by an application of the remote client device, wherein the user interface is configured to present at least one of the drone data, the surveillance data and the device data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the drone comprises an unmanned autonomous vehicle, wherein the plurality of sensors includes at least one of an image sensor, an acoustic sensor, an environmental sensor, a motion sensor, and a detector.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the drone includes at least one of an aircraft, a land vehicle, a watercraft, and a motor vehicle.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the drone includes control logic comprising at least one of the following:

operation logic defined by one or more predefined operation procedures using data of sensor states of at least one system sensor of the drone including at least one of velocity, a timer, an inertial measurement unit, and a global positioning system (GPS);

range prediction logic defined by a status of the power source of the drone and premises environmental conditions including at least one of wind speed and direction, humidity, altitude, temperature, and air pressure, and a trajectory planner associated with one or more mobile operations; and

autonomous logic associated with the range prediction logic including collision avoidance logic and control and encryption for information transmitted between the drone and at least one of the gateway and the remote server.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the drone comprises operational states including at least one of a quiet state, a charging state, and a patrol state when the drone is performing surveillance of the premises.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the drone includes at least one pre-programmed premises patrol route for use in the patrol state.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the drone generates a premises patrol route for use in a patrol state.

8. The system of claim 2, comprising a remote server coupled to at least one of the gateway and the drone, wherein the remote server is configured to receive at least a portion of the drone data, the surveillance data, the device data, and the control data.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the remote server includes a server rules engine, wherein the server rules engine is configured to control at least one of the drone and at least one premises device of the plurality of premises devices.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein processing of at least one of the drone data, the surveillance data and the device data is distributed among the rules engine of the gateway and the server rules engine.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the remote server and the gateway are configured to coordinate control of the drone using at least one of the drone data, the surveillance data and the device data.

12. The system of claim 8, comprising a map of the premises, wherein the map includes at least one of a two-dimensional and a three-dimensional map.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the drone is configured to generate the map from at least one of the drone data, the surveillance data and the device data.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein at least one of the drone, the gateway, and the remote server is configured to generate the map from at least one of the drone data, the surveillance data and the device data.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein the drone includes a communication system configured to transmit at least one of the surveillance data and the drone data to at least one of the remote server and the gateway, wherein the communication system includes at least one of radio frequency (RF) and cellular channels.

16. The system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the gateway and the remote server is configured to generate alert messages using at least one of the drone data, the surveillance data and the device data, and provide the alert messages to the user interface of the remote client device.

17. The system of claim 8, wherein the gateway is located at the premises.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the drone includes the gateway.

19. The system of claim 8, wherein the remote server includes the gateway.

20. The system of claim 8, wherein the gateway is coupled to the remote server via a plurality of communication channels, wherein the plurality of communication channels include at least one of a broadband channel, a cellular channel, and an RF channel.

21. The system of claim 8, wherein the rules engine is configured to control interaction among the plurality of premises devices.

22. The system of claim 8, wherein the rules engine is configured to control interaction among the drone and at least one premises device of the plurality of premises devices.

23. The system of claim 8, wherein the device data comprises data generated by the plurality of premises devices.

24. The system of claim 8, wherein the drone data includes at least one of position data and route data of the drone.

25. The system of claim 8, wherein the drone data includes system data of at least one drone onboard system.

26. The system of claim 8, wherein the gateway is configured to process at least a portion of at least one of the drone data, the surveillance data and the device data.

27. The system of claim 8, wherein the position and the movement of the drone is controlled automatically by at least one of the gateway and the server.

28. The system of claim 8, wherein the user interface is configured to receive control inputs for the drone, wherein the position and the movement of the drone is controlled via the control inputs.

29. The system of claim 8, wherein the user interface is configured to receive control inputs for at least one of the drone and the plurality of network devices.

30. The system of claim 8, comprising a docking station configured to receive the drone.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the gateway includes the docking station.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein the docking station includes a charging system configured to charge a power source of the drone.

33. The system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of premises devices includes at least one of an Internet Protocol (IP) device, a sensor, a detector, a camera, a controller, an actuator, an automation device, a monitoring device, and a security device.

34. The system of claim 8, comprising a security system at the premises, wherein the security system comprises a security controller coupled to security system components installed at the premises.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the security system is configured to provide security data of the premises to a central monitoring station remote to the premises.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein the plurality of premises devices includes the security system.

37. The system of claim 34, wherein the security system is coupled to at least one of the gateway and the drone.

38. The system of claim 34, wherein the drone includes the security controller.

39. The system of claim 34, wherein the drone includes the security system.

40. The system of claim 34, wherein the drone includes the gateway.

41. The system of claim 34, wherein the gateway and the security system form a security network that is independent of remaining premises devices of the plurality of premises devices.

42. The system of claim 34, wherein the security system components include at least one of sensors, cameras, input/output (I/O) devices, accessory controllers, door sensor, window sensor, enclosure sensor, motion sensor, thermostat, temperature sensor, heat sensor, smoke sensor, carbon monoxide sensor, water sensor, freeze sensor, weather sensor, and remote control.

43. A method comprising:

configuring a drone to include a plurality of sensors configured to collect surveillance data at a premises, wherein the drone includes a positioning system and propulsion system configured to control position and movement of the drone;

configuring a gateway to receive drone data and the surveillance data from the drone and device data from a plurality of network devices installed at the premises, and generate control data for the drone and the plurality of network devices; and

configuring a remote client device to include a user interface generated by an application of the remote client device and to present via the user interface at least one of the drone data, the surveillance data and the device data.

44. A system comprising:

a drone comprising a plurality of sensors configured to collect surveillance data at a premises;

a plurality of network devices installed at the premises;

a gateway coupled to the drone and the plurality of network devices, wherein the gateway is configured to receive drone data and the surveillance data from the drone and device data from the plurality of network devices; and

a remote client device coupled to the gateway, wherein the remote client device includes a user interface configured to present at least one of the drone data, the surveillance data and the device data.

45. A system comprising:

a drone comprising an unmanned vehicle configured to perform surveillance of a premises, wherein the surveillance includes at least one of autonomous navigation and remote piloting around the premises, wherein the drone includes a security controller coupled to a plurality of sensors configured to collect security data at the premises;

a remote server coupled to the drone, wherein the remote server is configured to receive the security data and drone data, wherein the remote server is configured to generate control data for the drone and the security controller using the security data and the drone data; and

a remote device coupled to at least one of the drone and the remote server, wherein the remote device includes a user interface configured to present the security data and the drone data.

46. A system comprising:

a drone comprising an unmanned vehicle configured to perform surveillance of a premises, wherein the surveillance includes at least one of autonomous navigation and remote piloting around the premises, wherein the drone includes a controller coupled to a plurality of sensors configured to collect drone data and security data at the premises, wherein the controller is configured to generate control data for the drone and the premises using the drone data and the security data; and

a remote device coupled to the drone, wherein the remote device includes a user interface configured to present at least one of the drone data, the security data, and the control data.

47. A system comprising:

a drone comprising an unmanned vehicle configured to patrol a premises, wherein the patrol includes at least one of autonomous navigation and remote piloting around the premises, wherein the drone includes an automation controller coupled to a plurality of sensors configured to collect sensor data, wherein a first set of sensors of the plurality of sensors is onboard the drone and a second set of sensors of the plurality of sensors is installed at the premises;

a remote server coupled to the drone and configured to receive the sensor data, wherein at least one of the remote server and the automation controller is configured to use the sensor data to generate control data for the drone and for premises devices installed at the premises; and

a remote device coupled to at least one of the drone and the remote server, wherein the remote device includes a user interface configured to present at least one of the security data and the drone data.