Network device management technology

• US 8,214,494 B1
• Filed: 05/18/2010
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alarm.com Inc. (Alarm.com Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Alarm.com Inc. (Alarm.com Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Slavin, Alison Jane
• Primary Examiner(s): Won, Michael
• Application Number:
  US12/782,674
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/224, 709/204
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2816 Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• 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 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2823 Reporting information sensed by appliance or service execution status of appliance services in a home automation network device-related reporting H04L43/065; arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0677 Localisation of faults
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/065 related to network devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/12 Network monitoring probes
• 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: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/082 using revocation of authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

Techniques are described for providing network device management. In some implementations, a native mobile device application enables use of a mobile device to add new devices to a network, remove devices from a network, change network and device profile settings, troubleshoot a network, provide an interface into network devices, communications, diagnostics, etc., and provide remote access to the network for installation, programming, troubleshooting, and inclusion.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring network devices located at a property, the system comprising:

a monitoring system that is configured to monitor a property including multiple, different types of networked devices that are located at the property, the monitoring system including a monitoring server that is located remote from the property;

a native mobile device network application loaded onto a mobile device, the native mobile device network application including instructions that, when executed by the mobile device, cause the mobile device to perform operations comprising;

tracking the multiple, different types of networked devices that are located at the property, the multiple, different types of networked devices including at least;

a first networked device that uses a first communication protocol and performs a first type of functionality, and

a second networked device that uses a second communication protocol and performs a second type of functionality, the second communication protocol being different than the first communication protocol and the second type of functionality being different than the first type of functionality;

based on the tracking of the multiple, different types of networked devices that are located at the property, detecting status of the multiple, different types of networked devices that are located at the property; and

providing a standardized interface for managing the multiple, different types of networked devices located at the property, the standardized interface providing a standardized display of the detected status of the multiple, different types of networked devices that are located at the property and providing standardized control elements that enable control of the multiple, different types of networked devices located at the property;

wherein the monitoring server is configured to perform operations comprising;

detecting a problem with one of the multiple, different types of networked devices, and

in response to detecting the problem, sending an alert to the native mobile device network application identifying the detected problem and the networked device associated with the detected problem; and

wherein the native mobile device network application further includes instructions that, when executed by the mobile device, cause the mobile device to perform operations comprising;

receiving, at a time when the mobile device is located outside of the property, the alert identifying the detected problem and the networked device associated with the detected problem;

in response to receiving the alert at the time when the mobile device is located outside of the property, determining that the mobile device is unable to communicate with the networked device associated with the detected problem;

based on the determination that the mobile device is unable to communicate with the networked device associated with the detected problem, outputting alert information for the detected problem, the alert information including a description of the detected problem and a description of how to diagnose the detected problem;

after outputting the alert information, detecting potential to interact with the networked device associated with the detected problem; and

in response to detecting potential to interact with the networked device associated with the detected problem, starting a diagnosis process used to diagnose the detected problem.

2. The system of claim 1:

wherein the multiple, different types of networked devices include a security system device that is part of a security system that monitors the property and that performs functionality related to the security system, an appliance device that is associated with an appliance at the property and performs functionality related to controlling the appliance, and a computer network device that is part of a local computer network at the property and that performs functionality related to the local computer network;

wherein tracking the multiple, different types of networked devices comprises tracking the security system device, the appliance device, and the computer network device;

wherein detecting status of the multiple, different types of networked devices comprises detecting status of the security system device, the appliance device, and the computer network device; and

wherein providing the standardized interface for managing the multiple, different types of networked devices comprises providing a standardized interface for managing the security system device, the appliance device, and the computer network device.

3. The system of claim 1:

wherein the multiple, different types of networked devices include a first device configured to communicate using a Z-Wave protocol, a second device configured to communicate using a ZigBee protocol, a third device configured to communicate using a Bluetooth protocol, and a fourth device configured to communicate over a wireless local area network based on an IEEE 802.11 standard;

wherein tracking the multiple, different types of networked devices comprises tracking the first device, the second device, the third device, and the fourth device;

wherein detecting status of the multiple, different types of networked devices comprises detecting status of the first device, the second device, the third device, and the fourth device; and

wherein providing the standardized interface for managing the multiple, different types of networked devices comprises providing a standardized interface for managing the first device, the second device, the third device, and the fourth device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the native mobile device network application configures the mobile device to operate as a Z-Wave controller that is capable of including and removing Z-Wave devices on a Z-Wave network.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first networked device and the second networked device each include reduced display capabilities as compared to the mobile device on which the native mobile device network application is loaded.

6. The system of claim 5:

wherein the first networked device and the second networked device each do not have any display capabilities; and

wherein providing the standardized interface for managing the multiple, different types of networked devices comprises providing a visual display for managing the first networked device and the second networked device.

7. The system of claim 1:

wherein the monitoring server is configured to monitor multiple properties for a user;

wherein tracking the multiple, different types of networked devices comprises tracking association of networked devices with the multiple properties; and

wherein providing the standardized interface for managing the multiple, different types of networked devices comprises;

identifying the multiple properties for the user that are monitored by the monitoring system;

causing display of the multiple properties on the standardized interface in a manner that enables the user to select one or more of the multiple properties;

receiving a selection of one or more of the multiple properties;

identifying networked devices associated with the selected one or more of the multiple properties; and

causing display of the identified networked devices on the standardized interface.

8. The system of claim 1:

wherein sending the alert to the native mobile device network application identifying the detected problem and the networked device associated with the detected problem comprises;

identifying authorization information needed by the native mobile device network application to establish a connection with the networked device associated with the detected problem, and

sending the identified authorization information to the native mobile device network application in addition to the alert; and

wherein detecting potential to interact with the networked device associated with the detected problem comprises establishing a local connection with the networked device associated with the detected problem using the identified authorization information.

9. The system of claim 1:

wherein the native mobile device network application further includes instructions that, when executed by the mobile device, cause the mobile device to perform operations comprising sending an update to the monitoring server that describes results of the diagnosis process; and

wherein the monitoring server is further configured to perform operations comprising;

receiving the update that describes results of the performance of the diagnosis operations, and

handling the networked device associated with the detected problem based on the received update that describes results of the diagnosis process.

10. The system of claim 1:

wherein the monitoring server is configured to perform operations comprising sending, to the native mobile device network application, a firmware update for the first networked device included in the multiple, different types of networked devices; and

wherein the native mobile device network application further includes instructions that, when executed by the mobile device, cause the mobile device to perform operations comprising;

receiving the firmware update for the first networked device included in the multiple, different types of networked devices,

establishing a local connection with the first networked device included in the multiple, different types of networked devices; and

transmitting, over the established connection, the firmware update for the first networked device included in the multiple, different types of networked devices.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein sending, to the native mobile device network application, the firmware update for the first networked device included in the multiple, different types of networked devices comprises:

detecting the firmware update for the first networked device included in the multiple, different types of networked devices;

identifying an ability to send the firmware update for the first networked device through the native mobile device network application; and

determining to send the firmware update to the native mobile device network application instead of the first networked device in response to the identified ability to send the firmware update for the first networked device through the native mobile device network application.

12. The system of claim 1:

wherein outputting alert information for the detected problem comprises outputting alert information that includes a description of how to establish a local connection with the networked device associated with the detected problem using the native mobile device network application;

wherein detecting potential to interact with the networked device associated with the detected problem comprises detecting establishment of the local connection with the networked device associated with the detected problem using the native mobile device network application; and

wherein starting the diagnosis process used to diagnose the detected problem comprises using the local connection to diagnose the detected problem.

13. The system of claim 1:

wherein outputting alert information for the detected problem comprises outputting alert information that includes a description of how to establish a wired connection between the networked device associated with the detected problem and the mobile device;

wherein detecting potential to interact with the networked device associated with the detected problem comprises detecting establishment of the wired connection with the networked device associated with the detected problem using the native mobile device network application; and

wherein starting the diagnosis process used to diagnose the detected problem comprises using the wired connection to diagnose the detected problem.

14. The system of claim 1:

wherein outputting alert information for the detected problem comprises outputting alert information that includes a description of how to establish a short-range wireless connection between the networked device associated with the detected problem and the mobile device;

wherein detecting potential to interact with the networked device associated with the detected problem comprises detecting establishment of the short-range wireless connection with the networked device associated with the detected problem using the native mobile device network application; and

wherein starting the diagnosis process used to diagnose the detected problem comprises using the short-range wireless connection to diagnose the detected problem.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein outputting alert information that includes a description of how to establish a short-range wireless connection between the networked device associated with the detected problem and the mobile device comprises outputting alert information that instructs a user of the mobile device to move within a certain distance of the networked device associated with the detected problem.

16. The system of claim 1:

wherein outputting alert information for the detected problem comprises outputting alert information that includes a description of how to authorize the mobile device with the networked device associated with the detected problem;

wherein detecting potential to interact with the networked device associated with the detected problem comprises detecting establishment of an authorized connection with the networked device associated with the detected problem using the native mobile device network application; and

wherein starting the diagnosis process used to diagnose the detected problem comprises using the authorized connection to diagnose the detected problem.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein starting the diagnosis process used to diagnose the detected problem comprises:

selecting a diagnosis application that is appropriate for a communication protocol used by the networked device associated with the detected problem, features included in the networked device associated with the detected problem, and the problem detected; and

starting the diagnosis application automatically, without human intervention, in response to detecting potential to interact with the networked device associated with the detected problem.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein starting the diagnosis process used to diagnose the detected problem comprises:

selecting a diagnosis application that is appropriate for a communication protocol used by the networked device associated with the detected problem, features included in the networked device associated with the detected problem, and the problem detected;

outputting a suggestion to start the diagnosis application in response to detecting potential to interact with the networked device; and

awaiting user input confirming the suggestion prior to starting the diagnosis application.

19. A method comprising:

tracking multiple, different types of networked devices that are located at a property, the multiple, different types of networked devices including at least;

a first networked device that uses a first communication protocol and performs a first type of functionality, and

a second networked device that uses a second communication protocol and performs a second type of functionality, the second communication protocol being different than the first communication protocol and the second type of functionality being different than the first type of functionality;

based on the tracking of the multiple, different types of networked devices that are located at the property, detecting status of the multiple, different types of networked devices that are located at the property;

providing a standardized interface for managing the multiple, different types of networked devices located at the property, the standardized interface providing a standardized display of the detected status of the multiple, different types of networked devices that are located at the property and providing standardized control elements that enable control of the multiple, different types of networked devices located at the property;

receiving, at a mobile device at a time when the mobile device is located outside of the property, an alert identifying a problem with one of the multiple, different types of networked devices detected by a monitoring server that is located remote from the property;

in response to receiving the alert at the time when the mobile device is located outside of the property, determining that the mobile device is unable to communicate with the networked device associated with the detected problem;

based on the determination that the mobile device is unable to communicate with the networked device associated with the detected problem, outputting, by the mobile device, alert information for the detected problem, the alert information including a description of the detected problem and a description of how to diagnose the detected problem;

after outputting the alert information, detecting potential to interact with the networked device associated with the detected problem; and

in response to detecting potential to interact with the networked device associated with the detected problem, starting a diagnosis process used to diagnose the detected problem.

20. A native mobile device network application stored on a computer-readable storage medium, the native mobile device network application including instructions that, when executed by a mobile device, cause the mobile device to perform operations comprising:

tracking multiple, different types of networked devices that are located at a property, the multiple, different types of networked devices including at least;

a first networked device that uses a first communication protocol and performs a first type of functionality, and

a second networked device that uses a second communication protocol and performs a second type of functionality, the second communication protocol being different than the first communication protocol and the second type of functionality being different than the first type of functionality;

based on the tracking of the multiple, different types of networked devices that are located at the property, detecting status of the multiple, different types of networked devices that are located at the property;

providing a standardized interface for managing the multiple, different types of networked devices located at the property, the standardized interface providing a standardized display of the detected status of the multiple, different types of networked devices that are located at the property and providing standardized control elements that enable control of the multiple, different types of networked devices located at the property;

receiving, at a time when the mobile device is located outside of the property, an alert identifying a problem with one of the multiple, different types of networked devices detected by a monitoring server that is located remote from the property;

in response to receiving the alert at the time when the mobile device is located outside of the property, determining that the mobile device is unable to communicate with the networked device associated with the detected problem;

based on the determination that the mobile device is unable to communicate with the networked device associated with the detected problem, outputting alert information for the detected problem, the alert information including a description of the detected problem and a description of how to diagnose the detected problem;

after outputting the alert information, detecting potential to interact with the networked device associated with the detected problem; and

in response to detecting potential to interact with the networked device associated with the detected problem, starting a diagnosis process used to diagnose the detected problem.