Systems and methods for remote building security and automation

• US 8,325,033 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2009
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JTT Investment Partners, LLC (Alarm.com Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Feldstein, Jeffrey, Cobb, Thomas Y., Jean, Daniel G.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US12/567,347
• Publication Number:
  US 20110074570A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.14, 340/539.19, 340/539.18, 340/539.25, 340/506, 340/541, 455/404.1, 455/403, 455/414.1, 709/229, 709/230
• US Class Current: 340/539.14
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/196 using television cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2825 Reporting to a device located outside the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with telemetering systems H04M11/002
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems

Abstract

A system and method for remotely monitoring and controlling building security are provided. A controller is communicatively coupled to various security devices of a building and can communicate an activity event detected by one of the security devices to a remote user device. The controller can then establish a communication session between the remote device and a security communication device via the controller, thereby allowing the user to communicate with any visitors. Video from a security device can be transmitted by the controller to the user device or an alternative user-device. Access instructions can be provided by the user to the controller, in response to which the controller can deactivate various building security measures. Security measures can be reactivated by the controller automatically or in response to a user command. Additionally, the controller can monitor visitor compliance with the deactivated security measures and activate alarms or notify security agencies if necessary.

Claims

1. A method for providing building security comprising:

transmitting activity notification to a remote client device associated with a user;

establishing a first communication with the remote client device over a first communication channel and a second communication with a security-communication device over a second communication channel so as to enable communication between the security-communication device and the remote client device;

receiving access instructions from the user over the first communication channel;

sending a deactivation command to a security measure in response to the access instructions; and

transmitting a notification to the remote client device indicating that a visitor has violated access granted by the access instructions.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the access instructions are received via a packet network.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting video data from a monitoring device to a user computer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote client device comprises a cellular telephone.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising reactivating the security measure automatically after a period of time.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising reactivating the security measure in response to a command from the remote client device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising alerting a security agency in response to an alert command from the remote client device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an activity indication from a monitoring device, wherein the activity notification is transmitted in response to receiving the activity indication.

9. A controller for a building security system comprising:

a network interface configured to communicate with a remote client device over a first communication channel;

a security-device interface configured to communicate with a security-monitoring device and a security-communication device over a second communication channel;

a processor; and

a computer readable medium storing computer programming instructions for providing building security, which, when executed on the processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising;

transmit a security condition notification to the remote client device in response to detection of an activity by the security-monitoring device;

establish communication between the remote client device and the security-communication device via the controller;

deactivate the security-monitoring device in response to receiving access instructions; and

transmit a notification to the remote client device indicating that a visitor has violated access granted by the access instructions.

10. The controller of claim 9, wherein the first communication channel comprises a cellular-telephone network.

11. The controller of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

transmit video data from the security-monitoring device to a user computer.

12. The controller of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

reactivate the security-monitoring device.

13. The controller of claim 12, wherein the security-monitoring device is reactivated in response to satisfaction of a user-configurable criterion.

14. The controller of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

alert a security agency in response to a command from the client.

15. A system for providing building security comprising:

means for transmitting an activity notification to a remote client device in response to an indication of activity from a monitoring device;

means for establishing communication between the remote client device and a security-communication device by establishing communication with the remote client device over a first communication channel and establishing communication with the security-communication device over a second communication channel;

means for receiving access instructions to allow access to a building;

means for deactivating a security measure in response the access instructions;

means for transmitting a notification to a user indicating that a visitor has violated access granted by the access instructions.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first communication channel comprises a packet network.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising means for transmitting video data from the monitoring device to a user computer.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the remote client device comprises a cellular telephone.

19. The system of claim 15, further comprising means for reactivating the security measure automatically after a period of time.

20. The system of claim 15, further comprising means for reactivating the security measure.