Monitoring system to monitor a property with a mobile device with a monitoring application

• US 8,350,694 B1
• Filed: 05/18/2010
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• 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: Trundle, Stephen Scott, Slavin, Alison Jane
• Primary Examiner(s): HOFSASS, JEFFERY A
• Application Number:
  US12/782,633
• Time in Patent Office: 966 Days
• Field of Search: 3405391-53932, 340/506, 340540-567, 455/404.1, 455/404.2
• US Class Current: 340/539.11
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/00 Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19602 Image analysis to detect motion of the intruder, e.g. by frame subtraction
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19684 Portable terminal, e.g. mobile phone, used for viewing video remotely
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19691 Signalling events for better perception by user, e.g. indicating alarms by making display brighter, adding text, creating a sound
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/02 Monitoring continuously signalling or alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

Techniques are described for providing control of a monitoring system (e.g., a home alarm or security system) using one or more mobile devices. In some implementations, a native mobile device application enables use of a mobile device as a security/automation system keypad and controller for a home security system. In these implementations, the mobile device, using the native mobile device application, checks real time status of system and sensors, arms/disarms system, turns lights on/off, looks in on live video of security cameras, reviews history of system events, reviews saved video clips, monitors/changes thermostat settings, and performs other features of a traditional security keypad in a home security system.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a property, the system comprising:

a monitoring system that is configured to monitor a property and includes one or more sensors that are installed at the property and that are configured to sense attributes of the property;

a native mobile device monitoring application loaded onto a mobile device that is provided separately from the monitoring system by a company that is different than a company that provides the monitoring system, the native mobile device monitoring application including instructions that, when executed by the mobile device, cause the mobile device to perform operations comprising;

performing a synchronization process to synchronize the native mobile device monitoring application with the monitoring system that is configured to monitor the property;

based on the synchronization, receiving one or more data communications descriptive of sensor events detected by the monitoring system at the property;

causing display, on a display device of the mobile device, of a status interface area that includes status information related to the monitoring system based on the received one or more data communications;

causing display, on the display device of the mobile device, of a control interface area that enables a user to provide user input to control the monitoring system;

receiving user input defining a control operation for the monitoring system based on the control interface area; and

based on the received user input and the synchronization, sending one or more control communications that cause the monitoring system to perform the control operation defined by the received user input.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein performing the synchronization process to synchronize the native mobile device monitoring application with the monitoring system that is configured to monitor the property comprises synchronizing, over a short range wireless communication protocol, with at least one component of the monitoring system located at the property such that the mobile device is able to exchange, directly with the at least one component of the monitoring system located at the property over the short range wireless communication protocol, data communications descriptive of sensor events detected by the monitoring system at the property.

3. The system of claim 1:

wherein the monitoring system includes a monitoring application server that is located remote from the property and that is configured to receive, over a network, data communications descriptive of sensor events detected by the one or more sensors included in the monitoring system; and

wherein performing the synchronization process to synchronize the native mobile device monitoring application with the monitoring system that is configured to monitor the property comprises coordinating with the monitoring application server to synchronize with the monitoring system.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein coordinating with the monitoring application server to synchronize with the monitoring system comprises synchronizing, over the network, with the monitoring application server that is located remote from the property such that the mobile device exchanges, with the monitoring application server over the network, data communications descriptive of sensor events detected by the monitoring system at the property.

5. The system of claim 1:

wherein receiving one or more data communications descriptive of sensor events detected by the monitoring system at the property comprises receiving one or more data communications indicating that the monitoring system has detected a potential alarm event at the property;

wherein causing display of a status interface area that includes status information related to the monitoring system comprises;

automatically, without human intervention, interrupting a media application operating on the mobile device at a time of receipt of the one or more data communications, the media application being separate from the native mobile device monitoring application and unrelated to the monitoring system, and

automatically, without human intervention, causing display of an alert that includes a description of the potential alarm event at the property detected by the monitoring system, the alert replacing at least a portion of media content being displayed by the media application at a time of receipt of the one or more data communications.

6. The system of claim 5:

wherein causing display of a control interface area that enables a user to provide user input to control the monitoring system comprises causing display, concurrently with or after display of the alert, of an input control that corresponds to an alarm control operation that causes the monitoring system to perform an operation related to the potential alarm event;

wherein receiving user input defining a control operation for the monitoring system based on the control interface area comprises receiving user input activating the input control that corresponds to the alarm control operation that causes the monitoring system to perform the operation related to the potential alarm event; and

wherein sending one or more control communications that cause the monitoring system to perform the control operation defined by the received user input comprises;

sending one or more control communications that cause the monitoring system to perform the alarm control operation defined by the received user input; and

automatically, without human intervention, resuming, on the mobile device, operation of the media application after receiving the user input activating the input control.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring system is configured to perform operations comprising:

tracking one or more characteristics of the mobile device that operates the native mobile device monitoring application;

analyzing the tracked one or more characteristics with respect to a set of one or more rules;

determining whether to perform an operation related to the tracked one or more characteristics based on the analysis; and

performing the operation related to the tracked one or more characteristics in response to a determination to perform the operation.

8. The system of claim 7:

wherein tracking one or more characteristics of the mobile device that operates the native mobile device monitoring application comprises tracking a battery level of the mobile device that operates the native mobile device monitoring application;

wherein analyzing the tracked one or more characteristics with respect to a set of one or more rules comprises comparing the battery level of the mobile device to a threshold;

wherein determining whether to perform an operation related to the tracked one or more characteristics based on the analysis comprises determining to send an alert related to the battery level of the mobile device when the comparison reveals that the battery level of the mobile device is below the threshold; and

wherein performing the operation related to the tracked one or more characteristics in response to a determination to perform the operation comprises sending an alert indicating that the battery level of the mobile device has reached a relatively low level in response to a determination to send the alert related to the battery level of the mobile device.

9. The system of claim 7:

wherein tracking one or more characteristics of the mobile device that operates the native mobile device monitoring application comprises tracking a geographic location of the mobile device that operates the native mobile device monitoring application relative to the property monitored by the monitoring system;

wherein analyzing the tracked one or more characteristics with respect to a set of one or more rules comprises comparing the geographic location of the mobile device to a control area defined proximate to the property;

wherein determining whether to perform an operation related to the tracked one or more characteristics based on the analysis comprises determining to send an alert related to the geographic location of the mobile device when the comparison reveals that the geographic location of the mobile device is outside of the control area defined proximate to the property; and

wherein performing the operation related to the tracked one or more characteristics in response to a determination to perform the operation comprises sending an alert indicating that the geographic location of the mobile device has moved outside of the control area defined proximate to the property in response to a determination to send the alert related to the geographic location of the mobile device.

10. The system of claim 7:

wherein tracking one or more characteristics of the mobile device that operates the native mobile device monitoring application comprises tracking an ability of the mobile device that operates the native mobile device monitoring application to communicate, using a short range wireless communication protocol, with a component of the monitoring system located at the property;

wherein analyzing the tracked one or more characteristics with respect to a set of one or more rules comprises determining whether the mobile device has the ability to communicate, using the short range wireless communication protocol, with the component of the monitoring system located at the property;

wherein determining whether to perform an operation related to the tracked one or more characteristics based on the analysis comprises determining whether to send data from the component of the monitoring system located at the property to the mobile device over a long range network-based communication protocol based on the determination of whether the mobile device has the ability to communicate, using the short range wireless communication protocol, with the component of the monitoring system located at the property; and

wherein performing the operation related to the tracked one or more characteristics in response to a determination to perform the operation comprises sending data from the component of the monitoring system located at the property to the mobile device over the long range network-based communication protocol in response to a determination that the mobile device does not have the ability to communicate, using the short range wireless communication protocol, with the component of the monitoring system located at the property.

11. The system of claim 1:

wherein the system includes multiple, different native mobile device monitoring applications that are loaded onto multiple, different mobile devices and that are synchronized with the monitoring system, and

wherein the monitoring system is configured to perform operations comprising;

receiving commands from the multiple, different native mobile device monitoring applications that are each synchronized with the monitoring system;

accessing permission data for the multiple, different native mobile device monitoring applications;

resolving conflicts between the received commands based on the accessed permission data; and

performing one or more operations related to monitoring the property based on the resolution of the conflicts.

12. The system of claim 11:

wherein receiving commands from the multiple, different native mobile device monitoring applications that are each synchronized with the monitoring system comprises;

receiving a first command from a first native mobile device monitoring application loaded onto a first mobile device that is synchronized with the monitoring system, and

receiving a second command from a second native mobile device monitoring application loaded onto a second mobile device that is synchronized with the monitoring system, the second command being different than the first command and the second native mobile device monitoring application being different than the first native mobile device monitoring application;

wherein accessing permission data for the multiple, different native mobile device monitoring applications comprises;

determining that the first command from the first native mobile device monitoring application conflicts with the second command from the second native mobile device monitoring application, and

in response to the determination that the first command from the first native mobile device monitoring application conflicts with the second command from the second native mobile device monitoring application, accessing permission data that is used in resolving conflicts between the first native mobile device monitoring application and the second native mobile device monitoring application;

wherein resolving conflicts between the received commands based on the accessed permission data comprises;

determining whether the first native mobile device monitoring application has a higher priority than the second native mobile device monitoring application based on the accessed permission data,

resolving the conflict in favor of the first command from the first native mobile device monitoring application based on a determination that the first native mobile device monitoring application has a higher priority than the second native mobile device monitoring application, and

resolving the conflict in favor of the second command from the second native mobile device monitoring application based on a determination that the second native mobile device monitoring application has a higher priority than the first native mobile device monitoring application, and

wherein performing one or more operations related to monitoring the property based on the resolution of the conflicts comprises;

performing a first operation corresponding to the first command in response to resolving the conflict in favor of the first command from the first native mobile device monitoring application, and

performing a second operation corresponding to the second command in response to resolving the conflict in favor of the second command from the second native mobile device monitoring application.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the native mobile device monitoring application further includes instructions that, when executed by the mobile device, cause the mobile device to perform operations comprising:

detecting an event related to the monitoring system;

determining an operation needed to handle the detected event; and

leveraging functionality, that is separate from the native mobile device monitoring application, of the mobile device in performing the determined operation.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein leveraging functionality of the mobile device in performing the determined operation comprises automatically, without user intervention, using a cellular network communication module of the mobile device to transmit data to a central alarm station server that dispatches emergency services in response to alarm events, the data transmitted by the cellular network communication module of the mobile device being at least one of alarm data that indicates an alarm event detected by the monitoring system and two-way voice communication data that enables an operator associated with the central alarm station server to communicate with a user associated with the monitoring system through the mobile device.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein leveraging functionality of the mobile device in performing the determined operation comprises automatically, without user intervention, using an address book application, that is maintained separate from the native mobile device monitoring application, of the mobile device to identify contact information for a recipient of a notification to be sent in response to detecting the event related to the monitoring system.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein leveraging functionality of the mobile device in performing the determined operation comprises automatically, without user intervention, using a calendar application, that is maintained separate from the native mobile device monitoring application, of the mobile device to identify schedule information for a user associated with the mobile device, and using the identified schedule information to inform operations performed by the native mobile device monitoring application.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein leveraging functionality of the mobile device in performing the determined operation comprises automatically, without user intervention, using a network browser application of the mobile device to retrieve information related to the detected event, and presenting, using the mobile device, the information retrieved by the network browser application.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein leveraging functionality of the mobile device in performing the determined operation comprises automatically, without user intervention, using a messaging application of the mobile device to send a notification in response to detecting the event related to the monitoring system.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein leveraging functionality of the mobile device in performing the determined operation comprises automatically, without user intervention, using a speaker of the mobile device to provide an audible alert related to the detected event.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein leveraging functionality of the mobile device in performing the determined operation comprises using a camera of the mobile device to capture one or more images and associating the one or more images captured by the camera with the detected event.

21. A method for monitoring a property, the method comprising:

performing, by a native mobile device monitoring application loaded onto a mobile device that is provided separately from a monitoring system that is configured to monitor a property and includes one or more sensors that are installed at the property and that are configured to sense attributes of the property, a synchronization process to synchronize the native mobile device monitoring application with the monitoring system that is configured to monitor the property;

based on the synchronization, receiving one or more data communications descriptive of sensor events detected by the monitoring system at the property;

causing display, on a display device of the mobile device, of a status interface area that includes status information related to the monitoring system based on the received one or more data communications;

causing display, on the display device of the mobile device, of a control interface area that enables a user to provide user input to control the monitoring system;

receiving user input defining a control operation for the monitoring system based on the control interface area; and

based on the received user input and the synchronization, sending one or more control communications that cause the monitoring system to perform the control operation defined by the received user input.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein performing the synchronization process to synchronize the native mobile device monitoring application with the monitoring system that is configured to monitor the property comprises synchronizing, over a short range wireless communication protocol, with at least one component of the monitoring system located at the property such that the mobile device is able to exchange, directly with the at least one component of the monitoring system located at the property over the short range wireless communication protocol, data communications descriptive of sensor events detected by the monitoring system at the property.

23. The method of claim 21:

wherein the monitoring system includes a monitoring application server that is located remote from the property and that is configured to receive, over a network, data communications descriptive of sensor events detected by the one or more sensors included in the monitoring system; and

wherein performing the synchronization process to synchronize the native mobile device monitoring application with the monitoring system that is configured to monitor the property comprises coordinating with the monitoring application server to synchronize with the monitoring system.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein coordinating with the monitoring application server to synchronize with the monitoring system comprises synchronizing, over the network, with the monitoring application server that is located remote from the property such that the mobile device exchanges, with the monitoring application server over the network, data communications descriptive of sensor events detected by the monitoring system at the property.

25. The method of claim 21:

wherein receiving one or more data communications descriptive of sensor events detected by the monitoring system at the property comprises receiving one or more data communications indicating that the monitoring system has detected a potential alarm event at the property;

wherein causing display of a status interface area that includes status information related to the monitoring system comprises;

automatically, without human intervention, interrupting a media application operating on the mobile device at a time of receipt of the one or more data communications, the media application being separate from the native mobile device monitoring application and unrelated to the monitoring system, and

automatically, without human intervention, causing display of an alert that includes a description of the potential alarm event at the property detected by the monitoring system, the alert replacing at least a portion of media content being displayed by the media application at a time of receipt of the one or more data communications.

26. The method of claim 25:

wherein causing display of a control interface area that enables a user to provide user input to control the monitoring system comprises causing display, concurrently with or after display of the alert, of an input control that corresponds to an alarm control operation that causes the monitoring system to perform an operation related to the potential alarm event;

wherein receiving user input defining a control operation for the monitoring system based on the control interface area comprises receiving user input activating the input control that corresponds to the alarm control operation that causes the monitoring system to perform the operation related to the potential alarm event; and

wherein sending one or more control communications that cause the monitoring system to perform the control operation defined by the received user input comprises;

sending one or more control communications that cause the monitoring system to perform the alarm control operation defined by the received user input; and

automatically, without human intervention, resuming, on the mobile device, operation of the media application after receiving the user input activating the input control.

27. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

tracking one or more characteristics of the mobile device that operates the native mobile device monitoring application;

analyzing the tracked one or more characteristics with respect to a set of one or more rules;

determining whether to perform an operation related to the tracked one or more characteristics based on the analysis; and

performing the operation related to the tracked one or more characteristics in response to a determination to perform the operation.

28. The method of claim 27:

wherein tracking one or more characteristics of the mobile device that operates the native mobile device monitoring application comprises tracking a battery level of the mobile device that operates the native mobile device monitoring application;

wherein analyzing the tracked one or more characteristics with respect to a set of one or more rules comprises comparing the battery level of the mobile device to a threshold;

wherein determining whether to perform an operation related to the tracked one or more characteristics based on the analysis comprises determining to send an alert related to the battery level of the mobile device when the comparison reveals that the battery level of the mobile device is below the threshold; and

wherein performing the operation related to the tracked one or more characteristics in response to a determination to perform the operation comprises sending an alert indicating that the battery level of the mobile device has reached a relatively low level in response to a determination to send the alert related to the battery level of the mobile device.

29. The method of claim 27:

wherein tracking one or more characteristics of the mobile device that operates the native mobile device monitoring application comprises tracking a geographic location of the mobile device that operates the native mobile device monitoring application relative to the property monitored by the monitoring system;

wherein analyzing the tracked one or more characteristics with respect to a set of one or more rules comprises comparing the geographic location of the mobile device to a control area defined proximate to the property;

wherein determining whether to perform an operation related to the tracked one or more characteristics based on the analysis comprises determining to send an alert related to the geographic location of the mobile device when the comparison reveals that the geographic location of the mobile device is outside of the control area defined proximate to the property; and

wherein performing the operation related to the tracked one or more characteristics in response to a determination to perform the operation comprises sending an alert indicating that the geographic location of the mobile device has moved outside of the control area defined proximate to the property in response to a determination to send the alert related to the geographic location of the mobile device.

30. The method of claim 27:

wherein tracking one or more characteristics of the mobile device that operates the native mobile device monitoring application comprises tracking an ability of the mobile device that operates the native mobile device monitoring application to communicate, using a short range wireless communication protocol, with a component of the monitoring system located at the property;

wherein analyzing the tracked one or more characteristics with respect to a set of one or more rules comprises determining whether the mobile device has the ability to communicate, using the short range wireless communication protocol, with the component of the monitoring system located at the property;

wherein determining whether to perform an operation related to the tracked one or more characteristics based on the analysis comprises determining whether to send data from the component of the monitoring system located at the property to the mobile device over a long range network-based communication protocol based on the determination of whether the mobile device has the ability to communicate, using the short range wireless communication protocol, with the component of the monitoring system located at the property; and

wherein performing the operation related to the tracked one or more characteristics in response to a determination to perform the operation comprises sending data from the component of the monitoring system located at the property to the mobile device over the long range network-based communication protocol in response to a determination that the mobile device does not have the ability to communicate, using the short range wireless communication protocol, with the component of the monitoring system located at the property.

31. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

receiving commands from multiple, different native mobile device monitoring applications that are loaded onto multiple, different mobile devices and that are each synchronized with the monitoring system;

accessing permission data for the multiple, different native mobile device monitoring applications;

resolving conflicts between the received commands based on the accessed permission data; and

performing one or more operations related to monitoring the property based on the resolution of the conflicts.

32. The method of claim 31:

wherein receiving commands from the multiple, different native mobile device monitoring applications that are each synchronized with the monitoring system comprises;

receiving a first command from a first native mobile device monitoring application loaded onto a first mobile device that is synchronized with the monitoring system, and

receiving a second command from a second native mobile device monitoring application loaded onto a second mobile device that is synchronized with the monitoring system, the second command being different than the first command and the second native mobile device monitoring application being different than the first native mobile device monitoring application;

wherein accessing permission data for the multiple, different native mobile device monitoring applications comprises;

determining that the first command from the first native mobile device monitoring application conflicts with the second command from the second native mobile device monitoring application, and

in response to the determination that the first command from the first native mobile device monitoring application conflicts with the second command from the second native mobile device monitoring application, accessing permission data that is used in resolving conflicts between the first native mobile device monitoring application and the second native mobile device monitoring application;

wherein resolving conflicts between the received commands based on the accessed permission data comprises;

determining whether the first native mobile device monitoring application has a higher priority than the second native mobile device monitoring application based on the accessed permission data,

resolving the conflict in favor of the first command from the first native mobile device monitoring application based on a determination that the first native mobile device monitoring application has a higher priority than the second native mobile device monitoring application, and

resolving the conflict in favor of the second command from the second native mobile device monitoring application based on a determination that the second native mobile device monitoring application has a higher priority than the first native mobile device monitoring application, and

wherein performing one or more operations related to monitoring the property based on the resolution of the conflicts comprises;

performing a first operation corresponding to the first command in response to resolving the conflict in favor of the first command from the first native mobile device monitoring application, and

performing a second operation corresponding to the second command in response to resolving the conflict in favor of the second command from the second native mobile device monitoring application.

33. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

detecting an event related to the monitoring system;

determining an operation needed to handle the detected event; and

leveraging functionality, that is separate from the native mobile device monitoring application, of the mobile device in performing the determined operation.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein leveraging functionality of the mobile device in performing the determined operation comprises automatically, without user intervention, using a cellular network communication module of the mobile device to transmit data to a central alarm station server that dispatches emergency services in response to alarm events, the data transmitted by the cellular network communication module of the mobile device being at least one of alarm data that indicates an alarm event detected by the monitoring system and two-way voice communication data that enables an operator associated with the central alarm station server to communicate with a user associated with the monitoring system through the mobile device.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein leveraging functionality of the mobile device in performing the determined operation comprises automatically, without user intervention, using an address book application, that is maintained separate from the native mobile device monitoring application, of the mobile device to identify contact information for a recipient of a notification to be sent in response to detecting the event related to the monitoring system.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein leveraging functionality of the mobile device in performing the determined operation comprises automatically, without user intervention, using a calendar application, that is maintained separate from the native mobile device monitoring application, of the mobile device to identify schedule information for a user associated with the mobile device, and using the identified schedule information to inform operations performed by the native mobile device monitoring application.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein leveraging functionality of the mobile device in performing the determined operation comprises automatically, without user intervention, using a network browser application of the mobile device to retrieve information related to the detected event, and presenting, using the mobile device, the information retrieved by the network browser application.

38. The method of claim 33, wherein leveraging functionality of the mobile device in performing the determined operation comprises automatically, without user intervention, using a messaging application of the mobile device to send a notification in response to detecting the event related to the monitoring system.

39. The method of claim 33, wherein leveraging functionality of the mobile device in performing the determined operation comprises automatically, without user intervention, using a speaker of the mobile device to provide an audible alert related to the detected event.

40. The method of claim 33, wherein leveraging functionality of the mobile device in performing the determined operation comprises using a camera of the mobile device to capture one or more images and associating the one or more images captured by the camera with the detected event.

41. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least processor, cause the at least processor to perform operations comprising:

performing, by a native mobile device monitoring application loaded onto a mobile device that is provided separately from a monitoring system that is configured to monitor a property and includes one or more sensors that are installed at the property and that are configured to sense attributes of the property, a synchronization process to synchronize the native mobile device monitoring application with the monitoring system that is configured to monitor the property;

based on the synchronization, receiving one or more data communications descriptive of sensor events detected by the monitoring system at the property;

causing display, on a display device of the mobile device, of a status interface area that includes status information related to the monitoring system based on the received one or more data communications;

causing display, on the display device of the mobile device, of a control interface area that enables a user to provide user input to control the monitoring system;

receiving user input defining a control operation for the monitoring system based on the control interface area; and

based on the received user input and the synchronization, sending one or more control communications that cause the monitoring system to perform the control operation defined by the received user input.

42. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 41, wherein performing the synchronization process to synchronize the native mobile device monitoring application with the monitoring system that is configured to monitor the property comprises synchronizing, over a short range wireless communication protocol, with at least one component of the monitoring system located at the property such that the mobile device is able to exchange, directly with the at least one component of the monitoring system located at the property over the short range wireless communication protocol, data communications descriptive of sensor events detected by the monitoring system at the property.

43. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 41:

wherein the monitoring system includes a monitoring application server that is located remote from the property and that is configured to receive, over a network, data communications descriptive of sensor events detected by the one or more sensors included in the monitoring system; and

wherein performing the synchronization process to synchronize the native mobile device monitoring application with the monitoring system that is configured to monitor the property comprises coordinating with the monitoring application server to synchronize with the monitoring system.

44. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 43, wherein coordinating with the monitoring application server to synchronize with the monitoring system comprises synchronizing, over the network, with the monitoring application server that is located remote from the property such that the mobile device exchanges, with the monitoring application server over the network, data communications descriptive of sensor events detected by the monitoring system at the property.

45. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 41:

wherein receiving one or more data communications descriptive of sensor events detected by the monitoring system at the property comprises receiving one or more data communications indicating that the monitoring system has detected a potential alarm event at the property;

wherein causing display of a status interface area that includes status information related to the monitoring system comprises;

automatically, without human intervention, interrupting a media application operating on the mobile device at a time of receipt of the one or more data communications, the media application being separate from the native mobile device monitoring application and unrelated to the monitoring system, and

automatically, without human intervention, causing display of an alert that includes a description of the potential alarm event at the property detected by the monitoring system, the alert replacing at least a portion of media content being displayed by the media application at a time of receipt of the one or more data communications.

46. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 45:

wherein causing display of a control interface area that enables a user to provide user input to control the monitoring system comprises causing display, concurrently with or after display of the alert, of an input control that corresponds to an alarm control operation that causes the monitoring system to perform an operation related to the potential alarm event;

wherein receiving user input defining a control operation for the monitoring system based on the control interface area comprises receiving user input activating the input control that corresponds to the alarm control operation that causes the monitoring system to perform the operation related to the potential alarm event; and

wherein sending one or more control communications that cause the monitoring system to perform the control operation defined by the received user input comprises;

sending one or more control communications that cause the monitoring system to perform the alarm control operation defined by the received user input; and

automatically, without human intervention, resuming, on the mobile device, operation of the media application after receiving the user input activating the input control.

47. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 41, wherein the operations comprise:

tracking one or more characteristics of the mobile device that operates the native mobile device monitoring application;

analyzing the tracked one or more characteristics with respect to a set of one or more rules;

determining whether to perform an operation related to the tracked one or more characteristics based on the analysis; and

performing the operation related to the tracked one or more characteristics in response to a determination to perform the operation.

48. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 47:

wherein tracking one or more characteristics of the mobile device that operates the native mobile device monitoring application comprises tracking a battery level of the mobile device that operates the native mobile device monitoring application;

wherein analyzing the tracked one or more characteristics with respect to a set of one or more rules comprises comparing the battery level of the mobile device to a threshold;

wherein determining whether to perform an operation related to the tracked one or more characteristics based on the analysis comprises determining to send an alert related to the battery level of the mobile device when the comparison reveals that the battery level of the mobile device is below the threshold; and

wherein performing the operation related to the tracked one or more characteristics in response to a determination to perform the operation comprises sending an alert indicating that the battery level of the mobile device has reached a relatively low level in response to a determination to send the alert related to the battery level of the mobile device.

49. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 47:

wherein tracking one or more characteristics of the mobile device that operates the native mobile device monitoring application comprises tracking a geographic location of the mobile device that operates the native mobile device monitoring application relative to the property monitored by the monitoring system;

wherein analyzing the tracked one or more characteristics with respect to a set of one or more rules comprises comparing the geographic location of the mobile device to a control area defined proximate to the property;

wherein determining whether to perform an operation related to the tracked one or more characteristics based on the analysis comprises determining to send an alert related to the geographic location of the mobile device when the comparison reveals that the geographic location of the mobile device is outside of the control area defined proximate to the property; and

wherein performing the operation related to the tracked one or more characteristics in response to a determination to perform the operation comprises sending an alert indicating that the geographic location of the mobile device has moved outside of the control area defined proximate to the property in response to a determination to send the alert related to the geographic location of the mobile device.

50. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 47:

wherein tracking one or more characteristics of the mobile device that operates the native mobile device monitoring application comprises tracking an ability of the mobile device that operates the native mobile device monitoring application to communicate, using a short range wireless communication protocol, with a component of the monitoring system located at the property;

wherein analyzing the tracked one or more characteristics with respect to a set of one or more rules comprises determining whether the mobile device has the ability to communicate, using the short range wireless communication protocol, with the component of the monitoring system located at the property;

wherein determining whether to perform an operation related to the tracked one or more characteristics based on the analysis comprises determining whether to send data from the component of the monitoring system located at the property to the mobile device over a long range network-based communication protocol based on the determination of whether the mobile device has the ability to communicate, using the short range wireless communication protocol, with the component of the monitoring system located at the property; and

wherein performing the operation related to the tracked one or more characteristics in response to a determination to perform the operation comprises sending data from the component of the monitoring system located at the property to the mobile device over the long range network-based communication protocol in response to a determination that the mobile device does not have the ability to communicate, using the short range wireless communication protocol, with the component of the monitoring system located at the property.

51. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 41, wherein the operations comprise:

receiving commands from multiple, different native mobile device monitoring applications that are loaded onto multiple, different mobile devices and that are each synchronized with the monitoring system;

accessing permission data for the multiple, different native mobile device monitoring applications;

resolving conflicts between the received commands based on the accessed permission data; and

performing one or more operations related to monitoring the property based on the resolution of the conflicts.

52. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 51:

wherein receiving commands from the multiple, different native mobile device monitoring applications that are each synchronized with the monitoring system comprises;

receiving a first command from a first native mobile device monitoring application loaded onto a first mobile device that is synchronized with the monitoring system, and

receiving a second command from a second native mobile device monitoring application loaded onto a second mobile device that is synchronized with the monitoring system, the second command being different than the first command and the second native mobile device monitoring application being different than the first native mobile device monitoring application;

wherein accessing permission data for the multiple, different native mobile device monitoring applications comprises;

determining that the first command from the first native mobile device monitoring application conflicts with the second command from the second native mobile device monitoring application, and

in response to the determination that the first command from the first native mobile device monitoring application conflicts with the second command from the second native mobile device monitoring application, accessing permission data that is used in resolving conflicts between the first native mobile device monitoring application and the second native mobile device monitoring application;

wherein resolving conflicts between the received commands based on the accessed permission data comprises;

determining whether the first native mobile device monitoring application has a higher priority than the second native mobile device monitoring application based on the accessed permission data,

resolving the conflict in favor of the first command from the first native mobile device monitoring application based on a determination that the first native mobile device monitoring application has a higher priority than the second native mobile device monitoring application, and

resolving the conflict in favor of the second command from the second native mobile device monitoring application based on a determination that the second native mobile device monitoring application has a higher priority than the first native mobile device monitoring application, and

wherein performing one or more operations related to monitoring the property based on the resolution of the conflicts comprises;

performing a first operation corresponding to the first command in response to resolving the conflict in favor of the first command from the first native mobile device monitoring application, and

performing a second operation corresponding to the second command in response to resolving the conflict in favor of the second command from the second native mobile device monitoring application.

53. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 41, wherein the operations comprise:

detecting an event related to the monitoring system;

determining an operation needed to handle the detected event; and

leveraging functionality, that is separate from the native mobile device monitoring application, of the mobile device in performing the determined operation.

54. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 53, wherein leveraging functionality of the mobile device in performing the determined operation comprises automatically, without user intervention, using a cellular network communication module of the mobile device to transmit data to a central alarm station server that dispatches emergency services in response to alarm events, the data transmitted by the cellular network communication module of the mobile device being at least one of alarm data that indicates an alarm event detected by the monitoring system and two-way voice communication data that enables an operator associated with the central alarm station server to communicate with a user associated with the monitoring system through the mobile device.

55. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 53, wherein leveraging functionality of the mobile device in performing the determined operation comprises automatically, without user intervention, using an address book application, that is maintained separate from the native mobile device monitoring application, of the mobile device to identify contact information for a recipient of a notification to be sent in response to detecting the event related to the monitoring system.

56. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 53, wherein leveraging functionality of the mobile device in performing the determined operation comprises automatically, without user intervention, using a calendar application, that is maintained separate from the native mobile device monitoring application, of the mobile device to identify schedule information for a user associated with the mobile device, and using the identified schedule information to inform operations performed by the native mobile device monitoring application.

57. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 53, wherein leveraging functionality of the mobile device in performing the determined operation comprises automatically, without user intervention, using a network browser application of the mobile device to retrieve information related to the detected event, and presenting, using the mobile device, the information retrieved by the network browser application.

58. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 53, wherein leveraging functionality of the mobile device in performing the determined operation comprises automatically, without user intervention, using a messaging application of the mobile device to send a notification in response to detecting the event related to the monitoring system.

59. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 53, wherein leveraging functionality of the mobile device in performing the determined operation comprises automatically, without user intervention, using a speaker of the mobile device to provide an audible alert related to the detected event.

60. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 53, wherein leveraging functionality of the mobile device in performing the determined operation comprises using a camera of the mobile device to capture one or more images and associating the one or more images captured by the camera with the detected event.