Systems and methods for remote building security and automation

• US 8,902,061 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2012
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• 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 George
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US13/606,270
• Publication Number:
  US 20130063265A1
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.14, 340/539.18, 340/539.19, 340/539.25, 340/505, 340/506, 340/541, 348/154, 348/E7.086, 726/5, 726/12
• 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 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 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, 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 security, comprising:

sending, from a controller of a security system, an activity notification addressed to a remote client device associated with a user;

receiving, at the controller, access instructions from the remote client device in response to the activity notification;

determining, by the controller, a violation of the access instructions; and

sending, from the controller, a notification of the violation of the access instructions addressed to the remote client device, the notification indicating that a visitor has violated access granted by the access instructions.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a first communication with the remote client device over a first communication channel; and

establishing 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, wherein the access instructions from the remote client device are received over the first communication channel.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a deactivation command to deactivate a security measure in response to the access instructions.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising reactivating the security measure after a period of time.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising reactivating the security measure in response to a command from the remote client device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising alerting a security agency.

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

8. A controller for a security system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions that when executed cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

receiving an event detected by a monitoring device of the security system;

sending an activity notification to an address of a remote client device in response to the event;

receiving access instructions from the remote client device in response to the activity notification, the access instructions permitting access to a visitor;

deactivating a security feature in response to the access instructions;

determining a violation of the access instructions; and

sending a violation notification to the address of the remote client device in response to the violation, the violation notification indicating that the visitor has violated the access granted by the access instructions.

9. The controller of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise:

establishing a first communication with the remote client device over a first communication channel; and

establishing 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, wherein the access instructions from the remote client device are received over the first communication channel.

10. The controller of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise sending a deactivation command in response to the access instructions.

11. The controller of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise reactivating the security feature after a period of time.

12. The controller of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise reactivating the security feature in response to a command from the remote client device.

13. The controller of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise alerting a security agency.

14. The controller of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise sending video data to the address of the remote client device.

15. A memory storing instructions for providing security, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

receiving an event detected by a monitoring device of a security system;

sending an activity notification to an address of a remote client device in response to the event;

receiving access instructions from the remote client device in response to the activity notification, the access instructions instructing the security system to grant access to a visitor;

deactivating a security feature of the security system in response to the access instructions;

determining a violation of the access instructions; and

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

16. The memory of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise:

establishing a first communication with the remote client device over a first communication channel; and

establishing 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, wherein the access instructions from the remote client device are received over the first communication channel.

17. The memory of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise sending a deactivation command in response to the access instructions.

18. The memory of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise reactivating the security feature after a period of time.

19. The memory of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise reactivating the security measure in response to a command from the remote client device.

20. The memory of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise sending video data to the remote client device.