Networked touchscreen with integrated interfaces

• US 9,047,753 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2010
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iControl Networks, Inc. (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: iControl Networks, Inc. (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Dawes, Paul J., Fulker, Jim, Wales, Carolyn
• Primary Examiner(s): Beharry, Noel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sciacca, Scott M
• Application Number:
  US12/718,385
• Publication Number:
  US 20100153853A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,915 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/219, 709/223, 709/224
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2843 Mains power line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/029 Firewall traversal, e.g. tunnelling or, creating pinholes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/166 at the transport layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications

Abstract

An integrated security system integrates broadband and mobile access and control with conventional security systems and premise devices to provide a tri-mode security network that with remote connectivity and access. The integrated security system includes a touchscreen providing security keypad functionality as well as content management and presentation, and is used as a security system interface and an interface for interacting with a network. The integrated security system delivers remote premise monitoring and control functionality to conventional monitored premise protection and complements existing premise protection equipment. The integrated security system integrates into the premise network and couples wirelessly with the conventional security panel, enabling broadband access to premise security systems. Automation devices can be added, enabling users to remotely see live video or pictures and control home devices via a personal web portal, mobile phone, or other client device. Users can receive notifications of detected events via electronic message.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

generating through a touchscreen a security network by integrating the touchscreen and a security system that includes a plurality of security components, wherein the touchscreen and the security system are both situated on a premises;

establishing communication between the touchscreen and at least one remote network;

establishing a coupling between a subnetwork of the premises and the touchscreen, wherein the subnetwork includes at least one device and is independent from the security network;

receiving at the touchscreen input data corresponding to the plurality of security components and the at least one device of the subnetwork, wherein the input data is entered using a plurality of interfaces of the touchscreen;

receiving at the touchscreen security data from the plurality of security components, device data of the at least one device of the subnetwork, and remote data received from at least one remote server of the remote network;

generating processed data by processing at the touchscreen the input data, the security data, the device data, and the remote data;

determining at the touchscreen a state change of the security system using the processed data;

maintaining at a first server objects corresponding to at least one of the plurality of security components and the at least one device of the subnetwork and updating the objects in response to the state change;

signaling information of the state change to a second server that is different from the first server;

presenting a plurality of interfaces on the touchscreen generated by modular applications that are downloadable via the at least one remote network, wherein the plurality of interfaces is dynamically updated using the modular applications;

determining a priority among a plurality of applications of the touchscreen using a resident application of the touchscreen and managing the plurality of applications according to the priority, wherein a higher priority application can override a lower priority application;

routing requests from a plurality of applications of the touchscreen by using a caching proxy of the touchscreen to determine whether the requests are processed on one of the touchscreen and a component of the remote network;

receiving at the touchscreen via the remote network a schedule and controlling via the schedule on the touchscreen at least one of the plurality of security components and the at least one component.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising automatically integrating the touchscreen as a control device of the security system, wherein the touchscreen provides an integrated system comprising the security network and the subnetwork, and controlling service management activities of the integrated system by managing the objects and interactions among the objects.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising the touchscreen separately controlling communications and data on each of the security network, the subnetwork and the remote network.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising segregating via the touchscreen data traffic between the security network, the subnetwork and the remote network by separately controlling the data traffic on each of the security network, the subnetwork and the remote network using separate security and privacy policies for components coupled to each of the security network, the subnetwork and the remote network.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising associating through the touchscreen the at least one device of the subnetwork with the security system, the at least one device comprising a non-security component.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising simultaneously presenting a plurality of interfaces on the touchscreen, the plurality of interfaces including a security interface for accessing and controlling the security system and the security components, wherein the security system interface is ever present in a dedicated region of the touchscreen.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the plurality of interfaces include a subnetwork interface for accessing and controlling the at least one device, and a remote network interface for accessing the remote network.

8. The method of claim 6, comprising enabling interaction among a plurality of devices via the plurality of interfaces, wherein the plurality of devices comprise the security system, the security components, the at least one device of the subnetwork, and at least one device of the remote network, wherein a device of the plurality of devices is at least one of a sensor, an Internet Protocol (IP) device, a camera, another touchscreen, a device controller that controls an attached device, a radio frequency (RF) capable device, and a Z-Wave device.

9. The method of claim 1, comprising:

establishing communication between the touchscreen and a remote server;

managing at least one of the security network, the subnetwork, the remote network, and content of the touchscreen via the remote server.

10. The method of claim 1, comprising:

providing a portal via at least one of the touchscreen and a remote server coupled) to the touchscreen;

enabling via the portal control of the security system, the subnetwork, and the remote network from a remote device, wherein the remote device includes one or more of personal computers, personal digital assistants, cellular telephones, and mobile computing devices.

11. The method of claim 1, comprising automatically detecting and adding the security components and the at least one device of the subnetwork to an electronic user account through the touchscreen.

12. The method of claim 1, comprising:

electronically retrieving content via the touchscreen and the remote network;

integrating the content in at least one of the touchscreen, the security system, the security components, and the at least one device of the subnetwork, wherein the content includes a software application and interactive content in the form of interne widgets.

13. The method of claim 1, comprising an application engine running on the processor of the touchscreen, wherein the application engine controls a plurality of applications hosted on the touchscreen, wherein the plurality of) applications includes a resident application that manages interactions between the plurality of applications.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the resident application determines a priority of each application of the plurality of applications and manages the plurality of applications according to the priority.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of applications manages communications between the security network, the security system, the at least one security component, the subnetwork, the at least one device, and the remote network.