Method, system and apparatus for activation of a home security, monitoring and automation controller using remotely stored configuration data

• US 9,100,446 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2010
• Issued: 08/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iControl Networks, Inc. (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: iControl Networks, Inc. (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Cohn, Alan Wade, Faulkner, Gary Robert, Kitchen, James Edward, Proft, David Leon, Quain, Corey Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Donabed, Ninos
• Application Number:
  US12/770,365
• Publication Number:
  US 20100280635A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,923 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0736 in functional embedded systems, i.e. in a data processing system designed as a combination of hardware and software dedicated to performing a certain function testing or monitoring of automated control systems G05B23/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0757 by exceeding a time limit, i.e. time-out, e.g. watchdogs
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/00 Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 19/005 combined burglary and fire alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/001 Alarm cancelling procedures or alarm forwarding decisions, e.g. based on absence of alarm confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/004 Alarm propagated along alternative communication path or using alternative communication medium according to a hierarchy of available ways to communicate, e.g. if Wi-Fi not available use GSM
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• 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: G08B 29/08 Signalling of tampering with the line circuit
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/16 Security signalling or alarm systems, e.g. redundant systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2807 Exchanging configuration information on appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving network analysis for automatically determining the actual topology of a network H04L41/12; hardware or software tools for network management using graphical user interfaces H04L41/22; address allocation H04L61/50
• 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 12/2816 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 12/2825 : 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: H04L 12/2827 : Reporting to a device within the home network; wherein the reception of the information reported automatically triggers the execution of a home appliance functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2832 : Interconnection of the control functionalities between home networks single bridge functionality H04L12/4625
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2834 : Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 : for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 : involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/26 : Special purpose or proprietary protocols or architectures network applications for proprietary or special purpose networking environments H04L67/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/28 : for reactive routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/34 : Modification of an existing route
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 : for emergency connections

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a single platform that provides controller functionality for each of security, monitoring and automation, as well as providing a capacity to function as a bidirectional Internet gateway. Embodiments of the present invention provide such functionality by virtue of a configurable architecture that enables a user to adapt the system for the user'"'"'s specific needs. Embodiments of the present invention further provide for a software-based installation workflow to activate and provision the controller and associated sensors and network. Embodiments of the present invention also provide for downloading of previously-stored configuration data to the controller from a remote server, and for activation and provisioning of the controller from the previously-stored configuration data.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for configuring a first security, monitoring and automation (SMA) controller, the method comprising:

determining whether the configuring of the first SMA controller is a first installation type or a second installation type;

determining a networking option for use in configuring the first SMA controller when it is determined the configuring is the first installation type;

transmitting a unique identifier to a first remote computer when it is determined that the configuring is the second installation type, wherein the transmitting is performed by the first SMA controller over a network connection between the first SMA controller and the first remote computer, the unique identifier is associated with configuration data previously stored by a second remote computer, and the configuration data is compatible with the first SMA controller, wherein the configuration data includes configuration data for one or more security sensors and security zones, wherein the configuration data comprises an association between each zone of the one or more security zones and a sensor of the one or more security sensors and an association of a response of the first SMA controller with the one or more security zones;

receiving the configuration data over the network connection by the first SMA controller;

storing the configuration data in a memory of the first SMA controller; and

configuring the first SMA controller using the stored configuration data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration data previously stored by the second remote computer comprises configuration data received by the second remote computer from a second SMA controller.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the configuration data comprises configuration data received from the second SMA controller immediately subsequent to an initial configuration of the second SMA controller.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the configuration data comprises configuration data received from the second SMA controller immediately subsequent to a modification of configuration data of the second SMA controller.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration data comprises one or more of configuration data for a home domain network, configuration data for a cellular network connection, configuration data for one or more monitoring devices, configuration data for one or more home area network devices each having an automation interface, configuration data and drivers for modules coupled to the first SMA controller, and widget programs and associated configuration data.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising requesting the unique identifier, wherein the requesting comprises displaying the request using a display device coupled to the first SMA controller.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising testing a communication path between the first SMA controller and a third remote computer, wherein the testing the communication path is performed subsequent to the configuring the first SMA controller using the stored configuration data.

8. An apparatus that is a controller, the apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to determine whether configuring of the controller is a first installation type or a second installation type, and determine a networking option for use in configuring the controller when it is determined the configuring is the first installation type;

a communications interface coupled to the processor, coupled to a first remote computer using a network connection, and configured to transmit a unique identifier to the first remote computer when it is determined that the configuring is the second installation type, wherein the unique identifier is associated with configuration data previously stored by a second remote computer, and the configuration data is compatible with the apparatus, and configured to receive the configuration data, wherein the configuration data includes configuration data for one or more security sensors and security zones, wherein the configuration data comprises an association between each zone of the one or more security zones and a sensor of the one or more security sensors and an association of a response of the first SMA controller with the one or more security zones; and

a memory coupled to the processor and storing the received configuration data; and

wherein the processor configures the apparatus using the stored configuration data when the configuring is the second installation type.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the configuration data previously stored by the second remote computer comprises configuration data received by the second remote computer from a security, monitoring and automation (SMA) controller.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the configuration data comprises configuration data received from the SMA controller immediately subsequent to an initial configuration of the SMA controller.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the configuration data comprises configuration data received from the SMA controller immediately subsequent to a modification of configuration data of the SMA controller.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the configuration data comprises one or more of configuration data for a home domain network, configuration data for a cellular network connection, configuration data for one or more monitoring devices, configuration data for one or more home area network devices each having an automation interface, configuration data and drivers for modules coupled to the first SMA controller, and widget programs and associated configuration data.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, comprising:

a display device coupled to the processor; and

the processor configured to display a request for the unique identifier using the display device.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, comprising the processor configured to test a communication path between the apparatus and a third remote computer, wherein the testing the communication path is performed subsequent to the configuring the apparatus using the stored configuration data.