Security system

• US 9,365,187 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2015
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Poder, Jim
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dorsey, Renee
• Application Number:
  US14/621,713
• Publication Number:
  US 20150224963A1
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• 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

Abstract

Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for expanding the functionality of a security system are disclosed. The security system may be integrated with a vehicle security system. For example, a vehicle security node of a vehicle may transmit a signal that may be received by the security system. The security system may authenticate the vehicle security node and integrate the vehicle security node into its network. Various information may be communicated in both directions between the security system and the vehicle security node. The vehicle security node may communicate with an alarm panel that may include a dock for connecting a portable device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a security system of a premises, a signal from a mobile security node via a wireless link;

determining that a strength of the signal is greater than a first threshold indicated by a profile associated with the mobile security node, wherein the first threshold is greater than zero;

and

integrating the mobile security node with the security system in response to determining that the strength of the signal is greater than the first threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting data from the security system to the mobile security node.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the transmitting the data comprises transmitting a request for information regarding the mobile security node, a command instructing the mobile security node to perform a function, or both, the method further comprising:

receiving, by the security system, a report from the mobile security node in response to the transmitting of the data.

4. The method of claim 3,

wherein, if the data comprises the request for information, the receiving the report comprises receiving the information;

and

wherein, if the data comprises the command, the receiving the report comprises receiving a confirmation that the function has been performed.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein

the mobile security node comprises a mobile security node in a vehicle;

and

the transmitting the request for the information comprises transmitting a request for vehicle diagnostic information, a request for vehicle alarm information, or both.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile security node comprises a mobile security node in a vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing a training process to establish the first threshold.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the performing the training process to establish the first threshold comprises storing, as the first threshold, a strength of a test signal from the mobile security node while the mobile security node is located at a first location.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to determining that the mobile security node is out of range based on a signal strength of a second signal received from the mobile security node, monitoring the premises for a predetermined period of time before determining whether to arm the security system.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising triggering an alarm associated with the mobile security node if at least one sensor of the security system is triggered.

11. A method comprising:

receiving a signal from a mobile security node via a wireless link;

determining that the mobile security node is out of range by determining that a signal strength of the signal received from the mobile security node is less than a threshold, wherein the threshold is greater than zero; and

in response to determining that the mobile security node is out of range, performing at least one of arming a security system of a premises, prompting a user to determine whether to arm the security system, or instructing the security system to monitor the premises for a predetermined period of time.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving a user input;

transmitting, by the security system, data to the mobile security node in response to the receiving of the user input; and

receiving a report from the mobile security node in response to the transmitting of the data.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

in response to determining that the mobile security node is in range based on a signal strength of a second signal received from the mobile security node, performing at least one of disarming the security system, or prompting a user to determine whether to disarm the security system.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

defining the range by training the security system to determine that the mobile security node is in range when the signal strength of the second signal is greater than a certain signal strength.

15. A method comprising:

receiving a signal from a vehicle security node via a wireless link;

determining that the vehicle security node is within range by determining that a signal strength of the signal is greater than a first threshold indicated by a profile associated with the vehicle security node, wherein the first threshold is greater than zero; and

in response to determining that the vehicle security node is within range, performing at least one first action that comprises causing disarming of a security system that monitors a premises, causing opening a door on the premises, causing unlocking a door on the premises, or causing turning on a light on the premises.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

determining that the signal strength is greater than a second threshold, wherein the second threshold is greater than the first threshold; and

in response to determining that the signal strength is greater than the second threshold, performing at least one second action that comprises causing disarming the security system, causing opening a door on the premises, causing unlocking a door on the premises, and causing turning on a light on the premises, wherein the at least one second action is different from the at least one first action.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

responsive to determining that the vehicle security node is out of range based on a signal strength of a second signal received from the vehicle security node, monitoring the premises for a predetermined period of time before determining whether to arm the security system.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

in response to determining that the vehicle security node is within range, transmitting a request for vehicle diagnostic information or a request for vehicle alarm information to the vehicle security node.

19. A method comprising:

receiving, by a security system of a premises, a signal from a vehicle comprising a vehicle security device via a wireless link;

determining that the vehicle is leaving the premises by determining that a strength of the signal received from the vehicle comprising the vehicle security device is less than a threshold, wherein the threshold is greater than zero; and

transmitting, by the security system and to the vehicle security device, a message configured to prompt a user to indicate whether to arm the security system.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

performing a training process to establish the threshold.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the performing the training process comprises storing, as the threshold, a strength of a test signal transmitted from the vehicle security device while the vehicle is located at a first location.