Notification of security alerts

• US 9,368,023 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2014
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• 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: Cobb, Thomas Y., Feldstein, Jeffrey, Jean, Daniel George
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US14/549,658
• Publication Number:
  US 20150077251A1
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

Remote notifications are provided by a security system. When the security system detects a visitor, a first notification is sent to an authorized user. The first notification may include an image or video, thus allowing the user to recognize the visitor. If the user approves the visitor, the security system deactivates for a period of time. The visitor may thus enter a home or business for some purpose. However, if the visitor lingers beyond the period of time, the security system reactivates and sends a second notification.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

sending, from a controller associated with a security system, an electronic notification to a remote device, the electronic notification alerting of a visitor detected by the security system;

receiving, by the controller, an access instruction sent from the remote device, the access instruction instructing the controller to permit access to the visitor;

deactivating, by the controller, a feature associated with the security system to permit the access according to the access instruction sent from the remote device;

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

sending, by the controller, another electronic notification of the violation of the access instruction.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving a time of deactivation.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining a lapse of the time of deactivation.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising determining the violation of the access instruction in response to the lapse of the time of deactivation.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a time of deactivation from the access instruction.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising determining the time of deactivation has elapsed.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising reactivating the feature associated with the security system.

8. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing code that when executed causes the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

sending an electronic notification to a remote device, the electronic notification providing an alert of a visitor detected by a security system;

receiving an access instruction sent from the remote device, the access instruction providing an instruction that permits access to the visitor;

deactivating the security system for a period of time to permit the access;

reactivating the security system in response to a lapse of the period of time;

detecting the visitor after reactivation of the security system; and

sending another electronic notification alerting that the visitor lingers beyond the period of time.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving the period of time.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise receiving the period of time in the access instruction.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise counting down a timer.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise sending the electronic notification to an Internet protocol address associated with the remote device.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise sending video to the Internet protocol address associated with the remote device.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving video associated with the visitor.

15. A memory device storing instructions which when executed cause a processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

sending a notification alerting of a visitor detected by a security system;

receiving an access instruction that permits access to the visitor;

deactivating the security system for a period of time to permit the access;

reactivating the security system in response to a lapse of the period of time;

detecting the visitor after reactivation of the security system; and

sending another notification alerting that the visitor lingers beyond the period of time.

16. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving the period of time.

17. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise receiving the period of time in the access instruction.

18. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise counting down a timer.

19. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise sending the notification to an Internet protocol address.

20. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise sending video of the visitor.