Security system with traffic monitoring

• US 9,459,112 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2014
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nye, James E., Warren, Jeremy B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Badii, Behrang
• Application Number:
  US14/209,741
• Publication Number:
  US 20140278028A1
• Time in Patent Office: 936 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3415 Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3492 employing speed data or traffic data, e.g. real-time or historical traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3617 using user history, behaviour, conditions or preferences, e.g. predicted or inferred from previous use or current movement
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3676 Overview of the route on the road map
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3694 Output thereof on a road map
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/00 Three dimensional [3D] modelling, e.g. data description of 3D objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/05 Geographic models
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/00 Checking or monitoring of signalling or alarm systems; Prevention or correction of operating errors, e.g. preventing unauthorised operation
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to approaches for providing real time traffic information to a user using a control panel of a building automation system. The control panel includes a processor, a memory in electronic communication with the processor, and instructions stored in the memory that are executable by the processor to couple the control panel to at least one of a sensor and a controller of the building automation system, receive traffic data for a geographic area associated with the control panel, and generate at least one audible notification to communicate the traffic data to a user through the control panel.

Claims

1. A control panel for a home automation and security system, the control panel comprising:

a processor;

a memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to;

receive vehicular traffic data for a geographic area associated with the control panel, wherein the control panel comprises a dedicated unit located at a home and configured to communicate with one or more automation and security sensors located throughout the home;

analyze the vehicular traffic data in relation to a predetermined route to a destination;

identify a traffic condition that affects an aspect of the predetermined route;

identify an alternative route to the predetermined destination based at least in part on the identified traffic condition;

communicate, using a speaker in the home associated with the control panel, an audible alert and text-to-speech information regarding the alternative route;

communicate an audiovisual notification on a television associated with the control panel, wherein the audiovisual notification comprises audible and visual information regarding the alternative route; and

send the alternative route to a mobile electronic device in response to detecting a departure of an occupant of the home associated with the predetermined route.

2. The control panel of claim 1, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

display a map comprising at least a portion of the geographic area on a display of the control panel; and

overlay a visual representation of the vehicular traffic data onto the map.

3. The control panel of claim 1, wherein the audibly communicated vehicular traffic data includes at least one of directions to a specified destination and estimated travel time to a specified destination.

4. The control panel of claim 1, wherein the audibly communicated vehicular traffic data comprises traffic conditions on one or more predetermined routes.

5. The control panel of claim 1, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

automatically communicate at least some of the vehicular traffic data to the user through the user interface of the control panel during at least one predefined time period.

6. The control panel of claim 5, wherein a first predefined time period corresponds to a morning commute time period and a second predefined time period corresponds to an evening commute time period.

7. The control panel of claim 1, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

communicate at least some of the vehicular traffic data to the user through at least one device communicatively coupled to the control panel.

8. The control panel of claim 7, wherein the at least one device comprises at least one of a television, a clock, a radio, and a mobile electronic device.

9. The control panel of claim 1, wherein the vehicular traffic data is received from a remote server.

10. The control panel of claim 1, wherein the geographic area is one of a neighborhood, a city, a county, and a user-defined geographic area.

11. A method for monitoring traffic, the method comprising:

receiving, by a processor of a control panel, vehicular traffic data for a geographic area associated with the control panel, wherein the control panel comprises a dedicated unit located at a home and configured to communicate with one or more automation and security sensors located throughout the home; and

analyzing, by the processor, the vehicular traffic data in relation to a predetermined route to a destination;

identifying, by the processor, a traffic condition that affects an aspect of the predetermined route;

identifying, by the processor, an alternative route to the predetermined destination based at least in part on the identified traffic condition;

communicating, by the processor using a speaker in the home associated with the control panel, an audible alert and text-to-speech information regarding the alternative route;

communicating, by the processor, an audiovisual notification on a television associated with the control panel, wherein the audiovisual notification comprises audible and visual information regarding the alternative route; and

sending, by the processor, the alternative route to a mobile electronic device in response to detecting a departure of an occupant of the home associated with the predetermined route.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

displaying a map comprising at least a portion of the geographic area on a display of the control panel; and

overlaying a visual representation of the vehicular traffic data onto the map.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the audibly communicated vehicular traffic data includes at least one of directions to a specified destination and estimated travel time to a specified destination.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the audibly communicated vehicular traffic data comprises traffic conditions on one or more predetermined routes.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

automatically communicating the vehicular traffic data to the user through the control panel during at least one predefined time period.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer executable instructions that when executed by a processor of a control panel cause the processor to:

receive vehicular traffic data for a geographic area associated with the control panel, wherein the control panel comprises a dedicated unit located at a home and configured to communicate with one or more automation and security sensors located throughout the home;

analyze the vehicular traffic data in relation to a predetermined route to a destination;

identify a traffic condition that affects an aspect of the predetermined route;

identify an alternative route to the predetermined destination based at least in part on the identified traffic condition;

communicate, using a speaker in the home associated with the control panel, an audible alert and text-to-speech information regarding the alternative route;

communicate an audiovisual notification on a television associated with the control panel, wherein the audiovisual notification comprises audible and visual information regarding the alternative route; and

send the alternative route to a mobile electronic device in response to detecting a departure of an occupant of the home associated with the predetermined route.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein instructions are further executable by the processor to:

display a map comprising at least a portion of the geographic area on a display of the control panel; and

overlay a visual representation of the vehicular traffic data onto the map.