Sensor bypass

• US 9,589,446 B1
• Filed: 01/28/2016
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Dey, Sourav Raj, Malhotra, Mark Rajan, Modi, Yash, Donhowe, Kristoffer John
• Primary Examiner(s): Lu, Shirley
• Application Number:
  US15/008,877
• Time in Patent Office: 404 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 1/00 Systems for signalling characterised solely by the form of transmission of the signal
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/08 by opening, e.g. of door, of window, of drawer, of shutter, of curtain, of blind
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system

Abstract

Systems and techniques are provided for sensor bypass. Activation may be received at a bypass input of an entry point sensor of a security system while the entry point sensor is in an armed mode. The entry point sensor may detect that the entry point monitored by the entry point sensor is closed. The entry point sensor may enter into a bypass mode. Detection by the entry point sensor of an opening of the entry point while the entry point sensor is in the bypass mode may not result in the generation of an alarm by the security system.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method performed by a data processing apparatus, the method comprising:

receiving, at an entry point sensor of a security system, an activation at a bypass input while the entry point sensor is in an armed mode;

detecting, by the entry point sensor, that the entry point monitored by the entry point sensor is closed;

entering, by the entry point sensor, into a bypass mode, wherein detection by the entry point sensor of an opening of the entry point while the entry point sensor is in the bypass mode does not result in the generation of an alarm by the security system;

after entering the bypass mode, detecting, by the entry point sensor, an opening of the entry point;

generating, by the entry point sensor, a trip signal based on the detected opening of the entry point;

sending, by the entry point sensor, the trip signal and a bypass status indicating that the entry point sensor is in the bypass mode to a hub computing device for the security system;

determining by the entry point sensor that a second timeout period has elapsed before the entry point sensor detects a closing of the entry point and before the entry point sensor receives a subsequent second activation of the bypass input, or receiving at the entry point sensor the subsequent second activation of the bypass input before the second timeout period has elapsed and before the entry point sensor detects a closing of the entry point;

exiting, by the entry point sensor, the bypass mode; and

reentering, by the entry point sensor, the armed mode;

receiving at the entry point sensor a subsequent third activation of the bypass input before detecting a closing of the entry point;

remaining, by the entry point sensor, in the armed mode; and

sending, by the entry point sensor, a report of the subsequent third activation of the bypass input to the hub computing device of the security system.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

after reentering, by the entry point sensor, the armed mode, detecting by the entry point sensor a closing of the entry point;

receiving, by the entry point sensor, a subsequent fourth activation of the bypass input while the entry point is closed; and

entering, by the entry point sensor, into the bypass mode.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising:

after entering the bypass mode, determining by the entry point sensor that a first timeout period has elapsed before the entry point sensor detects an opening of the entry point or receives a subsequent fifth activation of the bypass input;

exiting, by the entry point sensor, the bypass mode; and

reentering, by the entry point sensor, the armed mode.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising:

after entering the bypass mode, receiving at the entry point sensor a subsequent fifth activation of the bypass input before a first timeout period has elapsed and before the entry point sensor detects an opening of the entry point;

exiting, by the entry point sensor, the bypass mode; and

reentering, by the entry point sensor, the armed mode.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising:

detecting, by the entry point sensor, an opening of the entry point;

detecting, by the entry point sensor, a closing of the entry point before a second timeout period has elapsed and before the entry point sensor receives a subsequent fifth activation of the bypass input;

exiting, by the entry point sensor, the bypass mode; and

reentering, by the entry point sensor, the armed mode.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising:

after entering the bypass mode, detecting, by the entry point sensor, an opening of the entry point; and

not generating, by the entry point sensor, a trip signal based on the detected opening of the entry point, wherein a trip signal would have been generated based on detecting the opening of the entry point when the entry point sensor was in the armed mode.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the bypass input is a hardware input of the entry point sensor.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the bypass input is physically accessible only to a person on the same side of the entry point as the entry point sensor when the entry point is closed.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising outputting, by an indicator device of the entry point sensor, an indication that the entry point sensor is in bypass mode.

10. An entry point sensor apparatus comprising:

a sensor that detects one or more characteristics of an entry point;

a bypass input that receives an activation and generates an activation signal based on the received activation;

a communications chipset that communicates with a hub computing device of a security system; and

a processor that receives the activation signal from the bypass input while the entry point sensor is in an armed mode, detects that the entry point is closed based on the one or more characteristics of the entry point detected by the sensor, causes the entry point sensor to enter a bypass mode based on the activation signal wherein detection by the entry point sensor of an opening of the entry point while the entry point sensor is in the bypass mode does not result in the generation of an alarm by the security system, detects an opening of the entry point based on the sensor after causing the entry point sensor to entry the bypass mode, generates a trip signal based on the detected opening of the entry point, sends, using the communications chipset, the trip signal and a bypass status indicating that the entry point sensor is in the bypass mode to the hub computing device of the security system, determines that a second timeout period has elapsed before a closing of the entry point is detected and before a second activation signal based on a subsequent second activation of the bypass input is received or receives the second activation signal based on the subsequent second activation of the bypass input before the second timeout period has elapsed and before a closing of the entry point is detected, causes the entry point sensor to exit the bypass mode, causes the entry point sensor to reenter the armed mode, receives a third activation signal indicating a subsequent third activation of the bypass input before detecting a closing of the entry point, causes the entry point sensor to remain in the armed mode, and sends, using the communications chipset, a report of the subsequent third activation of the bypass input to the hub computing device of the security system.

11. The entry point sensor of claim 10, wherein the processor determines a mode of the security system and causes the entry point sensor to not enter the bypass mode based on the activation signal when the mode of the security system indicates either that the entry point sensor is not in an armed mode or the security system is in an away mode.

12. The entry point sensor of claim 10, wherein the processor determines that a first timeout period has elapsed after the activation signal is received from the bypass input and before the second activation signal is received from the bypass input and the characteristics of the entry point detected by the sensor indicate that the entry point is opened, determines that the second activation signal was received from the bypass input after the activation signal is received from the bypass input and before the first timeout period has elapsed and the characteristics of the entry point detected by the sensor indicate that the entry point is opened, and causes the entry point sensor to exit bypass mode.

13. The entry point sensor of claim 10, wherein the processor determines that the characteristics of the entry point detected by the sensor indicate that the entry point is opened after the activation signal is received from the bypass input and before a first timeout period has elapsed and the second activation signal is received from the bypass input.

14. The entry point sensor of claim 13, wherein the processor determines that the characteristics of the entry point detected by the sensor indicate that the entry point is closed after a determination that the entry point was open, and causes the entry point sensor to exit the bypass mode.

15. The entry point sensor of claim 13, wherein the processor determines that a second timeout period has elapsed after a determination that the entry point was opened and before the second activation signal is received from the bypass input, and the characteristics of the entry point detected by the sensor indicate that the entry point is opened, determines that the second activation signal was received from the bypass input after a determination that the entry point was open and before the first timeout period has elapsed and the characteristics of the entry point detected by the sensor indicate that the entry point is opened, causes the entry point sensor to exit the bypass mode, and causes the entry point sensor to reenter the bypass after receiving a subsequent activation signal only after determining that the characteristics of the entry point indicate that the entry point is closed.

16. A computer-implemented system for sensor bypass comprising:

an entry point sensor comprising a bypass input and a communications chipset that communicates with a hub computing device, that receives an activation at the bypass input, detects that the entry point monitored by the entry point sensor is closed, enters into a bypass mode, detects an opening of the entry point after entering the bypass mode, generates a trip signal based on the detected opening of the entry point, sends the trip signal and a bypass status to the hub computing device, determines that a second timeout period has elapsed before the entry point sensor detects a closing of the entry point and before the entry point sensor receives a subsequent second activation of the bypass input or receives at the entry point sensor the subsequent second activation of the bypass input before the second timeout period has elapsed and before the entry point sensor detects a closing of the entry point, exits the bypass mode, reenters the armed mode, receives a subsequent third activation of the bypass input before detecting a closing of the entry point, remains in the armed mode, and sends, using the communications chipset, a report of the subsequent third activation of the bypass input to the hub computing device; and

the hub computing device that receives the trip signal and the bypass status from the entry point sensor, generates an alarm when the bypass status received with the trip signal indicates that the entry point sensor is not in the bypass mode, and does not generate an alarm when the bypass status received with the trip signal indicates that the entry point sensor is in the bypass mode.

17. The computer-implemented system of claim 16, wherein the entry point sensor generates and sends the trip signal when an opening of the entry point monitored by the entry point sensor is detected and sends the bypass status of the entry point status in conjunction with sending the trip signal.

18. The computer-implemented system of claim 16, wherein the hub computing device sends an indication of the mode of a security system to the entry point sensor.

19. The computer-implemented system of claim 16, wherein the hub computing device is receives an indication that the entry point sensor has entered bypass mode, and changes the mode of one or more sensors of a security system based on the entry point sensor entering bypass mode.

20. A system comprising:

one or more computers and one or more storage devices storing instructions which are operable, when executed by the one or more computers, to cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising;

receiving, at an entry point sensor of a security system, an activation at a bypass input while the entry point sensor is in an armed mode;

detecting, by the entry point sensor, that the entry point monitored by the entry point sensor is closed;

entering, by the entry point sensor, into a bypass mode, wherein detection by the entry point sensor of an opening of the entry point while the entry point sensor is in the bypass mode does not result in the generation of an alarm by the security system;

after entering the bypass mode, detecting, by the entry point sensor, an opening of the entry point;

generating, by the entry point sensor, a trip signal based on the detected opening of the entry point;

sending, by the entry point sensor, the trip signal and a bypass status indicating that the entry point sensor is in the bypass mode to a hub computing device for the security system;

determining by the entry point sensor that a second timeout period has elapsed before the entry point sensor detects a closing of the entry point and before the entry point sensor receives a subsequent second activation of the bypass input, or receiving at the entry point sensor the subsequent second activation of the bypass input before the second timeout period has elapsed and before the entry point sensor detects a closing of the entry point;

exiting, by the entry point sensor, the bypass mode; and

reentering, by the entry point sensor, the armed mode;

receiving at the entry point sensor a subsequent third activation of the bypass input before detecting a closing of the entry point;

remaining, by the entry point sensor, in the armed mode; and

sending, by the entry point sensor, a report of the subsequent third activation of the bypass input to the hub computing device of the security system.