Child monitoring bracelet/anklet

• US 9,721,445 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2014
• Issued: 08/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hatch, Brandon
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): POINT, RUFUS C
• Application Number:
  US14/298,377
• Publication Number:
  US 20150356848A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,152 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0255 System arrangements wherein the parent unit emits, i.e. the parent unit incorporates the emitter
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0261 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect trespassing over a fixed physical boundary, e.g. the end of a garden

Abstract

Methods and systems are described for tracking location using a home automation system. One method includes receiving sensor data indicating presence of a wearable tracking device in a predetermined area of a property monitored by the home automation system, confirming an identity of the tracking device, and generating a notice indicating a location of the tracking device.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for tracking location using a home automation system, comprising:

receiving sensor data indicating presence of a wearable tracking device in a predetermined area of a property monitored by the home automation system;

receiving, before a duration of the presence of the wearable tracking device within the predetermined area exceeds a predetermined threshold, sensor data indicating a presence of another wearable tracking device within a range of the predetermined area;

confirming an identity of the wearable tracking device based at least in part on the received sensor data;

determining that the wearable tracking device is within the predetermined area for a predetermined duration that exceeds the predetermined threshold;

determining whether to generate a notice and transmit the notice to a remote computing device, the notice indicating a location of the wearable tracking device and being based at least in part on the received sensor data indicating the presence of the another wearable tracking device within the range of the predetermined area; and

initiating a function of the home automation system based at least in part on the confirmed identity of the wearable tracking device and determining that the wearable tracking device is within the predetermined area for the predetermined duration that exceeds the predetermined threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating suggested actions to be taken in response to the location of the wearable tracking device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

taking a picture or generating video content, wherein the picture or the video content includes at least one of the wearable tracking device, a person wearing the wearable tracking device, and at least a portion of the predetermined area.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein confirming the identity of the wearable tracking device includes comparing an identification code for the wearable tracking device to a database of identification codes associated with occupants of the property.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the home automation system includes at least one proximity sensor positioned in the predetermined area, and receiving sensor data includes receiving sensor data from the at least one proximity sensor.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the notice to the remote computing device.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving instructions from the remote computing device; and

performing at least one action related to the home automation system in response to the instructions.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the property includes a plurality of predetermined areas, the method further comprising:

assigning a priority level to each of the plurality of predetermined areas, wherein the notice is dependent at least in part on the assigned priority level.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the wearable tracking device is a wrist band or anklet wearable by one of a person and a pet.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating the notice indicating the location of the wearable tracking device; and

terminating the notice based at least in part on the confirmed identity of the another wearable tracking device.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating the function of the home automation system occurs automatically based at least in part on the confirmed identity of the wearable tracking device.

11. An apparatus for tracking location using a home automation system, 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 sensor data from a short wave sensor indicating presence of a wearable tracking device in a predetermined area of a property monitored by the home automation system;

receive, before a duration of the presence of the wearable tracking device within the predetermined area exceeds a predetermined threshold, sensor data indicating a presence of another wearable tracking device within a range of the predetermined area;

confirm an identity of the wearable tracking device based at least in part on the received sensor data;

determine that the wearable tracking device is within the predetermined area for a predetermined duration that exceeds the predetermined threshold;

determine whether to generate a notice and transmit the notice to a remote computing device, the notice indicating a location of the wearable tracking device and being based at least in part on the received sensor data indicating the presence of the another wearable tracking device within the range of the predetermined area; and

initiate a function of the home automation system based at least in part on the confirmed identity of the wearable tracking device and determining that the wearable tracking device is within the predetermined area for the predetermined duration that exceeds the predetermined threshold and the another wearable tracking device.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

confirm an identity of a person wearing the wearable tracking device.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein generating the notice includes transmitting a message to a mobile computing device, or generating an audible message, or a combination thereof.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

operate a feature of the home automation system to limit access to the predetermined area in response to the notice.

15. A computer-program product for tracking location using a home automation system, the computer-program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor to:

receive sensor data indicating presence of a wearable tracking device within a range of a predetermined area of a property monitored by the home automation system;

receive, before a duration of the presence of the wearable tracking device within the predetermined area exceeds a predetermined threshold, sensor data indicating a presence of another wearable tracking device within a range of the predetermined area;

determine that the wearable tracking device is within the predetermined area for a predetermined duration that exceeds a predetermined threshold;

determine a direction of the wearable tracking device relative to the predetermined area at a first time based at least in part on the sensor data;

take a picture or generate video content based at least in part on the direction;

determine an identity of a person wearing the wearable tracking device based at least in part on the received sensor data and the picture or the video content;

determine whether to generate a notice and transmit the notice to a remote computing device of at least one supervisor of the person, the notice indicating a location of the wearable tracking device and being based at least in part on the received sensor data indicating the presence of the another wearable tracking device within the range of the predetermined area; and

initiate a function of the home automation system based at least in part on the confirmed identity and determining that the wearable tracking device is within the predetermined area for the predetermined duration that exceeds the predetermined threshold.

16. The computer-program product of claim 15, wherein determining the identity of the person includes monitoring video content from at least one camera having a viewing area of the predetermined area.

17. The computer-program product of claim 15, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

transmit the notice to the person wearing the wearable tracking device.

18. The computer-program product of claim 15, wherein determining the identity of the person includes searching a database for information about the person associated with the wearable tracking device.