Methods for prompting a user to use enhanced automation system features, and systems and devices related thereto

• US 9,727,831 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2014
• Issued: 08/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dunn, Alex J., Nye, James E., Warren, Jeremy B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wang, Jack K
• Application Number:
  US14/206,755
• Publication Number:
  US 20140266719A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,245 Days
• Field of Search: 340541, 340 1322, 340501, 717173, 717168, 717174, 717101, 700 79
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements
• 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: H04L 12/2829 involving user profiles according to which the execution of a home appliance functionality is automatically triggered
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/50 Systems or methods supporting the power network operation or management, involving a certain degree of interaction with the load-side end user applications

Abstract

A control panel is used to control and/or monitor an automation system. The automation system may also be used in connection with one or more enhanced services, such as a remote access service. The remote access service may allow a user to control or monitor some or all aspects of the automation system through a remote computing device. To use the remote access service, or other enhanced services, the user may register to associate the user with the control panel of the automation system. If it is determined that the user has not registered, the service provider may send a message to the control panel. The message may prompt the user to register for the enhanced service. Optionally, contact information may be requested to allow a message to be sent to a personal device of the user to facilitate registration or use of the enhanced service.

Claims

1. A method for prompting an automation system user to use one or more enhanced services, comprising:

identifying an automation system and one or more enhanced services useful in connection with the automation system;

determining, via a service provider associated with the automation system, that the user has registered for one or more of the enhanced services, and further determining that the registered user has never used one or more of the enhanced services or that the registered user has not used one or more of the enhanced services for a predetermined period of time; and

sending a first message received from the service provider to a control panel specific to the automation system, based at least in part on the determining, the first message comprising information related to using the one or more enhanced services.

2. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more enhanced services comprises an interactive service providing remote access to the automation system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the interactive service further provides one or more of remote control and monitoring of security automation components of the automation system.

4. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising sending a second message directed to the automation system user, the second message comprising information related to the one or more enhanced services.

5. The method recited in claim 4, wherein sending the second message includes sending the second message to an email address or mobile phone of the automation system user.

6. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising:

determining that an enhanced service is available in connection with the automation system.

7. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the first message requests that the user input contact information.

8. The method recited in claim 7, wherein the contact information includes one or more of a phone number or an email address.

9. The method recited in claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a response to the first message, the response comprising contact information inputted by the user; and

sending a second message using the contact information of the user, the second message providing information for using or accessing the one or more enhanced services in connection with the automation system.

10. The method recited in claim 9, wherein sending the second message includes sending one or more of a text message, an email message, or an alert through an application.

11. The method recited in claim 9, wherein the second message includes one or more of a link to the one or more enhanced services, a link to a mobile application, the mobile application being available for download to provide access to the one or more enhanced services, or the mobile application.

12. The method recited in claim 11, wherein the link includes one or more of a hyperlink, a bar code, or a quick response (QR) code.

13. A method for prompting a user to use one or more enhanced services available for a security or automation system, comprising:

at a control panel of the security or automation system, identifying the one or more enhanced services useful in connection with the security or automation system;

at the control panel, determining, via a service provider associated with the security or automation system, that the user has registered for one or more of the enhanced services, and further determining that the registered user has never used one or more of the enhanced services or that the registered user has not used one or more of the enhanced services for a predetermined period of time;

receiving a first message, based at least in part on the determining, the first message comprising information related to using the one or more enhanced services available for use with the security or automation system;

displaying the first message on a display of the control panel; and

requesting input from the user of the control panel in response to the first message.

14. The method recited in claim 13, wherein the first message is received from a remote source.

15. The method recited in claim 14, wherein the remote source includes one or more of the service provider, a web portal, or a network operations center.

16. The method recited in claim 13, wherein displaying the first message comprises displaying one or more input options for receiving input from the user, the one or more input options comprising one or more of a telephone number field, an email address field, an option to dismiss the first message, an option to obtain more information related to the one or more enhanced services, or an option to register for the one or more enhanced services directly through the control panel.

17. The method recited in claim 13, wherein requesting input from the user of the control panel comprises requiring that the user provide the input in order to dismiss the first message.

18. A control panel, comprising:

one or more processors;

a display; and

one or more non-transitory computer storage media having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the control panel to perform the method of claim 13.