Building security system

• US 9,852,604 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2016
• Issued: 12/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Poder, James
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US15/352,853
• Publication Number:
  US 20170200363A1
• Time in Patent Office: 405 Days
• Field of Search: 340517, 340 31, 340506, 340511, 3405391
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2491 Intrusion detection systems, i.e. where the body of an intruder causes the interference with the electromagnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/00 Alarm systems in which the location of the alarm condition is signalled to a central station, e.g. fire or police telegraphic systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/001 Alarm cancelling procedures or alarm forwarding decisions, e.g. based on absence of alarm confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/002 Generating a prealarm to the central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253

Abstract

A security system that can be used in a home, office, or other building in order to generate alarms or take other actions depending on conditions within the building. The security system may rely on sensors within the building which sense various conditions and collect other data. The information learned from the sensors can be communicated to a location outside the building for processing, such as, but not limited to, processing associated with a need to instigate an alarm.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a gateway device;

a processor; and

memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the processor of the gateway device, cause the gateway device to;

transmit, to a computing device, first sensor data associated with a first sensor at a location; and

the computing device comprising;

a processor; and

memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the processor of the computing device, cause the computing device to;

receive, from the gateway device, the first sensor data associated with the first sensor at the location;

determine that the first sensor data indicates an alarm condition at the location;

after determining that the first sensor data indicates the alarm condition, receive second sensor data associated with a second sensor at the location;

determine to activate an alarm based on a determination that the second sensor data associated with the second sensor verifies the alarm condition; and

in response to determining to activate the alarm, transmit an instruction to activate the alarm.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor comprises a fire sensor, and the second sensor is configured to sense one or more of temperature or air quality at the location.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor comprises a presence sensor, and the second sensor is configured to capture video at the location.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second sensor comprises an image capture device configured to capture images, and wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor of the computing device, further cause the computing device to:

in response to determining that the first sensor data indicates the alarm condition at the location, transmit an instruction for the image capture device to capture one or more images representative of conditions at the location, wherein the second sensor data comprises the one or more images captured by the image capture device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor of the computing device, further cause the computing device to:

after the alarm is activated, transmit an instruction to vary one or more of a scope, duration, or intensity of the alarm.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor of the computing device, further cause the computing device to:

receive, from the gateway device, additional data associated with the first sensor or the second sensor;

determine, based on the additional data, to vary one or more of the scope, duration, or intensity of the alarm; and

transmit the instruction to vary one or more of the scope, duration, or intensity of the alarm in response to determining to vary one or more of the scope, duration, or intensity of the alarm.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor of the computing device, further cause the computing device to:

transmit an instruction to deactivate the alarm based on additional data associated with the first sensor or the second sensor.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor of the computing device, further cause the computing device to:

receive the second sensor data from the gateway device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the gateway device comprises a settop box, a cable modem, or a router.

10. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to;

receive first sensor data associated with a first sensor at a location;

determine that the first sensor data indicates an alarm condition at the location;

after determining that the first sensor data indicates the alarm condition, receive second sensor data associated with a second sensor at the location;

determine to activate an alarm based on a determination that the second sensor data associated with the second sensor verifies the alarm condition; and

in response to determining to activate the alarm, transmit an instruction to activate the alarm.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first sensor comprises a fire sensor, and the second sensor is configured to sense one or more of temperature or air quality at the location.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first sensor comprises a presence sensor, and the second sensor is configured to capture video at the location.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second sensor comprises an image capture device configured to capture images, and wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to:

in response to determining that the first sensor data indicates the alarm condition at the location, transmit an instruction for the image capture device to capture one or more images representative of conditions at the location, wherein the second sensor data comprises the one or more images captured by the image capture device.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to:

after the alarm is activated, transmit an instruction to vary one or more of a scope, duration, or intensity of the alarm.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to:

receive additional data associated with the first sensor or the second sensor;

determine, based on the additional data, to vary one or more of a scope, duration, or intensity of the alarm; and

in response to determining to vary one or more of the scope, duration, or intensity of the alarm and after the alarm is activated, transmit an instruction to vary one or more of the scope, duration, or intensity of the alarm.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to:

transmit an instruction to deactivate the alarm based on additional data associated with the first sensor or the second sensor.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to:

receive the first sensor data from a gateway device and receive the second sensor data from the gateway device.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the gateway device comprises a settop box, a cable modem, or a router.

19. A system comprising:

a first computing device comprising;

a processor; and

memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the processor of the first computing device, cause the first computing device to;

send, to a second computing device, first sensor data associated with a first sensor at a location, wherein the first sensor data indicates an alarm condition at the location;

after sending the first sensor data, receive an instruction to send data to verify the alarm condition;

in response to receiving the instruction, send second sensor data associated with a second sensor at the location; and

receive an instruction to activate an alarm, wherein the instruction to activate the alarm is based on the second sensor data verifying the alarm condition at the location; and

the second computing device comprising;

a processor; and

memory storing executable instructions that when executed by the processor of the second computing device, cause the second computing device to;

receive, from the first computing device, the first sensor data associated with the first sensor at the location.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the first sensor comprises a fire sensor, and the second sensor is configured to sense one or more of temperature or air quality at the location.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the first sensor comprises a presence sensor, and the second sensor is configured to capture video at the location.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the second sensor comprises an image capture device configured to capture images, wherein the instruction to send data to verify the alarm condition comprises an instruction for the image capture device to capture one or more images representative of conditions at the location, and wherein the second sensor data comprises the one or more images captured by the image capture device.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor of the first computing device, further cause the first computing device to:

after the alarm is activated, receive an instruction to vary one or more of a scope, duration, or intensity of the alarm.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor of the first computing device, further cause the first computing device to:

send additional data associated with the first sensor or the second sensor; and

after the alarm is activated and based on the additional data sent by the first computing device, receive an instruction to vary one or more of a scope, duration, or intensity of the alarm.

25. The system of claim 19, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor of the first computing device, further cause the first computing device to:

send additional data associated with the first sensor or the second sensor; and

receive an instruction to deactivate the alarm after sending the additional data associated with the first sensor or the second sensor.

26. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to;

send first sensor data associated with a first sensor at a location, wherein the first sensor data indicates an alarm condition at the location;

after sending the first sensor data, receive an instruction to send data to verify the alarm condition;

in response to receiving the instruction, send second sensor data associated with a second sensor at the location; and

receive an instruction to activate an alarm, wherein the instruction to activate the alarm is based on the second sensor data verifying the alarm condition at the location.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the first sensor comprises a fire sensor, and the second sensor is configured to sense one or more of temperature or air quality at the location.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the first sensor comprises a presence sensor, and the second sensor is configured to capture video at the location.

29. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the second sensor comprises an image capture device configured to capture images, wherein the instruction to send data to verify the alarm condition comprises an instruction for the image capture device to capture one or more images representative of conditions at the location, and wherein the second sensor data comprises the one or more images captured by the image capture device.

30. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to:

after the alarm is activated, receive an instruction to vary one or more of a scope, duration, or intensity of the alarm.

31. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to:

send additional data associated with the first sensor or the second sensor; and

after the alarm is activated and based on the additional data sent by the apparatus, receive an instruction to vary one or more of a scope, duration, or intensity of the alarm.

32. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to:

send additional data associated with the first sensor or the second sensor; and

receive an instruction to deactivate the alarm after sending the additional data associated with the first sensor or the second sensor.

33. A system comprising:

a first computing device comprising;

a processor; and

memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the processor of the first computing device, cause the first computing device to;

receive sensor data from a sensor at a location, wherein the sensor data indicates an alarm condition at the location;

determine a tag that indicates the location;

send, to a second computing device, the sensor data and the tag that indicates the location;

in response to sending the sensor data and the tag, receive an instruction to activate an alarm at the location; and

cause the alarm at the location to be activated; and

the second computing device comprising;

a processor; and

memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the processor of the second computing device, cause the second computing device to;

receive, from the first computing device, the sensor data and the tag that indicates the location.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the sensor data from the sensor comprises first sensor data from a first sensor, and wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor of the first computing device, further cause the first computing device to:

after sending the first sensor data and the tag, receive an instruction to send data to verify the alarm condition at the location;

in response to receiving the instruction to send data, send second sensor data associated with a second sensor at the location; and

in response to sending the second sensor data, receive the instruction to activate the alarm at the location.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein sending the second sensor data comprises sending the second sensor data and the tag that indicates the location.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor of the first computing device, further cause the first computing device to:

after the alarm is activated, receive an instruction to vary one or more of a scope, duration, or intensity of the alarm.

37. The system of claim 33, wherein the sensor comprises one or more of a fire sensor, a temperature sensor, an air quality sensor, or a sensor configured to capture images.

38. The system of claim 33, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor of the first computing device, further cause the first computing device to:

cause the alarm at the location to be deactivated based on additional sensor data from the sensor.

39. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to;

receive sensor data from a sensor at a location, wherein the sensor data indicates an alarm condition at the location;

determine a tag that indicates the location;

send, to a computing device, the sensor data and the tag that indicates the location;

in response to sending the sensor data and the tag, receive an instruction to activate an alarm at the location; and

cause the alarm at the location to be activated.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the sensor data from the sensor comprises first sensor data from a first sensor, and wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to:

after sending the first sensor data and the tag, receive an instruction to send data to verify the alarm condition at the location;

in response to receiving the instruction to send data, send second sensor data associated with a second sensor at the location; and

in response to sending the second sensor data, receive the instruction to activate the alarm at the location.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to:

send the second sensor data and the tag that indicates the location.

42. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to:

after the alarm is activated, receive an instruction to vary one or more of a scope, duration, or intensity of the alarm.

43. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the sensor comprises one or more of a fire sensor, a temperature sensor, an air quality sensor, or a sensor configured to capture images.

44. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to:

cause the alarm at the location to be deactivated based on additional sensor data from the sensor.

45. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to;

receive data indicative of sensed conditions at a first location remote from a second location, wherein the apparatus is at the second location;

determine whether to activate an alarm at the first location based on the received data; and

in response to determining to activate the alarm at the first location, transmit, to a computing device at the first location, a message indicative of a request to verify the determination to activate the alarm.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to:

determine whether to activate the alarm based on monitoring criteria associated with one of elder monitoring, video monitoring, audio monitoring, medical monitoring, energy management, and a combination thereof.

47. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to:

transmit the message indicative of a request for a video display device at the first location to display a verification response message prompting a user to verify the determination to activate the alarm.

48. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to:

transmit the message indicative of a request for a communications device at the first location to prompt a user to verify the determination to activate the alarm.

49. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to:

transmit the message indicative of a request for the computing device to verify the determination to activate the alarm based on additional data indicative of additional sensed conditions at the first location.

50. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to:

verify the determination to activate the alarm at the first location based on the received data.

51. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the alarm at the first location is activated, and wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to:

receive additional data indicative of additional sensed conditions at the first location;

determine whether to discontinue the activated alarm at the first location based on the received additional data; and

in response to determining to discontinue the activated alarm at the first location, transmit, to the computing device, a message indicative of a request to discontinue the activated alarm.

52. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the alarm at the first location is activated, and wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to:

receive additional data indicative of additional sensed conditions at the first location;

determine whether to vary a parameter of the activated alarm at the first location based on the received additional data, wherein the parameter comprises one of a scope, a duration, an intensity, and a combination thereof; and

in response to determining to vary the activated alarm at the first location, transmit, to the computing device, a message indicative of a request to vary the activated alarm based on the determination.

53. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to;

receive, from a computing device at a first location remote from a second location, sensor data indicative of a sensed condition at the first location and identification data identifying the computing device, wherein the apparatus is at the second location;

determine that the computing device is subscribed to a monitoring service based on the identification data;

determine whether an alarm at the first location is armed at a time corresponding to the sensed condition;

if the alarm at the first location is armed at the time corresponding to the sensed condition, transmit, to a second computing device at a third location remote from the second location and the first location, the sensor data indicative of the sensed condition, the identification data, and event data indicating that an event has occurred at the first location; and

if the alarm at the first location is disarmed at the time corresponding to the sensed condition, store the sensor data indicative of the sensed condition, the identification data, and event data indicating that an event has occurred at the first location.

54. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the monitoring service is one of an elder monitoring service, a video monitoring service, an audio monitoring service, a medical monitoring service, an energy management service, and a combination thereof.

55. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to, if the alarm at the first location is armed at the time corresponding to the sensed condition:

receive, from the second computing device, a message indicative of a request to verify a determination made by the second computing device to activate the alarm at the first location; and

transmit, to the computing device, the message indicative of the request to verify the determination made by the second computing device to activate the alarm at the first location.

56. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to;

receive first data indicative of an alarm condition sensed by a first sensor;

receive second data indicative of an alarm condition sensed by a second sensor at a same location as the first sensor, wherein the second sensor is different from the first sensor, and wherein the alarm conditions sensed by the first sensor and the second sensor correspond to a common alarm event;

determine that the first data indicates a need to activate an alarm;

prior to activating the alarm, verify a need to activate the alarm based on the second data; and

in response to verifying the need to activate the alarm, transmit an instruction to activate the alarm.

57. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor comprise two of the following:

an audio sensor, a video camera, a temperature sensor, an air quality sensor, and a presence sensor.

58. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the second data comprises one or more of video recorded on a digital video recorder, a live video feed, and data received from a settop box used to process television signals for output to a television.

59. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to:

receive the first data from a settop box used to process television signals for output to a television; and

receive the second data from the settop box.

60. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein, after receiving the first data and receiving the second data, the apparatus is not in communication with any device at the location of the first sensor and the second sensor.

61. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to:

determine that the first data indicates the need to activate the alarm based on monitoring criteria associated with one of one or more of elder monitoring, video monitoring, audio monitoring, medical monitoring, and energy management.

62. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to:

receive third data from the first sensor;

receive fourth data from the second sensor; and

determine that the third data indicates a need to activate an alarm, but in response to determining that the fourth data does not indicate a need to activate any alarm, maintaining an alarm in an inactivated state in response to the third data and the fourth data.

63. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to:

determine that the first data has surpassed a threshold associated with normal operation and that the second data has not surpassed the threshold.

64. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to:

receive the second data after determining that the first data indicates the need to activate the alarm.

65. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the second sensor comprises a video camera, and wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to:

transmit an instruction to activate the video camera to record, to a digital video recorder, video representative of conditions proximate the location;

receive a portion of the recorded video; and

transmit the instruction to activate the alarm if the portion of the video confirms the need to activate the alarm.

66. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to:

verify the need to activate the alarm by verifying authenticity of the need to activate the alarm without requiring additional data indicative of sensed conditions to be received after determining the need to activate the alarm.

67. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to:

receive third data indicative of an additional alarm condition sensed at the location;

determine whether to vary a parameter of the activated alarm at the location based on the third data, wherein the parameter comprises one or more of a scope, a duration, and an intensity; and

in response to determining to vary the parameter of the activated alarm at the location, transmit an instruction to vary the parameter of the activated alarm.

68. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to:

transmit an instruction to prevent a gateway from activating the alarm unless the gateway receives the instruction to activate the alarm.

69. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to;

receive first data indicative of an alarm condition at a first location, wherein the apparatus is at a second location;

determine that the first data indicates a need to activate an alarm at the first location; and

after receiving the first data and responsive to determining that the apparatus has lost communication with the first location, verify the need to activate the alarm based on second data previously received by the apparatus from the first location.

70. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to:

determine that the apparatus has lost communication with the first location;

prior to determining that the apparatus has lost communication with the first location, receive the second data from a device at the first location and store the second data at the second location; and

verify the need to activate the alarm based on the second data stored at the second location.

71. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to:

determine that the apparatus has lost communication with the first location;

prior to determining that the apparatus has lost communication with the first location, receive the second data from a device at the first location and store the second data at a third location different from the second location and the first location; and

verify the need to activate the alarm based on the second data stored at the third location.

72. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein the first data and the second data are generated by a sensor at the first location.

73. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein the first data is generated by a first sensor at the first location, and wherein the second data is generated by a second sensor at the first location.

74. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor comprise two of the following:

an audio sensor, a video camera, a temperature sensor, an air quality sensor, and a presence sensor.

75. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to:

in response to verifying the need to activate the alarm, transmit an instruction to the first location to activate the alarm.

76. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to:

in response to verifying the need to activate the alarm, perform at least one of the following;

transmit an instruction to a third location to activate the alarm at the first location, and

transmit a message to the third location notifying a user at the third location of the alarm condition at the first location.

77. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to:

determine that the first data indicates the need to activate an alarm based on monitoring criteria associated with one of one or more of elder monitoring, video monitoring, audio monitoring, medical monitoring, and energy management.

78. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein the first data indicative of the alarm condition comprises data from a presence sensor at the first location, and wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to verify the need to activate the alarm based on the second data previously received by the apparatus by:

retrieving a video received from a video recording device at the first location; and

verifying the need to activate the alarm using the video received from the video recording device at the first location.

79. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to;

send first data that indicates an alarm condition sensed by a first sensor at a location and second data sensed by a second sensor at the location and associated with the alarm condition;

receive an instruction to activate an alarm at the location, wherein the instruction is based on a determination that the second data sensed by the second sensor verifies the first data that indicates the alarm condition; and

in response to receiving the instruction, activate the alarm at the location.

80. The apparatus of claim 79, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to:

in response to sending third data, receive an instruction to vary a parameter of the alarm, wherein the parameter comprises one or more of a scope, a duration, and an intensity.

81. The apparatus of claim 80, wherein the first data and the second data correspond to the alarm condition at a first time, and the third data corresponds to the alarm condition at a second time later than the first time.

82. The apparatus of claim 79, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor comprise two of the following:

an audio sensor, a video camera, a temperature sensor, an air quality sensor, and a presence sensor.

83. The apparatus of claim 79, wherein the location comprises a first location, and wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to:

send the first data and the second data to a second location; and

receive the instruction to activate the alarm from a third location different from the first location and the second location.