Fixed property monitoring with moving asset location tracking

• US 10,366,588 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2017
• Issued: 07/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alarm.com Inc. (Alarm.com Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Alarm.com Inc. (Alarm.com Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Slavin, Alison Jane, Martin, Jean-Paul, Ramos, Daniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wang, Quan-Zhen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Burgdorf, Stephen R
• Application Number:
  US15/606,922
• Publication Number:
  US 20170263094A1
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 340 31, 340539133, 34053917, 340541, 3405452, 3405681
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2402 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting mechanical aspects of the tags, e.g. related to locking E05B73/0017; RFID readers G06K7/00; RFID tags G06K19/00; access control systems G07C9/00; anti-theft control in point of sale systems G07G3/003; security seals G09F3/03
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00
• 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 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements

Abstract

Techniques are described for moving asset location tracking and monitoring system technology. A system monitors for events related to a monitoring system that monitors a fixed property and the system detects an event related to the monitoring system based on the monitoring. The system performs an operation that leverages geographic location tracking of at least one mobile asset associated with the fixed property based on the detected event.

Claims

1. A system to process sensor data captured for a fixed property in combination with geographic location tracking data of one or more mobile assets associated with the fixed property, the system comprising:

a monitoring system that is configured to monitor a fixed property and includes one or more sensors that are installed at the fixed property and that are configured to sense attributes of the fixed property;

one or more mobile devices that are configured to track and report geographic location data for one or more mobile assets associated with the fixed property; and

a monitoring application server that is configured to electronically receive data communications from the one or more sensors installed at the fixed property and receive data communications from the one or more mobile devices that are configured to track and report geographic location data, the monitoring application server being configured to perform operations comprising;

receiving monitoring data from the one or more sensors located at the fixed property;

based on the monitoring data, determining that an event has occurred at the fixed property;

determining, from amongst a plurality of identities, an identity associated with the event and a geofence associated with the identity;

determining that a first mobile asset associated with the fixed property is associated with the identity, wherein a first mobile device tracks the first mobile asset and the first mobile device is configured to transmit first location information at a first periodic frequency;

determining that a second mobile asset associated with the fixed property is not associated with the identity, wherein a second mobile device tracks the second mobile asset and the second mobile device is configured to transmit second location information at the first periodic frequency;

based on determining that the first mobile asset is associated with the identity and determining that the identity is associated with the event that occurred at the fixed property, configuring the first mobile device to transmit the first location information of the first mobile device at a second periodic frequency that is greater than the first periodic frequency;

based on determining that the second mobile asset is not associated with the identity and determining that the identity is associated with the event that occurred at the fixed property, maintaining the second mobile device to transmit the second location information of the second mobile device at the first periodic frequency;

receiving the first location information of the first mobile device according to the second periodic frequency;

determining a location of the first mobile asset using finer scale tracking data collected by the monitoring system when the user is detected as being located at the fixed property and larger scale tracking data provided by the first mobile device when the user is detected as being away from the fixed property;

comparing the location of the first mobile asset to the geofence;

determining that the location of the first mobile asset is outside the geofence; and

in response to determining that the location of the first mobile asset is outside the geofence, transmitting an alert to an entity associated with the first mobile asset indicating that the location of the first mobile asset is outside the geofence.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the geofence varies with time such that an area of the geofence has a first size at a first time and a second size at a second time that is different from the first time.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining an off-limit area associated with the identity;

determining that the location of the first mobile asset is within the off-limit area; and

transmitting an alert to the entity associated with the first mobile asset in response to determining that the location of the first mobile asset is within the off-limit area.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving monitoring data from the one or more sensors located at the fixed property by receiving image data from a camera located at the fixed property; and

determining the identity by determining the identity based on the image data received from the camera.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

after determining that the event has occurred, storing log data indicative of locations of the first mobile asset; and

before determining that the event has occurred, not storing log data indicative of locations of the first mobile asset.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the one or more mobile assets include one or more of a person, a pet, and an object;

the one or more sensors include a contact sensor, a motion sensor, a glass break sensor, a temperature sensor, a water sensor, a rain sensor, a wind sensor, a light sensor, a smoke detector, a carbon monoxide detector, an air quality sensor, and a health monitoring sensor; and

transmitting the alert includes transmitting a text message or an email to a user associated with the first mobile asset and the identity.

7. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving monitoring data from one or more sensors located at a fixed property;

based on the monitoring data, determining that an event has occurred at the fixed property;

determining, from amongst a plurality of identities, an identity associated with the event and a geofence associated with the identity;

determining that a first mobile asset associated with the fixed property is associated with the identity, wherein a first mobile device tracks the first mobile asset and the first mobile device is configured to transmit first location information at a first periodic frequency;

determining that a second mobile asset associated with the fixed property is not associated with the identity, wherein a second mobile device tracks the second mobile asset and the second mobile device is configured to transmit second location information at the first periodic frequency;

based on determining that the first mobile asset is associated with the identity and determining that the identity is associated with the event that occurred at the fixed property, configuring the first mobile device to transmit the first location information of the first mobile device at a second periodic frequency that is greater than the first periodic frequency;

based on determining that the second mobile asset is not associated with the identity and determining that the identity is associated with the event that occurred at the fixed property, maintaining the second mobile device to transmit the second location information of the second mobile device at the first periodic frequency;

receiving the first location information of the first mobile device according to the second periodic frequency;

determining a location of the first mobile asset using finer scale tracking data collected by the monitoring system when the user is detected as being located at the fixed property and larger scale tracking data provided by the first mobile device when the user is detected as being away from the fixed property;

comparing the location of the first mobile asset to the geofence;

determining that the location of the first mobile asset is outside the geofence; and

in response to determining that the location of the first mobile asset is outside the geofence, transmitting an alert to an entity associated with the first mobile asset indicating that the location of the first mobile asset is outside the geofence.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein:

the geofence varies with time such that an area of the geofence has a first size at a first time and a second size at a second time that is different from the first time.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining an off-limit area associated with the identity;

determining that the location of the first mobile asset is within the off-limit area; and

transmitting an alert to the entity associated with the first mobile asset in response to determining that the location of the first mobile asset is within the off-limit area.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving monitoring data from the one or more sensors located at the fixed property by receiving image data from a camera located at the fixed property; and

determining the identity by determining the identity based on the image data received from the camera.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, further comprising:

after determining that the event has occurred, storing log data indicative of locations of the first mobile asset; and

before determining that the event has occurred, not storing log data indicative of locations of the first mobile asset.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein:

the one or more mobile assets include one or more of a person, a pet, and an object;

the one or more sensors include a contact sensor, a motion sensor, a glass break sensor, a temperature sensor, a water sensor, a rain sensor, a wind sensor, a light sensor, a smoke detector, a carbon monoxide detector, an air quality sensor, and a health monitoring sensor; and

transmitting the alert includes transmitting a text message or an email to a user associated with the first mobile asset and the identity.

13. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media comprising instructions, which, when executed by one or more computing devices, cause the one or more computing devices to perform operations comprising:

receiving monitoring data from one or more sensors located at a fixed property;

based on the monitoring data, determining that an event has occurred at the fixed property;

determining, from amongst a plurality of identities, an identity associated with the event and a geofence associated with the identity;

determining that a first mobile asset associated with the fixed property is associated with the identity, wherein a first mobile device tracks the first mobile asset and the first mobile device is configured to transmit first location information at a first periodic frequency;

determining that a second mobile asset associated with the fixed property is not associated with the identity, wherein a second mobile device tracks the second mobile asset and the second mobile device is configured to transmit second location information at the first periodic frequency;

based on determining that the first mobile asset is associated with the identity and determining that the identity is associated with the event that occurred at the fixed property, configuring the first mobile device to transmit the first location information of the first mobile device at a second periodic frequency that is greater than the first periodic frequency;

based on determining that the second mobile asset is not associated with the identity and determining that the identity is associated with the event that occurred at the fixed property, maintaining the second mobile device to transmit the second location information of the second mobile device at the first periodic frequency;

receiving the first location information of the first mobile device according to the second periodic frequency;

determining a location of the first mobile asset using finer scale tracking data collected by the monitoring system when the user is detected as being located at the fixed property and larger scale tracking data provided by the first mobile device when the user is detected as being away from the fixed property;

comparing the location of the first mobile asset to the geofence;

determining that the location of the first mobile asset is outside the geofence; and

in response to determining that the location of the first mobile asset is outside the geofence, transmitting an alert to an entity associated with the first mobile asset indicating that the location of the first mobile asset is outside the geofence.

14. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 13, wherein:

the geofence varies with time such that an area of the geofence has a first size at a first time and a second size at a second time that is different from the first time.

15. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining an off-limit area associated with the identity;

determining that the location of the first mobile asset is within the off-limit area; and

transmitting an alert to the entity associated with the first mobile asset in response to determining that the location of the first mobile asset is within the off-limit area.

16. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving monitoring data from the one or more sensors located at the fixed property by receiving image data from a camera located at the fixed property; and

determining the identity by determining the identity based on the image data received from the camera.

17. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 13, wherein:

the one or more mobile assets include one or more of a person, a pet, and an object;

the one or more sensors include a contact sensor, a motion sensor, a glass break sensor, a temperature sensor, a water sensor, a rain sensor, a wind sensor, a light sensor, a smoke detector, a carbon monoxide detector, an air quality sensor, and a health monitoring sensor; and

transmitting the alert includes transmitting a text message or an email to a user associated with the first mobile asset and the identity.