Drone control device

• US 10,768,625 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2019
• Issued: 09/08/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alarm.com Inc. (Alarm.com Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Alarm.com Inc. (Alarm.com Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rezvani, Babak
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaawat, Mussa A
• Application Number:
  US16/294,387
• Publication Number:
  US 20190204836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/10 Rotorcrafts
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/14 with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/25 Fixed-wing aircraft VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/37 Charging when not in flight
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0022 characterised by the communication link data switching networks in general H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/02 Control of position or course in two dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/196 using television cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1965 the vehicle being an aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/00 Identifying, scaring or incapacitating burglars, thieves or intruders, e.g. by explosives
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/02 with smoke, gas, or coloured or odorous powder or liquid
• 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

In one general aspect, a drone control device includes a body, a motor that is configured to move the body, a network module, an input module, and a processor. The network module is configured to communicate with a security system that monitors a property and receive data associated with a location within the property. The input module is configured to receive user input. The processor is configured to perform operations that include: determine, from among the location within the property and other locations within the property, a target location within the property; move the body to the target location within the property by providing a signal to the motor; receive, from the input module, input data that is associated with an operation of the security system; and in response to receiving the input data, perform the operation of the security system.

Claims

1. A drone control device comprising:

a body;

a motor that is configured to move the body and navigate the body within an interior environment of a property;

a controller module that is configured to control one or more devices of a security system of the property; and

one or more processors configured to;

determine that an emergency condition has likely occurred at the property;

determine a location of a user within the interior environment of the property during the emergency condition determined to have likely occurred at the property,

move the body to the location of the user by providing a signal to the motor,

determine that the body is within a proximity to the location of the user, and

based on determining that the body is within a proximity to the location of the user, provide, for output, an interface that allows the user to submit one or more inputs relating to (i) an alert notification indicating that the emergency condition was determined to likely have occurred at the property, and (ii) a selectable option to provide a communication associated with the alert notification to another entity.

2. The drone control device of claim 1, further comprising a network module that is configured to:

exchange communications with the security system; and

receive data associated with the location of the user based on exchanging communications with the security system.

3. The drone control device of claim 1, wherein:

the interface allows the user to submit one or more additional inputs for performing an operation corresponding to one or more devices of the security system; and

the drone device further comprises an input module that is configured to receive the one or more additional inputs.

4. The drone control device of claim 3, wherein the input module comprises:

a display that is configured to present the interface that allows the user to submit the one or more additional inputs; and

a keypad that is configured to;

receive key press data indicating the one or more additional inputs, and

provide the key press data to the one or more processors.

5. The drone control device of claim 1, further comprising one or more sensors that are configured to detect conditions in a vicinity of the drone control device within the interior environment of the property.

6. The drone control device of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

obtain sensor data collected by the one or more devices of the security system; and

determine a present condition of the property based on the sensor data collected by the one or more devices of the security system.

7. The drone control device of claim 6, wherein:

the sensor data indicates that a window of the property has been breached;

the present condition of the property indicates a possible intrusion of the property by an intruder;

the alert notification indicates the possible intrusion of the property by the intruder; and

the selectable option to comprises an option to provide a communication to a law enforcement agency; and

the interface allows the user to submit one or more additional inputs for performing an operation to provide the communication to the law enforcement agency in response to receiving a user input through the interface in association with the option to provide the communication to the law enforcement agency.

8. The drone control device of claim 6, wherein:

the sensor data indicates that the user has entered the property;

the present condition of the property indicates that an identity of the user that has entered the property is not verified; and

the interface that allows the user to submit one or more inputs presents a request for the user to provide an access code associated with the security system of the property.

9. The drone control device of claim 8, wherein:

the interface allows the user to submit one or more additional inputs for performing an operation corresponding to one or more devices of the security system;

the one or more processors are further configured to;

receive data indicating a submitted access code provided by the user in response to the request presented by the interface,

determine that the submitted access code does not match the access code associated with the security system of the property, and

determine that the user is not authorized to access the property based on determining that the submitted access code does not match the access code associated with the security system of the property; and

the operation corresponding to the one or more devices of the security system comprises triggering, by the controller module, an alarm condition associated with the security system based on determining that the user is not authorized to access the property.

10. The drone control device of claim 8, wherein:

the interface allows a user to submit one or more additional inputs for performing an operation corresponding to one or more devices of the security system;

the one or more processors are further configured to;

receive data indicating a submitted access code provided by the user in response to the request presented by the interface,

determine that the submitted access code matches the access code associated with the security system of the property, and

determine that the user is authorized to access the property based on determining that the submitted access code matches the access code associated with the security system of the property; and

the operation corresponding to the one or more devices of the security system comprises disabling, by the controller module, an alarm condition associated with the security system based on determining that the user is authorized to access the property.

11. A computer-implemented method comprising:

determining, by a drone control device associated with a security system of a property, that an emergency condition has likely occurred at the property, wherein the drone control device is configured to control operations of one or more devices of the security system;

determining, by the drone control device, a location of a user within an interior environment of the property during the emergency condition determined to have likely occurred at the property;

providing, by the drone control device, a signal to a motor of the drone control device to move a body of the drone control device to the location of the user;

determining, by the drone control device, that the body is within a proximity to the location of the user; and

based on determining that the body is within a proximity to the location of the user, providing, by the drone control device and for output, an interface that allows a user to submit one or more inputs relating to (i) an alert notification indicating that the emergency condition was determined to likely have occurred at the property, and (ii) a selectable option to provide a communication associated with the alert notification to another entity.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

obtaining, by the drone control device, sensor data collected by the one or more devices of the security system; and

determining, by the drone control device, a present condition of the property based on the sensor data collected by the one or more devices of the security system.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the sensor data indicates that a window of the property has been breached;

the present condition of the property indicates a possible intrusion of the property by an intruder;

the alert notification indicates the possible intrusion of the property by the intruder;

the selectable option comprises an option to provide a communication to a law enforcement agency; and

the interface allows a user to submit one or more additional inputs for performing an operation to provide the communication to the law enforcement agency in response to receiving a user input through the interface in association with the option to provide the communication to the law enforcement agency.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the sensor data indicates that the user has entered the property;

the present condition of the property indicates that an identity of the user that has entered the property is not verified; and

the interface that allows the user to submit one or more inputs presents a request for the user to provide an access code associated with the security system of the property.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the interface allows the user to submit one or more additional inputs for performing an operation corresponding to one or more devices of the security system;

the method further comprises;

receiving, by the drone control device, data indicating a submitted access code provided by the user in response to the request presented by the interface,

determining, by the drone control device, that the submitted access code does not match the access code associated with the security system of the property; and

determining, by the drone control device, that the user is not authorized to access the property based on determining that the submitted access code does not match the access code associated with the security system of the property; and

wherein the operation corresponding to the one or more devices of the security system comprises triggering, by the drone control device, an alarm condition associated with the security system based on determining that the user is not authorized to access the property.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage device encoded with computer program instructions that, when executed by one or more computers, cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising:

determining, by a drone control device associated with a security system of a property, that an emergency condition has likely occurred at the property, wherein the drone control device is configured to control operations of one or more devices of the security system;

determining, by the drone control device, a location of a user within an interior environment of the property during the emergency condition determined to have likely occurred at the property;

providing, by the drone control device, a signal to a motor of the drone control device to move a body of the drone control device to the location of the user;

determining, by the drone control device, that the body is within a proximity to the location of the user; and

based on determining that the body is within a proximity to the location of the user, providing, by the drone control device and for output, an interface that allows a user to submit one or more inputs relating to (i) an alert notification indicating that the emergency condition was determined to likely have occurred at the property, and (ii) a selectable option to provide a communication associated with the alert notification to another entity.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise:

obtaining, by the drone control device, sensor data collected by the one or more devices of the security system; and

determining, by the drone control device, a present condition of the property based on the sensor data collected by the one or more devices of the security system.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein:

the sensor data indicates that a window of the property has been breached;

the present condition of the property indicates a possible intrusion of the property by an intruder;

the alert notification indicates the possible intrusion of the property by the intruder;

the selectable option comprises an option to provide a communication to a law enforcement agency; and

the interface allows a user to submit one or more additional inputs for performing an operation to provide the communication to the law enforcement agency in response to receiving a user input through the interface in association with the option to provide the communication to the law enforcement agency.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein:

the sensor data indicates that the user has entered the property;

the present condition of the property indicates that an identity of the user that has entered the property is not verified; and

the interface that allows the user to submit one or more inputs presents a request for the user to provide an access code associated with the security system of the property.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein:

the interface allows the user to submit one or more additional inputs for performing an operation corresponding to one or more devices of the security system;

the operations further comprise;

receiving, by the drone control device, data indicating a submitted access code provided by the user in response to the request presented by the interface,

determining, by the drone control device, that the submitted access code does not match the access code associated with the security system of the property; and

determining, by the drone control device, that the user is not authorized to access the property based on determining that the submitted access code does not match the access code associated with the security system of the property; and

wherein the operation corresponding to the one or more devices of the security system comprises triggering, by the drone control device, an alarm condition associated with the security system based on determining that the user is not authorized to access the property.