HOME GATEWAY SYSTEM FOR HOME AUTOMATION AND SECURITY

• US 20080074258A1
• Filed: 12/07/2007
• Published: 03/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SBC Properties, L.P.
• Original Assignee: SBC Properties LP A Nevada Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Liebrecht, Donald, Sullivan, Barry, Bennett, Raymond, Bossemeyer, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,912,447 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/541
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• 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 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231

Abstract

A home gateway system for home automation and security is described. An example home gateway system includes a wireless local loop transceiver to establish a wireless local loop point to point link to a geographically separated base station coupled to a public switched telephone network; a home automation controller to communicate with the wireless local loop transceiver; a home security controller, integrated with the home automation controller, to communicate with the wireless local loop transceiver; and a security signal to be monitored by the home security controller, wherein a status of the security signal causes the home gateway system to send a message over the wireless local loop.

Claims

1. A home gateway system comprising:

a wireless local loop transceiver to establish a wireless local loop point to point link to a geographically separated base station coupled to a public switched telephone network;

a home automation controller to communicate with the wireless local loop transceiver;

a home security controller, integrated with the home automation controller, to communicate with the wireless local loop transceiver; and

a security signal to be monitored by the home security controller, wherein a status of the security signal causes the home gateway system to send a message via the wireless local loop.

2. A home gateway system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a smart card interface to send a plurality of instructions to the home automation controller.

3. A home gateway system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a voice processing system coupled to a processor.

4. A home gateway system as defined in claim 3, wherein the voice processing system comprises a speaker verification module.

5. A home gateway system as defined in claim 3, wherein the voice processing system comprises a speech recognition module.

6. A home gateway system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a switch to couple the wireless local loop to the home automation controller and the home security controller.

7. A home gateway system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of sensors coupled to the home security controller.

8. A home gateway system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of appliances coupled to the home automation controller.

9. A method of operating a home gateway system comprising:

receiving an electronic address of the home gateway system from a user requesting access to the home gateway system via a wireless local loop coupled to a public switched telephone network;

performing a verification of the user;

when the user is verified, allowing the user access to the home gateway system, including a home automation controller and a home security controller; and

enabling the user to select one or more features of the home gateway system.

10. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein the electronic address is an internet address.

11. A method as defined in claim 10, further comprising presenting the features of the home gateway system on a webpage.

12. A method as defined in claim 9, further comprising inputting the electronic address by dialing a telephone number.

13. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein the verification of the user comprises using a speaker verification processing module.

14. A method as defined in claim 9, further comprising receiving a voiced instruction to monitor a forceful entry signal associated with the home gateway system.

15. A method as defined in claim 14, further comprising sending a message to an enforcement entity when the forceful entry signal exceeds a defined range.

16. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein the message is sent via the wireless local loop.

17. A method of operating a home gateway system including a home automation controller and a home security controller, comprising:

monitoring a plurality of parameters associated with the home automation controller and with the home security controller;

when one or more of the parameters exceeds a defined range, sending a message containing an electronic address to a processor;

establishing a communication link to the electronic address via a wireless local loop; and

transmitting the message to a home owner associated with the home gateway system at a remote location.

18. A method as defined in claim 17, further comprising sending the message to a security entity when an exceeded parameter includes a security signal.

19. A method as defined in claim 17, wherein the message is to be sent to a cellular telephone.

20. A method as defined in claim 17, wherein the message is to be sent to an electronic mail address.