Authentication and control interface of a security system

• US 9,141,150 B1
• Filed: 09/15/2011
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alarm.com Inc. (Alarm.com Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Alarm.com Inc. (Alarm.com Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Trundle, Stephen Scott, Slavin, Alison Jane
• Primary Examiner(s): Backer, Firmin
• Assistant Examiner(s): TUN, NAY L
• Application Number:
  US13/233,261
• Time in Patent Office: 1,468 Days
• Field of Search: 340 552- 553, 340/576
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883

Abstract

Techniques are described for providing control of a security system. A user is authorized in the security system and user identification inputs, provided through an input unit of a personal mobile device of the authorized user of the security system, are accessed. One or more signatures of the authorized user are defined and stored in a signature map. Subsequently, user identification input is received from an unauthenticated user using the personal mobile device. The user identification input received from the unauthenticated user is compared to one or more defined signatures in the signature map. The unauthenticated user is determined to be the authorized user if the received user identification input matches one of the defined signatures. The unauthenticated user is allowed to control the security system based on the determination that the unauthenticated user is the authorized user.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a security system comprising:

authorizing a user in the security system;

accessing user identification input rendered by the authorized user of the security system using a personal mobile device, including recording, using a tilt sensor of the personal mobile device, a first gesture signature input to authenticate the authorized user and enable the security system, and a second gesture signature input to authenticate the authorized user and disable the security system, the first and second gesture signature inputs having been defined by movement of the personal mobile device in a particular pattern using a set of user gestures performed by the authorized user of the security system while holding the personal mobile device;

defining, based on the accessed user identification input, signatures of the authorized user of the security system, the defined signatures including a first gesture signature based on the recorded first gesture signature input rendered by the authorized user and a second gesture signature based on the recorded second gesture signature input rendered by the authorized user, each of the signatures comprising at least one of;

a sound inputted through a microphone of the personal mobile device,

an image captured using a camera of the personal mobile device,

a touch point inputted using a touch screen of the personal mobile device,

a gesture measured using the tilt sensor of the personal mobile device for at least the gesture signature,

a biometric feature of the authorized user inputted at the personal mobile device, or

any sequence or combination of a sound inputted through the microphone of the personal mobile device, an image captured using the camera of the personal mobile device, a touch point inputted using the touch screen of the personal mobile device, a gesture measured using the tilt sensor of the personal mobile device, and a biometric feature of the authorized user inputted at the personal mobile device;

storing, in a signature database, the defined signatures;

subsequent to storing, in the signature database, the defined signatures, receiving user identification input rendered by an unauthenticated user using the personal mobile device by receiving, using the tilt sensor of the personal mobile device, a gesture authentication input rendered by an unauthenticated user moving the personal mobile device in a pattern that defines the gesture authentication input;

based on receiving the user identification input rendered by the unauthenticated user using the personal mobile device, accessing, from the signature database, signature data corresponding to at least one of the defined signatures including the defined first gesture signature and the defined second gesture signature;

comparing the accessed signature data with the received gesture authentication input rendered by the unauthenticated user moving the personal mobile device in the pattern that defines the gesture authentication input;

based on comparison results, determining whether the received gesture authentication input rendered by the unauthenticated user moving the personal mobile device in the pattern that defines the gesture authentication input matches the defined first gesture signature or the defined second gesture signature;

authenticating the unauthenticated user as the authorized user of the security system based on a determination that the received gesture authentication input rendered by the unauthenticated user moving the personal mobile device in the pattern that defines the gesture authentication input matches the defined first gesture signature or the defined second gesture signature; and

in response to the authentication of the unauthenticated user as the authorized user of the security system;

enabling control of the security system based on the gesture authentication input matching the defined first gesture signature, the enablement of control of the security system allows one or more commands inputted to the personal mobile device at a location that is remote from a property monitored by the security system, and

disabling the security system based on the gesture authentication input matching the defined second gesture signature.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein authenticating the unauthenticated user as the authorized user of the security system is handled by the personal mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein authenticating the unauthenticated user as the authorized user of the security system is handled by the security system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein authenticating the unauthenticated user as the authorized user of the security system is handled by a security system control server based on electronic communications exchanged, via a wireless network, between the security system control server, the personal mobile device, and the security system.

5. The method of claim 1:

wherein accessing user identification input rendered by the authorized user of the security system comprises recording, using a microphone of the personal mobile device, a sound input made by the authorized user of the security system; and

wherein defining signatures comprises defining a sound signature based on the recorded sound input made by the authorized user.

6. The method of claim 1:

wherein accessing user identification input rendered by the authorized user of the security system comprises recording, using a camera of the personal mobile device, an image input rendered by the authorized user of the security system; and

wherein defining signatures comprises defining an image signature based on the recorded image input rendered by the authorized user.

7. The method of claim 1:

wherein accessing user identification input rendered by the authorized user of the security system comprises recording, using a touch screen interface of the personal mobile device, a touch point input rendered by the authorized user of the security system; and

wherein defining signatures comprises defining a touch point signature based on the recorded touch point input rendered by the authorized user.

8. The method of claim 1:

wherein accessing user identification input rendered by the authorized user of the security system comprises recording, using a biometric device associated with the personal mobile device, a biometric input rendered by the authorized user of the security system; and

wherein defining signatures comprises defining a biometric signature based on the recorded biometric input rendered by the authorized user.

9. The method of claim 1:

wherein accessing user identification input rendered by the authorized user of the security system comprises recording a non-text input rendered by the authorized user of the security system; and

wherein defining signatures comprises defining a non-text signature based on the recorded non-text input rendered by the authorized user.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving user identification input rendered by an unauthenticated user using the personal mobile device comprises:

monitoring a distance of the personal mobile device from the security system;

comparing the monitored distance of the personal mobile device from the security system with a predetermined value;

determining whether the distance of personal mobile device from the security system is within the predetermined value; and

in response to a determination that distance of the personal mobile device is within the predetermined value, activating the personal mobile device to receive user identification input rendered by the unauthenticated user.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving user identification input rendered by an unauthenticated user using the personal mobile device comprises:

defining a time schedule that includes one or more time intervals for a predetermined period of time;

determining whether a current time is within a defined time interval in the time schedule; and

in response to a determination that the current time is within a defined time interval in the time schedule, activating the personal mobile device to receive user identification input rendered by the unauthenticated user.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving user identification input rendered by an unauthenticated user using the personal mobile device comprises:

recording one or more activation cues rendered by the authorized user of the security system;

detecting an activation cue using the personal mobile device;

comparing the detected activation cue with the one or more recorded activation cues rendered by the authorized user of the security system; and

in response to a determination that the detected activation cue matches one of the recorded activation cues rendered by the authorized user of the security system, activating the personal mobile device to receive user identification input rendered by the unauthenticated user.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein detecting an activation cue using the personal mobile device comprises detecting an activation cue that includes a sound of a car engine shutting off.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein enabling control of the security system comprises arming the security system based on one or more commands inputted to the personal mobile device at a location that is remote from a property monitored by the security system.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein disabling the security system comprises disarming the security system.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein enabling control of the security system comprises setting a silent panic mode command in the security system based on a gesture made using the personal mobile device.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein recording, using the tilt sensor of the personal mobile device, the first gesture signature input and the second gesture signature input comprises capturing, using the tilt sensor of the personal mobile device, arm or hand movement made while the authorized user of the security system is holding the personal mobile device.

18. An electronic system comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one computer-readable medium coupled to the at least one processor having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to perform operations comprising;

authorizing a user in the security system;

accessing user identification input rendered by the authorized user of the security system using a personal mobile device, including recording, using a tilt sensor of the personal mobile device, a first gesture signature input to authenticate the authorized user and enable the security system, and a second gesture signature input to authenticate the authorized user and disable the security system, the first and second gesture signature inputs having been defined by movement of the personal mobile device in a particular pattern using a set of user gestures performed by the authorized user of the security system while holding the personal mobile device;

defining, based on the accessed user identification input, signatures of the authorized user of the security system, the defined signatures including a first gesture signature based on the recorded first gesture signature input rendered by the authorized user and a second gesture signature based on the recorded second gesture signature input rendered by the authorized user, each of the signatures comprising at least one of;

a sound inputted through a microphone of the personal mobile device,

an image captured using a camera of the personal mobile device,

a touch point inputted using a touch screen of the personal mobile device,

a gesture measured using the tilt sensor of the personal mobile device for at least the gesture signature,

a biometric feature of the authorized user inputted at the personal mobile device, or

any sequence or combination of a sound inputted through the microphone of the personal mobile device, an image captured using the camera of the personal mobile device, a touch point inputted using the touch screen of the personal mobile device, a gesture measured using the tilt sensor of the personal mobile device, and a biometric feature of the authorized user inputted at the personal mobile device;

storing, in a signature map, the defined signatures;

subsequent to storing, in the signature map, the defined signatures, receiving user identification input rendered by an unauthenticated user using the personal mobile device by receiving, using the tilt sensor of the personal mobile device, a gesture authentication input rendered by an unauthenticated user moving the personal mobile device in a pattern that defines the gesture authentication input;

based on receiving the user identification input rendered by the unauthenticated user using the personal mobile device, accessing, from the signature database, signature data corresponding to at least one of the defined signatures including the defined first gesture signature and the defined second gesture signature;

comparing the accessed signature data with the received gesture authentication input rendered by the unauthenticated user moving the personal mobile device in the pattern that defines the gesture authentication input;

based on comparison results, determining whether the received gesture authentication input rendered by the unauthenticated user moving the personal mobile device in the pattern that defines the gesture authentication input matches the defined first gesture signature or the defined second gesture signature;

authenticating the unauthenticated user as the authorized user of the security system based on a determination that the received gesture authentication input rendered by the unauthenticated user moving the personal mobile device in the pattern that defines the gesture authentication input matches the defined first gesture signature or the defined second gesture signature; and

in response to the authentication of the unauthenticated user as the authorized user of the security system;

enabling control of the security system based on the gesture authentication input matching the defined first gesture signature, the enablement of control of the security system allows one or more commands inputted to the personal mobile device at a location that is remote from a property monitored by the security system, and

disabling the security system based on the gesture authentication input matching the defined second gesture signature.

19. A control system comprising:

a security system operable to authorize a user to control the security system;

accessing user identification input rendered by the authorized user of the security system using a personal mobile device, including recording, using a tilt sensor of the personal mobile device, a first gesture signature input to authenticate the authorized user and enable the security system, and a second gesture signature input to authenticate the authorized user and disable the security system, the first and second gesture signature inputs having been defined by movement of the personal mobile device in a particular pattern using a set of user gestures performed by the authorized user of the security system while holding the personal mobile device;

wherein the secure access application in the personal mobile device is operable to define, based on the accessed user identification input, signatures of the authorized user of the security system, the defined signatures including a first gesture signature based on the recorded first gesture signature input rendered by the authorized user and a second gesture signature based on the recorded second gesture signature input rendered by the authorized user, each of the signatures comprising at least one of;

a sound inputted through a microphone of the personal mobile device,

an image captured using a camera of the personal mobile device,

a touch point inputted using a touch screen of the personal mobile device,

a gesture measured using the tilt sensor of the personal mobile device for at least the gesture signature,

a biometric feature of the authorized user inputted at the personal mobile device, or

any sequence or combination of a sound inputted through the microphone of the personal mobile device, an image captured using the camera of the personal mobile device, a touch point inputted using the touch screen of the personal mobile device, a gesture measured using the tilt sensor of the personal mobile device, and a biometric feature of the authorized user inputted at the personal mobile device;

a signature map operable to store the defined signatures;

an authentication engine operable;

to receive user identification input rendered by an unauthenticated user using the personal mobile device by receiving, using the tilt sensor of the personal mobile device, a gesture authentication input rendered by an unauthenticated user moving the personal mobile device in a pattern that defines the gesture authentication input;

to access, from the signature map, signature data corresponding to at least one of the defined signatures including the defined first gesture signature and the defined second gesture signature,

to compare the accessed signature data with the received gesture authentication input rendered by the unauthenticated user moving the personal mobile device in the pattern that defines the gesture authentication input,

to determine, based on comparison results, whether the received gesture authentication input rendered by the unauthenticated user moving the personal mobile device in the pattern that defines the gesture authentication input matches the defined first gesture signature or the defined second gesture signature,

to authenticate the unauthenticated user as the authorized user of the security system based on a determination that the received gesture authentication input rendered by the unauthenticated user moving the personal mobile device in the pattern that defines the gesture authentication input matches the defined first gesture signature or the defined second gesture signature, and

to, in response to the authentication of the unauthenticated user as the authorized user of the security system;

enable control of the security system based on the gesture authentication input matching the defined first gesture signature, the enablement of control of the security system allows one or more commands inputted to the personal mobile device at a location that is remote from a property monitored by the security system, and

disable the security system based on the gesture authentication input matching the defined second gesture signature.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the authentication engine is located at the personal mobile device.