Handling duress input

• US 9,672,727 B1
• Filed: 11/05/2014
• Issued: 06/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alarm.com Inc. (Alarm.com Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Alarm.com Inc. (Alarm.com Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Alexander, Rose Blais, Davenport, Rebecca Elisabeth, Slavin, Alison Jane
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US14/533,203
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 3405391, 34053911, 34053913, 340501, 340506, 340 31
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/001 Concealed systems, e.g. disguised alarm systems to make covert systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements

Abstract

Techniques are described for handling duress input. For example, techniques are described for handling duress input provided to a mobile application that controls a monitoring system located at a fixed property.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a property, the system comprising:

a monitoring server configured to communicate with multiple monitoring systems and provide monitoring of properties at which the multiple monitoring systems are located, the monitoring server being remote from the properties;

a monitoring system that is located at the property, that is configured to monitor the property, that is configured to communicate with the monitoring server in performing monitoring operations, and that includes one or more sensors that are located at the property and that are configured to sense attributes of the property; and

a mobile device application that is loaded onto a mobile device, that is configured to communicate with the monitoring server, and that is configured to control the monitoring system through communication with the monitoring server,

wherein the mobile device application is configured to;

receive duress user input to signify that a user providing the duress user input is involved in a duress situation,

determine a location of the mobile device on which the mobile device application is loaded at a time of receipt of the duress user input, and

report, to the monitoring server, the duress user input with the determined location of the mobile device on which the mobile device application is loaded;

wherein the monitoring server is configured to;

receive the report of the duress user input and the determined location of the mobile device on which the mobile device application is loaded,

access, from electronic storage, one or more rules that define actions to be taken in response to duress input,

analyze duress criteria with respect to the one or more rules that define actions to be taken in response to duress input,

alert, based on the analysis, a central station that dispatches emergency services to assist with alarm events detected by monitoring systems,

determine, based on the analysis, a mobile device response to the duress user input, and

report, to the mobile device application, the mobile device response;

wherein the mobile device application is configured to;

receive, from the monitoring server, the mobile device response, and

take action based on the mobile device response;

wherein the monitoring server is configured to;

determine, based on the analysis, a monitored property response to the duress user input, and

report, to the monitoring system that is located at the property, the monitored property response;

wherein the monitoring system is configured to;

receive, from the monitoring server, the monitored property response, and

take action based on the monitored property response; and

wherein the monitoring server is configured to determine, based on the analysis, a mobile device response to the duress user input by determining to accept the duress user input and display the acceptance of the duress user input in a different manner than acceptance of non-duress user input to disarm the monitoring system using the mobile device application, thereby alerting the user to receipt of the duress user input in a discrete manner.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device application is configured to receive duress user input to signify that a user providing the duress user input is involved in a duress situation by receiving at least one of an alphanumeric duress code, a gesture recognizable by the mobile device application, a sequence of touch inputs provided to the mobile device, or an audio duress phrase detected by the mobile device application.

3. The system of claim 1:

wherein the mobile device application is configured to determine a location of the mobile device on which the mobile device application is loaded at a time of receipt of the duress user input by determining a location of the mobile device on which the mobile device application is loaded using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology; and

wherein the mobile device application is configured to report, to the monitoring server, the duress user input with the determined location of the mobile device on which the mobile device application is loaded by sending, to the monitoring server, an electronic communication that indicates the duress user input and the determined location.

4. The system of claim 1:

wherein the monitoring server is configured to access, from electronic storage, one or more rules that define actions to be taken in response to duress input by accessing, from electronic storage, rules that specify duress parameters that are evaluated against to determine different types of actions to be taken based on circumstances related to the duress user input; and

wherein the monitoring server is configured to analyze duress criteria with respect to the one or more rules that define actions to be taken in response to duress input by determining duress criteria related to circumstances of the duress user input and comparing the duress criteria against the duress parameters defined by the accessed rules.

5. The system of claim 4:

wherein accessing, from electronic storage, rules that specify duress parameters that are evaluated against to determine different types of actions to be taken based on circumstances related to the duress user input comprises accessing rules that specify duress parameters related to type of duress user input provided; and

wherein determining duress criteria related to circumstances of the duress user input and comparing the duress criteria against the duress parameters defined by the accessed rules comprises determining duress criteria related to type of duress user input provided and comparing the determined duress criteria related to type of duress user input provided against the duress parameters related to type of duress user input provided.

6. The system of claim 4:

wherein accessing, from electronic storage, rules that specify duress parameters that are evaluated against to determine different types of actions to be taken based on circumstances related to the duress user input comprises accessing rules that specify duress parameters related to location where the duress user input was provided; and

wherein determining duress criteria related to circumstances of the duress user input and comparing the duress criteria against the duress parameters defined by the accessed rules comprises determining duress criteria related to location where the duress user input was provided and comparing the determined duress criteria related to location where the duress user input was provided against the duress parameters related to location where the duress user input was provided.

7. The system of claim 4:

wherein accessing, from electronic storage, rules that specify duress parameters that are evaluated against to determine different types of actions to be taken based on circumstances related to the duress user input comprises accessing rules that specify duress parameters related to state of the property associated with the duress user input; and

wherein determining duress criteria related to circumstances of the duress user input and comparing the duress criteria against the duress parameters defined by the accessed rules comprises determining duress criteria related to state of the property associated with the duress user input and comparing the determined duress criteria related to state of the property associated with the duress user input against the duress parameters related to state of the property associated with the duress user input.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring server is configured to alert, based on the analysis, a central station that dispatches emergency services to assist with alarm events detected by monitoring systems by determining whether to alert the central station based on the analysis.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring server is configured to alert, based on the analysis, a central station that dispatches emergency services to assist with alarm events detected by monitoring systems by sending, to a central station device, an electronic communication that indicates the duress situation and specifies the user involved in the duress situation, a location of the duress situation, a location of the property, and sensor data relevant to the duress situation.

10. The system of claim 1:

wherein the monitoring server is configured to determine, based on the analysis, a mobile device response to the duress user input by determining an action to be taken by the mobile device application to assist in handling the duress situation;

wherein the monitoring server is configured to report, to the mobile device application, the mobile device response by sending an electronic communication that identifies the action to be taken by the mobile device application;

wherein the mobile device application is configured to receive, from the monitoring server, the mobile device response by receiving the electronic communication sent by the monitoring server and interpreting one or more actions identified in the electronic communication; and

wherein the mobile device application is configured to take action based on the mobile device response by performing the one or more action interpreted from the electronic communication sent by the monitoring server.

11. The system of claim 1:

wherein the monitoring server is configured to determine, based on the analysis, a monitored property response to the duress user input by determining an action to be taken by the monitoring system at the property to assist in handling the duress situation;

wherein the monitoring server is configured to report, to the monitoring system that is located at the property, the monitored property response by sending to the monitoring system, an electronic communication that identifies the action to be taken by the monitoring system at the property;

wherein the monitoring system is configured to receive, from the monitoring server, the monitored property response by receiving the electronic communication sent by the monitoring server and interpreting one or more actions identified in the electronic communication; and

wherein the monitoring system is configured to take action based on the monitored property response by performing the one or more actions interpreted from the electronic communication sent by the monitoring server.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring server is configured to determine, based on the analysis, a mobile device response to the duress user input by determining to accept the duress user input and to alert another user to the duress situation using a communication originated from the mobile device application.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring server is configured to determine, based on the analysis, a mobile device response to the duress user input by determining to accept the duress user input and to repeatedly report the location of the mobile device on which the mobile device application is loaded until the duress situation ends.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring server is configured to determine, based on the analysis, a mobile device response to the duress user input by determining to accept the duress user input, to monitor accelerometer data of the mobile device, to capture images using a camera of the mobile device, and to record audio using a microphone of the mobile device.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring system is configured to determine, based on the analysis, a monitored property response to the duress user input by determining, based on the analysis, to disarm the monitoring system and control at least one of a light, an automated look, or a thermostat controllable by the monitoring.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring system is configured to determine, based on the analysis, a monitored property response to the duress user input by determining, based on the analysis, to disarm the monitoring system, control one or more cameras in the property to capture images of the property, and control one or more microphones in the property to capture audio in the property.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring system is configured to determine, based on the analysis, a monitored property response to the duress user input by determining, based on the analysis, to disarm the monitoring system and activate an alarm system of a neighbor of the user.

18. A system for monitoring a property, the system comprising:

a monitoring server configured to communicate with multiple monitoring systems and provide monitoring of properties at which the multiple monitoring systems are located, the monitoring server being remote from the properties;

a monitoring system that is located at the property, that is configured to monitor the property, that is configured to communicate with the monitoring server in performing monitoring operations, and that includes one or more sensors that are located at the property and that are configured to sense attributes of the property; and

a mobile device application that is loaded onto a mobile device, that is configured to communicate with the monitoring server, and that is configured to control the monitoring system through communication with the monitoring server,

wherein the mobile device application is configured to;

receive duress user input to signify that a user providing the duress user input is involved in a duress situation,

determine a location of the mobile device on which the mobile device application is loaded at a time of receipt of the duress user input, and

report, to the monitoring server, the duress user input with the determined location of the mobile device on which the mobile device application is loaded;

wherein the monitoring server is configured to;

receive the report of the duress user input and the determined location of the mobile device on which the mobile device application is loaded,

access, from electronic storage, one or more rules that define actions to be taken in response to duress input,

analyze duress criteria with respect to the one or more rules that define actions to be taken in response to duress input,

alert, based on the analysis, a central station that dispatches emergency services to assist with alarm events detected by monitoring systems,

determine, based on the analysis, a mobile device response to the duress user input, and

report, to the mobile device application, the mobile device response;

wherein the mobile device application is configured to;

receive, from the monitoring server, the mobile device response, and

take action based on the mobile device response;

wherein the monitoring server is configured to;

determine, based on the analysis, a monitored property response to the duress user input, and

report, to the monitoring system that is located at the property, the monitored property response;

wherein the monitoring system is configured to;

receive, from the monitoring server, the monitored property response, and take action based on the monitored property response;

wherein the monitoring server is configured to access, from electronic storage, one or more rules that define actions to be taken in response to duress input by accessing, from electronic storage, rules that specify duress parameters that are evaluated against to determine different types of actions to be taken based on circumstances related to the duress user input;

wherein the monitoring server is configured to analyze duress criteria with respect to the one or more rules that define actions to be taken in response to duress input by determining duress criteria related to circumstances of the duress user input and comparing the duress criteria against the duress parameters defined by the accessed rules;

wherein accessing, from electronic storage, rules that specify duress parameters that are evaluated against to determine different types of actions to be taken based on circumstances related to the duress user input comprises accessing rules that specify duress parameters related to timing of the duress user input; and

wherein determining duress criteria related to circumstances of the duress user input and comparing the duress criteria against the duress parameters defined by the accessed rules comprises determining duress criteria related to timing of the duress user input and comparing the determined duress criteria related to timing of the duress user input against the duress parameters related to timing of the duress user input.

19. A system for monitoring a property, the system comprising:

a monitoring server configured to communicate with multiple monitoring systems and provide monitoring of properties at which the multiple monitoring systems are located, the monitoring server being remote from the properties;

a monitoring system that is located at the property, that is configured to monitor the property, that is configured to communicate with the monitoring server in performing monitoring operations, and that includes one or more sensors that are located at the property and that are configured to sense attributes of the property; and

a mobile device application that is loaded onto a mobile device, that is configured to communicate with the monitoring server, and that is configured to control the monitoring system through communication with the monitoring server,

wherein the mobile device application is configured to;

receive duress user input to signify that a user providing the duress user input is involved in a duress situation,

determine a location of the mobile device on which the mobile device application is loaded at a time of receipt of the duress user input, and

report, to the monitoring server, the duress user input with the determined location of the mobile device on which the mobile device application is loaded;

wherein the monitoring server is configured to;

receive the report of the duress user input and the determined location of the mobile device on which the mobile device application is loaded,

access, from electronic storage, one or more rules that define actions to be taken in response to duress input,

analyze duress criteria with respect to the one or more rules that define actions to be taken in response to duress input,

alert, based on the analysis, a central station that dispatches emergency services to assist with alarm events detected by monitoring systems,

determine, based on the analysis, a mobile device response to the duress user input, and

report, to the mobile device application, the mobile device response;

wherein the mobile device application is configured to;

receive, from the monitoring server, the mobile device response, and

take action based on the mobile device response;

wherein the monitoring server is configured to;

determine, based on the analysis, a monitored property response to the duress user input, and

report, to the monitoring system that is located at the property, the monitored property response;

wherein the monitoring system is configured to;

receive, from the monitoring server, the monitored property response, and take action based on the monitored property response;

wherein the monitoring server is configured to access, from electronic storage, one or more rules that define actions to be taken in response to duress input by accessing, from electronic storage, rules that specify duress parameters that are evaluated against to determine different types of actions to be taken based on circumstances related to the duress user input;

wherein the monitoring server is configured to analyze duress criteria with respect to the one or more rules that define actions to be taken in response to duress input by determining duress criteria related to circumstances of the duress user input and comparing the duress criteria against the duress parameters defined by the accessed rules;

wherein accessing, from electronic storage, rules that specify duress parameters that are evaluated against to determine different types of actions to be taken based on circumstances related to the duress user input comprises accessing rules that specify duress parameters related to type of duress user input provided, timing of the duress user input, location where the duress user input was provided, and state of the property associated with the duress user input; and

wherein determining duress criteria related to circumstances of the duress user input and comparing the duress criteria against the duress parameters defined by the accessed rules comprises determining duress criteria related to type of duress user input provided, timing of the duress user input, location where the duress user input was provided, and state of the property associated with the duress user input and comparing the determined duress criteria related to type of duress user input provided, timing of the duress user input, location where the duress user input was provided, and state of the property associated with the duress user input against the duress parameters related to type of duress user input provided, timing of the duress user input, location where the duress user input was provided, and state of the property associated with the duress user input.