Restricted access for home automation system

• US 9,946,857 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2015
• Issued: 04/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EchoStar Technologies International Corporation (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: EchoStar Technologies International Corporation (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Beals, William Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHMIDT, KARI L
• Application Number:
  US14/710,331
• Publication Number:
  US 20160335423A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2816 Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• 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 12/2827 Reporting to a device within the home network; wherein the reception of the information reported automatically triggers the execution of a home appliance functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]

Abstract

Systems and methods for determining access to a home automation system may include receiving a command from a user to perform a home automation function, and determining a privilege for the user, which may be based on the location of the user. The methods may include comparing the command and the user privilege to an authorization list, where the authorization list defines system access to perform home automation functions based at least on individual commands and associated privileges. The methods may also include determining whether to allow the user access to the home automation system to perform the commanded home automation function.

Claims

1. A method of determining access for a home automation system of a home, the method comprising:

receiving a command from a user to perform a home automation function at a device associated with the home automation system of a home, the home automation function to cause operation of a home automation device, where the home automation device is configured to operate in at least a first direction and a second direction;

detecting whether the device associated with the home automation system is inside the home or outside the home at a time the command is received;

determining a privilege for the user based at least in part on receiving a user access code and the detecting of whether the device associated with the home automation system is being accessed by the user inside the home or outside the home at the time the command is received;

comparing the command and the privilege to an authorization list, wherein the authorization list defines system access to perform home automation functions restricted based at least in part on i) time of day, ii) device location inside the home or outside the home, and iii) directionality of the home automation functions, wherein the authorization list includes all individual commands specified for reception by the home automation system and associated privileges required to perform each individual command;

determining whether to allow the user access to the home automation system to perform the commanded home automation function based at least in part on i) the time at which the command is received, ii) the determination of whether the device associated with the home automation system is inside the home or outside the home, and iii) whether the commanded home automation function is to cause the home automation device to operate in the first direction or the second direction;

issuing a first command to cause the commanded home automation function when the commanded home automation function is to cause operation of the home automation device in the first direction and the user access to perform the commanded home automation function is allowed in the first direction; and

issuing a second command to cause transmission of a notification when the commanded home automation function is to cause operation of the home automation device in the second direction and the user access is not allowed in the second direction,

identifying the user with a facial recognition by a camera associated with the home automation system, and

sending an image from the camera associated with the home automation system to a second device associated with a second user to request verification from the second user of the identity of the user providing the command, wherein the transmission comprises the image.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether the command comprises a security function for the home automation system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting whether the device is inside the home comprises a determination that the command was received at a central operation device, at an internal controller, or on an internal network.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising providing access to a more limited set of commands on the authorization list, when the determination is that the command was received on the internal network, than when the determination is that the command was received is at the central operation device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the individual commands specified for reception by the home automation system comprise commands having directionality, wherein one direction of at least one command comprises access by any user with any privilege, and wherein another direction of the at least one command comprises access restricted to a subset of users or privileges.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the authorization list further defines access by time of day.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein during at least one time of day, access to any security functions is restricted to a user determined to be in the home.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the command received comprises a physical command.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining that the device is outside the home causes a determination of the privilege for the user that allows a reduced number of individual commands that may be performed by the user.

10. An electronic device comprising:

an input component configured to receive user commands;

at least one output component communicatively coupled with at least one display device;

one or more processors; and

memory communicatively coupled with and readable by the one or more processors and having stored thereon processor-readable instructions, which cause the one or more processors to;

receive a command from a user to perform a home automation function at a device associated with a home automation system of a home, the home automation function to cause operation of a home automation device, where the home automation device is configured to operate in at least a first direction and a second direction;

detect whether the device associated with the home automation system is inside the home or outside the home at a time the command is received;

determine a privilege for the user based at least in part on receiving a user access code and the detecting of whether the device associated with the home automation system is being accessed by the user inside the home or outside the home at the time the command is received;

compare the command and the privilege to an authorization list, wherein the authorization list defines system access to perform home automation functions restricted based at least in part on i) time of day, ii) device location inside the home or outside the home, and iii) directionality of the home automation functions, wherein the authorization list includes all individual commands specified for reception by the home automation system and associated privileges required to perform each individual command;

determine whether to allow the user access to the home automation system to perform the commanded home automation function based at least in part on i) the time at which the command is received, ii) the determination of whether the device associated with the home automation system is inside the home or outside the home, and iii) whether the commanded home automation function is to cause the home automation device to operate in the first direction or the second direction;

issue a first command to cause the commanded home automation function when the commanded home automation function is to cause operation of the home automation device in the first direction and the user access to perform the commanded home automation function is allowed in the first direction; and

issue a second command to cause transmission of a notification when the commanded home automation function is to cause operation of the home automation device in the second direction and the user access is not allowed in the second direction, identifying the user with a facial recognition by a camera associated with the home automation system, and sending an image from the camera associated with the home automation system to a second device associated with a second user to request verification from the second user of the identity of the user providing the command, wherein the transmission comprises the image.

11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the electronic device comprises a television receiver.

12. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the electronic device further comprises a remote control specific to the device, and wherein access to the authorization list is available only by an access code received at the electronic device via the remote control.

13. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium having stored thereon processor-readable instructions, which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

receive a command from a user to perform a home automation function at a device associated with a home automation system of a home, the home automation function to cause operation of a home automation device, where the home automation device is configured to operate in at least a first direction and a second direction;

detect whether the device associated with the home automation system is inside the home or outside the home at a time the command is received;

determine a privilege for the user based at least in part on receiving a user access code and the detecting of whether the device associated with the home automation system is being accessed by the user inside the home or outside the home at the time the command is received;

compare the command and the privilege to an authorization list, wherein the authorization list defines system access to perform home automation functions restricted based at least in part on i) time of day, ii) device location inside the home or outside the home, and iii) directionality of the home automation functions, wherein the authorization list includes all individual commands specified for reception by the home automation system and associated privileges required to perform each individual command;

determine whether to allow the user access to the home automation system to perform the commanded home automation function based at least in part on i) the time at which the command is received, ii) the determination of whether the device associated with the home automation system is inside the home or outside the home, and iii) whether the commanded home automation function is to cause the home automation device to operate in the first direction or the second direction;

issue a first command to cause the commanded home automation function when the commanded home automation function is to cause operation of the home automation device in the first direction and the user access to perform the commanded home automation function is allowed in the first direction; and

issue a second command to cause transmission of a notification when the commanded home automation function is to cause operation of the home automation device in the second direction and the user access is not allowed in the second direction, identifying the user with a facial recognition by a camera associated with the home automation system, and sending an image from the camera associated with the home automation system to a second device associated with a second user to request verification from the second user of the identity of the user providing the command, wherein the transmission comprises the image.

14. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the detecting comprises a determination that the command was received at a central operation device, at an internal controller, or on an internal network.