Smart-home security system with keypad device resistant to anomalous treatment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10089842-B2
Application number	US-201414508183-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 7, 2014
Priority date	Oct 7, 2013
Publication date	Oct 2, 2018
Grant date	Oct 2, 2018

Abstract

Security keypad device for detecting tampering includes a keypad, a high power wireless module for communicating data via a local area network, a low power wireless module communicating data via a personal area network, and a cellular module for communicating data via a wide area network. The device further includes an active infrared position sensor comprising of a light source for emitting infrared light and an infrared sensor for detecting reflected infrared light. The active infrared position sensor is configured to sense the position of the device based on detecting the reflected infrared light. The device further includes an accelerometer configured to measure acceleration forces and a processor. The processor is configured to determine that the position of the device changed based on positional data from the active infrared position sensor or acceleration data from the accelerometer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for detecting tampering of a security keypad device, the system comprising:
the security keypad device comprising:
a keypad,
a high power wireless module configured to transmit and receive data wirelessly via a local area network,
a low power wireless module configured to transmit and receive data wirelessly at a lower rate of data transfer than the high power wireless module, and further configured to consume less power than the high power wireless module,
a cellular module configured to transmit and receive data wirelessly via a wide area network,
a power cord configured to transfer power to the security keypad device from a primary power source, wherein the security keypad device is configured to remain moveably detached from a home in which the security keypad device is located;
a battery compartment configured to hold a secondary power source,
an active infrared (IR) position sensor including a light source configured to emit IR light and an IR sensor configured to detect reflected IR light of objects or walls within the home, the active IR position sensor being incorporated as part of the security keypad device and configured to determine a position of the security keypad device within the home based on measuring a time-of-flight of the reflected IR light,
an accelerometer configured to measure an acceleration force, and
a processor configured to:
receive positional data from the active IR position sensor,
receive acceleration data from the accelerometer,
determine that the position of the security keypad device changed based on the positional data, and
transmit a tampering event to a computer server system in response to determining that the position of the security keypad device changed, the tampering event indicating that the security keypad device has been physically tampered with; and

the computer server system being communicatively coupled to the security keypad device and configured to:
receive the tampering event, and
transmit the tampering event to a mobile device that is authorized to access an account associated with the security keypad device.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a video camera aimed at an area that includes the security keypad device, the video camera being configured to detect a change in image between a first image frame and a second image frame, and transmit a second tampering event to the computer server system.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the video camera is further configured to transmit a video recording to the computer server system, the video recording including the first image frame and the second image frame.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the security keypad device and the video camera is configured to detect a panic gesture of a user.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an electronic device communicatively coupled to the security keypad device and configured to:
determine that a heartbeat signal has not been received from the security keypad device after a time interval since receiving a previous heartbeat signal, and
transmit a second tampering event to the computer server system in response to determining that the heartbeat signal has not been received.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the electronic device comprises at least one of a thermostat, a hazard detector, and a video camera.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the processor of the security keypad device is further configured to transmit a tampering signal to the electronic device via the low power wireless module, and the electronic device is further configured to activate an audible alarm in response to receiving the tampering signal.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor of the security keypad device is further configured to:
determine that an object has been placed in front of the security keypad device while the security keypad device is in a quiescent state, and
transmit a second tampering event to the computer server system in response to determining that the object has been placed in front of the security keypad device.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor of the security keypad device determines that the object has been placed in front of the security keypad device by determining that the positional data indicates that the position changed and that the acceleration data does not indicate that the position changed.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the security keypad device further includes a sensor configured to detect that the security keypad device is not receiving power from the primary power source, and wherein the processor of the security keypad device is further configured to transmit a second tampering event via the cellular module in response to receiving a signal from the sensor indicating that the security keypad device is not receiving power from the primary power source.

11. A security keypad device for detecting tampering, the security keypad device comprising:
a keypad, wherein the security keypad device is configured to remain moveably detached from a home in which the security keypad device is to be located;
a high power wireless module configured to transmit and receive data wirelessly via a local area network;
a low power wireless module configured to transmit and receive data wirelessly via a personal area network at a lower rate of data transfer than the high power wireless module, and further configured to consume less power than the high power wireless module;
a cellular module configured to transmit and receive data wirelessly via a wide area network;
a horn configured to generate an audible alarm;
an active infrared (IR) position sensor including a light source configured to emit IR light and an IR sensor configured to detect reflected IR light within the home, the active IR position sensor being incorporated as part of the security keypad device and configured to determine a relative position of the security keypad device within the home based on measuring a time-of-flight of the reflected IR light, the relative position being relative to an external object;
an accelerometer configured to measure an acceleration force; and
a processor configured to:
receive positional data from the active IR position sensor,
receive acceleration data from the accelerometer,
determine that a position of the security keypad device changed based on the positional data, and
activate the horn in response to determining that the position of the security keypad device changed.

12. The security keypad device of claim 11 , further comprising:
a power cord configured to transfer power to the security keypad device from a primary power source;
a sensor configured to detect that the power cord is disconnected; and
a battery compartment configured to hold a secondary power source,
wherein the power cord must be disconnected from the security keypad device in order to open the battery compartment, and
wherein the processor is further configured to activate the horn in response to receiving a signal from the sensor indicating the power cord is disconnected.

13. The security keypad device of claim 11 , wherein the acceleration force is a gravitational force of an earth, and wherein the processor is further configured to determine that a direction of the acceleration force changed based on the acceleration data, and activate the horn in response to determining that the direction changed.

14. The security keypad device of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
receive user input via the keypad, the user input indicating a code,
determine that

Assignees

• Google Llc

Inventors

• Fadell Anthony Michael
• Rogers Matthew Lee
• Veron Maxime
• Sloo David
• Le Guen Sophie
• Peterson Kevin
• Matsuoka Yoky
• Honjo Shigefumi

Classifications

• H04L12/2825

  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 title

• G05F1/66

  Regulating electric power · CPC title

• G05B15/02

  electric · CPC title

• H04N21/43615

  Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals (home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805) · CPC title

• H04N21/42221

  Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF] · CPC title