Authorized smart access to a monitored property

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11501590-B2
Application number	US-202017097161-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 13, 2020
Priority date	Mar 1, 2017
Publication date	Nov 15, 2022
Grant date	Nov 15, 2022

Abstract

A method includes, receiving a biometric identifier from a visitor to the property, determining an arrival time of the visitor based on receiving the biometric identifier, comparing the arrival time of the visitor to an expected arrival time of an expected visitor, based on comparing the arrival time of the visitor to an expected arrival time, transmitting the biometric identifier and data identifying the expected visitor, receiving, by the monitoring system and from the external server, (i) data indicating that the biometric identifier corresponds to the expected visitor and (ii) data indicating that an electronic device of the expected visitor is located at the property, and based on (i) the data indicating that the biometric identifier corresponds to the expected visitor and (ii) the data indicating that the electronic device of the expected visitor is located at the property, granting, by the monitoring system, the visitor access to the property.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A monitoring system that is configured to monitor a property, the monitoring system comprising:
a monitor control unit that is configured to:
grant a visitor access to the property by disarming the monitoring system and controlling an electronic lock to unlock an entry point to the property, wherein the electronic lock is configured to lock or unlock an entry point to the property;
after granting the visitor access to the property, determine, using data received from one or more sensors located at the property and the electronic lock, that the entry point to the property is closed and locked;
determine, using sensor data from the one or more sensors, that a purpose of the visitor's visit is likely complete;
after granting the visitor access to the property and in response to determining that the entry point to the property is closed and locked and in response to determining that the purpose of the visitor's visit is likely complete, receive data indicating a location of an electronic device of the visitor;
determine, using the data, that the location of the electronic device of the visitor is outside of a threshold distance from the property; and
after granting the visitor access to the property and in response to determining that the location of the electronic device of the visitor is outside of the threshold distance from the property while the entry point to the property is closed and locked, arm the monitoring system.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the monitor control unit is configured to:
receive data identifying an area of the property that the visitor is restricted from entering while the visitor is inside the property;
determine, based on data received from the one or more sensors, that the visitor entered the area of the property that the visitor is restricted from entering; and
based on a determination that the visitor entered the area of the property that the visitor is restricted from entering, transmit, to a computing device of a resident of the property, a notification indicating that the visitor entered the area of the property that the visitor is restricted from entering.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the monitor control unit is configured to:
generate an exit code in response to granting the visitor access to the property;
communicate the exit code to the visitor;
receive the exit code; and
based on receiving the exit code, arm the monitoring system and invalidate the exit code for subsequent uses.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the monitor control unit is configured to:
receive data identifying the visitor and an expected arrival time of the visitor;
communicate, to an external server, data indicating that the monitoring system is configured to grant access to the visitor upon verification from the external server;
receive, from the external server, data indicating that the external server is configured to verify a captured biometric identifier of the visitor; and
transmit, to the external server, a biometric identifier and data identifying the visitor based on receipt of the data indicating that the external server is configured to verify a captured biometric identifier of the visitor.

5. The system of claim 4 , comprising:
a monitoring server that is configured to communicate with the external server and the monitor control unit,
wherein the monitoring server is configured to:
receive, from the external server, (i) data indicating that a biometric identifier corresponds to the visitor and (ii) data indicating that an electronic device of the visitor is located at the property; and
transmit, to the monitor control unit, (i) the data indicating that the biometric identifier corresponds to the visitor and (ii) the data indicating that an electronic device of the visitor is located at the property.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the monitor control unit is configured to:
receive, from the external server, (i) data indicating that a biometric identifier does not correspond to the visitor and (ii) data indicating that an electronic device of the visitor is located at the property; and
based on (i) the data indicating that the biometric identifier does not correspond to the visitor and (ii) the data indicating that the electronic device of the visitor is located at the property, provide, to a client device of a resident of the property, a notification (i) that indicates the biometric identifier does not correspond to the visitor and the electronic device of the visitor is located at the property and (ii) that includes a selectable option to grant the visitor access to the property.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the monitoring control unit is configured to:
receive, from the client device of the resident of the property, data indicating a selection to grant the visitor access to the property; and
based on receiving data indicating the selection to grant the visitor access to the property, disarm the monitoring system and control the electronic lock to unlock the entry point to the property.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the monitor control unit is configured to:
receive data that indicates a time period for the visitor to have access to the property;
determine that the time period for the visitor to have access to the property has elapsed since granting the visitor access to the property;
based on a determination that the time period for the visitor to have access to the property has elapsed since granting the visitor access to the property, receive data indicating the location of the electronic device of the visitor;
determine whether the location of the electronic device of the visitor is outside of the threshold distance of the property; and
based on a determination that the location of the electronic device of the visitor is within the threshold distance of the property, generate a notification indicating that the visitor is within or near the property for longer than expected.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the monitor control unit is configured to, based on a determination that the location of the electronic device of the visitor is within the threshold distance of the property, transmit, to a computing device of a resident of the property, the notification indicating that the visitor is within or near the property for longer than expected.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the monitor control unit is configured to, based on a determination that the location of the electronic device of the visitor is within the threshold distance of the property, generate a notification indicating that the visitor is within or near the property for longer than expected by outputting an audible alarm.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the monitor control unit is configured to communicate with the electronic device of the visitor based on the determination that the entry point to the property is closed and locked.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors comprises a camera.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
granting the visitor access comprises receiving, from an input device, data input that indicates authentication data for the visitor,
the monitor control unit is configured to:
determine that the purpose of the visitor's visit to the property likely requires access to the property two or more times;
detect the visitor leaving the property a first time;
in response to detecting the visitor leaving the property the first time, arm the monitoring system a first time;
after arming the monitoring system the first time, detect, using the one or more sensors, the visitor approaching the property a second time and with a predete

Assignees

• Alarm Com Inc

Inventors

• Larovere Nicholas Frank
• Correnti Matthew Daniel
• Kinney Abraham Joseph

Classifications

• G07C9/00571 Primary

  operated by interacting with a central unit · CPC title

• G07C9/37 Primary

  using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition · CPC title

• G07C2209/08

  With time considerations, e.g. temporary activation, valid time window or time limitations · CPC title

• G07C1/32

  Time-recording locks · CPC title

• G07C1/10

  together with the recording, indicating or registering of other data, e.g. of signs of identity · CPC title