Appliance Device Integration with Alarm Systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016012702-A1
Application number	US-201414327163-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 9, 2014
Priority date	May 20, 2014
Publication date	Jan 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems, methods, and software for allowing interaction between consumer appliance devices and security systems are provided herein. An exemplary method may include allowing various interactions of a user with a consumer appliance device to generate n signal, such as a panic signal, causing various forms of security systems to escalate the signal to obtain help. Another exemplary method involves allowing the device, when placing the panic signal, to involve back end systems related to the security system to provision access to an emergency service provider (i.e., 911 provider) “just in time,” eliminating the need for costly pre-provisioning. Another exemplary method involves various sensors of the security system to communicate with consumer appliance devices to improve the performance, usability, or efficiency of the consumer appliance device or related systems.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for intelligent control of an appliance device comprising:
receiving information from at least one sensor using a computer network, the at least one sensor associated with an alarm system, the alarm system associated with a structure; and operating the appliance device using the received information.

2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
ascertaining the presence of one or more occupants in the structure using the received information from the at least one sensor, the occupants being at least one of a person and domestic animal, the at least one sensor being one or more of a motion sensor, pressure sensor, and vibration sensor; and
reducing a heating threshold or increasing a cooling threshold of the appliance device using at least the ascertained presence, the appliance device being a thermostat, the thermostat controlling a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the HVAC system associated with the structure.

3 . The method of claim 2 further comprising:
determining a state of the one or more occupants using the received information, the state being at least one of awake and asleep; and
reducing the heating threshold or increasing the cooling threshold of the thermostat using at least the determination.

4 . The method of claim 2 further comprising:
determining a state of the one or more occupants using the received information, the state being at least one of awake and asleep; and
muting the appliance device in response to the state being asleep, the appliance device being at least one of a telephone, doorbell, entertainment system, and intercom.

5 . The method of claim 2 further comprising:
determining a state of the one or more occupants using the received information, the state being at least one of awake and asleep; and
un-muting the appliance device in response to the state being awake, the appliance device being at least one of a telephone, doorbell, entertainment system, and intercom.

6 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
determining a state of the one or more occupants using the received information, the state being at least one of awake and asleep; and
selectively powering down an electrical device by the appliance, the electrical device being at least one of a light, fan, entertainment system, and HVAC system, the appliance being at least one of a light switch and power control module when at least one occupant is not present or the at least one occupant

7 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
determining at least one opening being in an open state for a predetermined amount of time using the at least one sensor, the at least one opening associated with the structure and being one or more of a door and window, the at least one sensor being one or more of a door open/close switch type and window open/close switch type, the predetermined amount of time being in a range of one minute to sixty minutes; and
reducing the heating threshold or increasing the cooling threshold of the appliance device using at least the determination, the appliance device being a thermostat, the thermostat controlling an HVAC system, the HVAC system associated with the structure.

8 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
determining at least one opening being in an open state for a predetermined amount of time, the at least one opening associated with the structure and being one or more of a door and window, the at least one sensor being one or more of a door open/close switch type and window open/close switch type, the predetermined amount of time being in a range of one minute to sixty minutes; and
powering down by the appliance device an HVAC system, the appliance device being a thermostat, the HVAC system being associated with the structure, using at least the determination.

9 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
determining at least one opening being in an open state for a predetermined amount of time, the at least one opening associated with the structure and being one or more of a door and window, the at least one sensor being one or more of a door open/close switch type and window open/close switch type, the predetermined amount of time being in a range of one minute to sixty minutes; and
suppressing by the appliance device an irrigation zone of a plurality of irrigation zones such that water from one or more sprinklers associated with the irrigation zone does not enter the structure through the opening, the appliance device being an irrigation control system, the irrigation zone being proximate to the opening.

10 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
ascertaining at least one motor vehicle is parked in an area using the received information from the at least one sensor, the area being near the structure, the motor vehicle being at least one of a motorcycle, car, truck, and recreational vehicle, the at least one sensor being one or more magnetic sensors; and
suppressing by the appliance device an irrigation zone of a plurality of irrigation zones such that water from one or more sprinklers associated with the irrigation zone does not spray the motor vehicle, the appliance device being an irrigation control system, the irrigation zone being associated with the area.

11 . A method for notifying first responders of an emergency situation at a structure comprising:
receiving, by at least one of an appliance device associated with the structure and a processing entity, an alarm indicating the presence of the emergency situation; providing, by at least one of the appliance device and the processing entity, to a mobile device a notification for a user, the notification including indicia of the emergency situation; receiving, by at least one of the appliance device and the processing entity, a user confirmation of the emergency situation from the mobile device; and initiating, by at least one of the appliance device and the processing entity, communications between the user and a public-safety answering point (PSAP), the initiating including providing a location associated with the structure to the PSAP.

12 . The method of claim 11 wherein the processing entity is at least one of a remote server box, local server or multi-function base unit, alarm system in the structure, and a remote monitoring service.

13 . The method of claim 11 wherein the mobile device is one or more of a desktop computer, notebook computer, tablet computer, phablet, and smart phone, the mobile device using one or more applications for the notification and user confirmation.

14 . The method of claim 11 wherein the location associated with the structure is different from a present location associated with the mobile device.

15 . The method of claim 11 wherein the appliance device determines the presence of the emergency situation using one or more sensors, the one or more sensors sensing at least one of a panic indication from the user, smoke, a predetermined temperature greater than 117° F., and carbon monoxide.

16 . The method of claim 14 wherein receiving the alarm, providing the notification, and receiving the user confirmation each use at least one of a short message service (SMS) text message, push notification, email, audio message, video message, plain old telephone service (POTS), T1, wireless broad band, and voice over internet protocol (VoIP).

17 . A method for provisioning an appliance device comprising:
receiving a service address from a user associated with an appliance device; validating the received service address; storing the vali

Assignees

• Ooma Inc

Inventors

• Hart Douglas E
• Farrand Tobin E
• Bryan David A

Classifications

• G08B25/001

  Alarm cancelling procedures or alarm forwarding decisions, e.g. based on absence of alarm confirmation · CPC title

• G08B21/0461

  integrated or attached to an item closely associated with the person but not worn by the person, e.g. chair, walking stick, bed sensor · CPC title

• G08B25/016

  Personal emergency signalling and security systems (emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12) · CPC title

• G08B21/043 Primary

  detecting an emergency event, e.g. a fall · CPC title

• G08B21/18 Primary

  Status alarms (G08B21/02 takes precedence) · CPC title