Abstract:
A technician assistance application aids installation and diagnostics for an automated home monitoring system often referred to as an “Intelligent Home” system. The monitoring system includes a plurality of security sensor devices deployed around a dwelling and responsive to a monitoring application on a central computing device. The central computing device provides an on-site console for gathering signals from the security sensors and forwarding the gathered signals to a monitoring station or central office. The central office interprets the received signals to identify an anomaly or other signal consistent with a need to notify first responders or otherwise trigger an alarm. In addition to basic intrusion and fire protection, the monitoring system may monitor a variety of other non-emergency aspects such as lights, visual camera signals, door locks and environmental conditions.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Conventional home security systems protect a dwelling by monitoring entry paths such as doors and windows, and typically alert first responders by initiating a telephone call over traditional telephone (telco) lines. As with many other technologies, however, Internet capabilities have been employed to enhance the underlying detection and notification capabilities provided by such security systems. Modern systems promote “home automation” functions, which allow control of other aspects such as HVAC (heating/ventilation/air conditioning) control, fire detection, and video monitoring in addition to traditional perimeter security provided by a “burglar alarm.” 
       SUMMARY 
       [0002]    A technician assistance application aids installation and diagnostics for an automated home monitoring system often referred to as an “Intelligent Home” system. The monitoring system includes a plurality of security sensor devices deployed around a dwelling and responsive to a monitoring application on a central computing device. The central computing device provides an on-site console for gathering signals from the security sensors, determining an appropriate response, and forwarding the gathered signals to a monitoring station or central office for notification of appropriate first responders (police, fire, etc.). Alternatively the central office may interprets the received signals based on the type of security sensor to identify an anomaly or other signal consistent with a need to notify first responders or otherwise trigger an alarm. In addition to basic intrusion and fire protection, the monitoring system may monitor a variety of other non-emergency aspects such as lights, visual camera signals, door locks and environmental conditions. 
         [0003]    The monitoring system includes multiple security sensors, such as for door/window closure, smoke and heat, motion detection, video/image capture, temperature, and may even control and monitor advanced devices for selective entry such as fingerprint/palm scanners, facial recognition, retina scans, and lock control. Other monitored devices may extend to resource control, such as HVAC and valves for water/gas/oil control. In short, robust home monitoring and automation may be achieved, and increases the number of security sensors and responsive devices coupled to the on-site console. Configurations herein are based, in part, on the observation that substantial security sensors may be coupled to the on-site console in the monitoring system covering a particular home, dwelling or residence. Unfortunately, conventional approaches to installation of the monitoring system may involve substantial manual intervention by a technician to ensure proper coupling of the security sensors to the on-site console, and connectivity from the on-site console to the central office. The technician is required to manually operate or trigger each security sensor or sensing device, and initiate a voice call to the central office to verify successful receipt of the signal from the security sensor. In a large installation with many security sensors, the individual manual calls tend to drive up installation time substantially and result in increased error rates and required rework. 
         [0004]    Accordingly, configurations herein substantially overcome the above-described shortcomings of conventional monitoring systems by invoking an installation and diagnostic application (app) for providing a link from each individual security sensor to the on-site console, and a network connection from the on-site console to the central office or other monitoring facility, to allow quick iteration through each of the security sensors and receive an acknowledgement from the central office indicating signal receipt. Monitoring may be performed by any suitable facility, such as a staffed response center, or a data center which may advance or forward a notification automatically. The installation and diagnostic application downloads from the central office to the on-site console, and establishes a link with each of the security sensors in the home. Alternatively, the app may be delivered with the deployed device, and selectively activated by appropriate personnel (the installation technician). Upon receipt of a signal from the security sensor, the app transmits the signal to the central office, and the central office responds with an acknowledgement, without requiring a separate communication (call) from the on-site technician to coordinate and match the various security sensors with the signals received at the central office. Substantial time is therefore saved on installation of a new system, and diagnostics of existing installed systems facilitated by iteratively generated exchanges from the security sensors and a resulting list of security sensor activity rendered on the on-site console. 
         [0005]    In further detail, the system includes a home monitoring on-site console device having an interface to a plurality of security sensors in a monitored environment, and a network connection for providing a communication path from each of the identified security sensors to a central office, such that the communication path is configured for transmitting a value from an on-site console in the monitored environment based on a signal received from each sensor of the plurality of sensors. The home monitoring console device executes logic instructions for a rendering screen displaying a received acknowledgement indicative of associating, at the central office, each of the identified security sensors with a location defined by the monitored environment. A database defines the association for triggering an alert on behalf of the location based on signals received from any of the associated plurality of sensors. A processing device in the on-site console interprets and executes the logic instructions and directs the interface, network connection and rendering screen. 
         [0006]    In a particular configuration disclosed herein, the technician assistance application is an ANDROID™ based application available on a home automation system and employed by technicians during day of installation and trouble calls to put a customer&#39;s account ON/OFF TEST, validate Alarm Test Signals and edit key customer information. The disclosed configuration may be included in a product suite that provides home security, monitoring, and home automation to subscribers. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The foregoing will be apparent from the following description of particular embodiments disclosed herein, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles disclosed herein. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a context diagram of a home monitoring environment suitable for use with configurations herein; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  shows the security monitoring system installed in the environment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIGS. 3 a  and 3 b    are a flowchart of the home monitoring application executing on the on-site console in the installation of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a diagram of the on-site console rendering an indication of security sensors in the installation of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a diagram of the on-site console rendering an indication of the response entities associated with the location of the installation of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B  shows a flowchart of a full install in the environment of  FIGS. 1 and 2  invoking the screen rendering and logic of  FIGS. 3-5 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    An example configuration below depicts an installation of security sensors coupled to an on-site console in a dwelling. This configuration depicts one of many arrangements of security sensors coupled to the on-site console having the app for completing the installation. The app may execute on any suitable computing platform, but is expected to be invoked on a small footprint tabletop, desktop or wall mountable device similar to a personal computing device such as a tablet, which may be affixed to a wall near an entry portal such as the front door to the dwelling. The on-site console may therefore be a small or portable computing device, such as an Android® based device or similar computing platform. Alternate configurations may employ other computing platforms and security devices than those depicted. 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a context diagram of a home monitoring environment  100  suitable for use with configurations herein. Referring to  FIG. 1 , in the home monitoring environment  100 , a dwelling  110  employs an on-site console  112  for permitting a technician  114  to configure an installation by establishing and verifying a communication path  122  from a security sensor  120  to the on-site console  112  and from the on-site console  112  to a central office  124  via a public access network  126  such as the Internet. A typical installation employs many security sensors  120  of various types each of which needs to be verified for connectivity status to the central office  124 . In response, the central office  124  initiates a communication  128  to a responsive entity  130 , typically a first responder such as police, fire or ambulance dispatch similar to a “911” call. In an actual exigent situation, the responsive entity communication  128  results in a response  132  to the dwelling  110 . Of course, during installation and configuration, triggered sensor data is invoked in a test mode, discussed further below, which interprets and selectively processes the sensor data  134  to distinguish diagnostic and exigent situations. Further, sensor data  134  may extend beyond a simple open/closed status applicable to a door, but may encompass environmental settings, video stream, and other suitable sensed data. 
         [0016]    In the home monitoring environment  100 , provider efficiency is improved by minimizing the number and duration of technician service calls, a so-called “truck roll” event that requires an equipment truck  116  and technician  114  at the dwelling  110 . While generally a truck roll accompanies an initial installation, the duration is greatly reduced by an application  150  executing on the on-site console  112  for identifying, configuring and verifying connectivity of each security sensor  120  in the dwelling  110 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  shows the security monitoring system installed in the environment of  FIG. 1 . A typical installation includes multiple security sensors  120 - 1  . . .  120  . . .  9  ( 120  generally). The sensors include door sensors  120 - 1 , window sensors  120 - 2  . . .  120 - 5 , smoke/CO (Carbon Monoxide) detectors  120 - 6 ,  120 - 7  and video cameras  120 - 8 ,  120 - 9 . The security sensors  120  are not limited to data capture and read operations, but may also receive and implement remote commands, such as to turn lights on and off and lock/unlock doors. Other sensors may include window vibration/agitation sensors, environmental (HVAC) sensors, lock controls, and light controls, for example. In the simplest example, the door  120 - 1  and window  120 - 2  . . .  120 - 5  security sensors transmit a signal indicating open or closed. The security sensor could also transmit a temperature, CO concentration, video stream, or other suitable data item. 
         [0018]    The installing technician  114  first needs to verify that each of the installed sensors is communicative with the central office  124 , that is, that the signal transmitted from the security sensor  120  is received by the central office  124 . Once all the security sensors  120  are verified, they are registered for the dwelling  110  location, along with an indication of the responsive entity (police, fire, homeowner) that should be notified in the event an anomaly indicated by the security sensor  120 . 
         [0019]    During the install, identification of the security sensors may include determining a bandwidth range transmitted by the security sensor, and receiving a signal in the determined bandwidth range indicative of data obtained by the security sensor. Different security sensors  120  and different vendors may transmit in specific ranges, and the received range and strength may also vary based on positioning of the security sensor  120 . In contrast to conventional approaches, transmission parameters of the security sensor are adjustable at the on-site console  112 , to allow the technician to adjust the installed sensor  120  for optimal positioning. Depending on the connectivity between the security sensors and the on-site console, intervening obstacles such as walls and furniture may determine optimal placement. For example, the security sensors may operate in a “line-of-sight” mesh network that expects a clear path to at least one adjacent security sensor. Alternatively, avoiding positioning near large metal object such as appliances may improve the RF or other transmission characteristics to allow the on-site  112  console to communication with the security sensors  120 . 
         [0020]    The application  150  on the on-site console  112  receives a signal from each of the security sensors  120 , typically by a manual triggering by the technician  114 . This may involve, for example, opening and closing doors and windows in the dwelling  110  to cause the security sensor  120  to change state and send a signal via a communications link  111 . In contrast to conventional approaches, however, the on-site console  112  renders a history of security sensors triggered and corresponding signals  134  sent and acknowledged by the central office  124 . Conventional approaches require a manual telephone call to the central office  124  to confirm receipt of a triggering signal, which was repeated for each sensor  120 , often a time consuming process. 
         [0021]    The communications link  111  is often a wireless link to the on-site console, such as through a mesh network or other suitable WiFi link under IEEE 802.11, as is known in the art. Alternatively, a wired connection may be employed. The application  150  identifies, by scanning or entry of an identifier, each security sensor  120 . The application  150  transmits the identity of the on-site console  112  to the central office  124 , typically via MAC (Media Access Control) ID, along with the identity of each security sensor  120 . In the example arrangement, the on-site console  112  receives a message from the security sensor  120 , such that the message is transmitted according to a first protocol defining a mesh network, such as a ZIGBEE® link according to IEEE 802.15.4. The application  150  transmits, according to a second protocol, a message to the central office  124 , in which the message is indicative of successful receipt of the message from the security sensor and of the location for which the security sensor is to be associated. The second protocol is more suited to longer distances, and may be transported by the network  126  using a protocol such as TCP/IP. 
         [0022]    The technician  114  can verify connectivity of each security sensor merely by inspection of the rendered history, discussed further below in  FIG. 4 , to ensure it corresponds to the manual activation of each sensor  120 . A registration database (DB)  140  stores the sensor ID  142 - 1  and location  142 - 2  of the dwelling in a sensor table  142 . Subsequently, a location table  144  associates the location  144 - 1  of the dwelling  110  with a response entity  144 - 2 . The response entity may be further refined by the type of sensor data, such as associating the police department with a window sensor or the fire department with a smoke sensor. Further, the response entity may include other instructions, such as notifying the dwelling owner in the event a temperature sensor reports lower than 50 degrees, to indicate a failed boiler. Upon completion of security sensor registration being written to the table  142  and the location response entities being written to the location table  144 , the application  150  has completed installation of the system, and the on-site console resumes monitoring (i.e. normal operation) of the dwelling  110 . The application  150  may again be invoked by the technician on a successive call, if needed, either by reactivation and authenticating a resident version on the on-site console, or by downloading another instantiation of the application  150 . 
         [0023]      FIGS. 3 a  and 3 b    are a flowchart of the home monitoring application  150  executing on the on-site console in the installation of  FIG. 2 . Referring to  FIGS. 1-3   b,  at step  300 , the method for installing a security monitoring system includes identifying a plurality of security sensors  120  in the monitored environment  100 . Identifying the security sensors may include determining RF characteristics of a signal transmitted from the security sensor, as depicted at step  301 . RF characteristics such as signal strength and bandwidth range may be affected by sensor  120  placement, such as higher or lower on a door or window, and by intervening wall, doors and other building features of the dwelling  110 . Using the app  150 , the technician  114  adjusts the sensors to “fine-tune” an expected signal to be received at the on-site console  112 . The signal received by the on-site console  112  may vary with position and intervening objects, as discussed above, and the technician  114  can adjust the installation accordingly. Other adjustments may be performed, for example depending on determined RF characteristics of the security sensors, in which the RF characteristics are based on the type of the security sensor, a distance to the security sensor, and intervening object in a transmission path from the security sensor, as disclosed at step  302 . The on-site console  112  communicates with the security sensors  120  via a local mesh network, which in the example arrangement is a ZigBee based network. Alternate configurations may employ other mesh or similar LAN networks to cover the dwelling, and various transport mediums and network characteristics may be employed to provide an efficient and effective interconnection from the security sensors  120  to the on-site console  112 . RF signal strength, signal bandwidth range, infrared wavelength, refraction from surroundings, carrier frequency and range, and other characteristics may become pertinent depending on the local network. 
         [0024]    The technician  114  verifies a communication path from each of the identified security sensors  120  to the central office  124 , such that verification includes transmitting a value from the on-site console  112  in the monitored environment  100  based on a signal received from each sensor  120  of the plurality of sensors  120 -N, as depicted at step  303 . 
         [0025]    This includes iterating, for each security sensor  120  at the dwelling location associated with the on-site console  112 , a message transmission to the central office  124 , in which the message is indicative of the security sensor  120 , a type of the sensor, the location, and a status indicative of a sensed parameter at the location, as shown at step  304 . 
         [0026]    Associating the security sensors includes registering, for each of the security sensors  120 , a response entity to be notified upon triggering of an alert from the security sensor  120 , as depicted at step  305 . The app  150  iterates through each of the identified security sensors  120  for invoking a sensed parameter, in which the sensed parameter is transmitted from the security sensor  120  to the on-site console  112 , as disclosed at step  306 . Sensed parameters may be open or closed signals for a door or window, scalar values such as temperature, or a more extensive data item such as a video stream. Operation of the door or window, for example, triggers a signal transmission that is verified in a sensor history rendering at the on-site console, discussed further below. 
         [0027]    A check is performed, at step  307 , to determine if all security sensors  120  have been registered and verified. If not, control reverts to step  303  for successive sensors  120 . At step  308 , the app  150  receives an acknowledgement indicative of associating, at the central office  124 , each of the identified security sensors  120  with the location defined by the monitored environment  100 . The association is recorded in the sensor table  142  for triggering an alert on behalf of the location based on signals  134  received from any of the associated plurality of sensors  120 -N. Responses may be simple alarms, such as notifying police of a possible break-in for door or window sensors, or may involve further computation, such as receiving a temperature and comparing it to a maximum permissible low prior to alerting the homeowner. 
         [0028]    During the installation, the app  150  receives, at the on-site console  112 , an acknowledgement of receipt of each the transmitted messages  134 , in which the iteration pairs each of the security sensors at the location with the on-site console to reflect each sensor  120 . In response, the on-site console renders a received signal history report reflecting the recent actuations/triggers performed by the on-site technician. Rendering of the history report occurs in an uninterrupted sequence during a timeframe allotted to an installation, to allow the technician to trigger all security sensors  120 -N and review the rendered history report to verify connectivity and operation during the single service call allotted to installation, as depicted at step  309 . 
         [0029]    Following successful installation, the on-site console  112  resumes a consumer mode for home automation and monitoring tasks, and the installation app  150  is disabled and/or uninstalled, as it is intended for technician use during installation and service diagnostics. In the consumer usage mode, the on-site console  112  determines when any of the plurality of sensors  120  in the monitored environment  100  indicates a potential anomaly in the monitored environment  100 , as disclosed at step  310 , and issues a request to a response entity indicative of a exigent situation at the location if a sensor  120  is triggered, as depicted at step  311 . In a home security usage, this includes determining when any of the plurality of sensors in the monitored environment indicates a breach of the monitored environment, such as from an open signal from a door or window sensor, as depicted at step  312 . 
         [0030]    Upon successful installation and verification of security sensor  120  operation, a baseline or measurement of the signal from each security sensor  120  may be stored. The baseline provides an “RF snapshot” of effective operational parameters for the sensors upon installation. Successive diagnostic operations may benefit by comparing the baseline to current signals from the security sensors  120  to identify deviations. Environmental changes to the dwelling, such as movement of furniture and appliances therein, for example, may alter transmission characteristics of nearby security sensors  120  and may cause different RD characteristics to effect transmission the on-site console. Comparison of the baseline as installed with a successive snapshot may pinpoint sensors  120  that are operating differently. By capturing an indication of the signals received from the security sensors to identify operational parameters of successfully received signals, and storing the received signals as a baseline snapshot for comparison in future diagnostics. A technician on a future service call may retrieve the stored baseline snapshot, and compare the captured operational parameters from the successive time to the baseline snapshot to identify differences as a diagnostic or troubleshooting aid. 
         [0031]      FIG. 4  is a diagram of the on-site console rendering an indication of security sensors in the installation of  FIG. 2 . Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the on-site console  112  takes the form of a portable computing device  112 ′ such as a tablet. While the on-site console  112  is intended to be affixed in a permanent manner, the portable computing device  112 ′ is better suited to space and power requirements. Upon invocation, the app  150  gathers the identity of each of the security sensors  120  associated with the location, and transmits the identity and the associated location to the central office  124  for updating a database  140  of locations, security sensors  120 , and response entities  130  for each security sensor  120 . A rendering screen  115  displays the sensor history information, and hard buttons  117  are available for system functions such as power and screen navigation, in addition to touch screen (soft) rendered buttons. A description column  160  describes each security sensor  120 , and is included in a zone ID  162  which arranges the sensors  120  in groups. An event column  164  describes the data (message)  134  sent by the sensor, such as BURG (Burglary) for a front door open, and the time at which it occurred (col. 166 ). A check column  168  allows the technician to indicate verification of the alarm message  134  sent, which coincides with the time based on when the sensor  120  was triggered. A test mode status  170  designates the alarm messages  134  as test messages for installation or diagnostics, and informs the central office  124  to not forward or alert a responsive entity  130 , lest an installation result in a series of false alarms. The central office  124 , in response to an indication of test mode, identifies the test mode for suppressing a call to a response entity based on a triggered alert. 
         [0032]    In the example configuration, the technician causes the app  150  to generate test events by intentional triggering of the security sensors  120  associated with the location. The app receives an event history from the central office, such that the event history is indicative of the messages  134  received based on the triggered security sensors  120 , and renders a check in the check column  168  to correlate the event history including triggered alerts from the security sensors  120 . As various security sensors  120  are actuated, the app  150  accumulates an event history for each of the security sensors  120 , in which the event history is based on a message indicative of a state change detected by the security sensor  120 . The app  150  transmits at least a portion of the event history from one or more of the sensors  120  to the central office  124 , such that the central office  124  is configured for correlating the events in the event history with the test mode. In response to the test mode, the central office  124  indicates to the app  150  successful transmission of an alert from the security sensor  120  and suppresses notification of a response entity  130  based on the security sensor. A refresh history button  172  may be invoked to update the rendered history with recent security sensor  120  activations. Depending on the number of individual security sensors  120  at the dwelling  110 , the technician may trigger all sensors in a single history report, or may perform phases interleaved with a refresh of history to make the task more manageable. 
         [0033]      FIG. 5  is a diagram of the on-site console rendering an indication of the response entities associated with the location of the installation of  FIG. 2 . The app  150  confirms a location  180  to be associated with each of the security sensors in the dwelling  110 . The database  140  stores the location  180  in the location table  144  so that responsive entities  130  may be dispatched to a proper location. 
         [0034]      FIG. 6A and 6B  shows a flowchart of a full install in the environment of  FIGS. 1 and 2  invoking the screen rendering and logic of  FIGS. 3-5 . Referring to  FIGS. 1-6B ,  FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B  shows a rendered screen flow as a technician progresses through an install or diagnostic call. Steps  600 - 603  depict an app  150  welcome screen and authentication of an authorized technician. The app  150  is intended for use by a trained technician, and not for user self-diagnostics or phone support. Steps  604 - 608  confirm the identity of the on-site console  112  via MAC ID or other account verification. Following account verification at step  609 , the location verification screen of  FIG. 5  is rendered to confirm the service location of the on-site console, as shown at steps  610 - 612  to update the dwelling  110  location. The location is employed by responsive entities in the case of an exigent situation, hence accuracy is important. 
         [0035]    Initial installation or service call (i.e. truck roll event) is clarified at steps  613 - 614 , and test mode  170  established at steps  615  and  616  to accommodate triggering of security sensors  120 . Timing expectations and (if a service call) diagnostic procedures are established at step  617 . Security sensor validation and registration is performed and/or confirmed at steps  618 - 622 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , to refresh the rendered history and allocate additional time as needed. Additional test mode time is significant because this represents the period of nonresponsiveness to alarms. Actual emergencies that happened to occur during this mode might be ignored, hence it is important not to allow test mode to persist any longer than necessary. 
         [0036]    Call reason is reiterated at step  623 , and executed diagnostic procedures are confirmed at step  630 . In the case of a new install, necessary regulatory constraints such as permitting are addressed at steps  624 - 629 , and control resumes at step  630 . The on-site service call is completed at step  631 , and nonoperational scenarios are covered at steps  632 - 634 . The app  150  renders a successful termination screen at step  635 . 
         [0037]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that alternate configurations of the disclosed invention, particularly with respect to programmed logic and/or control features disclosed above, include a multiprogramming or multiprocessing computerized device such as a workstation, handheld or laptop computer or dedicated computing device or the like configured with software and/or circuitry (e.g., a processor as summarized above) to process any or all of the method operations disclosed herein as embodiments of the invention. Still other embodiments of the invention include software programs such as a Java Virtual Machine and/or an operating system that can operate alone or in conjunction with each other with a multiprocessing computerized device to perform the method embodiment steps and operations summarized above and disclosed in detail below. One such embodiment comprises a computer program product that has a computer-readable storage medium including computer program logic encoded thereon that, when performed in a multiprocessing computerized device having a coupling of a memory and a processor, programs the processor to perform the operations disclosed herein as embodiments of the invention to carry out data access requests. Such arrangements of the invention are typically provided as software, code and/or other data (e.g., data structures) arranged or encoded on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium such as an optical medium (e.g., CD-ROM), floppy or hard disk or other medium such as firmware or microcode in one or more ROM, RAM or PROM chips, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) or as an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). The software or firmware or other such configurations can be installed onto the computerized device (e.g., during operating system execution or during environment installation) to cause the computerized device to perform the techniques explained herein as embodiments of the invention. 
         [0038]    While the apparatus and methods defined herein have been particularly shown and described with references to embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims.