Method and apparatus for location-based, automated control of electronic devices

Systems, methods and apparatus are described for automatically performing home or business-based actions. A predefined geographic boundary may be defined around a home or a business. When a personal communication device inside a vehicle crosses a boundary of the predefined geographic boundary, the personal communication device sends a short range message to a point-to-point transceiver in the vehicle, and the point-to-point transceiver sends a signal directly to a controller in the home or business to automatically perform the one or more home or business-based actions.

BACKGROUND

I. Field of Use

The present application relates to the field of consumer electronics. More specifically, the present application relates to location-based, automated control of certain electronic devices in homes or businesses.

II. Description of the Related Art

Geofencing is a geo-location technique that allows users to set up automated actions when a person or an object, such as a vehicle, cellular telephone, wearable device, etc., enters or leaves a pre-defined, geographic boundary. For example, a circular “geofence” may be established around a home, having a radius of 100 yards, to automatically open a garage door once a particular vehicle or a smart phone enters the geofenced area.

The location of a person or an object may be determined by the person or object, or by an electronic device located in a home or business that additionally causes one or more actions to occur when a person/object enters or leaves the geofenced area. For example, in the former, a smartphone may automatically and continuously determine its location and report the location via a cellular and/or IP-based network to a lighting controller located inside a home, which causes certain lighting “scenes” to occur as a person is close to arriving home. In another example, a smartphone may execute a software application or “app” that allows a user to define a geofence, and then automatically transmit an indication to a home electronic device when the smart phone enters or leaves the geofenced area. When the home electronic device receives the indication, it may cause one or more pre-determined actions to occur in the home. In the latter case, an Internet-connected home electronic device may determine the location of an object such as a smartphone or vehicle, and cause one or more actions to occur when the home electronic device determines that the object has entered or has left the geofenced area.

While geofencing is widely used, it does suffer several drawbacks. For example, legacy home electronic devices, such as garage door operators, HVAC systems or lighting systems may not be network-compatible, i.e., have no ability to connect to a smartphone via the Internet to know the smartphone's location. Additionally, it may not be desirable to automatically perform actions in a home or business just because a smartphone has entered or left a geofenced area. For example, if a user takes a walk around the block, it may be undesirable for a garage door to open if the user re-enters the geofenced area.

In the case of garage door operators, programming a vehicle to either manually or automatically operate a garage door has traditionally been cumbersome and confusing. For example, a homeowner must typically press a “learn” button located on a garage door operator, and then press and hold a garage door operation button inside the homeowner's vehicle in order to “teach” the vehicle how to communicate with the garage door operator. Typically, access to the learn button on the operator requires the homeowner to locate a small ladder, then climb up to press the learn button. Then, within a limited time frame, the homeowner must press and hold a button inside the homeowner's vehicle and observe a light as it flashes from one rate to another. It is not often clear when the rate of flashing changes, nor exactly when the vehicle has learned how to communicate with the garage door operator. In many cases, this operation must be repeated, until the proper sequence of actions is performed correctly.

SUMMARY

The embodiments described herein relate to methods, systems, and apparatus for automatically performing one or more predetermined, automated home or business-based actions. In one embodiment, a personal communication device is described, comprising a non-transitory memory for storing processor-executable instructions and a predefined geographic boundary, means for determining a location of the personal communication device, a short range communication interface for transmitting short range messages to a point-to-point transceiver in proximity to the personal communication device, and a processor, coupled to the memory, the means for determining a location of the personal communication device and the short range communication interface, for executing the processor-executable instructions that causes the personal communication device to determine, by the processor via the means for determining a location of the personal communication device, a present location of the personal communication device, determine, by the processor, that the personal communication device has crossed the predetermined geographic boundary based on the present location of the personal communication device and the predetermined geographic boundary, and in response to determining that the personal communication device has crossed the predetermined geographic boundary, transmit, by the processor via the short range communication interface, a short range message to the point-to-point transceiver in proximity to the personal communication device, the short range message causing the point-to-point transceiver to transmit a point-to-point signal directly to a controller located inside a home or a business, for causing the one or more predetermined, automatic actions to occur at the home or business when the controller receives the point-to-point signal.

In another embodiment, a method, performed by a personal communication device, for automatically performing one or more predetermined, automated home or business-based actions is described, comprising determining a present location of the personal communication device, determining that the personal communication device has crossed a predefined geographic boundary based on the present location and the predefined geographic boundary, and in response to determining that the personal communication device has crossed the predefined geographic boundary, transmitting a short range message to a point-to-point transceiver in proximity to the personal communication device, the short range message causing the point-to-point transceiver to transmit a point-to-point signal directly to a controller located at a home or a business, for causing the one or more predetermined, automatic actions to occur at the home or business when the controller receives the point-to-point signal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Systems, methods and apparatus are described herein for performing location-based, automated operation of electronic devices in homes or businesses. A predetermined geographic boundary, or geofence, is created that defines a geographic boundary around a home or business. A personal communication device in a vehicle determines when the personal communication device has crossed the predefined geographic boundary and, in response, transmits a short range message to a point-to-point transceiver, also located in the vehicle. The personal communication device may use information pertaining to the vehicle to confirm that the personal communication device has, indeed, crossed the predefined geographic boundary, and/or to confirm that the personal communication device is in a vehicle that is moving. The point-to-point transceiver, in turn, transmits a point-to-point signal directly to a controller inside the home or business that causes the controller to perform one or more actions, such as to open or close a garage door, turn lights on or off, arm or disarm a security system, adjust the air temperature of the home or business via an HVAC system, etc.

FIG.1is a block diagram of a system100for performing location-based, automatic control of electronic devices in homes or businesses. Shown is vehicle102, structure104, personal communication device106, point-to-point transceiver108, vehicle computer110, controller112, garage door operator114, security controller116, lighting controller118, wide-area network120and local-area network122. The sizes of the various blocks inFIG.1are not to scale or to scale with respect to each other.

Structure104comprises a home or business. Several electronic devices are located within structure104, such as garage door operator114, security controller116and lighting controller118. Each of the electronic devices may be controlled by controller112, communicating with the electronic devices via local-area network122, such as a Wi-Fi network. In addition to communicating with the electronic devices via local-area network122, controller112comprises a point-to-point receiver that receives wireless signals directly from point-to-point transceiver108located in vehicle102. The term “directly” is defined herein as transmitting or receiving a wireless signal from one point to another without the use of any intermediary devices, such as repeaters, cellular base stations, routers, other mesh-network devices, etc. Cellular communications are not an example of direct communications, as wireless signals are generally routed through one or more base stations. For example, point-to-point transceiver108may transmit direct signals to controller112, where the direct signals propagate through the air from point-to-point transceiver108to controller112without the use of any repeaters, access points, etc. The point-to-point receiver inside controller112may use one or more well-known communication technologies, such as long-range Zwave®, sub-Gigahertz RF, Bluetooth, etc.

Security controller116comprises a professional security panel, consumer-grade hub, central monitoring device, or the like, that receives wireless signals from a variety of security sensors distributed throughout structure104(not shown). Security controller116and the sensors define a security system. When the security system is armed, and an event occurs at the structure, such as a door or a window opening, or motion begin detected, security controller116may cause one or more predetermined, automatic actions to occur, such as flashing certain lights inside or outside structure104, causing a loud siren to sound inside structure104, and/or contacting a remote monitoring center (not shown) which may dispatch local authorities, such as the police or fire department. The security system may be armed and disarmed by controller112when controller112receives a signal from point-to-point transceiver108in vehicle102when personal communication device106crosses the predefined geographic boundary, and, in some embodiments, certain other conditions are met, as will be explained in greater detail later herein.

Garage door operator114comprises a controller that causes a garage door to open and close. Garage door operator114may not have a capability of communicating with local-area network122, i.e., may not be Internet-compatible. Older, legacy garage door operators fall into this category, and do not allow remote operation of the garage door over the Internet. Garage door operator114is commonly found in millions of homes and businesses throughout the world, manufactured by such well-known manufacturers such as Chamberlain Group or The Genie Company. Controller112may send signals to garage door operator114via a two-wire connection for garage door operator114to cause the garage door to open and close in response to receiving point-to-point signals from point-to-point transceiver108.

Lighting controller118comprises an electronic device that causes one or more lights inside or outside structure104to turn on and off. Lighting controller118comprises one of many consumer-based home automation hubs that control one or more lights inside or outside structure104, such as a SmartThings® hub, a HomeKit® hub, etc. Controller112may send signals to lighting controller118via local-area network122when controller112receives point-to-point signals from point-to-point transceiver108.

Personal communication device106comprises a device capable of providing voice and/or data communications to a user of personal communication device106. For example, personal communication device106may comprise a cellular or satellite mobile phone or a wearable device (such as a smartwatch). Personal communication device106may execute a mobile software application or “app” that may allow a user to define a geographic boundary around structure104for purposes of automatically causing one or more predetermined, automatic actions to occur at structure104when personal communication device106crosses the geographic boundary and, in some embodiments, other conditions are met. Personal communication device106is typically capable of determining its location using well-known technologies such as GPS and/or terrestrial-based location systems. Personal communication device106is further capable of direct, short range communications with point-to-point transceiver108and vehicle computer110, for example, using Bluetooth, Bluetooth LE, or some other short range communication technology. When personal communication device106crosses the predefined geographic boundary, personal communication device106determines the crossing, and may, in response, determine one or more other conditions, such as whether personal communication device106is traveling at more than a predetermined speed, whether personal communication device106is in communications with vehicle computer110, whether personal communication device106is presently co-located with vehicle102and, generally, whether personal communication device106is inside vehicle102and, in some embodiments, that vehicle102is moving at a speed greater than the predetermined speed. When personal communication device106determines that it has crossed the geographic boundary, and, in some embodiments, that one or more other conditions have been satisfied, personal communication device106transmits a short range message to point-to-point transceiver108and, in response, point-to-point transceiver108transmits a point-to-point signal to controller112inside structure104, indicating that personal communication device106has crossed the geographic boundary, and, in some embodiments, that one or more other conditions have been met.

Point-to-point transceiver108comprises a short range receiver and a point-to-point transmitter. In some embodiments, Point-to-point transceiver108may, additionally or alternatively, comprise a wide-area transmitter for transmitting signals to receiver112either directly or indirectly, i.e., via wide-area network120. The term “short range” as defined herein means a distance less than 10 feet. Point-to-point transceiver108is capable of receiving short range signals from personal communication device106when personal communication device106crosses the geographic boundary and, in some embodiments, an indication that one or more other conditions are satisfied. In response to receiving a short range signal from personal communication device106, point-to-point transceiver108transmits a wireless signal directly to controller112, indicating that personal communication device106has crossed the geographic boundary and, in some embodiments, that one or more other conditions have been satisfied. The point-to-point transmitter of point-to-point transceiver108may use one or more well-known communication technologies, such as long-range Zwave®, sub-Gigahertz RF, Bluetooth, etc. The short range receiver of point-to-point transceiver108may comprise one or more well-known technologies such as Bluetooth, Bluetooth LE, RF, etc. Point-to-point transceiver108may comprise a form factor of something smaller than a pack of cigarettes, may be permanently installed into vehicle102and may be powered by a cigarette lighter outlet, and OBD-II connection point, or hardwired to the vehicle's power system.

Vehicle computer110comprises an on-board computer system typically found in most modern vehicles. Vehicle computer110may control a wide variety of operations of vehicle102, such as controlling a fuel/air mixture, determining a location of vehicle102, determining a speed of vehicle102, controlling air conditioning components of vehicle102, etc. Vehicle computer110may communicate with personal communication device106either directly, such as by using a short range communication technology previously discussed, or indirectly, such as via wide-area network120, which may comprise one or more of a cellular or satellite data network, the Internet, etc. In some embodiments, vehicle computer110may “pair” with personal communication device106and provide certain information to personal communication device106, such as a speed or location of vehicle102, or simply an indication that vehicle computer110has been successfully paired with personal communication device while six.

FIG.2is a functional block diagram of one embodiment of personal communication device106. Specifically,FIG.2shows processor200, memory202, wide-area communication interface204, short range communication interface206, user interface208and location detector210. It should be understood that the functional blocks may be connected to one another in a variety of ways, and that not all functional blocks necessary for operation of personal communication device106are shown (such as a power supply), for purposes of clarity.

Processor200is configured to provide general operation of personal communication device106by executing processor-executable instructions stored in memory202, for example, executable code. Processor200typically comprises a specialized ASIC for use, for example, in modern cellular smart phones, although in other embodiments, any one of a variety of microprocessors, microcomputers, and/or microcontrollers may be used, selected based on factors such as cost, processing power, onboard memory capacity, etc. The processor-executable instructions may comprise a mobile software application or “app” that performs particular operations of personal communication device106, including one or more methods for automatically controlling operation of remote electronic devices located in structure104. The app may allow a user to establish a predefined geographic boundary around structure104, determine when personal communication device106crossed the geographic boundary and notify point-to-point transceiver108.

Memory202is coupled to processor200, comprising one or more non-transitory information storage devices, such as RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory, or other type of electronic, optical, or mechanical memory device. Memory202is used to store processor-executable instructions for operation of personal communication device106as well as any information used by processor200, such as location information, connection information, (i.e., information needed to connect to transceiver108and/or vehicle computer110, etc.). It should be understood that reference to memory202may include references to more than one memory type or device, such as RAM memory for storing temporary information and flash memory for storing non-volatile information. In some embodiments, all or a portion of memory202is incorporated into processor200.

Wide-area communication interface204is coupled to processor200, comprising circuitry for allowing personal communication device106to communicate wirelessly with other remotely-located electronic devices, such as other personal communication devices, remote computers, remote servers, etc. via wide-area network120. Typically, wide-area communication interface comprises one or more well-known cellular communication modems and related circuitry, along with associated firmware, in some embodiments.

Short range communication interface206is coupled to processor200, comprising well-known circuitry for allowing personal communication device106to communicate with point-to-point transceiver108and in some embodiments, with vehicle computer110. Typically, short range communication interface206comprises wireless interface circuitry, but in some other embodiments, short range communication interface206comprises a mechanical port for allowing wired communications with transceiver108and/or vehicle computer110. Short range communication interface206may comprise Bluetooth circuitry, Zwave circuitry, Zigbee circuitry, or any other well-known communication technology that allows personal communication device106to communicate with transceiver108over relatively short distances, such as less than 50 feet.

User interface208is coupled to processor200, comprising well-known hardware for allowing a user of personal communication device106to enter information into, and receive information from, personal communication device106. For example, user interface208may comprise a touchscreen display and/or one or more pushbuttons. User interface208may receive confirmations from a user when queried by processor200, and processor200may alert a user to such queries, as is well-known in the art.

Location detector210is coupled to processor200, comprising means for determining a location of personal communication device106. Location detector210may comprise well-known GPS technology and/or terrestrial-based technology to accurately determine a location of personal communication device106. Such technologies are well-known in the art.

FIG.3is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method performed by personal communication device106for automatically controlling operation of remote electronic devices located in structure104. It should be understood that in some embodiments, not all of the steps shown inFIG.3are performed. It should also be understood that the order in which the steps are carried out may be different in other embodiments.

At block300, a user of personal communication device106(i.e., “PCD”) may define a geographic boundary around structure104using an app that has been pre-loaded onto personal communication device106in the form of processor-executable instructions. The geographic boundary may define one or more distances from structure104at which the user desires one or more actions occur at structure104as the user crosses the geographic boundary, either incoming or outgoing. The app may further be used by the user to define which actions occur upon crossing the geographic boundary. For example, a user could use the app to cause garage door operator114to open a garage door at structure104when the user crosses the geographic boundary upon returning to structure104. In another example, the user may use the app to cause all lights within structure104to be turned off by lighting controller118when the user crosses the geographic boundary as the user leaves structure104. The geographic boundary and a selection of one or more predetermined actions to be automatically performed are received by processor200via user interface208and stored in memory202.

At block302, for purposes of this example, the user is driving vehicle102, carrying personal communication device106, and vehicle102is outside the predefined geographic boundary, headed back to structure104. Point-to-point point transceiver108has been pre-installed into vehicle102, such as by common mechanical fastening means and/or electronic coupling, for example, via an OBD-II connector inside vehicle102. Also, for purposes of this example, security controller116has been placed into an armed mode of operation, lighting controller118has caused all of the lights at structure104to be turned off, and garage door operator114has placed a garage door at structure104into a closed position.

At block304, processor200and/or location detector210determines one or more locations of personal communication device106on earth as vehicle102moves towards structure104, using GPS, terrestrial, or some other well-known means for determining a location of personal communication device106. Typically, processor200/location detector210determines multiple locations over time, providing updated location information several times per second.

At block306, processor200determines that personal communication device106has crossed the predefined geographic boundary by comparing a present location of personal communication device106to the predefined geographic boundary stored in memory202. Processor200may further determine that personal communication device106is headed towards structure104, rather than away from it, using a series of recent locations of personal communication device106.

At block308, in another embodiment, processor200may confirm the location of personal communication device106by comparing one or more recent locations of personal communication device106as determined by processor200/location detector210as compared to one or more recent locations of vehicle102as provided by a network-based computer server (not shown). In this embodiment, personal communication device106may be preconfigured to periodically receive locations of vehicle102over time from the network-based computer server that tracks the location of vehicle102over time. In this embodiment, vehicle computer110may provide periodic updates of the location of vehicle102to the network-based computer server via a wide-area communication interface of vehicle computer110, such as a cellular data transmitter. In another embodiment, when processor200/location detector210determines that personal communication device has crossed the predefined geographic boundary, processor200may cause wide-area communication interface204to transmit a request to the network-based computer server, requesting that the network-based computer provide one or more recent locations of vehicle102. When the network-based computer server receives the request from processor200, it responds by transmitting one or more recent locations of vehicle102to processor200via wide-area communication interface204.

In any case, after processor200receives one or more recent locations of vehicle102, processor200may compare the one or more recent locations to one or more recent locations determined by processor200/location detector210, in order to confirm that personal communication device106has, in fact, crossed the predefined geographic boundary.

At block310, in yet another embodiment, processor200may confirm the location of personal communication device106by comparing one or more recent locations of personal communication device106as determined by processor200/location device210as compared to one or more recent locations of vehicle102as provided by vehicle computer110. In this embodiment, personal communication device106may be preconfigured to periodically receive locations of vehicle102over time from vehicle computer110that, among other things, tracks the location of vehicle102over time, using GPS, terrestrial, or some other well-known location determination technology. In this embodiment, vehicle computer110may provide periodic updates of the location of vehicle102to personal communication device106via a short range transceiver of vehicle computer110, such as Bluetooth, Bluetooth LE, Zigbee, Zwave, or some other well-known, short range communication technology, or via a wired interface. In another embodiment, when processor200/location detector210determines that personal communication device has crossed the predefined geographic boundary, processor200may cause short range communication interface206to transmit a request to vehicle computer110, requesting that vehicle computer110provide one or more recent locations of vehicle102. When vehicle computer110receives the request from processor200, it responds by transmitting one or more recent locations of vehicle102to processor200via short range communication interface206.

At block312, in yet another embodiment, processor200may confirm that personal communication device106is in a vehicle at the time that personal communication device106crosses the predefined geographic boundary, in order to confirm that the user is actually approaching or leaving structure104for a significant amount of time, such as an hour or more and, therefore, that the one or more predefined automatic actions should occur. Additionally, confirming that the user is in a vehicle may avoid false alerts that the user is leaving structure104for a significant period of time. For example, if a user is walking to a mailbox to retrieve the user's mail, personal communication device106may erroneously determine that personal communication device106has crossed a predefined geographic boundary and transmit a signal to controller112inside structure104, automatically causing a garage door to close.

In this embodiment, processor200may confirm that personal communication device106is in a vehicle by “pairing” with vehicle computer110. Pairing is a well-known short range communication technique used by certain technologies, such as Bluetooth and Bluetooth LE, for example, for initiating communications between two devices. Typically, a user pairs personal communication device106with vehicle computer110during an initial pairing, and then, pairing is automatic between the two devices whenever personal communication device106is in range of vehicle computer110. Upon pairing with vehicle computer110, processor200may store an indication in memory202, indicating that personal communication vice106is paired with vehicle computer110and therefore infer that personal communication device106, as well as a user of personal communication device106, is inside the vehicle and that the vehicle is likely moving.

In another embodiment, processor200may confirm that personal communication device106is in a moving vehicle by determining a speed of personal communication device106at or near the time that personal communication device106crosses the predefined geographic boundary. In this embodiment, location detector210may additionally calculate a speed of personal communication device106using the position data that it normally generates. In other embodiments, a separate component of vehicle computer110may determine the speed of vehicle102. Such speed calculation based on location is well-known in the art. When processor200determines that personal communication device106is moving at a speed that is greater than a predetermined minimum speed, such as 15 mph, processor200may determine that personal communication device106is in a moving vehicle.

In a related embodiment, processor200can determine the speed of personal communication device106, using the technique described above, and determine that personal communication device106is in a moving vehicle. In another, related embodiment, processor200can determine the speed of personal communication device106and compare that speed to a speed provided by vehicle computer110. Vehicle computer110may separately calculate a speed of vehicle102on an ongoing basis, and provide the calculated speed to personal communication device106via short range communication interface206, or via wide-area communication interface204, in an embodiment where vehicle computer110provides the speed of vehicle102to the network-based computer server as described above. Processor200may compare the calculated speed from vehicle computer110to its own calculated speed and determined that personal communication device106is moving within a vehicle when the two speeds match each other, and each speed indicates that personal communication device106is traveling greater than a predetermined speed, such as 15 mph.

At block314, in response to at least determining that personal communication device106has crossed the predefined geographic boundary, processor200causes short range communication interface206to transmit a short range message to point-to-point transceiver108, for example, a message transmitted in accordance with the well-known Bluetooth LE protocol. The message is indicative that personal communication device106has crossed the predefined geographic boundary and, in some embodiments, that personal communication device106is moving either towards or away from structure104.

In another embodiment, in response to determining that personal communication device106has crossed the predefined geographic boundary and confirmed the location of personal communication device106by comparing one or more recent locations of personal communication device106as determined by processor200/location detector210to one or more recent locations of vehicle102as determined by vehicle computer110either directly, via short range communication interface206or from the network-based computer server that receives periodic location information from vehicle computer110. When processor200confirms the location of personal communication device106, in this embodiment, only then does processor200cause a short range message to be sent to point-to-point transceiver108via short range communication interface206indicating that conditions have been satisfied for an automatic event to occur at structure104.

In yet another embodiment, in response to determining that personal communication device106across the predefined geographic boundary and that personal communication device106is in a vehicle at the time that personal communication device106crosses the predefined geographic boundary, (by determining, for example, that personal communication device106is currently paired with vehicle computer110at or near the time that personal communication device106crosses the predetermined geographic boundary) only then does processor200cause a short range message to be sent to point-to-point transceiver108via short range communication interface206indicating that conditions have been satisfied for an automatic event to occur at structure104.

In yet still another embodiment, in response to determining that personal communication device106across the predefined geographic boundary and that personal communication device106is in a moving vehicle at the time that personal communication device106crosses the predefined geographic boundary, (by determining, for example, that the speed of personal communication device106exceeds a predetermined minimum speed or that the speed of personal communication device106matches a speed of vehicle102at or near the time that personal communication device106crosses the predetermined geographic boundary) only then does processor200cause a short range message to be sent to point-to-point transceiver108via short range communication interface206indicating that conditions have been satisfied for an automatic event to occur at structure104.

At block316, in any of the embodiments just discussed, above, prior to processor200causing the short range message to be transmitted to point-to-point transceiver108via short range communication interface206, processor200may cause a query to be presented to the user of personal communication device106via user interface208, asking the user for confirmation that the user, indeed, desires one or more predetermined, automated actions to occur at structure104as a result of personal communication device106crossing the predefined geographic boundary.

At block318, processor200receives a response from the user via user interface208. If the response indicates that the user desires that one or more predetermined, automated actions occur at structure104, then processor200causes the short range message to be transmitted to point-to-point transceiver108. If the response indicates that the user does not wish to initiate the one or more predetermined, automated actions, processor200does not transmit the short range message to point-to-point transceiver108and resumes monitoring the location of personal communication device106. The user may not wish to initiate the one or more predetermined, automated actions at structure104if the user is, for example, taking a walk around the neighborhood, or otherwise not in a vehicle approaching or departing structure104.

At block320, in response to receiving the short range message from personal communication device106, point-two-point transceiver108transmits a point-to-point signal to controller112located at structure104. The signal comprises an indication that personal communication device106has just crossed the predefined geographic boundary and, in some embodiments, in a particular direction, either towards or away structure104, as well as, in some embodiments, an indication of whether one or more conditions have additionally been met, such as a confirmation of the location of personal communication device106, an indication that personal communication device106is paired with vehicle computer110, whether the speed of personal communication device106is greater than a predetermined minimum threshold, etc.

At block322, the point-to-point signal is received by controller112. In response, controller112determines that personal communication device106has crossed the predefined geographic boundary, and any other conditions associated with personal communication device106, and, in response, causes one or more predetermined, automated actions to occur at structure104, such as causing garage door operator114to open or close a garage door, causing lighting controller118to turn one or more lights at structure104on or off, and/or causing security controller116to arm or disarm a security system.

Accordingly, an embodiment of the invention may comprise a computer-readable media embodying code or processor-readable instructions to implement the teachings, methods, processes, algorithms, steps and/or functions disclosed herein.