PATENT DOCUMENT

Abstract:
Techniques for facilitating one or more operating modes for monitoring of an intelligent home system are disclosed. The techniques facilitate detecting an adverse condition in a building, generating an alert based on the detection, sending a notification about the alert to a user (e.g., to a mobile device), awaiting a user response, and determining whether to send the alert to a central monitoring system to facilitate notification of an appropriate responder for the adverse condition. Determining whether to send the alert to the central monitoring system may be based on an affirmative command from the user or a failure to receive any command from the user. The user may be billed for the service of notifying an appropriate responder provided by central monitoring system regularly, intermittently when the user is away from the building, or on a per-alert basis.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation application that claims priority to and the benefit of the filing date of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/855,911, filed Sep. 16, 2015 and entitled “ALTERNATIVE BILLING MODES FOR SECURITY AND AUTOMATION APPLICATIONS,” which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/525,607, filed Oct. 28, 2014 and entitled “ALTERNATIVE BILLING MODES FOR SECURITY AND AUTOMATION APPLICATIONS,” which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/739,470, filed Jan. 11, 2013 and entitled “ALTERNATIVE BILLING MODES FOR SECURITY AND AUTOMATION APPLICATIONS,” the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This disclosure generally relates to computer networking, particularly the networking of automation and/or security products in a building or home. 
     BACKGROUND 
     As computer and computer networking technology has become less expensive and more widespread, more and more devices have started to incorporate digital “smart” functionalities. For example, controls and sensors capable of interfacing with a network can now be incorporated into devices such as appliances, security systems, light switches, and water valves. Furthermore, it is possible for one or more central controllers to interface with the smart devices to facilitate automation and security applications. Such central controllers in a building may forward alerts and collected information to a central monitoring system so a monitor may call an appropriate responder to go to the building to address a security breach or other adverse condition. However, security systems have used a flat-rate, monthly billing structure in the past. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Accordingly, it may be advantageous to create alternative billing modes for security and automation systems installed in buildings. 
     In an embodiment, a method for monitoring a building comprising: monitoring a building for adverse conditions; generating an alert when an adverse condition is detected; sending the alert to a mobile device to inform a user of the adverse condition; asking the user with the mobile device to respond to the alert by one of (i) sending a first response to deactivate the alert, or (ii) sending a second response to request one or more appropriate responders be sent to the building to address the adverse condition; if the user sent the first response, deactivating the alert; and if the user sent the second response, charging the user for requesting one or more appropriate responders to be sent to the building to address the adverse condition. 
     In another embodiment, a method for monitoring a building with a building monitoring system wherein the building monitoring system generates an alert when an adverse condition is detected, the method comprising: configuring the building monitoring system to a first operating mode in which the building monitoring system does not send alerts to a central monitoring system without one of (i) receiving an affirmative user command or (ii) a failing to receive a negative user command; determining that a user residing in the building will be away from the building for a certain period of time; and reconfiguring the building monitoring system to a second operating mode in which the building monitoring system sends alerts to the central monitoring system, wherein the central monitoring system responds to a received alert by charging the user for requesting one or more appropriate responders be sent to the building to address the adverse condition that was detected. 
     In an embodiment, a building monitoring system including a processor; and one or more program memories storing executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the building monitoring system to: detect adverse conditions proximate to a building; generate an alert when an adverse condition is detected; send the alert to a mobile device to inform a user of the adverse condition; ask the user with the mobile device to respond to the alert by one of (i) sending a first response to deactivate the alert, or (ii) sending a second response to request one or more appropriate responders be sent to the building to address the adverse condition; if the user sent the first response, deactivate the alert; and if the user sent the second response, charge the user for requesting one or more appropriate responders to be sent to the building to address the adverse condition. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The figures described below depict various aspects of the system and methods disclosed herein. It should be understood that each figure depicts an embodiment of a particular aspect of the disclosed system and methods, and that each of the figures is intended to accord with a possible embodiment thereof. Further, wherever possible, the following description refers to the reference numerals included in the following figures, in which features depicted in multiple figures are designated with consistent reference numerals. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram of a computer network, a computer server, an intelligent home system controller, and intelligent home system products on which an exemplary intelligent home product recommendation system and method may operate in accordance with the described embodiments; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a block diagram of an intelligent home system controller; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an block diagram of an exemplary intelligent home system monitoring operating mode method operating in accordance with the described embodiments; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary full monitoring for a definite period of time monitoring operating mode operating in accordance with the described embodiments; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary limited monitoring where the customer authorizes sending an alert to a monitor on alert-by-alert basis monitoring operating mode operating in accordance with the described embodiments; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary home with intelligent home system products installed. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Although the following text sets forth a detailed description of numerous different embodiments, it should be understood that the legal scope of the invention is defined by the words of the claims set forth at the end of this patent. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment, as describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. One could implement numerous alternate embodiments, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims. 
     It should also be understood that, unless a term is expressly defined in this patent using the sentence “As used herein, the term ‘ —————— ’ is hereby defined to mean . . . ” or a similar sentence, there is no intent to limit the meaning of that term, either expressly or by implication, beyond its plain or ordinary meaning, and such term should not be interpreted to be limited in scope based on any statement made in any section of this patent (other than the language of the claims). To the extent that any term recited in the claims at the end of this patent is referred to in this patent in a manner consistent with a single meaning, that is done for sake of clarity only so as to not confuse the reader, and it is not intended that such claim term be limited, by implication or otherwise, to that single meaning. Finally, unless a claim element is defined by reciting the word “means” and a function without the recital of any structure, it is not intended that the scope of any claim element be interpreted based on the application of 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary intelligent home monitoring system  100 . The high-level architecture includes both hardware and software applications, as well as various data communications channels for communicating data between the various hardware and software components. The intelligent home monitoring system  100  may be roughly divided into front-end components  102  and back-end components  104 . The front-end components  102  may be disposed within one or more homes  130 . It will be appreciated that while the word “home” is used to refer to the site at which the exemplary embodiment is installed, the exemplary intelligent home monitoring system  100  could be installed in any number of buildings or locations such as a single-family house, apartment, condominium, or even non-residential locations such as businesses or warehouses. Further, while some of the exemplary front-end components  102  are described as being disposed “within” a home, it will be understood that some or all of the front-end components  102  may be installed outside or nearby a home. Further still, some or all of the front-end components  102  (for example, the remote intelligent home system controller  106 R discussed below) may be remote from the home  130  (e.g., the functions described here in as being performed by the intelligent home system controller  106  may be performed all or in part by products connected to the home  130  over the network  132  in a distributed processing or cloud computing arrangement). The front-end components  102  may include an intelligent home system controller  106 , a control device  110 , a sensor  112 , an appliance  114 , a display  116 , and/or an input device  118 . The front-end components  102  may also include a back-up power supply (e.g., battery, uninterruptable power supply, generator, etc.) (not shown). The front-end components  102  may be connected to each other via a link  120  and/or connected to a network  108  by the link  120 . The link  120  may be a wired connection, a wireless connection (e.g., one of the IEEE 802.11 standards), an optical connection, etc. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary intelligent home system controller  106 . The intelligent home system controller  106  may have a controller  202  that is operatively connected to the database  210  via a link  218 . It should be noted that, while not shown, additional databases may be linked to the controller  202  in a known manner. The controller  202  may include a program memory  204 , a processor  206  (may be called a microcontroller or a microprocessor), a random-access memory (RAM)  208 , and an input/output (I/O) circuit  214 , all of which may be interconnected via an address/data bus  216 . It should be appreciated that although only one microprocessor  206  is shown, the controller  202  may include multiple microprocessors  206 . Similarly, the memory of the controller  202  may include multiple RAMs  208  and multiple program memories  204 . Although the I/O circuit  214  is shown as a single block, it should be appreciated that the I/O circuit  214  may include a number of different types of I/O circuits. The program memory  204  and/or the RAM  208  may include a graphical user interface  220 , an intelligent home system application  222 , a plurality of software applications  224 , and a plurality of software routines  226 . The graphical user interface  220  may be a set of instructions that when executed by the processor  206  cause the display(s)  116 / 116 R and the input devices(s)  118 / 118 R to display information to a user and/or receive input from the user. As used herein, the terms “user” or “customer” refers to a user of the intelligent home monitoring system  100  described below and may be used interchangeably. Furthermore, there may be more than one user of the intelligent home monitoring system  100  (e.g., a family, etc.). Further, the users may include a primary user (e.g., the owner of the home  130  who is billed for the monitoring services discussed below) and one or more authorized secondary users (e.g., a personal assistant of the primary user). It will be understood that sending an alert to the user as discussed herein may also include sending the alert to other users. Further, it will also be understood that it may be advantageous to send the alert to the primary and secondary users but only accept commands from the primary user. The intelligent home system application  222  may be a set of instructions that when executed by the processor  206  cause the intelligent home system controller  106  to carry out the functions associated with the exemplary intelligent home monitoring system  100  described herein. The monitoring operating modes described herein may be implemented as one or more modules comprising computer-executable instructions that when executed by the processor  206  cause the intelligent home system controller  106  to implement the various monitoring operating modes. These modules may be included in the intelligent home system application  222 , the plurality of software applications  224 , and/or the plurality of software routines  226 . Further, some or all of the monitoring operating modules (or portions thereof) may be stored in the back-end components  104  and implemented by the back-end components  104 . 
     The RAM(s)  208  and program memories  204  may be implemented as semiconductor memories, magnetically readable memories, and/or optically readable memories, for example. The controller  202  may also be operatively connected to the network  108  via a link  120 . The intelligent home system controller  106  further includes a database  210  or other data storage mechanism (e.g., one or more hard disk drives, optical storage drives, solid state storage devices, etc.). The database  210  is adapted to store data related to the operation of the intelligent home monitoring system  100 . Such data might include, for example, customer data collected by the intelligent home system controller  106  from the intelligent home products  110 ,  112 ,  114 ,  116 ,  118  pertaining to the intelligent home monitoring system  100  such as sensor data, power usage data, control data, input data, other data pertaining to the usage of the intelligent home products, user profiles and preferences, application data for the plurality of applications  224 , routine data for the plurality of routines  226 , or other kinds of data. The intelligent home system controller  106  may access data stored in the database  210  when executing various functions and tasks associated with the operation of the intelligent home monitoring system  100 . 
     The intelligent home system controller  106  may use the graphical user interface to provide on the display  116  and/or remote display  116 R information based on the data received from the intelligent home products  110 ,  112 ,  114 ,  116 ,  118 . For example, the intelligent home system controller  106  may be configured to provide with the display  116  and/or remote display  116 R the state of one or more control devices  110  (e.g., whether a light is on or off), a reading from a sensor  112  (e.g., whether water has been detected in the basement), the state of or a reading from an appliance  114  (e.g., whether the stove is on), etc. Additionally, or alternatively, the intelligent home system controller may use the graphical user interface to provide on the display  116  and/or remote display  116 R with alerts generated from the data received from the intelligent home products  110 ,  112 ,  114 ,  116 ,  118  such as, for example, a security system alert, a fire alert, a flooding alert, power outage alert, etc. The user may acknowledge the information provided, disable alerts, forward an alert to the monitor  142  as described herein, adjust the state of a control device  110 , adjust the state of an appliance  114 , etc. using the display  116  and/or remote display  116 R in conjunction with an input device  118  and/or remote input device  118 R. For example, a user may receive an alert that the security system in his home  130  has been activated on his smartphone. Using his smartphone, the user may disable the alert or forward the alert to the monitor  142 . The monitor  142  may then call the police department as discussed below. In another example, a user may use her tablet computer to check to see if she remembered to turn off the stove. The tablet computer may access the intelligent home controller  106  over the network  132  to query the current state of the stove. If she sees that the stove is on, she may input a command on her tablet computer to deactivate the stove. Of course, it will be understood that the foregoing are but two examples. Alternatively or additionally, the intelligent home system controller  106  may send the information based on the data received from the intelligent home products  110 ,  112 ,  114 ,  116 ,  118  to the server  140  over the network  132 , and the server  140  may be configured to provide the information with the display  116  and/or remote display  116 R. In such cases, the server  140  may act as a middleman between the intelligent home controller and the display  116  and/or remote display  116 R. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , as an alternative to or in addition to the intelligent home system controller  106 , a remote intelligent home system controller  106 R may be used to replace or augment the functions of the intelligent home system controller  106 . The remote intelligent home system controller  106 R may be a computer system or server connected to the network  132  by link  128 . Further, the remote intelligent home system controller  106 R may be implemented using distributed processing or “cloud computing” wherein the functions of the remote intelligent home system controller  106 R may be performed by one or more computers or servers connected to the network  132 . The remote intelligent home system controller  106 R may be implemented in a server  140  in the back-end components  104  or in a similar server in the front-end components  102 . 
     A control device  110  may be any of a number of devices that allow automatic and/or remote control of systems in the home  130 . For example, the control device  110  may be a thermostat that can be adjusted according to inputs from the intelligent home system controller  106  to increase or decrease the temperature in the home  130 . Such a thermostat may control the temperature in a room and/or the entire home  130 . The control device  110  may also be a light switch that can be adjusted according to inputs from the intelligent home system controller  106  to turn on, turn off, brighten, and/or dim lights in the home. Such light switches may be coupled to all the lights in a room and/or an individual light fixture. The control device  110  may be an automated power outlet that can be adjusted according to inputs from the intelligent home system controller  106  to apply power and/or remove power from an outlet. Such an automated power outlet may, for example, allow for remote turning off of a television that was left on with a user command, automatic turning off of an electric stove that was left on after a threshold amount of time has elapsed since motion was detected in the home  130 , automatic turning on of a lamp when motion is detected in the room, etc. Similarly, the control device  110  may be an automated circuit breaker that can be adjusted according to input from the intelligent home system controller  106  to automatically and/or remotely apply or remove power to the entire home  130 . The control device  110  may be an automated water valve that can be adjusted according to inputs from the intelligent home system controller  106  to adjust the flow of water in and around the home  130  (e.g., turning on or turning off sprinklers, turning on a pump to prevent the basement from flooding, etc.). The control device  110  may be an automated gas valve that can be adjusted according to input from the intelligent home system controller  106  to adjust the flow of gas in and around the home  130 . Such an automated gas valve may, for example, allow for automatic and/or remote shutting off of gas during a fire or earthquake, etc. 
     The sensor  112  may be any of a number of sensors that may gather information about conditions in the home  130  and/or activities in the home  130 . For example, the sensor  112  may be a smoke detector which may send an input to the intelligent home system controller  106  indicating the presence of smoke in the home  130 . The sensor  112  may also be a part of the thermostat discussed above which may send input to the intelligent home system controller  106  indicating the temperature in the home  130 . The sensor  112  may be a water sensor which may send input to the intelligent home system controller  106  indicating, for example, the flow rate of a faucet, the presence of water in the basement, a roof leak in the attic, whether the sprinkler system is turned on, etc. The sensor  112  may be an energy monitor which may measure the power usage of a light fixture, an appliance, an entire room, the entire home  130 , etc. The sensor  112  may be any of a number of security sensors. Such security sensors may include motion sensors, door sensors (to detect the opening, closing, and/or breaking of a door), window sensors (to detect the opening, closing, and/or break of a window), etc. The sensor  112  may be a camera and/or a microphone which may send visual and/or audible input to the intelligent home system controller  106 . 
     The appliance  114  may be any of a number of appliances that may be present in the home  130  and communicating with the intelligent home system controller  106 . Each appliance  114  may be a “smart” appliance. For example, the appliance  114  may have an integrated computer system that helps to optimize the operation of the appliance  114 . Such an integrated computer system may assist, for example, with scheduling usage of the appliance (e.g., a smart dishwasher that will wait to run the dishwashing cycle until off-peak hours), sending usage reports to the intelligent home system controller  106 , sending sensor data to the intelligent home system controller  106 , receiving commands from the intelligent home system controller  106 , etc. An appliance  114  may be a refrigerator, dishwasher, a washing machine, a dryer, an oven, a stove, a microwave, a coffeemaker, a blender, a stand mixer, a television, a video game console, a cable box or digital video recorder, etc. Additionally, an appliance  114  may also be a household robot (e.g., a robotic vacuum cleaner). 
     The display  116  may be any of a number of visual and/or audible output devices that may be used to display output from the intelligent home system controller  106 . Such output may include sensor readings, alert messages, reports on the usage of various system in the home (e.g., electricity, water, etc.), a list of supplies to purchase (e.g., a smart refrigerator has reported that the milk and eggs are running out and recommends to purchase some of each), video or images from a camera, a user interface operating in conjunction with the input device  118 , etc. The display  116  may also display data generated outside the home  130 , such as information about weather conditions, public safety announcements, sports scores, advertisements, television channels, videos, etc. The display  116  may be a monitor (e.g., an LCD monitor, a CRT monitor), a television, a screen integrated into a control panel of the intelligent home system controller  106 , a screen integrated into an appliance  114 , etc. The display  116  may be used to present a graphical user interface  220  with which the user can interact with the intelligent home system controller  106 . Additionally, the display  116  may also include or be connected to speakers (not shown). Such speakers may be used to present information from the intelligent home system controller  106 , for example, in connection with the graphical user interface  220 , an audible alert, etc. The display  116  may also be a display that is remote from the home  130 . The display  116  may be a remote display  116 R (e.g., a smartphone, tablet computer, or personal computer, etc.) that sends and receives information over the network  132  over a wireless connection  124  (e.g., a cellular network connection, an 802.11 connection) or a wired connection  126 . The remote display  116 R may include a user interface to display information about the intelligent home system to a user via an application installed on the smartphone, tablet computer, or laptop computer. The remote display  116 R may receive information from the intelligent home system controller  106  and display information about one or more of the control device  110 , sensor  112 , appliance  114 , display  116 , or input device  118 . For example, a user may use the application on his smartphone to receive an alert from the intelligent home system controller  106  over the wireless connection  124 . Of course, it will be understood that devices other than a smartphone, tablet computer, or personal computer may be a remote display  116 R. 
     The input device  118  may be any of a number of input devices that may be used to input data and/or commands to the intelligent home system controller  106 . For example, the input device  118  may be a keyboard, mouse, remote control, etc. The input device  118  may also be integrated with the display  116 , for example, as a touchscreen. The input device  118  may also be a microphone which can receive verbal commands from a user. The input device  118  may be used to receive commands in connection with the graphical user interface  220 , the intelligent home system application  222 , and/or any other applications or routines associated with the exemplary intelligent home monitoring system  100 . The input device  118  may be a remote input device  118 R (e.g., a smartphone, tablet computer, or personal computer, etc.) that sends and receives information over the network  132  over a wireless connection  124  (e.g., a cellular network connection, an 802.11 connection) or a wired connection  126 . The remote input device  118 R may receive user input via an application installed on the smartphone, tablet computer, or laptop computer that may present a user interface to display information about the intelligent home system and receive user input. The remote input device  118 R may send commands (e.g., activate, deactivate, toggle, etc.) to the intelligent home system controller  106  to affect one or more of the control device  110 , sensor  112 , appliance  114 , display  116 , or input device  118 . For example, a user may use the application on his smartphone to turn off his stove over the wireless connection  124 . Of course, it will be understood that devices other than a smartphone, tablet computer, or personal computer may be a remote input device  118 R. 
     The front-end components  102  communicate with the back-end components  104  via the network  132 . For example, the intelligent home system products  106 - 118  situated in the home  130  may be connected to the network  132  via the home network  108  and the link  122 . The link  122  may be a wired connection, a wireless connection (e.g., one of the IEEE 802.11 standards), an optical connection, etc. The remote products  106 R,  116 R,  118 R may be similarly connected to the network  132  over respective links  128 ,  124 , and  126 . The network  132  may be a proprietary network, a secure public internet, a virtual private network or some other type of network, such as dedicated access lines, plain ordinary telephone lines, satellite links, combinations of these, etc. Where the network  132  comprises the Internet, data communications may take place over the network  132  via an Internet communication protocol. The back-end components  104  include a server  140 . The server  140  may include one or more computer processors adapted and configured to execute various software applications and components of the intelligent home monitoring system  100 , in addition to other software applications. 
     Similarly to the intelligent home system controller  106 , the server  140  may have a controller  155  that is operatively connected to the database  146  via a link  156 . It should be noted that, while not shown, additional databases may be linked to the controller  155  in a known manner. The controller  155  may include a program memory  160 , a processor  162  (may be called a microcontroller or a microprocessor), a random-access memory (RAM)  164 , and an input/output (I/O) circuit  166 , all of which may be interconnected via an address/data bus  165 . It should be appreciated that although only one microprocessor  162  is shown, the controller  155  may include multiple microprocessors  162 . Similarly, the memory of the controller  155  may include multiple RAMs  164  and multiple program memories  160 . Although the I/O circuit  166  is shown as a single block, it should be appreciated that the I/O circuit  166  may include a number of different types of I/O circuits. The RAM(s)  164  and program memories  160  may be implemented as semiconductor memories, magnetically readable memories, and/or optically readable memories, for example. The controller  155  may also be operatively connected to the network  132  via a link  135 . The server  140  further includes a database  146  or other data storage mechanism (e.g., one or more hard disk drives, optical storage drives, solid state storage devices, etc.). The database  146  is adapted to store data related to the operation of the intelligent home monitoring system  100 . Such data might include, for example, customer data collected by the intelligent home system controller  106  pertaining to the intelligent home monitoring system  100  and uploaded to the server  140  such as data pertaining to the usage of the intelligent home products, data pertaining to insurance claims filed by customers, customer profiles, information about various intelligent home products that are available for installation, web page templates and/or web pages, or other kinds of data. The server  140  may access data stored in the database  146  when executing various functions and tasks associated with the operation of the intelligent home monitoring system  100 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the program memory  160  and/or the RAM  164  may store various applications for execution by the microprocessor  162 . For example, a user-interface application  236  may provide a user interface to the server  140 . The user interface application  236  may, for example, allow a network administrator to configure, troubleshoot, or test various aspects of the server&#39;s operation, or otherwise to access information thereon. A server application  238  operates to transmit and receive information from one or more intelligent home system controllers  106  on the network  132 . The server application  238  may receive and aggregate alerts and usage data, and forward alerts to a monitor  142  as discussed herein. The server application  238  may be a single module  238  or a plurality of modules  238 A,  238 B. While the server application  238  is depicted in  FIG. 1  as including two modules,  238 A and  238 B, the server application  238  may include any number of modules accomplishing tasks related to implantation of the server  140 . By way of example, the module  238 A may populate and transmit the client application data and/or may receive and evaluate inputs from the user to receive a data access request, while the module  238 B may communicate with one or more of the back-end components  104  to fulfill a data access request or forward an alert to a monitor  142 . 
     Additionally, the back-end components  104  may further include an intelligent home system monitor  142 . The monitor  142  may be a human monitor or a computer monitor as shown in  FIG. 1 . The monitor  142  may receive data from the server  140  and/or the front-end components  102  over the network  132 . Such data may include information from and/or about the intelligent home controller  106 , control device  110 , sensor  112 , appliance  114 , display  116 , and/or input device  118 . The monitor  142  may also receive this information indirectly (e.g., the server  140  may forward information to the monitor  142 , the user may forward alerts to the monitor  142  with an input device  118  or remote input device  118 R). If the monitor  142  receives information indicating an event potentially requiring an appropriate responder (e.g., law enforcement for a security alert, fire department for a fire alert, paramedics for a medical alert, plumber for a leak alert, power company for a power outage alert, etc.), the monitor  142  may attempt to contact the user (e.g., with a telephone call, text message, email, app alert, etc.) to verify the event potentially requiring a appropriate responder and/or notify the appropriate responder. For example, the monitor  142  may receive information from a smoke detector (i.e., a sensor  112 ) indicating that the home  130  may be ablaze. The monitor  142  may then attempt to contact the user to ascertain the severity of the fire and ask if the fire department should be called. If the user does not answer or if the user requests that the fire department be notified, the monitor  142  may contact the fire department and provide the fire dispatch with information about the home  130  (e.g., address, number of residents, configuration of home, etc.) and/or information about the fire (e.g., smoke detected in four rooms of the house). In another example, the monitor  142  may receive information from water valve (i.e., a control  110 ) indicating that the valve is open and may also receive information from a water sensor (i.e., a sensor  112 ) indicating that the basement has begun to flood. The monitor  142  may attempt to contact the user to notify the user and ask if remote closing of the water valve and/or calling a plumber is requested. If the user does not answer or if the user responds in the affirmative, the monitor  142  may close the water valve and/or call a plumber to prevent further flooding of the basement. It may be advantageous to call the appropriate responder without first attempting to contact the user (e.g., if the user has indicated he or she will be out of the country or in the wilderness). 
     Although the intelligent home monitoring system  100  is shown to include one server  140 , one monitor  142 , one home  130 , one intelligent home system controller  106 , one control device  110 , one sensor  112 , one appliance  114 , one display  116 , and one input device  118  it should be understood that different numbers of servers  140 , monitors  142 , homes  130 , intelligent home system controllers  106 , control devices  110 , sensors  112 , appliances  114 , displays  116 , and input devices  118  may be utilized. For example, the system  100  may include a plurality of servers  140  and hundreds of homes  130 , all of which may be interconnected via the network  132 . Further, each home  130  may include more than one of each of an intelligent home system controller  106 , a control device  110 , a sensor  112 , an appliance  114 , a display  116 , and an input device  118 . For example, a large home  130  may include two intelligent home system controllers  106  that are connected to multiple control devices  110 , multiple sensors  112 , multiple appliances  114 , multiple displays  116 , and/or input devices  118 . Additionally several homes  130  may be located, by way of example rather than limitation, in separate geographic locations from each other, including different areas of the same city, different cities, or different states. Furthermore, the processing performed by the one or more servers  140  may be distributed among a plurality of servers in an arrangement known as “cloud computing.” According to the disclosed example, this configuration may provide several advantages, such as, for example, enabling near real-time uploads and downloads of information as well as periodic uploads and downloads of information. 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram of an exemplary intelligent home system monitoring operating mode method  300  implemented on the system  100 . The intelligent home system monitoring operating mode method  300  may be implemented as one or more modules to carry out the tasks associated with the method  300 . The modules may be comprised of computer-executable instructions stored on a computer (e.g., an intelligent home system controller  106 , a server  140 , etc.) that when executed by a processor (e.g., the processor  162 , the processor  206 , etc.) cause the processor to implement the tasks discussed below. Some modules may be implemented by one or both of the intelligent home system controller  106  (or remote intelligent home system controller  106 R) or server  140  alone or in conjunction. 
     First, a customer has an intelligent home system (e.g., one or more intelligent home system controllers, control devices  110 , sensors  112 , appliances  114 , displays  116 , input devices  118 , etc.) installed in his or her home  130  (block  302 ). Once the customer&#39;s intelligent home system is installed and powered on, the user may select a monitoring operating mode using an input device  118  or remote input device  118 R (block  304 ). The customer may select a monitoring operating mode from among a full monitoring operating mode for an indefinite period of time (block  306 A), full monitoring for a definite period of time (block  306 B), limited monitoring where the customer authorizes monitoring on an alert-by-alert basis (block  306 C), or no monitoring (block  306 D). Each monitoring operating mode is discussed in more detail below. Once a monitoring operating mode has been selected, the monitoring operating mode is executed until it is advantageous to change monitoring operating modes (blocks  308 A, B, C, D). It may become time to change monitoring operating modes when a customer inputs one or more commands with an input device  118  or remote input device  118 R to change monitoring operating modes. Alternatively or additionally, the intelligent home system may be configured to execute a monitoring operating mode for a limited period of time, particularly the full monitoring for a definite period of time discussed with relation to block  306 B and  FIG. 4 . Then, the customer may select a different monitoring operating mode (block  304 ). 
     Referring again to block  306 A, a full monitoring for an indefinite period of time monitoring operating mode may include the monitor  142  receiving all (or some) of the alerts generated by the front-end components  102  for the indefinite future. The monitor  142  may contact an appropriate responder in response to every alert generated by the front-end components  102 . Additionally or alternatively, the alerts generated by the front-end components  102  may be filtered or compared to a threshold level to determine whether contacting an appropriate responder is warranted (e.g., waiting to respond to a security system alert until the alert has been active for two minutes, not responding to a single smoke detector alert). As discussed above, the monitor  142  may attempt to contact the user and/or contact the appropriate responder. Being for an indefinite period of time, the full monitoring may continue until the user changes to a different monitoring operating mode or the user fails to pay for the service. The customer may be billed regularly (e.g., every week, month, year, etc.) for full monitoring and/or every time the monitor  142  contacts an appropriate responder. Relative to the full monitoring for a definite period of time operating mode discussed below, it may be advantageous to offer a discounted regular rate to users who choose full monitoring for an indefinite period of time. For example, the monthly rate for full monitoring for a definite period of time may be $100 while the monthly rate for full monitoring for an indefinite period of time may be $90. 
     Referring again to block  306 D, the no monitoring operating mode may include the monitor  142  being sent any of the alerts generated by the front-end components  102 . While the monitor  142  may not include any central monitoring services by a monitor  142  (e.g., receiving the alerts generated by the front-end components  102 , contacting an appropriate responder, etc.), the user may still interact with the intelligent home monitoring system  100  via the display  116  and input device  118  and/or the remote display  116 R and/or remote input device  118 R. For example, the user may receive an alert on an application installed on his smartphone informing him of a security system alert. Similarly, the user may receive any number of alert notifications from the various components of the intelligent home monitoring system  100 . However, the no monitoring operating mode may include some monitoring for particular adverse conditions, especially if required by federal, state, or local laws and/or regulations. In particular, the front-end components  102 , may generate alerts relating to life threatening adverse conditions (e.g., fire, medical emergency, etc.) which may be received by the monitor  142 . The monitor  142  may then contact the appropriate responder as discussed herein. The customer may be billed for this individual event or may be charged a nominal regular fee. However, other non-life threatening alerts may not be forwarded to the monitor  142  (e.g., a flooded basement as described herein). 
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating the full monitoring for a definite period of time monitoring operating mode  400  discussed in relation to block  306 B. Prior to the start of the definite period of time, the intelligent home monitoring system  100  may operate according to the no monitoring operating mode or pay-per-alert operating mode discussed herein (block  402 ). The definite period of time may start with the setting of an Away From Home Flag (block  404 ). The Away From Home Flag may be a variable, flag, etc. stored on either or both of the intelligent home monitoring system controller  106 , server  140 , or other computer in the intelligent home monitoring system  100 . The Away From Home Flag may be set by a user directly (e.g., via input to a website, phone call to the server  140  or monitor  142 , input device  118 , remote input device  118 R, etc.) or may be set automatically by the intelligent home monitoring system  100  when the intelligent home monitoring system  100  determines that the user will be away from home for a certain period of time. For example, the intelligent home monitoring system controller  106 , remote intelligent home monitoring system controller  106 R, and/or server  140  may access the calendar of the user to determine that the user has a vacation, business trip, etc. planned. In particular, an application installed on the user&#39;s smartphone or tablet computer may access the calendar stored on the same device (or stored in the cloud), to detect calendar events relating to plane or train tickets, cruises, events occurring in place in places geographically distant from the home  130  (e.g., occurring in a place more than a certain number of miles away) and set the Away From Home Flag if the calendar indicates that the user is away from home. Additionally or alternatively, the application may first ask the user whether he or she would like to set the Away From Home Flag before setting it. The intelligent home monitoring system controller  106 , remote intelligent home monitoring system controller  106 R, and/or server  140  may also determine that the user has been away from the home  130  for a certain period of time (e.g., motion sensors in the home  130  have not detected anyone in a week) and set the Away From Home Flag. This certain period of time may be adjustable by the user. 
     Alternatively or additionally, the definite period of time discussed above may start with the setting of a Sleeping Flag. Like the Away From Home Flag, the Sleeping Flag may be a variable, flag, etc. stored on either or both of the intelligent home monitoring system controller  106 , server  140 , or other computer in the intelligent home monitoring system  100 . The Sleeping Flag may be set by a user directly (e.g., via input to a website, phone call to the server  140  or monitor  142 , input device  118 , remote input device  118 R, etc.) or may be set automatically by the intelligent home monitoring system  100  when the intelligent home monitoring system  100  determines that the user is present in the home  130  but asleep. For example, the intelligent home monitoring system controller  106 , remote intelligent home monitoring system controller  106 R, and/or server  140  may use various sensors  112  to determine that the user is present in the home but sleeping (e.g., by detecting the presence of a user in the bedroom but detecting little to no movement with a motion sensor at night, by detecting that a significant majority of lights in the home  130  are turned off at night, etc.). The conditions and time parameters with which the Sleeping Flag may be set may be user configurable. 
     When the Away From Home Flag has been set, the monitor  142  may commence full monitoring of the alerts generated by the front-end components  102  (block  406 ). The monitor  142  may request an appropriate responder for every alert generated by the front-end components  102 . Additionally or alternatively, the alerts generated by the front-end components  102  may be filtered or compared to a threshold level to determine whether a response from the monitor  142  is warranted (e.g., waiting to respond to a security system alert until the alert has been active for two minutes). Accordingly, the monitor  142  may respond to some or all alerts received by contacting the appropriate responder without attempting to contact the user. Alternatively, the monitor  142  may attempt to contact the user before contacting the appropriate responder. 
     After a certain amount of time, the user may be billed for the amount of time the intelligent home monitoring system  100  has been monitored and/or level of monitoring (block  408 ). For example, the user may be billed weekly, monthly, etc. Additionally or alternatively, the user may be billed for every time the monitor  142  responded to an alert by contacting an appropriate responder. If full monitoring was triggered by the setting of the Away From Home Flag, full monitoring may be terminated by unsetting the Away From Home Flag (block  410 ). As with setting the Away From Home Flag, unsetting the Away From Home Flag may be done by a user directly (e.g., via a website, phone call to the monitor  142 , input device  118 , remote input device  118 R, etc.) or may be set automatically by the intelligent home monitoring system  100  when the intelligent home monitoring system  100  determines that the user has returned. For example, the intelligent home monitoring system controller  106 , remote intelligent home monitoring system controller  106 R, and/or server  140  may access the calendar of the user to determine when the user&#39;s trip, vacation, etc. has ended. In particular, an application installed on the user&#39;s smartphone or tablet computer may access the calendar stored on the same device (or stored in the cloud), to detect calendar events relating to plane or train tickets for flights or trains back home, the end of the cruise, events occurring near the home  130 , etc. and unset the Away From Home Flag when it is determined that the user is home. Additionally or alternatively, the application may first ask the user whether he or she would like to unset the Away From Home Flag before unsetting it. The intelligent home monitoring system controller  106 , remote intelligent home monitoring system controller  106 R, and/or server  140  may also determine that the user has been away from the home  130  for a certain period of time (e.g., a week) and set the Away From Home Flag. This certain period of time may be adjustable by the user. If full monitoring was triggered by the setting of the Sleeping Flag, full monitoring may be terminated by unsetting the Sleeping Flag. As with setting the Sleeping Flag, unsetting the Sleeping Flag may be done by a user directly (e.g., via a website, phone call to the monitor  142 , input device  118 , remote input device  118 R, etc.) or may be set automatically by the intelligent home monitoring system  100  when the intelligent home monitoring system  100  determines that the user has awakened (e.g., by detecting increased movement of the user in the morning after detecting little movement during the night, by detecting that various appliances or devices such as the microwave or a coffee maker have been powered on, etc.). The conditions and time parameters with which the Sleeping Flag may be unset may be user configurable. Once the Away From Home Flag or Sleeping Flag has been unset, the intelligent home monitoring system  100  may be reconfigured to the no monitoring operating mode or the pay-per-alert monitoring operating mode discussed herein. The intelligent home monitoring system  100  may be reconfigured to the mode in which the intelligent home monitoring system  100  had been operating in block  402 , or the intelligent home monitoring system  100  may be configured to another mode. For example, if the intelligent home monitoring system  100  had been operating in no monitoring operating mode at block  402 , the intelligent home monitoring system  100  may be configured to operate in the pay-per-alert operating mode or vice versa. 
       FIG. 5  is a block diagram illustrating the limited monitoring where the customer authorizes sending an alert to a monitor on an alert-by-alert basis (“pay-per-alert”) monitoring operating mode  500  discussed in relation to block  306 C. First, the one or more of the front-end components  102  generates an alert (e.g., a security system alert, a fire alert, a water leak alert, etc.) (block  502 ). The alert may be sent to the display  116  and/or remote display  116 R. Additionally or alternatively, the alert may be sent to the server  140  over the network  132  and then the server  140  may send the alert to the display  116  and/or remote display  116 R. For example, the server  140  may send the alert as an e-mail, text message, phone call, application alert on a smartphone or tablet app, etc. (block  504 ). The alert may be received and displayed on the display  116  and/or remote display  116 R. Additionally or alternatively, the alert may be included in a phone call to the user&#39;s land line telephone (not shown). Additionally or alternatively, the alert may be e-mailed to the user&#39;s e-mail address and displayed on the display  116  and/or remote display  116 R. 
     After receiving the alert, the user has the option to disable the alert or send the alert to the monitor  142  (block  506 ). For example, the user may input a command on the input device  118  and/or remote input device  118 R and/or telephone (not shown). In particular, the user may use an app on a smartphone or tablet computer to input a command to disable the alert or send the alert to the monitor  142 . If the user selects to disable the alert, the intelligent home monitoring system  100  may disable the alert (block  508 ). If a user elects to send the alert to the monitor  142  or the user does not send a command within a certain period of time (e.g., two minutes after the alert is received), the alert is sent to the monitor  140  (block  510 ). After receiving the alert, the monitor  142  contacts the appropriate responder (block  512 ). Then the appropriate responder travels to the home  130  to respond to the alert (block  514 ). The customer may be billed for the monitor  142  contacting the appropriate responder for the alert (block  516 ). 
       FIG. 6  is an exemplary diagram of an intelligent home system  600  installed in a home that may collect customer usage data to send to a server  140  (or other back-end component  104 ). A user  602  may remotely interact with the intelligent home system  600  using a mobile device  604 . Such a mobile device  604  may include, for example, a mobile phone  604 A, a tablet computer  604 B, etc. The intelligent home system  600  may include an intelligent lock  606 . Such an intelligent lock  606  may include a sensor to detect the state of the intelligent lock  606  (e.g., locked or unlocked) and/or a control mechanism to respond to commands from the intelligent home system  600  (e.g., a remote command to lock the door). The intelligent home system  600  may include one or more intelligent home control panels  608  such as the downstairs home control panel  608 A and the upstairs intelligent home control panel  608 B as shown in  FIG. 6 . The intelligent home control panel  608  may include a display and/or input product (e.g., a touchscreen) and may perform the functions of an intelligent home system controller  106  as described above. Such an intelligent home control panel  608  or a mobile device  604  may be used to receive user input to the intelligent home monitoring system  100  as described above. The intelligent home system  600  may include one or more lights  610  (e.g., the three lights  610 A, B, C as shown in  FIG. 6 ). Such intelligent lights  610  may include a sensor component to detect, for example, when a light  610  is on or off, and/or a control component to allow remote control of the intelligent light  610 . The intelligent home system  600  may also include a camera or motion sensor  612 . The intelligent home system  600  may further include an intelligent outlet  614 . Such an intelligent outlet  614  may include a sensor component to detect, for example, when the outlet  614  is on or off, and/or a control component to allow remote control of the intelligent outlet  614 . The intelligent outlet  614  may be coupled to a television  614 A and/or game system  614 B. The intelligent outlet may therefore detect when the television  614 A and/or game system  614 B are turned on or off and/or allow the user  602  to remotely power on or power off either or both of the television  614 A and game system  614 B. The intelligent home system  600  may also include one or more air conditioners  616 , window sensors  618 , refrigerator  620 , and/or dishwasher  622 . Some or all of the air conditioner  616 , window sensor  618 , refrigerator  620 , and dishwasher  622  may be intelligent such that they are able to send a sensor data to the intelligent home system  600  and/or receive commands from the intelligent home system  600 . 
     In an example, the user  602  has configured the intelligent home monitoring system  100  to use the pay-per-alert monitoring operating mode, and he may receive the various alerts generated by the intelligent home monitoring system  100  at his smartphone  604 A and/or his tablet computer  604 B. If the window sensor  618  has detected a window breakage, the intelligent home monitoring system  100  may generate a break-in alert and send the break-in alert to an app installed on the smart phone  604 A and/or tablet computer  604 B. The user  602  may elect to send the alert to the central monitoring system (e.g., the monitor  142  shown in  FIG. 1 ) to call the police to respond to a break-in. Alternatively, the user  602  may have been playing catch with another person and accidentally threw a baseball through the window, in which case he may disable the alert. 
     In another example, if the user  602  has configured the intelligent home monitoring system  100  to use the full monitoring for a definite period of time monitoring operating mode, the intelligent home monitoring system  100  may send alerts to the monitor  142  during the time when the user is away from the home. The user  602  may use the smartphone  604 A, tablet computer  604 B, and/or intelligent home monitoring system panel  608  to inform the intelligent home monitoring system  100  and that he will be on vacation for the next two weeks. Alternatively, the intelligent home monitoring system app installed on the smart phone  604 A and/or tablet computer  604 B may access the user&#39;s calendar and detect entries for a flight from Chicago to Hawaii and a flight from Hawaii to Chicago two weeks later. The intelligent home monitoring system  100  may determine that the user  602  will be taking a two-week vacation to Hawaii. The intelligent home monitoring system app may then ask the user  602  if he would like to enable full monitoring for the next two weeks. During the user&#39;s trip to Hawaii, the intelligent home monitoring system panel  608  may send all the alerts generated by the system  600  to a monitor  142 . The monitor  142  may contact an appropriate responder for every alert. 
     Throughout this specification, plural instances may implement components, operations, or structures described as a single instance. Although individual operations of one or more methods are illustrated and described as separate operations, one or more of the individual operations may be performed concurrently, and nothing requires that the operations be performed in the order illustrated. Structures and functionality presented as separate components in example configurations may be implemented as a combined structure or component. Similarly, structures and functionality presented as a single component may be implemented as separate components. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements fall within the scope of the subject matter herein. 
     Additionally, certain embodiments are described herein as including logic or a number of routines, subroutines, applications, or instructions. These may constitute either software (e.g., code embodied on a machine-readable medium) or hardware. In hardware, the routines, etc., are tangible units capable of performing certain operations and may be configured or arranged in a certain manner. In example embodiments, one or more computer systems (e.g., a standalone, client or server computer system) or one or more hardware modules of a computer system (e.g., a processor or a group of processors) may be configured by software (e.g., an application or application portion) as a hardware module that operates to perform certain operations as described herein. 
     In various embodiments, a hardware module may be implemented mechanically or electronically. For example, a hardware module may comprise dedicated circuitry or logic that is permanently configured (e.g., as a special-purpose processor, such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) to perform certain operations. A hardware module may also comprise programmable logic or circuitry (e.g., as encompassed within a general-purpose processor or other programmable processor) that is temporarily configured by software to perform certain operations. It will be appreciated that the decision to implement a hardware module mechanically, in dedicated and permanently configured circuitry, or in temporarily configured circuitry (e.g., configured by software) may be driven by cost and time considerations. 
     Accordingly, the term “hardware module” should be understood to encompass a tangible entity, be that an entity that is physically constructed, permanently configured (e.g., hardwired), or temporarily configured (e.g., programmed) to operate in a certain manner or to perform certain operations described herein. Considering embodiments in which hardware modules are temporarily configured (e.g., programmed), each of the hardware modules need not be configured or instantiated at any one instance in time. For example, where the hardware modules comprise a general-purpose processor configured using software, the general-purpose processor may be configured as respective different hardware modules at different times. Software may accordingly configure a processor, for example, to constitute a particular hardware module at one instance of time and to constitute a different hardware module at a different instance of time. 
     Hardware modules can provide information to, and receive information from, other hardware modules. Accordingly, the described hardware modules may be regarded as being communicatively coupled. Where multiple of such hardware modules exist contemporaneously, communications may be achieved through signal transmission (e.g., over appropriate circuits and buses) that connect the hardware modules. In embodiments in which multiple hardware modules are configured or instantiated at different times, communications between such hardware modules may be achieved, for example, through the storage and retrieval of information in memory structures to which the multiple hardware modules have access. For example, one hardware module may perform an operation and store the output of that operation in a memory product to which it is communicatively coupled. A further hardware module may then, at a later time, access the memory product to retrieve and process the stored output. Hardware modules may also initiate communications with input or output products, and can operate on a resource (e.g., a collection of information). 
     The various operations of example methods described herein may be performed, at least partially, by one or more processors that are temporarily configured (e.g., by software) or permanently configured to perform the relevant operations. Whether temporarily or permanently configured, such processors may constitute processor-implemented modules that operate to perform one or more operations or functions. The modules referred to herein may, in some example embodiments, comprise processor-implemented modules. 
     Similarly, the methods or routines described herein may be at least partially processor-implemented. For example, at least some of the operations of a method may be performed by one or more processors or processor-implemented hardware modules. The performance of certain of the operations may be distributed among the one or more processors, not only residing within a single machine, but deployed across a number of machines. In some example embodiments, the processor or processors may be located in a single location (e.g., within a home environment, an office environment or as a server farm), while in other embodiments the processors may be distributed across a number of locations. 
     The performance of certain of the operations may be distributed among the one or more processors, not only residing within a single machine, but deployed across a number of machines. In some example embodiments, the one or more processors or processor-implemented modules may be located in a single geographic location (e.g., within a home environment, an office environment, or a server farm). In other example embodiments, the one or more processors or processor-implemented modules may be distributed across a number of geographic locations. 
     Unless specifically stated otherwise, discussions herein using words such as “processing,” “computing,” “calculating,” “determining,” “presenting,” “displaying,” or the like may refer to actions or processes of a machine (e.g., a computer) that manipulates or transforms data represented as physical (e.g., electronic, magnetic, or optical) quantities within one or more memories (e.g., volatile memory, non-volatile memory, or a combination thereof), registers, or other machine components that receive, store, transmit, or display information. 
     As used herein any reference to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular element, feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. 
     Some embodiments may be described using the expression “coupled” and “connected” along with their derivatives. For example, some embodiments may be described using the term “coupled” to indicate that two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact. The term “coupled,” however, may also mean that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other, but yet still co-operate or interact with each other. The embodiments are not limited in this context. 
     As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary, “or” refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by any one of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present). 
     In addition, use of the “a” or “an” are employed to describe elements and components of the embodiments herein. This is done merely for convenience and to give a general sense of the description. This description, and the claims that follow, should be read to include one or at least one and the singular also includes the plural unless it is obvious that it is meant otherwise. 
     This detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment, as describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. One could implement numerous alternate embodiments, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this application.