Patent Description:
"<NPL>> relates to a home network hub. <CIT> relates to an integrated security system.

An example implementation includes a method as set out in claim <NUM>.

Another example implementation includes a system as set out in claim <NUM>.

Another example implementation includes a computer-readable medium as set out in claim <NUM>.

In some instances, well known components may be shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring such concepts.

Some present aspects provide a security / automation system that includes integrated router management functionality such as, but not limited to, router configuration management. In some aspects, for example, a security / automation system control panel positioned / installed at a premises may allow for managing the configuration of a router that supports Internet connectivity at that premises. For example, a user interface of the control panel may be operable to provide a router management interface for configuring the router and/or a local Internet protocol (IP) network supported by the router at the premises. In some alternative or additional aspects, a cellular radio at the control panel may allow for a remote management system (e.g., a cloud system) to remotely connect to (or communicatively couple with) the control panel and manage the configuration of the router and/or the local IP network supported by the router at the premises. In some aspects, the router may be separate from the control panel, in which case the control panel may be operable to communicate with the router either wirelessly (e.g., according to the Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) protocol) or via a wired connection (e.g., an Ethernet connection). In some alternative aspects, the control panel may include the router.

In some alternative or additional aspects, router management functionality may be provided via a component that is separate from the control panel of the security / automation system. For example, a dedicated device positioned at the premises may be operable to communicate with the router either wirelessly or via a wired connection, and the dedicated device may include a cellular radio and be operable to allow for a remote management system to remotely connect to (or communicatively couple with) the dedicated device via the cellular radio to manage the configuration of the router and/or the local IP network supported by the router at the premises.

In some other alternative or additional aspects, a user interface of a virtual control panel on a user device (e.g., a personal computer, a mobile device, etc.) may be operable to provide a router management interface for configuring the router and/or the local IP network supported by the router at the premises. For example, the user device may be operable to communicate with a cloud system (e.g., via a wired or wireless network, including but not limited to a cellular network), where the cloud system is in communication with the control panel positioned at the premises, and where the control panel is in communication with the router at the premises. Alternatively, the user device may be operable to communicate with the cloud system, where the cloud system is in communication with the dedicated device positioned at the premises, and where the dedicated device is in communication with the router at the premises. Accordingly, a user may use the router management interface on the virtual control panel on the user device to configure the router and/or the local IP network supported by the router at the premises.

In further alternative aspects, a router at a premises may be configured to provide at least some security / automation functionality at the premises. For example, a router at a premises may include one or more radios (e.g., Bluetooth, PowerG, Z-Wave, etc.) for communicating with one or more security / automation devices at the premises. In these aspects, the router may also include a cellular radio and may be operable to allow for a remote management system (e.g., a cloud system) to remotely connect to (or communicatively couple with) the router via the cellular radio to manage the configuration of the router and/or a local IP network supported by the router at the premises.

Turning now to the figures, example aspects are depicted with reference to one or more components described herein, where components in dashed lines may be optional.

Referring to <FIG>, in one non-limiting aspect, for example, a router <NUM> at a premises <NUM> may be configured to interface an Internet Service Provider (ISP) via a modem to provide Internet connectivity over a local IP network <NUM> at the premises <NUM> (e.g., via Ethernet and/or Wi-Fi communication). The local IP network <NUM> supported by the router <NUM> may provide Internet connectivity for a control panel <NUM> of a security / automation system <NUM> at the premises <NUM>, as well as Internet connectivity for various security / automation devices <NUM> (e.g., cameras, door / window sensors, motion sensors, carbon monoxide detectors, smoke detectors, flood sensors, etc.) that are installed / positioned throughout the premises <NUM>, and/or any other devices at the premises <NUM> (e.g., personal computers, mobile devices, wearable devices, etc.).

In alternative aspects, the router <NUM> may be separate from the control panel <NUM> or may be included within the control panel <NUM>.

In an aspect, the control panel <NUM> may communicate with at least some of the security / automation devices <NUM> using one or more first radios <NUM> (e.g., Bluetooth, PowerG, Z-Wave, etc.) in the control panel <NUM> and corresponding second radios <NUM> in the security / automation devices <NUM>, or using another wired or wireless connection, e.g., via a physical Ethernet connection. For example, the control panel <NUM> may include a chipset (e.g., a Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset) that is configured to connect to the Internet via a Wi-Fi network (e.g., the local IP network <NUM>) and/or a cellular network. The chipset may include multiple radios for cellular communication and/or for communication with premises security sensors / devices and/or premises automation sensors / devices. For example, in an aspect, the chipset may include a cellular radio as well as one or more other radios for Bluetooth, PowerG, Z-Wave, etc. In an aspect, the sensors / devices of the security / automation system may be wired or wireless, and may include, for example, one or more cameras, door / window sensors, motion sensors, carbon monoxide detectors, smoke detectors, flood sensors, etc..

In some aspects, the router <NUM> may be configurable and/or controllable via a first user interface (UI) <NUM> of the control panel <NUM>, for example, via a router management UI <NUM> presentable on the control panel <NUM>.

In some aspects, the control panel <NUM> may include a first cellular radio <NUM> for external communications. For example, the control panel <NUM> may use the first cellular radio <NUM> for communicating directly (e.g., via a cellular network) with a remote security / automation management system, such as a cloud system <NUM> that supports the security / automation system <NUM> at the premises <NUM>, to allow for remote configuration management of the router <NUM> from the cloud system <NUM>.

In some aspects, the control panel <NUM> may provide an integrated router management UI <NUM> for a customer at the premises <NUM>, and may also provide router management via a direct connection to the cloud system <NUM>.

In some alternative or additional aspects, the router <NUM> may be configured and/or controlled via a second UI <NUM> of a virtual control panel <NUM> provided via an application (app) <NUM> executing on a user device <NUM> (e.g., a mobile device). In some aspects, the user device <NUM> may include a second cellular radio <NUM> for communicating directly (e.g., via a cellular network) with the cloud system <NUM> to manage or control the router <NUM> at the premises <NUM>, for example, via the router management UI <NUM> presentable on the user device <NUM>. However, the present aspects are not so limited, and the user device <NUM> may communicate with the cloud system <NUM> via any other wired or wireless network / connection.

In some alternative or additional aspects, the router management hardware of the security / automation system <NUM> may be configured as a dedicated device <NUM> that is separate from the control panel <NUM> of the security / automation system <NUM>. In some non-limiting aspects, for example, the dedicated device <NUM> may include an enclosure (e.g., a box) that encloses hardware, software, and/or firmware components. In these aspects, the router <NUM> may be configurable and/or controllable via the dedicated device <NUM>. The dedicated device <NUM> may include a cellular radio (not shown) as well as a wired interface (e.g., Ethernet) or a wireless interface (e.g., Wi-Fi) with the local IP network <NUM> at the premises <NUM>. The dedicated device <NUM> may use the cellular radio for communicating directly with the cloud system <NUM> for configuring the router <NUM>. Accordingly, the router <NUM> may be configured from the cloud system <NUM> via the dedicated device <NUM>. In an aspect, by connecting to the cloud system <NUM>, the dedicated device <NUM> may allow for the router <NUM> to be configured on the router management UI <NUM> on the user device <NUM> via the cloud system <NUM>. The dedicated device <NUM> may also be operable to communicate with the control panel <NUM> (e.g., via a wired or wireless connection at the premises <NUM>), in which case the router <NUM> may alternatively or additionally be configurable via the router management UI <NUM> on the control panel <NUM> at the premises <NUM>.

Accordingly, unlike conventional systems in which a personal computer or another computer device is used to connect to a specific IP address that provides a management interface (e.g., a web browser-based interface) for configuring a router, in some present aspects, a physical or virtual security / automation system control panel (or a dedicated device separate from the control panel) provides an interface to the router for performing any configuration changes or other changes to the router.

Additionally, the present aspects allow for seamless configuration of a router of a premises by a dealer / provider of a security / automation system of the premises.

In an aspect, the cloud system <NUM> may communicate with the control panel <NUM> via the first cellular radio <NUM> to configure the router <NUM> and/or the local IP network <NUM> supported by the router <NUM> at the premises <NUM> via the control panel <NUM>. For example, the cloud system <NUM> may configure a service set identifier (SSID), a Wi-Fi network ID, or a Wi-Fi network password for the local IP network <NUM>, configure assignment of IP addresses over the local IP network <NUM>, configure parental control over the local IP network <NUM>, etc. The cloud system <NUM> may also communicate with the control panel <NUM> via the first cellular radio <NUM> to configure the control panel <NUM> and/or other security / automation devices <NUM> of the security / automation system <NUM> for communication over the local IP network <NUM> according to the new configuration of the local IP network <NUM>. For example, in an aspect, the control panel <NUM> may use one or more first radios <NUM> (configured according to a protocol such as, e.g., PowerG, Z-wave, etc.) to wirelessly communicate with associated security / automation devices <NUM>, and may also include interfaces to connect to wired sensors (e.g., Ethernet). Using such radios / interfaces, the control panel <NUM> may configure the security / automation devices <NUM> of the security / automation system <NUM> for communication over the local IP network <NUM> according to any new / updated configuration of the router <NUM> and/or the local IP network <NUM>.

In one non-limiting aspect, for example, when the ISP of the premises <NUM> changes (e.g., when the customer of the security / automation system <NUM> switches from one ISP to another ISP), the cloud system <NUM> may communicate with the control panel <NUM> via the first cellular radio <NUM> to configure the router <NUM> for working with the new ISP. For example, the cloud system <NUM> may update a password for the local IP network <NUM>. The cloud system <NUM> may also communicate with the control panel <NUM> via the first cellular radio <NUM> to configure the control panel <NUM> and/or other security / automation devices <NUM> (e.g., cameras, door / window sensors, motion sensors, carbon monoxide detectors, smoke detectors, flood sensors, etc.) of the security / automation system <NUM> for communication over the local IP network <NUM> using the new password.

In an alternative non-limiting aspect, for example, when the ISP of the premises <NUM> changes, the cloud system <NUM> may communicate with the dedicated device <NUM> via a cellular radio of the dedicated device <NUM> to configure the router <NUM> for working with the new ISP.

In another alternative non-limiting aspect, for example, when the ISP of the premises <NUM> changes, a user at the premises <NUM> may use the router management UI <NUM> on the control panel <NUM> to configure the router <NUM> for working with the new ISP.

In another alternative non-limiting aspect, for example, when the ISP of the premises <NUM> changes, a user may use the router management UI <NUM> on the virtual control panel <NUM> to configure the router <NUM> for working with the new ISP.

In some alternative or additional aspects, the cloud system <NUM> may communicate with the control panel <NUM> via the first cellular radio <NUM> to update the configuration of the router <NUM> or the local IP network <NUM> in order to improve the security of the security / automation system <NUM>. For example, the cloud system <NUM> may communicate with the control panel <NUM> via the first cellular radio <NUM> to periodically (e.g., every month, every six months, etc.) update a password for the local IP network <NUM> in order to improve the security of the security / automation system <NUM>, and the control panel <NUM> may also communicate with security / automation devices <NUM> at the premises <NUM> to configure them with the new password of the local IP network <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an example block diagram providing details of computing components in a computing device <NUM> that may implement all or a portion of one or more components in a control panel, a cloud system, a security / automation sensor or device, a user device (e.g., a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, etc.), a dedicated device, or any other component described above. The computing device <NUM> includes a processor <NUM> which may be configured to execute or implement software, hardware, and/or firmware modules that perform any functionality described above with reference to one or more components in a control panel, a cloud system, a security / automation sensor or device, a user device, a dedicated device, or any other component described above. For example, the processor <NUM> may be configured to execute a router management component <NUM> to provide router management functionality as described herein with reference to various aspects.

The processor <NUM> may be a micro-controller and/or may include a single or multiple set of processors or multi-core processors. Moreover, the processor <NUM> may be implemented as an integrated processing system and/or a distributed processing system. The computing device <NUM> may further include a memory <NUM>, such as for storing local versions of applications being executed by the processor <NUM>, related instructions, parameters, etc. The memory <NUM> may include a type of memory usable by a computer, such as random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), tapes, flash drives, magnetic discs, optical discs, volatile memory, non-volatile memory (e.g., a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by the processor <NUM>), and any combination thereof. Additionally, the processor <NUM> and the memory <NUM> may include and execute an operating system executing on the processor <NUM>, one or more applications, display drivers, etc., and/or other components of the computing device <NUM>.

Further, the computing device <NUM> may include a communications component <NUM> that provides for establishing and maintaining communications with one or more other devices, parties, entities, etc., utilizing hardware, software, and services. The communications component <NUM> may carry communications between components on the computing device <NUM>, as well as between the computing device <NUM> and external devices, such as devices located across a communications network and/or devices serially or locally connected to the computing device <NUM>. For example, the communications component <NUM> may include one or more buses, and may further include transmit chain components and receive chain components associated with a wireless or wired transmitter and receiver, respectively, operable for interfacing with external devices.

Additionally, the computing device <NUM> may include a data store <NUM>, which can be any suitable combination of hardware and/or software, that provides for mass storage of information, databases, and programs. For example, the data store <NUM> may be or may include a data repository for applications and/or related parameters not currently being executed by the processor <NUM>. In addition, the data store <NUM> may be a data repository for an operating system, application, display driver, etc., executing on the processor <NUM>, and/or one or more other components of the computing device <NUM>.

The computing device <NUM> may also include a user interface component <NUM> operable to receive inputs from a user of the computing device <NUM> and further operable to generate outputs for presentation to the user (e.g., via a display interface to a display device). The user interface component <NUM> may include one or more input devices, including but not limited to a keyboard, a number pad, a mouse, a touch-sensitive display, a navigation key, a function key, a microphone, a voice recognition component, or any other mechanism capable of receiving an input from a user, or any combination thereof. Further, the user interface component <NUM> may include one or more output devices, including but not limited to a display interface, a speaker, a haptic feedback mechanism, a printer, any other mechanism capable of presenting an output to a user, or any combination thereof.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, in operation for router management functionality, computing device <NUM> may implement at least a portion of one or more components in <FIG> and <FIG> above, such as all or at least a portion of control panel <NUM>, virtual control panel <NUM>, app <NUM>, user device <NUM>, cloud system <NUM>, router <NUM>, dedicated device <NUM>, or any other component configured for providing router management functionality. In this case, the computing device <NUM> may perform method <NUM> such as via execution of router management component <NUM>, receiving component <NUM>, and/or updating component <NUM>, by processor <NUM> and/or memory <NUM>. Specifically, computing device <NUM> may be configured to perform method <NUM> for performing an aspect of router management functionality, as described herein. It should be noted that computing device <NUM>, processor <NUM>, and memory <NUM> may be the same or similar to computing device <NUM>, processor <NUM>, and memory <NUM> as described above with respect to <FIG>.

At block <NUM>, the method <NUM> includes receiving, by a control panel of a security or automation system of a premises, an indication of an update in a configuration of a router that is configured to support an Internet protocol "IP" network at the premises. For example, in an aspect, computing device <NUM>, processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, router management component <NUM>, and/or receiving component <NUM> may be configured to or may comprise means for receiving, by a control panel of a security or automation system of a premises, an indication of an update in a configuration of a router that is configured to support an Internet protocol "IP" network at the premises.

For example, the receiving at block <NUM> may include the control panel <NUM> of the security / automation system <NUM> of the premises <NUM> executing the receiving component <NUM> to receive an indication of an update in a configuration of the router <NUM> that is configured to support the local IP network <NUM> at the premises <NUM>. Alternatively, in another example, the dedicated device <NUM> may execute the receiving component <NUM> to receive an indication of an update in a configuration of the router <NUM> that is configured to support the local IP network <NUM> at the premises <NUM>. Alternatively, in another example, the virtual control panel <NUM> may execute the receiving component <NUM> to receive an indication of an update in a configuration of the router <NUM> that is configured to support the local IP network <NUM> at the premises <NUM>.

At block <NUM>, the method <NUM> includes updating the configuration of the router by the control panel in response to receiving the indication. For example, in an aspect, computing device <NUM>, processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, router management component <NUM>, and/or updating component <NUM> may be configured to or may comprise means for updating the configuration of the router by the control panel in response to receiving the indication.

For example, the updating at block <NUM> may include the control panel <NUM> of the security / automation system <NUM> of the premises <NUM> executing the updating component <NUM> to update the configuration of the router <NUM> in response to the indication received at block <NUM>.

In one non-limiting implementation, the control panel is positioned at the premises. For example, the indication received at block <NUM> for updating the configuration of the router <NUM> may be received by the control panel <NUM> which is located / installed at the premises <NUM>.

In one non-limiting implementation, the router is separate from the control panel, wherein the updating comprises communicating by the control panel with the router. For example, the indication received at block <NUM> for updating the configuration of the router <NUM> may be received by the control panel <NUM> which is located / installed at the premises <NUM> and is separate from the router <NUM>.

In one non-limiting implementation, the control panel includes the router. For example, the indication received at block <NUM> for updating the configuration of the router <NUM> may be received by the control panel <NUM> which is located / installed at the premises <NUM> and includes the router <NUM>.

In one non-limiting implementation, the receiving comprises receiving the indication via a user interface of the control panel. For example, the indication received at block <NUM> for updating the configuration of the router <NUM> may be received via the router management UI <NUM> of the control panel <NUM> which is located / installed at the premises <NUM>. For example, a customer / user at the premises <NUM> may use the router management UI <NUM> of the control panel <NUM> to update the configuration of the router <NUM> at the premises <NUM>.

In one non-limiting implementation, the control panel comprises a cellular radio, wherein the receiving comprises receiving the indication from a cloud system over a cellular connection between the control panel and the cloud system, wherein the cloud system is configured to support the security or automation system of the premises. For example, the control panel <NUM> which is located / installed at the premises <NUM> may include the first cellular radio <NUM>, and the indication received at block <NUM> for updating the configuration of the router <NUM> may be received by the control panel <NUM> over a cellular connection between the control panel <NUM> and the cloud system <NUM> that supports the security / automation system <NUM> of the premises <NUM>.

In one non-limiting implementation, the control panel comprises a virtual control panel implemented as a cloud-based application executable on a user device. For example, the virtual control panel <NUM> which runs on the user device <NUM> may receive the indication for updating the configuration of the router <NUM> via the router management UI <NUM> on the virtual control panel <NUM>. For example, a user may use the router management UI <NUM> on the virtual control panel <NUM> of the user device <NUM> to update the configuration of the router <NUM> at the premises <NUM>.

In one non-limiting implementation, the updating comprises communicating the indication by the virtual control panel to a cloud system configured to support the security or automation system of the premises. For example, when the virtual control panel <NUM> which runs on the user device <NUM> receives the indication for updating the configuration of the router <NUM> via the router management UI <NUM> on the virtual control panel <NUM>, the virtual control panel <NUM> may communicate the indication to the cloud system <NUM> in order to effect the updating of the configuration of the router <NUM> at the premises <NUM>.

In one non-limiting implementation, the cloud system is configured to communicate the indication to a device at the premises over a cellular connection. For example, when the cloud system <NUM> receives the indication for updating of the configuration of the router <NUM> from the virtual control panel <NUM>, the cloud system <NUM> communicates the indication to a device (e.g., the control panel <NUM> or the dedicated device <NUM>) at the premises <NUM> in order to effect the updating of the configuration of the router <NUM> at the premises <NUM>.

In one non-limiting implementation, the device is configured to update the router according to the indication. For example, when the cloud system <NUM> communicates the indication for updating of the configuration of the router <NUM> to a device (e.g., the control panel <NUM> or the dedicated device <NUM>) at the premises <NUM> in order to effect the updating of the configuration of the router <NUM> at the premises, the device (e.g., the control panel <NUM> or the dedicated device <NUM>) updates the router <NUM> according to the indication received from the cloud system <NUM>.

In one non-limiting implementation, the device comprises another control panel of the security or automation system of the premises, wherein the another control panel is positioned at the premises and is configured to communicate with the router. For example, when the cloud system <NUM> receives the indication for updating of the configuration of the router <NUM> from the virtual control panel <NUM>, the cloud system <NUM> may communicate the indication for updating of the configuration of the router <NUM> to the control panel <NUM> at the premises <NUM>.

In one non-limiting implementation, the another control panel comprises a cellular radio for communication with the cloud system. For example, when the cloud system <NUM> receives the indication for updating of the configuration of the router <NUM> from the virtual control panel <NUM>, the cloud system <NUM> may use a cellular connection to communicate the indication for updating of the configuration of the router <NUM> to the control panel <NUM> that includes the first cellular radio <NUM>.

In one non-limiting implementation, the update comprises an SSID update on the router <NUM>.

In one non-limiting implementation, the update comprises an ISP update on the router <NUM>.

In one non-limiting implementation, the update comprises a network password update of the local IP network <NUM> at the premises <NUM>.

In one non-limiting implementation, the update comprises a parental control update over the local IP network <NUM> at the premises <NUM>.

In one non-limiting implementation, the router <NUM> includes the control panel <NUM>. For example, the router <NUM> may be configured to provide at least some premises security / automation functionality at the premises <NUM>.

In one non-limiting implementation, the router <NUM> includes at least one radio (e.g., Bluetooth, PowerG, Z-Wave, etc.) configured to communicate with one or more security / automation devices <NUM> in the security / automation system <NUM> of the premises <NUM>. For example, the router <NUM> may include at least one radio (e.g., Bluetooth, PowerG, Z-Wave, etc.) to communicate with one or more security / automation devices <NUM> to provide at least some premises security / automation functionality at the premises <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A method comprising:
receiving, by a control panel configured to communicate with and control one or more security or automation devices of a security or automation system of a premises, an indication of an update in a configuration of a router that is included in the control panel, wherein the router is configured to support an Internet protocol "IP" network at the premises, and wherein the one or more security or automation devices of the security or automation system of the premises communicate over the IP network supported by the router; and
configuring the router by the control panel in response to receiving the indication of the update in the configuration of the router.