Patent ID: 8649368

Claim:
A method of notification comprising: interfacing a home automation system with a home terminating telephone device; receiving an incoming call to a called telephone number at the home terminating telephone device; producing a single ring at the home terminating telephone device to announce the incoming call; capturing an image in response to an event; relaying the capturing of the image to the home terminating telephone device; sending the image in an instant message from the home terminating telephone device over an Internet channel to an address associated with a remote user to notify of the event; before the incoming call is answered at the home terminating telephone device, sending another instant message from the home terminating telephone device over the Internet channel to the address to notify the remote user of a calling number of the incoming call; updating a log of calls stored in memory of the home terminating telephone device with call information; receiving a reply instant message over the Internet channel at the home terminating telephone device, the reply instant message requesting the log of calls; retrieving the log of calls from the memory of the home terminating telephone device; and sending the log of calls from the home terminating telephone device over the Internet channel to the address associated with the remote user.