Abstract: Embodiments provided herein relate to enforcing a device restriction policy. A device restriction policy may be stored that maps one or more portions of a household with particular household occupants of a plurality of household occupants. A request may be received to activate the device restriction policy on a household occupant. The device restriction policy may be activated against the household occupant based on the received request. One or more electronic devices may be disabled that are located in a portion of the household linked with the household occupant based on the received request and the device restriction policy.

Abstract: A method includes generating a utility portal interface in response to a request from a utility computer system that receives parameters that specify a demand response event; providing a display of groups of energy-consuming locations that are available to be selected to participate in the demand response event; providing a display of an energy demand profile for the utility during the demand response event; receiving a selection of a subset of the groups of energy-consuming locations to participate in the demand response event; causing the display of the energy demand profile for the utility during the demand response event to be dynamically updated as the subset of the groups of energy-consuming locations are selected or deselected by the utility computer system to participate; and sending transmissions to thermostats associated with the subset of the groups of energy-consuming locations to execute the demand response event.

Abstract: This application is directed to a home monitoring and control system including a doorbell installed at a door of a home. The doorbell has a button configured to, upon being pressed, wirelessly initiate a first communication to indicate presence of a person at the door. The doorbell also has a camera configured to capture video data within a field of view, and a processor configured to cause a communication component to enable the first communication and wirelessly stream via a remote server the video data captured by the camera to a monitoring device associated with an occupant of the home.

Abstract: This patent specification relates to various smart-home systems. Such a system may include a battery-powered smart home device that communicates using a first wireless protocol characterized by relatively low power usage and relatively low data rates. Such a system may further include a smart wall outlet device. The smart wall outlet device may include wireless communication circuitry comprising a first wireless interface and a second wireless interface. The first wireless interface may be configured to communicate with the battery-powered smart home device using the first wireless protocol. The second wireless interface may be configured to serve as a communication bridge between the battery-powered smart home device and a wireless network that uses a second communication protocol characterized by relatively higher power usage and relatively higher data rates.

Abstract: This application is directed to a home monitoring and control system including a doorbell installed at a door of a home. The doorbell has a button configured to, upon being touched, depressed or activated, wirelessly initiate a first communication to indicate presence of a person at the door. The doorbell also has a camera configured to capture video data within a field of view, and a processor configured to cause a communication component to enable the first communication and wirelessly stream via a remote server the video data captured by the camera to a monitoring device associated with an occupant of the home. A rechargeable battery is coupled to a housing wire and configured to be charged via the housing wire, and the doorbell is configured to charge and discharge the rechargeable battery based on power usage of the doorbell.

Abstract: A method includes generating a utility portal interface in response to a request from a utility computer system that receives parameters that specify a demand response event; providing a display of groups of energy-consuming locations that are available to be selected to participate in the demand response event; providing a display of an energy demand profile for the utility during the demand response event; receiving a selection of a subset of the groups of energy-consuming locations to participate in the demand response event; causing the display of the energy demand profile for the utility during the demand response event to be dynamically updated as the subset of the groups of energy-consuming locations are selected or deselected by the utility computer system to participate; and sending transmissions to thermostats associated with the subset of the groups of energy-consuming locations to execute the demand response event.

Abstract: The various embodiments described herein include methods, devices, and systems for presenting smart home information. In one aspect, a method includes: (1) determining that a first set of smart devices correspond to a first space of a plurality of spaces of a dwelling; (2) displaying a first user interface including: (a) displaying a first interface section corresponding to the first space; and (b) displaying, within the first interface section, a plurality of user interface objects corresponding to the first set of smart devices, where each user interface object of the plurality of user interface objects corresponds to a respective smart device of the first set of smart devices; (3) detecting a user selection of a particular user interface object; and (4) in response to detecting the user selection of the particular user interface object, displaying a second user interface that includes additional information regarding the corresponding smart device.

Abstract: An improved portable media device and methods for operating a media device are disclosed. According to one aspect, the portable media device can also function as a solid-state drive for data storage. The form factor of the portable media device can be hand-held or smaller, such that it is highly portable. The portable media device can use one or more status indicators. The portable media device can also include a peripheral bus connector, a rechargeable battery, and one or more input devices. According to another aspect, the portable media device has the capability to store media device status information in persistent memory before powering down. Thereafter, when the portable media device is again powered up, the stored media player status information can be retrieved and utilized. According to still another aspect, the portable media device can form and/or traverse a media asset playlist in an efficient manner.

Abstract: Embodiments provided herein relate to enforcing a device restriction policy. A device restriction policy may be stored that maps one or more portions of a household with particular household occupants of a plurality of household occupants. A request may be received to activate the device restriction policy on a household occupant. The device restriction policy may be activated against the household occupant based on the received request. One or more electronic devices may be disabled that are located in a portion of the household linked with the household occupant based on the received request and the device restriction policy.

Abstract: A user-friendly programmable thermostat is described that includes receiving an immediate-control input to change set point temperature, controlling temperature according to the set point temperature for a predetermined time interval, and then automatically resetting the set point temperature upon the ending of the predetermined time interval such that the user is urged to make further immediate-control inputs. A schedule for the programmable thermostat is automatically generated based on the immediate-control inputs. Methods are also described for receiving user input relating to the user's preference regarding automatically generating a schedule, and determining whether or not to automatically adopt an automatically generated schedule based on the received user input.

Abstract: This application is directed to a home monitoring and control system including a doorbell installed at a door of a home. The doorbell has a button configured to, upon being touched, depressed or activated, wirelessly initiate a first communication to indicate presence of a person at the door. The doorbell also has a camera configured to capture video data within a field of view, and a processor configured to cause a communication component to enable the first communication and wirelessly stream via a remote server the video data captured by the camera to a monitoring device associated with an occupant of the home. A rechargeable battery is coupled to a housing wire and configured to be charged via the housing wire, and the doorbell is configured to charge and discharge the rechargeable battery based on power usage of the doorbell.

Abstract: This application is directed to a home monitoring and control system including a doorbell installed at a door of a home. The doorbell has a button configured to, upon being touched, depressed or activated, wirelessly initiate a first communication to indicate presence of a person at the door. The doorbell also has a camera configured to capture video data within a field of view, and a processor configured to cause a communication component to enable the first communication and wirelessly stream via a remote server the video data captured by the camera to a monitoring device associated with an occupant of the home. A rechargeable battery is coupled to a housing wire and configured to be charged via the housing wire, and the doorbell is configured to charge and discharge the rechargeable battery based on power usage of the doorbell.

Abstract: A method includes generating a utility portal interface in response to a request from a utility computer system that receives parameters that specify a demand response event; providing a display of groups of energy-consuming locations that are available to be selected to participate in the demand response event; providing a display of an energy demand profile for the utility during the demand response event; receiving a selection of a subset of the groups of energy-consuming locations to participate in the demand response event; causing the display of the energy demand profile for the utility during the demand response event to be dynamically updated as the subset of the groups of energy-consuming locations are selected or deselected by the utility computer system to participate; and sending transmissions to thermostats associated with the subset of the groups of energy-consuming locations to execute the demand response event.

Abstract: This patent specification relates to various smart-home systems. Such a system may include a battery-powered smart home device that communicates using a first wireless protocol characterized by relatively low power usage and relatively low data rates. Such a system may further include a smart wall outlet device. The smart wall outlet device may include wireless communication circuitry comprising a first wireless interface and a second wireless interface. The first wireless interface may be configured to communicate with the battery-powered smart home device using the first wireless protocol. The second wireless interface may be configured to serve as a communication bridge between the battery-powered smart home device and a wireless network that uses a second communication protocol characterized by relatively higher power usage and relatively higher data rates.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an electronic device with an embedded authentication system for restricting access to device resources. The authentication system may include one or more sensors operative to detect biometric information of a user. The sensors may be positioned in the device such that the sensors may detect appropriate biometric information as the user operates the device, without requiring the user to perform a step for providing the biometric information (e.g., embedding a fingerprint sensor in an input mechanism instead of providing a fingerprint sensor in a separate part of the device housing). In some embodiments, the authentication system may be operative to detect a visual or temporal pattern of inputs to authenticate a user. In response to authenticating, a user may access restricted files, applications (e.g., applications purchased by the user), or settings (e.g., application settings such as contacts or saved game profile).

Abstract: Embodiments provided herein relate to enforcing a device restriction policy. A device restriction policy may be stored that maps one or more portions of a household with particular household occupants of a plurality of household occupants. A request may be received to activate the device restriction policy on a household occupant. The device restriction policy may be activated against the household occupant based on the received request. One or more electronic devices may be disabled that are located in a portion of the household linked with the household occupant based on the received request and the device restriction policy.

Abstract: This patent specification relates to a wall switch that comprises a docking station and a user-removable wall-switch head unit. In some embodiments, the docking station is configured to receive the user-removable wall-switch head unit, and configured to be permanently connected to a wall and coupled to high-power voltage wires. In some embodiments, the user-removable wall-switch head unit is configured to be user-insertable into said docking station and user-removable therefrom such that the user is not exposed to high-voltage connections when inserting or removing. In some embodiments, the wall switch controller further comprises inputs and outputs and circuitry for switchably controlling household line current power to a household electrical fixture. In some embodiments, the wall switch controller further comprises an occupancy sensor, a temperature sensor, or a processor.

Abstract: Access to a communications network may be provided via a data provider that may charge for access. In some cases, the access fee may be related to the amount of network resources consumed (e.g., amount of data downloaded or bandwidth used). In some cases, a user may have access to a particular amount of data provider resources and be required to pay an additional fee for using resources in excess of the particular amount. To assist the user in managing his data resource consumption, a resource utilization component may provide different alerts and notices informing the user of current consumption, expected future consumption, and recommendations for reducing data provider resources consumed (e.g., stopping particular processes or data provider requests, such as downloading media). If several electronic devices in a network are connected to the same data provider resources, a network component may manage the data provider resource use among the several electronic devices (e.g.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an electronic device with an embedded authentication system for restricting access to device resources. The authentication system may include one or more sensors operative to detect biometric information of a user. The sensors may be positioned in the device such that the sensors may detect appropriate biometric information as the user operates the device, without requiring the user to perform a step for providing the biometric information (e.g., embedding a fingerprint sensor in an input mechanism instead of providing a fingerprint sensor in a separate part of the device housing). In some embodiments, the authentication system may be operative to detect a visual or temporal pattern of inputs to authenticate a user. In response to authenticating, a user may access restricted files, applications (e.g., applications purchased by the user), or settings (e.g., application settings such as contacts or saved game profile).

Abstract: Various methods and systems for smart home devices are presented. Such smart home devices may include one or more environmental sensors that are configured to detect the presence of one or more environmental conditions. Such smart home devices may include a light comprising a plurality of lighting elements. Such a light may be configured to illuminate using a plurality of colors and, possibly, a plurality of animation patterns. Such smart home devices may include a processing system configured to cause the light to illuminate using the plurality of colors and the plurality of animation patterns in response to a plurality of states of the smart home device.