Patents by Inventor Michael D. Child

Michael D. Child has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10484196
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for installing a component within a system is described. In one embodiment, component information is identified via a component code on a component. User input is received that includes additional component information. A component associated with the component code is activated in a system based on the component information and the additional component information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy B. Warren, Jeffrey G. Thomas, Michael D. Child
  • Publication number: 20190320137
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and techniques for security and/or automation systems are described. In one embodiment, the method may include receiving a call initiation instruction at a video monitoring component of a home automation system. The method may further include analyzing the call initiation instruction, and communicating a call request from the video monitoring component of the home automation system to a first remote user based at least in part on the received call initiation instruction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Inventors: Matthew Mahar, Matthew J. Eyring, Clint Huson Gordon-Carroll, Jeremy Bruce Warren, James Ellis Nye, Jefferson Huhta Lyman, Michael D. Child
  • Patent number: 10433122
    Abstract: Apparatuses, techniques, and methods for a security and/or automation system are described. In some cases, these may include a first user recording a message and the message being broadcast or conveyed to a second user based on the second user's identity and/or location and/or a relevant time of recording or broadcasting, among other things. The methods may include receiving a first communication from a first user, storing the first communication in memory, identifying a second user at a first location, retrieving the first communication from memory, the retrieving based at least in part on the identification of the second user, and conveying the first communication to the second user at the first location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Child, Matthew Mahar, Michelle Zundel
  • Publication number: 20190289461
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods relating to operating a security system are described. In one embodiment a method may include receiving at a receiving unit a protected signal sent from a portable transmitter, the receiving unit in communication with a security system panel, assessing at least one characteristic of the protected signal, modifying at least one characteristic of the protected signal based at least in part on the assessing, and comparing the protected signal to a stored signal after the modifying.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Wayne Call, Craig DeVries, Jeremy B. Warren, Michael D. Child
  • Patent number: 10410496
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for security and/or automation systems. The methods may include detecting an event in a home associated with a first occupant of the home, and identifying a presence of a second occupant in the home. In any embodiment, the second occupant may be different from the first occupant. The method may further include providing an alert to the second occupant of the home based at least in part on the detected event and the identifying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Child, Michelle Zundel
  • Patent number: 10412342
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and techniques for security and/or automation systems are described. In one embodiment, the method including identifying a presence of a first person at a first location, capturing a first video related to the first person at the first location, and initiating an adjustment of a display of the first video based at least in part on identifying the presence of the first person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Child, Michelle Zundel
  • Patent number: 10382729
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and techniques for security and/or automation systems are described. In one embodiment, the method may include receiving a call initiation instruction at a video monitoring component of a home automation system. The method may further include analyzing the call initiation instruction, and communicating a call request from the video monitoring component of the home automation system to a first remote user based at least in part on the received call initiation instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Child, Matthew Mahar, Matthew J. Eyring, Clint Huson Gordon-Carroll, Jeremy Bruce Warren, James Ellis Nye, Jefferson Huhta Lyman, Michelle Zundel
  • Patent number: 10306187
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods relating to security system and automation monitoring are described. In one embodiment a method may include receiving motion detection data via an electrical signal, analyzing the motion detection data based at least in part on a first parameter, identifying a movement of an object based at least in part on the analyzing, and adjusting one or more light emitting diodes based at least in part on the identifying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Child, Jowen Lin
  • Patent number: 10271012
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and techniques for security and/or automation systems are described. In one embodiment, the method may include receiving a call initiation instruction at a video monitoring component of a home automation system. The method may further include analyzing the call initiation instruction, and communicating a call request from the video monitoring component of the home automation system to a first remote user based at least in part on the received call initiation instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Mahar, Matthew J. Eyring, Clint Huson Gordon-Carroll, Jeremy Bruce Warren, James Ellis Nye, Jefferson Huhta Lyman, Michael D. Child, Michelle Zundel
  • Patent number: 10255774
    Abstract: A method for security and/or automation systems is described. In one embodiment, the method may include detecting a first sound event at a home entry point using one or more sensors. The method may further include receiving input to associate at least one home automation system operation with the first sound event, and may further include storing the first sound event. The method may further include initiating the at least one home automation system operation associated with the first sound event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason C. Flint, Craig Matsuura, Michael D. Child, JonPaul Vega, Jefferson Lyman, Matthew J. Eyring, Jeremy B. Warren, James Ellis Nye
  • Patent number: 10242517
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described that are directed to status and control of a garage door system via an alarm system controller. A garage door system may include one or more garage doors and at least one sensor configured to sense data indicative of a status of a garage door of the one or more garage doors. The at least one sensor may further be configured to convey the sensed data to an alarm system controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
    Inventors: James Ellis Nye, Michael D. Child, Jeffrey G. Thomas, Jeremy B. Warren
  • Patent number: 10244390
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods relating to operating a security system are described. In one embodiment a method may include receiving at a receiving unit a protected signal sent from a portable transmitter, the receiving unit in communication with a security system panel, assessing at least one characteristic of the protected signal, modifying at least one characteristic of the protected signal based at least in part on the assessing, and comparing the protected signal to a stored signal after the modifying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne Call, Craig DeVries, Jeremy B. Warren, Michael D. Child
  • Patent number: 10133935
    Abstract: Systems and methods for visitor detection using security and/or automation systems include detecting an event at a doorway, capturing an image at the doorway associated with the event, capturing a video at the doorway associated with the event, delivering the image with a notice of the event to a recipient for viewing, and automatically uploading the video for viewing upon capturing the video. The video is available for selective viewing by the recipient upon being uploaded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Child, Craig Matsuura, Dean Brederson, JonPaul Vega
  • Publication number: 20180331845
    Abstract: A method for adjusting devices upon detecting occupant is asleep in a security/automation system is described. In one embodiment, the method may include monitoring sensor data from one or more sensors, detecting an occupant sleeping, based at least in part on the monitored sensor data, and upon detecting the occupant sleeping, modifying one or more settings associated with one or more devices of the home automation system. In some cases, the method may include modifying at least one of an audio setting associated with the home automation system, a thermostat setting associated with the home automation system, a sensor setting associated with the home automation system, an appliance setting associated with the home automation system, and a security setting associated with the home automation system, or any combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Jeremy B. Warren, Michael D. Child
  • Patent number: 10127754
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for controlling access to a home based on user occupancy. According to at least one embodiment, an apparatus for controlling access to a home based on user occupancy includes a processor, a memory in electronic communication with the processor, and instructions stored in the memory which are executable by a processor to determine a location of a user of a home automation system relative to a barrier of a home being monitored by the home automation system. The instructions are executable to determine whether to permit a change in a locking mechanism of the barrier based in part on the determined location of the user, and maintain a current state of the home automation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Child, Michelle Zundel, Tanner Potter, Scott Moulton
  • Publication number: 20180301006
    Abstract: A method for security and/or automation systems is described. In one embodiment, the method may include detecting a first sound event at a home entry point using one or more sensors. The method may further include receiving input to associate at least one home automation system operation with the first sound event, and may further include storing the first sound event. The method may further include initiating the at least one home automation system operation associated with the first sound event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Jason C. Flint, Craig Matsuura, Michael D. Child, JonPaul Vega, Jefferson Lyman, Matthew J. Eyring, Jeremy B. Warren, James Ellis Nye
  • Patent number: 10028112
    Abstract: Apparatuses, techniques, and methods for a security and/or automation system are described. In some cases, these may include a first user recording a message and the message being broadcast or conveyed to a second user based on the second user's identity and/or location and/or a relevant time of recording or broadcasting, among other things. The methods may include receiving a first communication from a first user, storing the first communication in memory, identifying a second user at a first location, retrieving the first communication from memory, the retrieving based at least in part on the identification of the second user, and conveying the first communication to the second user at the first location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Child, Matthew Mahar, Michelle Zundel
  • Publication number: 20180139822
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for security and/or automation systems, for adjusting a home environment. Some method embodiments involving a lighting system may include receiving data relating to an occupant of a home from a sensor, analyzing the data, identifying the occupant based at least in part on the analyzing, and initiating an adjustment of the lighting system based at least in part on the identifying. One such embodiment may also include searching a catalog of occupant profiles, and comparing the data with the catalog of occupant profiles. Some other method embodiments may initiate adjustments to an environment based on an occupant's preferences (whether those preferences are already included in a profile, or determined by analysis) such as for example the occupant's lighting preferences (in an embodiment involving a lighting system). One method embodiment may also include correlating data relating to the occupant with the occupant's profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Michael D. Child, Michelle Zundel
  • Publication number: 20180129885
    Abstract: Techniques are described for enhanced interactions for a security automation system using a doorbell camera. One method includes detecting, by the doorbell camera, an object located within a pre-determined distance from the doorbell camera; identifying, by the doorbell camera, a suggested security action for the security and automation system to perform based at least in part on the detecting; transmitting the suggested action to the security and automation system based at least in part on the identifying; and transmitting, in response to identifying the suggested security action, a message to a user associated with the security automation system regarding the suggested security action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Tanner Hawkes Potter, Wes Frisby, Michael D. Child, Spencer J. Nugent, Michelle Bea Zundel, Max Benjamin Crebs
  • Patent number: 9947190
    Abstract: A method for security and/or automation systems is described. In one embodiment, the method may include detecting a first sound event at a home entry point using one or more sensors. The method may further include receiving input to associate at least one home automation system operation with the first sound event, and may further include storing the first sound event. The method may further include initiating the at least one home automation system operation associated with the first sound event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason C. Flint, Craig Matsuura, Michael D. Child, JonPaul Vega, Jefferson Lyman, Matthew J. Eyring, Jeremy B. Warren, James Ellis Nye