Abstract: A monitoring system includes a doorbell unit that includes a camera and a display and that is configured to receive a request to access the property. The monitoring system includes a monitor control unit that is configured to determine an authentication protocol for determining whether to grant the visitor access to the property. The monitor control unit generates a first image and transmits authentication data to a computing device. The monitor control unit provides the first image and instructions to output the first image on the display of the doorbell unit. The monitor control unit receives a second image captured by the camera of the doorbell unit. The monitor control unit determines whether the second image includes a representation of data that is based on processing the first image in combination with the authentication data. The monitor control unit grants or denies the visitor access to the property.

Abstract: Techniques are described for using an integrated lightbulb camera system for monitoring a property. The integrated lightbulb camera system can have a housing that includes one or more cameras, a power-line communication (PLC) chip, and one or more processors. The PLC chip can be configured to enable communications between the lightbulb camera system and one or more external devices. The one or more processors can be configured to control the one or more cameras to capture one or more images and control the PLC chip to transmit at least one of the one or more captured images over a power-line to at least one of the one or more external devices. The integrated lightbulb camera can also have a lightbulb compatible screw base that is configured to mount the housing to a lightbulb socket and accept electrical current that is provided to the housing.

Abstract: Systems and techniques are provided for charging devices at a property using battery-charging drones. In some implementations, a monitoring system is configured to monitor a property and includes a battery-powered sensor configured to generate sensor data. The system includes a drone that is configured to navigate the property and charge the battery-powered sensor. A monitor control unit is configured to obtain a battery level from the battery-powered sensor and compare the battery level to a battery level threshold. Based on the comparison, the monitor control unit determines that the battery level does not satisfy the threshold. Based on the determination, the monitor control unit generates and transmits an instruction to a drone for the drone to navigate to the battery-powered sensor and charge a battery of the battery-powered sensor. The monitor control unit receives data from the drone that indicates whether the drone charged the battery of the sensor.

Abstract: Systems and techniques are described for pet monitoring during unattended delivery. In some implementations, a monitoring system monitors a property includes sensors located throughout the property and generates sensor data. A monitor control unit receives a first indication that a resident of the property will be receiving a delivery during a delivery time. Based on the sensor data and during the delivery time, the monitor control unit determines that a pet, that resides at the property, has been restrained. The monitor control unit provides, to a delivery person, a second indication that the pet at the property has been restrained.

Abstract: A drone is used to map difficult transition spaces within buildings such as staircases between different levels of a multi-level building. The mapping technique used may vary based on the type of building space. For instance, for linear staircases, an orthogonal trajectory path or a smooth trajectory path may be used to map the transition space. The orthogonal trajectory path and the smooth trajectory path may be derived, at least in part, on initial and terminating points provided by a user. For circular staircases, a user may move the drone from the initial point to the terminating point, and the drone may determine a trajectory path based on the user's movement of the drone from the initial point to the terminating point.

Abstract: A monitoring system that is configured to monitor a property is disclosed. The monitoring system includes a passive infrared (PIR) sensor configured to generate reference PIR data that represents motion within an area of the property; an auxiliary sensor configured to generate auxiliary sensor data that represents an attribute of the area of the property; and a motion sensor device. The motion sensor device is configured to: obtain the reference PIR data; determine that a first set of motion detection criteria is satisfied by the reference PIR data; in response to determining that the first set of motion detection criteria is satisfied by the reference PIR data, obtain the auxiliary sensor data; obtain a second set of motion detection criteria based on the reference PIR data and the auxiliary sensor data; and determine whether the second set of motion detection criteria is satisfied by additional PIR data.

Abstract: Mesh network resiliency technology, in which a first routing configuration for nodes of a mesh network is determined, the first routing configuration being appropriate when a first power source of the mesh network is available. Routing data that indicates routing responsibilities within the first routing configuration is provided to first nodes of the mesh network. An interruption of the first power source for the mesh network is detected by nodes of the mesh network. In response to detecting the interruption, a second routing configuration for nodes of the mesh network is determined, the second routing configuration being appropriate when the first power source of the mesh network is unavailable. Routing data that indicates routing responsibilities within the second configuration is provided to second nodes of the mesh network, each of the second nodes including a second power source that is different than the first power source.

Abstract: Systems and techniques are described for utilizing video classification capabilities for providing accurate local weather. In some implementations, the techniques include the actions of obtaining images from cameras located at a monitored property. An expected weather forecast and an actual weather condition is obtained for the monitored property. A machine-learning model is trained to classify a current weather condition for the monitored property using the images from the cameras, the expected weather forecast, and the actual weather condition. A weather condition is obtained from the trained machine-learning model that indicates a particular weather condition at the monitored property based on one or more images from a camera and the expected local weather forecast at the monitored property.

Abstract: A method includes generating, by a camera of a monitoring system that is configured to monitor a property, first image data at a first time, analyzing the first image data, determining that the first image data includes a first object that likely corresponds to a person, generating, second image data at a second, later time, analyzing the second image data, determining that the second image includes a second object that likely corresponds to a person, comparing the first object that likely corresponds to a person to the second object that likely corresponds to a person, based on comparing the first object that likely corresponds to a person to the second object that likely corresponds to a person and based on a difference between the first time and the second, later time, determining that a person is likely moving towards the camera, and performing a monitoring system action.

Abstract: Techniques are described for using information from a knob sensor of an appliance in a property monitoring system. In some implementations, a monitoring system may be configured to receive sensor information from a knob, receive monitoring device information from a monitoring device and, based on the sensor information from the knob, identify a knob event. The monitoring system may integrate the knob event with the monitoring device information and analyze the integrated knob event and monitoring device information against one or more rules related to usage of the appliance in view of the state of the property. Based on analyzing the integrated knob event and monitoring device information, the monitoring system may determine whether to perform an action, such as notifying a user or activating an appliance.

Abstract: Rental property management technology, in which electronic entry data for rental properties, energy related data for the rental properties, reservation data for the rental properties, and settings for energy management of the rental properties is accessed. Integrated data that includes the accessed electronic entry data, the accessed energy related data, and the accessed reservation data integrated with the accessed settings for energy management of the rental properties is stored in electronic storage. The integrated data is analyzed to determine whether energy management of the rental properties aligns with the accessed settings and accords with one or more efficiency rules. Based on the analysis, an energy management operation is performed for at least one of the rental properties.

Abstract: Techniques are described for energy scoring of a monitored property and users of the monitored property. A system provides users with information related to the efficiency of the monitored property and aggregates data over multiple monitored properties. The system computes and outputs a score for a monitored property that reflects efficiency of the property and/or the users of the property. The system may track how that score changes through time, and how it relates to neighboring properties. The score may be expressed as both a number and a percentile.

Abstract: Methods and systems including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining that a trash bag has been removed from a trash can, in response to determining that the trash bag has been removed from the trash can, determining that a door is locked, in response to determining that the door is locked and that the trash bag has been removed from the trash can, unlocking the door, determining that the door has been opened and closed, and in response to determining that the door has been opened and closed, locking the door.

Abstract: In some implementations, systems and techniques are described to automatically unlock a front door of a property in response to detecting an alarm signal indicating an emergency at or near a property. Data indicating occurrence of an emergency condition at a property is initially obtained. A lock configuration for an electronic lock of the property is determined. An unlock instruction is generated for the electronic lock based on the determined lock configuration for the electronic lock. The unlock instruction is transmitted to the electronic lock such that, when the unlock instruction is received by the electronic lock, the electronic lock is unlocked according to the unlock instruction.

Abstract: Techniques are described for assisted creation of video rules via scene analysis. In some implementations, a scene is obtained, a shape of an element in a ground plane shown in the images of the scene is identified, user input that defines a shape of a region of interest used in a video rule is obtained, that the shape of the region satisfies a reshape criteria based on the shape of the element in the ground plane shown in the images of the scene is determined, and a reshaped region based on the shape of the element in the ground plane shown in the images of the scene is determined.

Abstract: Techniques are described for configuring a monitoring system to assist users during a detected emergency condition at a property. In some implementations, sensor data from one or more sensors that are located at the property are obtained by a monitoring system that is configured to monitor the property. A determination that there is an emergency condition at the property is made by the monitoring system based on the sensor data, determining. A location of a person inside the property is determined by the monitoring system based on the sensor data. A first path to the person and a second path to guide the person away from the emergency condition are determined by the monitoring system. The first path to the person and the second path to guide the person away from the emergency condition are navigated by a computing device of the monitoring system.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on storage devices, for drone-augmented emergency response services. In one aspect, a monitoring system, comprising: a plurality of monitoring control units, and a monitoring application server, wherein the monitoring application server includes a network interface, one or more processors, and one or more storage devices that include instructions to perform operations. The operations include receiving an emergency event notification from a first monitoring control unit of the plurality of monitoring control units, determining a type of emergency event, and a location associated with the emergency event notification, identifying one or more drones that can be deployed to the location associated with the emergency event, and transmitting an instruction to a monitoring station server associated with a drone base station to deploy the one or more identified drones to the location associated with the emergency event.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for energy reduction are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes the actions of receiving data from a thermostat, an HVAC system, and one or more temperature sensors associated with a property. The actions further include generating an HVAC performance model based on the received data from the thermostat, the HVAC system, and the one or more temperature sensors associated with the property. The actions further include receiving user data indicating user presence and user preferences. The actions further include identifying an energy penalty score. The actions further include receiving weather data. The actions further include creating an energy routine based on the HVAC performance model, the user data, the identified energy penalty score, and the received weather data. The actions further include transmitting an instruction including the energy routine to one or more devices.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for preserving privacy in surveillance. The methods, systems, and apparatus include actions of determining a state of a monitoring system, determining an exclusion zone that is shown in a video, determining whether to obfuscate at least a portion of the video based on the exclusion zone and the state of the monitoring system, and obfuscating at least the portion of the video.

Abstract: A monitoring system is configured to monitor a property. The monitoring system includes a package holder device that is configured to receive a package at the package holder device. The package holder device is configured to secure the package. The package holder device is configured to arm the package holder device. The monitoring system includes a monitoring control unit that is configured to receive, from the package holder device, data indicating that the package holder device secured the package and that the package holder device armed. The monitoring control unit is configured to communicate, to a user device of a resident of the property, a package delivery confirmation notification indicating that the package holder device received and secured the package.