Abstract: A system includes a first electrical connector and a first multiplexer. The first electrical connector has multiple electrical contacts including at least a first data contact, a second data contact, a first power contact and a second power contact. The first multiplexer has a first data input, a second data input and a selector. The first data input is coupled to the first data contact. The second data input is coupled to the second data contact. The selector is coupled to the first power contact or the second power contact. The first multiplexer is configured to; direct the first data input to a first bus and direct the second data input to a second bus, or direct the first data input to the second bus and direct the second data input to the first bus, depending whether a voltage is present at the selector.

Abstract: A method includes sending identification information for a mobile hotspot device from that device to a cloud-based computer processing system, sending identification information for a security monitoring device from that device to an app on a user's mobile device, prompting the user, via the app, to provide the identification information for the mobile hotspot device to the user's mobile device, and sending a pairing request from the app to the cloud-based computer processing system. The pairing request includes the identification information for the mobile hotspot device that was provided by the user and the identification information for the security monitoring device. The method further includes sending a response to the pairing request from the cloud-based computer processing system to the app, and using information in the response to establish a wireless connection between the mobile hotspot device and the security monitoring device.

Abstract: A monitoring device comprises a single housing, a plurality of sensors supported by the housing to detect respective characteristics of a location, a processing device within the housing, and memory within the housing to store data collected by the plurality of sensors. The sensors may include a camera, a temperature sensor, an air quality sensor, an infrared sensor, an ambient light sensor, a humidity sensor, an accelerometer, a carbon monoxide sensor, and/or a carbon dioxide sensor, for example. Processing may be provided on the device to evaluate the sensor responses, such as by comparison to respective thresholds. In additions, sensor data may be sent to a network for further processing. The device does not require physical or wired installation, and is easy to set up. Multiple, separate sensors are not required in order to monitor a space and a separate processing device is also not required.

Abstract: Providing information about a monitored environment comprises monitoring a location by a plurality of sensors, collecting data from the plurality of sensors by a processing device, and providing information to a user of the status of the location based on data collected by at least some sensors, for display on a user device, via a network. A user may be enabled to scroll through updates in the order that the information was provided, on the user device, by an App, for example. Providing video clips from a location to a user device comprises storing first video clips related to respective events at the location that the user has been informed of and/or receiving a request to provide stored video clips of the location over a time period, from the user, retrieving the stored video clips, and providing the retrieved video clips to a user device for display.

Abstract: A system, such as a security monitoring system, includes one or more devices at a physical space. Each device performs a function (e.g., security monitoring) at the physical space, and at least one is able to interact, via a network, with a mobile device. The system is automatically controlled based on a location of the mobile device. The system tracks the mobile device with a first tracking technique when located outside both a home region associated with the physical space and an active monitoring region that surrounds the home region, determines, based on the tracking information, whether the mobile device is within the active monitoring region, and switches to a second, different, tracking technique if it is determined that the mobile device is within the active monitoring region.

Abstract: A system includes a security monitoring device in a monitored physical location, a security processing system, and one or more mobile devices. The one or more mobile devices are configured to communicate with the security monitoring device over a network and the security monitoring device is configured to communicate with the security processing system via the network. The security monitoring device and the security processing system device are configured to arm and disarm based on geolocation data associated with at least one of the mobile user devices.

Abstract: A method of controlling operation of a security device in a location by a mobile user device, comprises monitoring a region around a location of interest, via a mobile user device; providing at least one security device within the region, wherein the security device comprises at least one sensor to monitor a location. The user device recognizes that the user device has entered the region, and searches for a security device within the region. The security device is detected and at least certain security features and/or sensors are disarmed. Disarming may mean that at least certain notifications are not sent about the status of the location. When the user device recognizes that the device is leaving the region, security features and/or sensors may be armed.

Abstract: A method includes receiving an indication that an event has occurred in a physical space being monitored by a monitoring device that includes a plurality of sensors. In response to the indication, the method includes sending one or more primary notifications of the event over a computer-based network to each of one or more persons primarily associated with the physical space being monitored. If, after a designated amount of time, none of the primary notifications have been viewed by any of the persons primarily associated with the physical space being monitored, the method includes sending a backup notification of the event over the computer-based network to one or more persons designated as backup contacts. The backup notification is logically associated with information that the one or more backup contacts can access about the event. The logical association can be embodied by a link (e.g., a hyperlink) in the backup notification.

Abstract: A method of operating a security monitoring system comprises defining a primary user at a location, defining at least one backup user based on input from the primary user, determining that an event has taken place that the primary contact is to be notified of, notifying the primary user of the event, and if the primary user does not respond to the notification in a predetermined period of time, notifying the at least one backup contact of the event. Backup users may be defined based on input from the primary user. Backup contacts may be contacted in an order based on the preferences of the primary user or the location of the backup contacts, for example. The police, a fire department, and/or an ambulance service may be notified if the primary user and the backup contact do not respond to the notifications. Systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of operating a security monitoring system comprises defining a group of people to receive a notification of an event taking place at a location associated with any member of the group, by a system, determining that a security event has at least potentially taken place that the members of the group need to be notified of, by the system, and notifying the members of the group of the event, via a network. Notifications of the at least potential security event may be provided to a first party of the at least potential security event and members of the group may be notified if the first party does not respond to the notification within a predetermined period of time. A system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of controlling operation of a security device in a location by a mobile user device, comprises monitoring a region around a location of interest, via a mobile user device; providing at least one security device within the region, wherein the security device comprises at least one sensor to monitor a location. The user device recognizes that the user device has entered the region, and searches for a security device within the region. The security device is detected and at least certain security features and/or sensors are disarmed. Disarming may mean that at least certain notifications are not sent about the status of the location. When the user device recognizes that the device is leaving the region, security features and/or sensors may be armed.

Abstract: A monitoring device comprises a housing, a thermally isolated chamber defined by the housing, and a temperature sensor supported by the housing within the thermally isolated chamber to detect a temperature of a location where the device is located. An air quality sensor may also be supported by the housing within the thermally isolated chamber, to sense a quality of air in the location. The housing may define a first vent through the housing to allow external air to flow into the thermally isolated chamber. A first open end of the chamber may be proximate the first vent to allow air flow through the vent, into the chamber. A second open end of the chamber may open into an interior of the housing, and the housing may define a second vent to allow air flow out of the housing. The thermally isolated chamber may comprises thermally reflective material.

Abstract: Providing information about a monitored environment comprises monitoring a location by a plurality of sensors, collecting data from the plurality of sensors by a processing device, and providing information to a user of the status of the location based on data collected by at least some sensors, for display on a user device, via a network. A user may be enabled to scroll through updates in the order that the information was provided, on the user device, by an App, for example. Providing video clips from a location to a user device comprises storing first video clips related to respective events at the location that the user has been informed of and/or receiving a request to provide stored video clips of the location over a time period, from the user, retrieving the stored video clips, and providing the retrieved video clips to a user device for display.

Abstract: A method of configuring a first device, such as a monitoring device, to be controlled by a second, user device, via a network, comprises connecting the user device to the monitoring device to be configured, via an audio cable, providing a network password to a wireless network to the monitoring device from the user device, via the audio cable, connecting the monitoring device to the wireless network; and associating the monitoring device to the user device by a processing device, so that the user device can interact with the monitoring device and the processing device, via the wireless network. The user device may be a mobile user device, which may be connectable to a WiFi network and/or a cellular network, or example. A cryptographic key may be issued between the monitoring device and the user device for secure communication.

Abstract: A method of operating a security monitoring system comprises defining a group of people to receive a notification of an event taking place at a location associated with any member of the group, by a system, determining that a security event has at least potentially taken place that the members of the group need to be notified of, by the system, and notifying the members of the group of the event, via a network. Notifications of the at least potential security event may be provided to a first party of the at least potential security event and members of the group may be notified if the first party does not respond to the notification within a predetermined period of time. A system is also disclosed.