Patents Assigned to VIVINT, INC.
  • Techniques for identifying and indexing distinguishing features in a video feed
    Patent number: 9886633
    Abstract: A method for security and/or automation systems is described. In one embodiment, the method may include receiving a plurality of video footage at a home automation system from at least one video monitor. The method may further include reviewing the plurality of video footage recorded over a predetermined period of time. The method may further include automatically identifying at least one distinguishing feature in the video footage over the predetermined period of time, and automatically indexing the video footage based, at least in part, on identifying the at least one distinguishing feature in the video footage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
    Inventors: Rongbin Lanny Lin, Brandon Bunker, Aaron Davis, Shiwei Liu, Matthew Mahar, Matthew J. Eyring, Clint Gordon-Carroll, Jeremy B. Warren, James Ellis Nye, Jefferson Lyman
  • Pushing video to panels and sending metadata tag to cloud
    Patent number: 9888266
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for storing and accessing video content collected by a home automation system. According to at least one embodiment, an apparatus for accessing video content collected by a home automation system includes a processor, a memory in electronic communication with the processor, and instructions stored in the memory which are executable by a processor to receive metadata about a recorded event from a cloud storage, request video content of the recorded event based on the metadata, and receive at least some of the video content from a controller of the home automation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeremy B. Warren
  • Sprinkler control systems and methods
    Patent number: 9883641
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for controlling a sprinkler system, including an apparatus for sprinkler system control that includes a processor, a memory in electronic communication with the processor, and instructions stored in the memory. The instructions are executable by the processor to receive operation instructions for the sprinkler system from a source that is separate from a control panel of the sprinkler system, and operate valves of the sprinkler system independent of instructions from the control panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey G. Thomas
  • Networked security cameras and automation
    Patent number: 9870694
    Abstract: Apparatuses, techniques, and methods for a security and/or automation system are described. In some cases, methods may include obtaining data from a first sensor at a first location, receiving identification data related to a person or an event at the first location; comparing the obtained data with the identification data, adjusting a first security action at the first location based at least in part on comparing the received data with the obtained data, and transmitting information to a second sensor at a second location different from the first location based at least in part on the determining, the second sensor being part of a predetermined group of devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew J. Eyring, Jeffrey David Whitlock, Thomas Colby Winegar, Kyle Lefebvre, Tyson Chapman, Jungtaik Hwang, Clint Huson Gordon-Carroll
  • Event triggered messaging
    Patent number: 9872155
    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: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Child, Matthew Mahar, Michelle Zundel
  • Integrated radio and solar panels
    Patent number: 9871287
    Abstract: A solar panel array structure is used in network communications that comprises at least one support structure configured to support a solar panel array, wherein the at least one support structure comprises a metal portion. The metal portion comprises antenna connections that are configured to allow the metal portion to be used as a radio antenna. In some cases, a radio transceiver is connected to the antenna connections. A separate radio antenna may also be connected to the support structure or to the solar panel array. The radio transceiver may be used to transmit data through a wireless communication network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
    Inventor: Maha Achour
  • Smart bedtime
    Patent number: 9858788
    Abstract: A method for security and/or automation systems is described. In one embodiment, the method may include receiving occupancy data, identifying characteristics of the occupancy data, determining an occupant's location relative to the premises at a predetermined time, and generating a notification based at least in part on the determining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy B. Warren, Matthew J. Eyring, James E. Nye
  • Data-connection aggregation
    Patent number: 9860179
    Abstract: A method for security and/or automation systems is disclosed. The method may include identifying data being transmitted over a wired data-connection and parsing the identified data into two or more parts. The method may additionally include transmitting a first part of the identified data over a primary wireless data-connection and transmitting a second part of the identified data over an auxiliary wireless data-connection connected to the primary wireless data-connection via a wireless data-connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin Ross
  • One-time access to an automation system
    Patent number: 9860242
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for managing one-time access to an automation system. According to at least one embodiment, a computer-implemented method to grant a user access to an automation is described. The method may comprise receiving one or more access parameters to authorize one-time permission to the user to access the automation system. The method may further comprise granting one-time permission to the user to access the automation system based at least in part on the one or more access parameters. The method may additionally comprise generating a message comprising at least the one-time permission to access the automation system. The one or more access parameters may comprise at least one of a limited time frame, single use entry code, or a limited number of entries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
    Inventor: Jungtaik Hwang
  • Active power management
    Patent number: 9859741
    Abstract: A method for security and/or automation systems is described. In one embodiment, the method may include receiving, at a power adapter, power from a power supply, routing a first portion of the power received from the power supply to the doorbell unit, and routing a second portion of the power received from the power supply to both the device of the doorbell unit and the doorbell chime when the doorbell button is being actuated. In some cases, the power adapter is wired, via doorbell wiring, to at least one of a doorbell chime, a doorbell unit, and the power supply. In one example, the first portion of power is routed to power a device of the doorbell unit when a doorbell button of the doorbell unit is not being actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
    Inventors: James Beagley, Jason C. Flint, Scott Bevan
  • Occupancy-targeted baby monitoring
    Patent number: 9858789
    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: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Child, Michelle Zundel
  • Simultaneous channel switching within a mesh network
    Patent number: 9860762
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for channel switching in a mesh network is described. In one embodiment, a beacon is sent. The beacon includes a channel change request in both proprietary and standard formats. The channel change request includes an instruction to change to a particular channel and a geo-timing synchronization function identifying when the change to the particular channel should occur. The geo-timing synchronization function is used to determine that the time has arrived to change to the particular channel. The particular channel is changed to synchronously with all other access points in the mesh network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
    Inventor: Venkat Kalkunte
  • Home automation via voice control
    Patent number: 9860076
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for setting operation rules for use in controlling aspects of a home automation system. According to at least one embodiment, an apparatus for establishing operation rules in a home automation system includes a processor, a memory in electronic communication with the processor, and instructions stored in the memory which are executable by the processor to receive a spoken command having a plurality of rule setting terms, establish at least one operation rule for the home automation system based on the spoken command, and store the at least one operation rule for later use by the home automation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeremy B. Warren
  • Using hard drive on panels for data storage
    Patent number: 9851924
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for controlling an automation and security system. According to at least one embodiment, an apparatus for data storage in an automation and security system includes a processor, a memory in electronic communication with the processor, and instructions stored in the memory. The instructions are executable by a processor to receive data at a first device, store a copy of the data on the first device, fragment the data into a plurality of data fragments, transmit the plurality of data fragments to a plurality of remote devices, and store some of the plurality of data fragments on each of the plurality of remote devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
    Inventors: Jungtaik Hwang, Matthew J. Eyring, Jeremy B. Warren, James Ellis Nye
  • HVAC workload and cost logic
    Patent number: 9851119
    Abstract: A method for HVAC workload and cost logic is described. In one embodiment, the method includes detecting a thermostat of an HVAC system being set to a target temperature and upon detecting the thermostat being set to the target temperature, detecting a current indoor condition and a current outdoor condition. In some embodiments, the method includes calculating an estimated runtime of an HVAC heating or cooling cycle for the target temperature. The estimated runtime is based on the target temperature, the current indoor and outdoor conditions, and on a result of querying a correlation database. The correlation database includes data points for a plurality of previous HVAC heating and cooling cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
    Inventor: JonPaul Vega
  • Page-based metadata system for distributed filesystem
    Patent number: 9846703
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for storing metadata in a network of distributed remote storage devices. An example computer implemented method includes identifying a plurality of metadata inodes, grouping the plurality of metadata inodes into one or more metadata pages, mapping the plurality of metadata inodes and the plurality of metadata pages, and storing the mapping as a manifest page, and storing data to and retrieving data from the distributed remote storage devices using the plurality of metadata inodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
    Inventors: Alen Lynn Peacock, Erik Sean Nolte, John Timothy Olds, Jeffrey Michael Wendling
  • Communications based on geo location information
    Patent number: 9848296
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for communicating messages using a home automation system. An example computer-implemented method for communicating based on geo location information using an automation and security system includes determining a geo location of a person relative to a property being monitored by the automation and security system, and automatically delivering a message to the person based on the geo location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
    Inventors: Tim Lott, Brandon Bunker
  • Hybrid rule implementation for an automation system
    Patent number: 9841740
    Abstract: According to at least one embodiment, a computer-implemented method to implement at least one automation rule is described. The at least one automation rule may be generated, wherein the at least one automation rule may control at least one aspect of an automation system. The execution origination point may be selected for the at least one automation rule based at least in part on the one or more implementation parameters. The one or more implementation parameters may comprise at least one of the speed of the automation rule execution, the scalability of the automation rule, the flexibility of the automation rule conditions, or the ease of automation rule modification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Brown, Jason Carter, Ryan Carlson
  • Techniques to extend a doorbell chime
    Patent number: 9836932
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for security and/or automation systems are described. In some embodiments, the methods may include detecting an input at a doorbell, and communicating the detected input to a doorbell signal generating component associated with the doorbell based at least in part on the detecting. The methods may further include generating a first alert at the doorbell signal generating component associated with the doorbell. In some embodiments, the methods may further include communicating the detected input to one or more alert components associated with the security and/or automation system based at least in part on the detecting, and generating a second alert at the one or more alert components associated with the security and/or automation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig Matsuura
  • Camera
    Patent number: D810169
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: VIVINT, INC.
    Inventor: Abhijeet Bhattacharya