Abstract: Various systems and methods related to smart-home networking are presented. A low-power smart home device may be exclusively battery powered. The low-power smart home device may transmit data via a low-power communication protocol to a spokesman smart home device. The spokesman smart home device may receive the data transmitted via the low-power communication protocol. The spokesman smart home device may be a doorbell, a thermostat, a hazard detector, or a wall switch. The spokesman smart home device may connected to household wiring that provides power. The spokesman smart home device may translate the data from the low-power communication protocol to a relatively high-power communication protocol. The spokesman smart home device may transmit the data, via the relatively high-power communication protocol, to a cloud-based server system.

Abstract: Embodiments provided herein relate to: suggesting, automatically implementing, or both suggesting and automatically implementing, one or more household policies to be implemented within a household environment. The household policies include one or more input criteria that is derivable from at least one smart device within the household environment, the one or more input criteria relating to a characteristic of the household environment, a characteristic of one or more occupants of the household, or both. The household policies also include one or more outputs to be provided based upon the one or more input criteria.

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.

Abstract: HVAC schedules may be programmed for a thermostat using a combination of pre-existing schedules or templates and automated schedule learning. For example, a pre-existing schedule may be initiated on the thermostat and the automated schedule learning may be used to update the pre-existing schedule based on users' interactions with the thermostat. The preexisting HVAC schedules may be stored on a device or received from a social networking service or another online service that includes shared HVAC schedules.

Abstract: This application is directed to a method of home monitoring and control implemented by a doorbell installed at a door of a home, an application executable by a monitoring device, and a remote server. The doorbell has a button that, upon being touched, depressed or activated, wirelessly causes an audio speaker of an electronic device to sound an audible notification and/or a message to be sent to a monitoring device associated with an occupant of the home to indicate presence of a person at the door. The doorbell also has a camera that captures video data within a field of view. The remote server receives the video data from the doorbell and relays them to the monitoring device. The application receives and displays at least a portion of the video data captured by the camera.

Abstract: This application is directed to a home monitoring and control system including a doorbell installed at a door of a home, an application executable by a monitoring device, and a remote server. The doorbell has a button configured to, upon being touched, depressed or activated, wirelessly cause an audio speaker of an electronic device to sound an audible notification or a message to be sent to the monitoring device 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. The remote server is configured to receive from the doorbell the video data and the message, and relay them to the monitoring device. The application is configured to receive and display at least a portion of the video data captured by the camera of the doorbell.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide thermostat controls having improved tactile feedback. According to one embodiment, a thermostat includes a bottom member, a switch, a top member, and a motion guiding member or assembly that operationally couples the top member with the bottom member so that the top member is inwardly pressable by a user relative to the bottom member to allow the thermostat to receive input from the user by contacting the switch with a component of the top member or the bottom member. The motion guiding member or assembly contacts the top member near its outer periphery to control the inward motion of the top member relative to the bottom member to provide the improved tactile feedback.

Abstract: Improved techniques to control utilization of accessory devices with electronic devices are disclosed. The improved techniques can use cryptographic approaches to authenticate electronic devices, namely, electronic devices that interconnect and communicate with one another. One aspect pertains to techniques for authenticating an electronic device, such as an accessory device. Another aspect pertains to provisioning software features (e.g., functions) by or for an electronic device (e.g., a host device). Different electronic devices can, for example, be provisioned differently depending on different degrees or levels of authentication, or depending on manufacturer or product basis. Still another aspect pertains to using an accessory (or adapter) to convert a peripheral device (e.g., USB device) into a host device (e.g., USB host). The improved techniques are particularly well suited for electronic devices, such as media devices, that can receive accessory devices.

Abstract: An electronic device may include an occupancy sensor that is configured to detect presence within a responsive range of the occupancy sensor and a stand configured to physically support the electronic device, where the stand comprises a reflective surface positioned to reflect energy emissions from an object within the responsive range of the occupancy sensor onto the occupancy sensor.

Abstract: Proximity based systems and methods that are implemented on an electronic device are disclosed. The method includes sensing an object spaced away and in close proximity to the electronic device. The method also includes performing an action in the electronic device when an object is sensed.

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: 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.

Abstract: A method for using a first device to pair a second device to a user account may include receiving first wireless communications using a first wireless protocol, where the first device has previously been paired with the user account. The method may also include receiving a transmission that instructs the first device to establish second wireless communications with the second device, and then establishing the second wireless communications between the first device and the second device using a second wireless protocol. The method may additionally include receiving, using the first wireless protocol, information allowing the second device to use the first wireless protocol, and sending the information to the second device using the second wireless protocol, where a new pairing between the second device and the user account is established using the first wireless protocol.

Abstract: Embodiments provided herein relate to implementing a household policy within a household environment. In one example, a method includes: receiving, at a processor, the household policy; interpreting the household policy to extract one or more conditional events associated with the household policy; monitoring, via at least one sensing smart device in the household environment, for satisfaction of the one or more conditional events; and when the one or more events is satisfied, implement one or more controls on at least one conditionally controlled smart device in the household environment, the at least one smart device affecting the household environment.

Abstract: Methods and systems facilitate network communications between a wireless network-connected thermostat and a cloud-based management server in a manner that promotes reduced power usage and extended service life of an energy-storage device of the thermostat, while at the same time accomplishing timely data transfer between the thermostat and the cloud-based management server for suitable and time-appropriate control of an HVAC system. The thermostat further comprises powering circuitry configured to: extract electrical power from one or more HVAC control wires in a manner that does not require a “common” wire; supply electrical power for thermostat operation; recharge the energy-storage device (if needed) using any surplus extracted power; and discharge the energy-storage device to assist in supplying electrical power for thermostat operation during intervals in which the extracted power alone is insufficient for thermostat operation.

Abstract: A smart home controller receives information from an electronic device with a two-dimensional capacitance sensing area. The received information is based on a predefined capacitance distribution detected for an object placed on or near the two-dimensional capacitance sensing area. In response to receiving the information from the electronic device with the two-dimensional capacitance sensing area, the smart home controller is at least conditionally configured, such that the smart home controller changes from operating in a first configuration to operating in a second configuration, distinct from the first configuration, based on the received information.

Abstract: A thermostat for controlling an HVAC system is described, the thermostat having a user interface that is visually pleasing, approachable, and easy to use while also providing ready access to, and intuitive navigation within, a menuing system capable of receiving a variety of different types of user settings and/or control parameters. For some embodiments, the thermostat comprises a housing, a ring-shaped user-interface component configured to track a rotational input motion of a user, a processing system configured to identify a setpoint temperature value based on the tracked rotational input motion, and an electronic display coupled to the processing system. An interactive thermostat menuing system is accessible to the user by an inward pressing of the ring-shaped user interface component. User navigation within the interactive thermostat menuing system is achievable by virtue of respective rotational input motions and inward pressings of the ring-shaped user interface component.

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: The various methods and devices described herein relate to devices which, in at least certain embodiments, may include one or more sensors for providing data relating to user activity and at least one processor for causing the device to respond based on the user activity which was determined, at least in part, through the sensors. The response by the device may include a change of state of the device, and the response may be automatically performed after the user activity is determined.