Abstract: Techniques are described for detecting and handling unauthenticated commands in a property monitoring system. In some implementations, a monitoring system may include sensors located throughout a property, a monitoring control unit, and an input device. The monitoring control unit may be configured to receive data collected by the sensors, as well as an input command detected by the input device. For an input command that does not include authentication information, the monitoring control unit may generate property state information based on the sensor data, then analyze the property state data and the input command against one or more rules that relate to authorization of unauthenticated commands. Based on the analysis, the monitoring control unit may determine whether to perform the action corresponding to the input command or whether to perform another action, for example, generating and providing a notification or authorization request to a user.

Abstract: Techniques are described for enabling a service administrator to respond to a detected doorbell press at a property when an authorized user is unavailable to respond. In some implementations, a determination that a doorbell press has been detected at a property is made. Video data collected by a doorbell device of the property is obtained in response to determining that the doorbell press has been detected at the property. Sensor data collected by one or more sensors of a monitoring system located within the property is obtained in response to determining that the doorbell press has been detected at the property. A present security risk for the property is determined based at least on the obtained sensor data and the obtained video data. A communication session between the doorbell device and a server system associated with the monitoring system of the property is established in response to determining the present security risk for the property.

Abstract: A caulking finger includes a handle and a finger portion. The handle has a finger engagement tab at one end, while the finger portion has a tab engagement recess configured to receive the finger engagement tab of the handle. The finger portion is elastic and curved to provide a curved and pliable surface for pressing caulk into a seam or joint to a desired finish.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes receiving a sample image of an area of a property, identifying a moving object from the sample image, determining a site in the property based on the identified moving object, determining an optical pattern to project at the site based on the identified moving object, and transmitting an instruction to a projector to project the determined optical pattern at the determined site.

Abstract: Techniques are described for trash monitoring using video analytics. In some implementations, a schedule for placing trash for collection is obtained, video of a scene that includes trash when trash is placed for collection is obtained, whether the trash has been placed for collection according to the schedule is determined from the video, and in response to determining that the trash is not placed for collection according to the schedule, a notification that the trash has not been placed for collection is provided.

Abstract: Low sulfur gasoline blend stock is produced by a hydrodesulfurization process including at least two hydrodesulfurization reactors with hydrogen feeds and two finishing reactors arranged where the first polishing reactor converts both thiophenic compounds and mercaptans to hydrogen sulfide and hydrocarbons and the second polishing reactor uses a catalyst that has much less thiophenic conversion activity but is operated at a higher temperature to more substantially reduce the sulfur content of the gasoline present in the form of mercaptans. As the conversion of thiophenes to hydrogen sulfide is correlated to reducing octane number, using a second polishing reactor that has little activity for thiophene conversion also protects the high-octane species in the gasoline thereby minimizing octane loss while reducing total sulfur content to acceptable levels. The sulfur left in the gasoline is biased toward higher thiophene content and away from mercaptan content.

Abstract: Low sulfur gasoline blend stock is produced by a hydrodesulfurization process including at least two hydrodesulfurization reactors with hydrogen feeds and two finishing reactors arranged where the first polishing reactor converts both thiophenic compounds and mercaptans to hydrogen sulfide and hydrocarbons and the second polishing reactor uses a catalyst that has much less thiophenic conversion activity but is operated at a higher temperature to more substantially reduce the sulfur content of the gasoline present in the form of mercaptans. As the conversion of thiophenes to hydrogen sulfide is correlated to reducing octane number, using a second polishing reactor that has little activity for thiophene conversion also protects the high-octane species in the gasoline thereby minimizing octane loss while reducing total sulfur content to acceptable levels. The sulfur left in the gasoline is biased toward higher thiophene content and away from mercaptan content.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a storage device, for using a drone to pre-surveil a portion of a property. In one aspect, a system may include a monitoring unit. The monitoring unit may include a network interface, a processor, and a storage device that includes instructions to cause the processor to perform operations. The operations may include obtaining data that is indicative of one or more acts of an occupant of the property, applying the obtained data that is indicative of one or more acts of the occupant of the property to a pre-surveillance rule, determining that the pre-surveillance rule is satisfied, determining a drone navigation path that is associated with the pre-surveillance rule, transmitting, to a drone, an instruction to perform pre-surveillance of the portion of the one or more properties using the drone navigation path.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, by a monitoring system that is configured to monitor a property and from a visitor to the property, a personally identifying code and a biometric identifier, determining that the personally identifying code corresponds to a stored personally identifying code, receiving, by the monitoring system, location information that corresponds to locations of the visitor during a time period before visiting the property, comparing the biometric identifier to a stored biometric identifier, based on determining that the personally identifying code corresponds to a stored personally identifying code, comparing the biometric identifier to the stored biometric identifier, and the location information, determining a confidence score that reflects a likelihood that the visitor is authorized to access the property, based on the confidence score that reflects the likelihood that the visitor is authorized to access the property, selecting, from among multiple monitoring system actions, a monitoring sy

Abstract: Systems and techniques are described for supervising and monitoring the delivery of a package to a property. In some implementations, shipment data indicating a package to be delivered at the property and identification information for a first person is obtained. A request for a second person to access the property and deliver the package that includes identification information for the second person is received. Identification information for the first person is compared to the identification information for the second person. Access to the property is provided to the second person. Sensor data generated by one or more sensors that are located throughout the property and while providing access to the property is obtained and analyzed. A determination of whether the second person delivered the package to the property is made based on analyzing the sensor data. Data indicating the determination is provided for output.

Abstract: Techniques are described for managing communications between multiple computing nodes, such as computing nodes that are separated by one or more physical networks. In some situations, the techniques may be used to provide a virtual network between multiple computing nodes that are separated by one or more intermediate physical networks, such as from the edge of the one or more intermediate physical networks by modifying communications that enter and/or leave the intermediate physical networks. In some situations, the computing nodes may include virtual machine nodes hosted on one or more physical computing machines or systems, such as by or on behalf of one or more users (e.g., users of a program execution service). The managing of the communications may include determining whether communications sent to managed computing nodes are authorized, and providing the communications to the computing nodes only if they are determined to be authorized.

Abstract: Techniques are described for detecting and handling unauthenticated commands in a property monitoring system. In some implementations, a monitoring system may include sensors located throughout a property, a monitoring control unit, and an input device. The monitoring control unit may be configured to receive data collected by the sensors, as well as an input command detected by the input device. For an input command that does not include authentication information, the monitoring control unit may generate property state information based on the sensor data, then analyze the property state data and the input command against one or more rules that relate to authorization of unauthenticated commands. Based on the analysis, the monitoring control unit may determine whether to perform the action corresponding to the input command or whether to perform another action, for example, generating and providing a notification or authorization request to a user.

Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatus, and computer programs, for tracking objects are disclosed. In one aspect, a method is disclosed that includes actions of obtaining an image, determining that a user of a first monitoring system has opted-in for object tracking by a second monitoring system that is remote from the first monitoring system, and based on a determination that the user of the first monitoring system has opted-in for object tracking: determining whether the obtained image satisfies a predetermined level of similarity to a stored tracking object image model stored on a first device of the first monitoring system, and based on a determination that the obtained image satisfies a predetermined level of similarity to the stored tracking object image model, generating a tracking update notification, and transmitting the tracking update notification to the second monitoring system that is remote from the first monitoring system.

Abstract: Techniques are described for enabling a service administrator to respond to a detected doorbell press at a property when an authorized user is unavailable to respond. In some implementations, a determination that a doorbell press has been detected at a property is made. Video data collected by a doorbell device of the property is obtained in response to determining that the doorbell press has been detected at the property. Sensor data collected by one or more sensors of a monitoring system located within the property is obtained in response to determining that the doorbell press has been detected at the property. A present security risk for the property is determined based at least on the obtained sensor data and the obtained video data. A communication session between the doorbell device and a server system associated with the monitoring system of the property is established in response to determining the present security risk for the property.

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: A caulking finger includes a handle and a finger portion. The handle has a finger engagement tab at one end, while the finger portion has a tab engagement recess configured to receive the finger engagement tab of the handle. The finger portion is elastic and curved to provide a curved and pliable surface for pressing caulk into a seam or joint to a desired finish.

Abstract: Techniques are described for replacing a keypad of an existing security system within a property with a communication-enabled keypad device with dual functioning capabilities as a communicator device and a keypad device. In some implementations, data is received from a security panel of a property. A keypad bus protocol of the security panel is determined based on the data received from the security panel. Sensor data is received from one or more sensors located within the property. A monitoring system command that is not specified within a keypad bus of the security panel is determined based on based on the obtained sensor data. The monitoring system command is converted to a panel command using the keypad bus protocol. The panel command is transmitted on the keypad bus of the security panel.

Abstract: Techniques are described for managing communications between multiple computing nodes, such as computing nodes that are separated by one or more physical networks. In some situations, the techniques may be used to provide a virtual network between multiple computing nodes that are separated by one or more intermediate physical networks, such as from the edge of the one or more intermediate physical networks by modifying communications that enter and/or leave the intermediate physical networks. In some situations, the computing nodes may include virtual machine nodes hosted on one or more physical computing machines or systems, such as by or on behalf of one or more users (e.g., users of a program execution service). The managing of the communications may include determining whether communications sent to managed computing nodes are authorized, and providing the communications to the computing nodes only if they are determined to be authorized.

Abstract: A monitoring system is configured to monitor a property. The monitoring system includes a camera, a sensor, and a monitor control unit. The monitor control unit is configured to receive image data and sensor data. The monitor control unit is configured to determine that the image data includes a representation of a person. The monitor control unit is configured to determine an orientation of a representation of a head of the person. The monitor control unit is configured to determine that the representation of the head of the person likely includes a representation of a face of the person. The monitor control unit is configured to determine that the face of the person is likely concealed. The monitor control unit is configured to determine a malicious intent score that reflects a likelihood that the person has a malicious intent. The monitor control unit is configured to perform an action.