Abstract: A method for generating a user interface with a user interface device in a distributed automation system includes receiving a service message from a home automation device in the distributed automation system, identifying a state of a dialog manager of the user interface device in response to receiving the service message, and generating a natural language output message based at least in part on a device identifier parameter in the service message and a plurality of natural language templates stored in the memory in response to the dialog manager being in an idle state. The method further includes storing the service message in a priority queue in the memory based on a priority level parameter corresponding to the service message in response to the dialog manager being in an active state.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of discriminating detected objects in an area with a vision apparatus. The method includes generating image data of a portion of the area using an imaging device of the object detection device, and processing the image data to classify the image data as an imaged scene type selected from a plurality of scene types stored as scene type data in the memory. The method further includes processing the image data using the object identification data to generate object detection data for each object of the plurality of objects located in the portion of the area, each object detection data having a corresponding scene type of the plurality of scene types obtained from the object identification data, and generating user a sensible output only for the object detection data having a corresponding scene type that is the same as the imaged scene type.

Abstract: A method of operating a first device in group of devices in a network is disclosed. The method comprises encrypting and decrypting, with a processor of the first device, communications with other devices in the group of devices using a shared key that is stored in a memory of each device in the group of devices; receiving, with a transceiver of the first device, a first message from a second device in the group of devices, the first message indicating that the first device is authorized to share the shared key; and transmitting, with the first device, the shared key to a third device in the network that is not in the first group of devices only after receiving the first message indicating that the first device is authorized to share the shared key.

Abstract: A method for generating a user interface with a user interface device in a distributed automation system includes receiving a service message from a home automation device in the distributed automation system, identifying a state of a dialog manager of the user interface device in response to receiving the service message, and generating a natural language output message based at least in part on a device identifier parameter in the service message and a plurality of natural language templates stored in the memory in response to the dialog manager being in an idle state. The method further includes storing the service message in a priority queue in the memory based on a priority level parameter corresponding to the service message in response to the dialog manager being in an active state.

Abstract: A method of operating a first device in group of devices in a network is disclosed. The method comprises encrypting and decrypting, with a processor of the first device, communications with other devices in the group of devices using a shared key that is stored in a memory of each device in the group of devices; receiving, with a transceiver of the first device, a first message from a second device in the group of devices, the first message indicating that the first device is authorized to share the shared key; and transmitting, with the first device, the shared key to a third device in the network that is not in the first group of devices only after receiving the first message indicating that the first device is authorized to share the shared key.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of discriminating detected objects in an area with a vision apparatus. The method includes generating image data of a portion of the area using an imaging device of the object detection device, and processing the image data to classify the image data as an imaged scene type selected from a plurality of scene types stored as scene type data in the memory. The method further includes processing the image data using the object identification data to generate object detection data for each object of the plurality of objects located in the portion of the area, each object detection data having a corresponding scene type of the plurality of scene types obtained from the object identification data, and generating user a sensible output only for the object detection data having a corresponding scene type that is the same as the imaged scene type.

Abstract: A method of operating an audio monitoring system includes generating with a sound sensor audio data corresponding to a sound event generated by an object in a scene around the sound sensor, identifying with a processor a type and action of the object in the scene that generated the sound with reference to the audio data, generating with the processor a timestamp corresponding to a time of the detection of the sound event, and updating a scene state model corresponding to sound events generated by a plurality of objects in the scene with reference to the identified type of object, action taken by the object, and the timestamp. The method further includes identifying a sound event in the scene with reference to the scene state model and a predetermined scene grammar stored in a memory, and generating with the processor an output corresponding to the sound event.

Abstract: A method of operating an audio monitoring system includes generating with a sound sensor audio data corresponding to a sound event generated by an object in a scene around the sound sensor, identifying with a processor a type and action of the object in the scene that generated the sound with reference to the audio data, generating with the processor a timestamp corresponding to a time of the detection of the sound event, and updating a scene state model corresponding to sound events generated by a plurality of objects in the scene with reference to the identified type of object, action taken by the object, and the timestamp. The method further includes identifying a sound event in the scene with reference to the scene state model and a predetermined scene grammar stored in a memory, and generating with the processor an output corresponding to the sound event.