Abstract: A method of dynamically altering an activity zone within an electronic monitoring system is provided. The method includes generating first image data with a camera having a first field-of-view. Upon receiving the first image data, defining an activity zone therein. Subsequently, generating a second image data with the camera having a second field-of view that differs at least in-part from the first field-of-view. In response to the second image data being different from the first image data, modifying the activity zone to be at a second area that corresponds to the area defined in the first image data, and then responding to a triggering event occurring within the activity zone of the second area. The invention additionally relates to a system that implements such a method.

Abstract: A safety button includes an activation element, a first communication device, a second communication device, and a controller. The first communication device is configured to connect the safety button to a WLAN, while the second communication device is configured to connect the safety button to a user device such as a smart phone. The controller is in communication with the first and second communication devices. The controller is configured to cause the safety button to communicate with the WLAN via the first communication device if the safety button is connected to the WLAN, and to cause the safety button to communicate with the user device via the second communication device if the safety button is not connected to the WLAN. Upon actuation of the activation element, an alert signal is communicated to a remote server by way of either the WLAN or the user device.

Abstract: An electronic monitoring system implements an evaluation strategy to distinguish between low-interest detected events and high-interest detected events and to send lower or standard alerts to a user device if a detected event is a low-interest event and a heightened alert or warning if the detected event is a high-interest event. The system may utilize patterns of information to establish baseline event characteristics for the particular monitored environment. The baseline event characteristics are used to evaluate triggering events for determining whether those events are best categorized as low-interest or high-interest.

Abstract: A camera of a monitoring system detects electromagnetic radiation in at least two different spectrums. The system includes a database of stored images, where the stored images are stored in pairs of images corresponding to each spectrum and to a common face. A controller identifies a match from among the stored images by comparing the first image obtained by the camera in the first spectrum to each of the first images in the database and by comparing the second image obtained from the camera in the second spectrum to the corresponding second image stored in the database. A match is identified when the first image and the second image from the camera match the first image and the corresponding second image for a pair of images in the database.

Abstract: A smart camera for an electronic monitoring system is provided. The smart camera includes an imaging device having a field of view and being configured to capture an image. The imaging device has a variable exposure. A detector is operatively connected to the imaging device and configured to generate a trigger signal in response to activity within the field of view. A first processor is operatively connected to the detector and the imaging device, and a second processor is operatively connected to the detector and the imaging device. A computer-readable memory is operatively connected to the first processor and the secondary processor. The computer-readable memory is configured to store a map of ambient light levels in the field of view at selected times of day. The second processor varies the exposure of the imaging device in response to the trigger signal.

Abstract: A smart doorbell system including a chime listener that is configured to detect operation of a chime of a doorbell system in response to activation of a doorbell of the doorbell system. In response to this detection, the system sends a notification signal to a user device such as a smart phone. The chime listener may be configured to send an activation signal to an imaging device, typically having a camera, in response to the detection of chime operation. The imaging device is activated in response to receiving the activation signal and transmits images and/or other media which can viewed on a user device such as a smart phone.

Abstract: An electronic monitoring system implements a coordination of power state changes amongst multiple battery-powered monitoring devices, which may simultaneously wake multiple monitoring devices from lower powered sleep states to higher powered awake states upon detection of a triggering event by a single monitoring device. This implementation may be achieved with the initial event-detecting device awakening upon detecting the triggering event and transmitting a peer-wake signal to command the waking of the non-detecting monitoring devices. The initial event-detecting device may define an awake-active state in which it performs a response action, which may include capturing images, video, sound, or transmitting corresponding data within the system. Each non-detecting device may define an awake-ready state in which the non-detecting device is fully capable of performing the response action upon detection of a subsequent triggering event by the non-detecting device.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for tailoring the functionality of a monitoring system based on an identified orientation of an imaging device, typically a digital camera. The imaging device is wirelessly communicable with one or more base stations and/or access points over a WLAN. Captured media is processed depending on the identified orientation. The processed media is used to generate and display an image on a user device with one or more aspects of the display, such as aspect ratio or video compression rates, being dependent on the identified orientation. The size or shape of an activity zone that is monitored to trigger image capture and transmission may also be tailored to the identified orientation.

Abstract: A method of and system for conserving power of a battery in a battery-powered electronic device capable of wireless communications are disclosed. The electronic device, which can be a digital video camera or other component of a monitoring system or an HVAC controller, an appliance, or another aspect of a smart home system, is wirelessly communicable with one or more hubs over a wireless local area network. The electronic device has at least a high power radio and a low power radio operating at different frequencies. Communications switch from the high power radio to the low power radio upon the occurrence of a trigger event such as battery charge dropping below a designated threshold. The electronic device may be part of a WLAN coupled to a WAN via the Internet and a cellular network.

Abstract: A smart home system such a smart security system includes at least one controlled module capable of performing monitoring and/or control functions, and a controller that is in communication with the controlled module and a user device such as a smart phone or computer tablet. The system is operable to configure the user device with a first set of user interfaces and control functionalities in response to selection of a first operating mode, and to configure the user device with a second set of user interfaces and control functionalities in response to selection of a second operating mode. The first mode may be a master-controller mode in which the user device's graphics are displayed in portrait orientation, and the second mode may be a panel mode in which the user device's graphics are displayed in landscape orientation.

Abstract: An electronic monitoring system is provided that implements at least two communication paths using primary and secondary radios for facilitating self-installation or setup of electronic devices such as monitoring devices and/or various smart home devices using one of the communication paths to transmit various network and other credentials. The system may allow a device to automatically set itself up by scanning for a cooperating network device, such as a hub, that can provide network and/or user account information to the device, facilitating integration or onboarding of the device with minimal or without user action. The secondary radio may have a range at least commensurate with, and typically longer than, the range of the primary radio, permitting device setup anywhere within the system's primary coverage area.

Abstract: A networked electronic system and method are provided. The system includes a hub primary radio being defined within a primary communication path. The primary communication path has an operational state wherein data is transmittable therethrough and a fault state. Communication of data between a device primary radio of an electronic device and the hub primary radio through a primary communication path is monitored such that communication of the data is transferred to a secondary communication path between a device secondary radio of the device and a hub secondary radio in response to detection of a fault state on the primary communication path. The secondary communication path has a different frequency than the primary communication path. The system may be a monitoring system, and the device may be a monitoring device such as an imaging device including a camera.

Abstract: In an electronic monitoring system, an array of ground-level sensors and aircraft sensors are integrated to provide comprehensive security and privacy sensing of different types of threats. Information from the ground-level sensors may be used to augment the detection and identification of aircraft such as piloted airplanes or unmanned drones, and a white list system may be used to reduce false positive alerts for routine delivery aircraft and the like.

Abstract: A safety button includes an activation element, a first communication device, a second communication device, and a controller. The first communication device is configured to connect the safety button to a WLAN, while the second communication device is configured to connect the safety button to a user device such as a smart phone. The controller is in communication with the first and second communication devices. The controller is configured to cause the safety button to communicate with the WLAN via the first communication device if the safety button is connected to the WLAN, and to cause the safety button to communicate with the user device via the second communication device if the safety button is not connected to the WLAN. Upon actuation of the activation element, an alert signal is communicated to a remote server by way of either the WLAN or the user device.

Abstract: An electronic monitoring system is provided that implements multiple wireless communication paths for facilitating connectivity evaluations of potential mounting locations of wirelessly networked devices, such as monitoring devices. The system can provide real-time feedback of when the monitoring device moves from within communication range of a hub to outside of its communication range. The feedback may be sent using a secondary communication path of the system, allowing the system to communicate information about the state of its primary communication path connectivity.

Abstract: An electronic monitoring system and method are provided. The electronic monitoring system monitors communication of data between a device primary radio of a monitoring device and a hub primary radio through a primary communication path. Communication of the data is transferred to a secondary communication path between a device secondary radio of the monitoring device and a hub secondary radio in response to the detection of a disruption on the primary communication path resulting from interference or jamming of communications over the primary communication path. The primary and secondary radios operate a different frequencies.

Abstract: A programmable smart button includes a housing, at least one interactive surface, a controller, and a programmable display adjustable by a user interfacing with a user device such as a smart phone. The display may include a module identifier indicator that identifies a module being controlled by the smart button as well as function indicator associated with an interactive surface of the smart button. The controller is in communication with the display and is configured to set the information in the indicators shown by the display and to determine the function(s) of the interactive surface(s). The display may be a low power display, such as a bistable display, having negligible effect on the battery life of the smart button.

Abstract: An electronic monitoring system is provided that implements primary and secondary communication paths for enabling monitoring activities and troubleshooting activities upon disruption or failure of communications through the primary communication path. When operational/monitoring communications through a primary communication path are compromised, the system communicates through a secondary communication path to facilitate diagnostics of the issues in the primary communication path. The primary and secondary communication paths may transmit data at different frequencies. The frequency of the secondary communication path may be lower than that of the primary communication path with a longer range and may be in a sub-GHz (gigahertz) frequency band.

Abstract: A method of and system are disclosed for detecting various gestures by an imaging device and executing a task assigned to these gestures. For instance, the task could include a number of smart home functions, as well as various text and other communication transmissions. The imaging device, which can be a digital camera, is wirelessly communicable with one or more base stations and/or access points over a wireless local area network. The imaging device transmits images and/or videos, which can be reviewed by a computer vision program (“CV”). CV can identify potential gestures in the images and/or videos and compare any such images and/or videos to a database of known gestures. When a gesture is detected, a corresponding task, such as a smart home action, may be executed. Additionally, CV may use facial recognition to first identify an individual, and then execute a task specific to the identified individual based on a detected gesture.