Abstract: A system and method (10) are disclosed for providing an alternate communication path (30) between a central monitoring station (12) and a connected security/control system (14) for a home, office, apartment, business, or other resident or work-related area (16), the system (14) having a control panel (18) and a plurality of connected electronic devices (22 and 24), each device (22, 24) having a signal connection (26) with the control panel (18) to enable the control panel (18) to monitor and/or control each of the electronic devices (22 and 24). The system (10) is configured to automatically detect a failure in a primary communication path (20) between the control panel (18) and the central monitoring station (12) and, in response to such a detected failure, to automatically establish an alternative communication path (30) via one or more of the connected electronic devices (24).

Abstract: This disclosure generally relates to building automation systems, and more particularly to device enrollment techniques in a Building Automation System (BAS). In one example, the Building Automation System includes a central controller and one or more remote sensors/devices. The central controller is initially placed into its enrollment mode. An installer may then walk around the building uttering a predetermined verbal word or phrase. When a sensor/device hears the predetermined verbal word or phrase, the corresponding sensor/device enters its enrollment mode, and then becomes enrolled with the central controller of the Building Automation System. In some cases, the Building Automation System may include a security system.

Abstract: Systems and methods of overriding a scheduled task in an intrusion system are provided. A method can include identifying a task scheduled to be executed at a scheduled time, identifying a recipient of an alert message for the task, identifying a transmission medium for the alert message for the task, identifying a predetermined period of time prior to the scheduled time, transmitting the alert message to the recipient via the transmission medium when the predetermined period of time prior to the scheduled time occurs, receiving a response message from the recipient, and, based on contents of the response message, executing the task at the scheduled time, canceling the task at the scheduled time, or rescheduling the task for a new scheduled time. The method can confirm receipt of a valid user password before executing, canceling, or rescheduling the task.

Abstract: An apparatus including a plurality of user controlled devices, each located at a respective predetermined location within a geographic area of a user, a respective location indicator associated with each of the plurality of user controlled devices, a portable user device including a respective controlling application of each of the plurality of user controlled devices embodied in a memory of the portable user device, a monitoring processor of the portable user device that detects a location of the portable user device within the geographic area based upon a wireless signal from one of the respective location indicators and an interface processor of the portable device that loads the controlling application of one of the plurality of user controlled devices based upon the detected location of the portable user device.

Abstract: A system and method (10) are disclosed for providing an alternate communication path (30) between a central monitoring station (12) and a connected security/control system (14) for a home, office, apartment, business, or other resident or work-related area (16), the system (14) having a control panel (18) and a plurality of connected electronic devices (22 and 24), each device (22, 24) having a signal connection (26) with the control panel (18) to enable the control panel (18) to monitor and/or control each of the electronic devices (22 and 24). The system (10) is configured to automatically detect a failure in a primary communication path (20) between the control panel (18) and the central monitoring station (12) and, in response to such a detected failure, to automatically establish an alternative communication path (30) via one or more of the connected electronic devices (24).

Abstract: Systems and methods for tracking unauthorized intruders using a drone integrated with a security system are provided. The drone can carry a transceiver device and an image capturing device, the transceiver device can receive an alarm signal from a security system monitoring a region such that the alarm signal indicates an unauthorized intruder is located in the region, the drone can move to an initial location of the unauthorized intruder, the image capturing device can capture an initial image of the unauthorized intruder at the initial location, and the drone can track the unauthorized intruder.

Abstract: Systems and methods of alerting a central monitoring station and registered users about a potential duress situation using a mobile application are provided. Some methods can include receiving user input to access a remote security system, responsive to receiving the user input, determining whether the user input includes a first type of user input or a second type of user input, when the user input includes the second type of user input, collecting additional information from an ambient environment, transmitting a duress message to a central monitoring station, the duress message including the additional information.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus that embodies a method including a panic alert mobile application of a security system that protects a secured geographic area executing on a portable electronic device of an authorized user, the panic alert mobile application retrieving a predetermined word sequence associated with the authorized user, the panic alert mobile application continuously monitoring spoken words of the authorized user, the panic alert mobile application detecting the predetermined word sequence in the spoken words of the authorized user and the panic alert mobile application reporting a panic alert to a central monitoring station of the security system.

Abstract: This disclosure generally relates to building automation systems, and more particularly to device enrollment techniques in a Building Automation System (BAS). In one example, the Building Automation System includes a central controller and one or more remote sensors/devices. The central controller is initially placed into its enrollment mode. An installer may then walk around the building uttering a predetermined verbal word or phrase. When a sensor/device hears the predetermined verbal word or phrase, the corresponding sensor/device enters its enrollment mode, and then becomes enrolled with the central controller of the Building Automation System. In some cases, the Building Automation System may include a security system.

Abstract: Systems and methods of alerting a central monitoring station and registered users about a potential duress situation using a mobile application are provided. Some methods can include receiving user input to access a remote security system, responsive to receiving the user input, determining whether the user input includes a first type of user input or a second type of user input, when the user input includes the second type of user input, collecting additional information from an ambient environment, transmitting a duress message to a central monitoring station, the duress message including the additional information.

Abstract: A system is provided that includes a security system that protects a secured area, a wireless portable device that arms and disarms the security system through a wireless interface, the wireless portable device having a camera, a microphone and a global positioning system (GPS), and a processor of the wireless portable device that detects disarming of the security system by a user under duress through the wireless portable device and captures information of an environment of the wireless portable device from the GPS and one or more of the camera and microphone and sends the captured information to a central monitoring station of the security system through the wireless interface.

Abstract: An apparatus including a plurality of user controlled devices, each located at a respective predetermined location within a geographic area of a user, a respective location indicator associated with each of the plurality of user controlled devices, a portable user device including a respective controlling application of each of the plurality of user controlled devices embodied in a memory of the portable user device, a monitoring processor of the portable user device that detects a location of the portable user device within the geographic area based upon a wireless signal from one of the respective location indicators and an interface processor of the portable device that loads the controlling application of one of the plurality of user controlled devices based upon the detected location of the portable user device.

Abstract: A system including a security system that protects a secured area, a wireless portable device that arms and disarms the security system through a wireless interface, the wireless portable device having a camera, a microphone and a global positioning system (GPS) and a processor of the wireless portable device that detects disarming of the security system by a user under duress through the wireless portable device and captures information of an environment of the wireless portable device from the GPS and one or more of the camera and microphone and sends the captured information to a central monitoring station of the security system through the wireless interface.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus that embodies a method including a panic alert mobile application of a security system that protects a secured geographic area executing on a portable electronic device of an authorized user, the panic alert mobile application retrieving a predetermined word sequence associated with the authorized user, the panic alert mobile application continuously monitoring spoken words of the authorized user, the panic alert mobile application detecting the predetermined word sequence in the spoken words of the authorized user and the panic alert mobile application reporting a panic alert to a central monitoring station of the security system.

Abstract: Systems and methods of overriding a scheduled task in an intrusion system are provided. A method can include identifying a task scheduled to be executed at a scheduled time, identifying a recipient of an alert message for the task, identifying a transmission medium for the alert message for the task, identifying a predetermined period of time prior to the scheduled time, transmitting the alert message to the recipient via the transmission medium when the predetermined period of time prior to the scheduled time occurs, receiving a response message from the recipient, and, based on contents of the response message, executing the task at the scheduled time, canceling the task at the scheduled time, or rescheduling the task for a new scheduled time. The method can confirm receipt of a valid user password before executing, canceling, or rescheduling the task.