Abstract: A monitoring system is configured to monitor a property. The system includes a sensor that is configured to generate sensor data that reflects an attribute of the property. The system further includes an HVAC system that is configured to generate and provide conditioned air to the property and that is configured to generate HVAC system data that reflects an attribute of the HVAC system. The system includes a monitor control unit that is configured to determine that the HVAC system is likely malfunctioning. The control unit is configured to receive the sensor data. The control unit is configured to determine that the HVAC system is likely operating correctly. The control unit is configured to determine a cause of the HVAC system transitioning from likely malfunctioning to likely operating correctly. The control unit is configured to update a model that is configured to identify causes of HVAC system malfunctions.

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: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for preserving privacy in surveillance. The methods, systems, and apparatus include actions of determining a state of a monitoring system, determining an exclusion zone that is shown in a video, determining whether to obfuscate at least a portion of the video based on the exclusion zone and the state of the monitoring system, and obfuscating at least the portion of the video.

Abstract: Image surveillance and reporting technology, in which an event that is indicative of potential physical activity within an area corresponding to a location of a camera unit is detected. In response to detection of the event, the camera unit is controlled to capture one or more images of the area corresponding to the location of the camera unit. The one or more images captured by the camera unit are analyzed to determine whether the one or more images include image data that is indicative of relevant physical activity within the area corresponding to the location of the camera unit. The one or more images are handled based on the determination of whether the one or more images include image data that is indicative of relevant physical activity within the area corresponding to the location of the camera unit.

Abstract: Techniques are described to improve the robustness of communication of critical life safety data when broadband networks are used as uphaul networks. Monitoring systems are examples of critical monitoring appliances, but the techniques described throughout this disclosure may be applied to any type of critical monitoring appliances, such as life-support devices, fire detectors, smoke detectors, and the like.

Abstract: Virtual sensor technology, in which a camera is controlled to capture at least one configuration image of an area monitored by a monitoring system and input is received that defines one or more characteristics of the at least one configuration image that enable sensing of an event in the area. Based on the received input, configuration data used in sensing the event is generated and stored. After storage of the configuration data, the camera is controlled to capture one or more images of the area, the one or more images are analyzed based on the configuration data, and occurrence of the event is detected based on the analysis of the one or more images. Based on detecting occurrence of the event, a transmitting device is controlled to send, to a controller of the monitoring system, a signal that indicates the detection of the occurrence of the event.

Abstract: Techniques are described for handling an event where a control panel or an alarm signaling device is tampered with or destroyed by a disablement tactic, e.g., a “crash and smash intrusion.

Abstract: A computing system and method for remote monitoring and forecasting of performance of a managed network is disclosed. The computing system may be disposed within a remote network management platform and be configured for monitoring respective performance of each of a plurality of network entities of the managed network. For each network entity, an alert may be issued in response to determining that the monitored respective performance is below a respective threshold performance level. Based on analysis of a group of alerts, a likelihood may be determined that a different alert will be issued for the monitored performance of a particular network entity of the plurality for which no respective alert has yet been issued. In response to the likelihood exceeding a threshold, an alert prediction for the performance of the particular network entity may be issued together with a score corresponding to the likelihood.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a storage device, for monitoring a property are disclosed. A monitoring system includes one or more processors and one or more computer storage media storing instructions that are operable, when executed by the one or more processors, to cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising: obtaining sensor data from sensors at a property; determining, for a peril, a risk that the peril will occur at the property based on risk factors determined from the sensor data; selecting a particular risk factor from the risk factors based on the risk that the peril will occur at the property; and providing an indication of the particular risk factor.

Abstract: Techniques are described for providing control of a monitoring system (e.g., a home alarm or security system) using one or more mobile devices. In some implementations, a native mobile device application enables use of a mobile device as a security/automation system keypad and controller for a home security system. In these implementations, the mobile device, using the native mobile device application, checks real time status of system and sensors, arms/disarms system, turns lights on/off, looks in on live video of security cameras, reviews history of system events, reviews saved video clips, monitors/changes thermostat settings, and performs other features of a traditional security keypad in a home security system.

Abstract: A system, includes: a distributed cache that stores state information for a plurality of configuration items (CIs). Management, instrumentation, and discovery (MID) servers form a cluster, each of the MID servers including one or more processors that receive, from the distributed cache, a subset of the state information associated with assigned CIs and perform a statistical analysis on the subset of the state information.

Abstract: Techniques are described for distributing, to a distributed network of central stations, alarm events detected in monitoring system data collected by sensors included in monitoring systems located at monitored properties. A system receives monitoring system data collected by sensors included in monitoring systems located at monitored properties, tracks alarm events detected within the monitoring system data, and generates, for central station servers in a distributed network of central stations, load profiles that reflect a volume of alarm events being handled at each of the central station servers at a particular period of time. The system determines capacities to handle additional alarm events for the central station servers, determines relative priorities for the central station remote servers based on the determined capacities, and directs subsequent alarm events to the central station servers based on the relative priorities.

Abstract: A monitoring system is configured to monitor a property. The system includes a sensor that is configured to generate sensor data that reflects an attribute of the property. The system further includes an HVAC system that is configured to generate and provide conditioned air to the property and that is configured to generate HVAC system data that reflects an attribute of the HVAC system. The system includes a monitor control unit that is configured to determine that the HVAC system is likely malfunctioning. The control unit is configured to receive the sensor data. The control unit is configured to determine that the HVAC system is likely operating correctly. The control unit is configured to determine a cause of the HVAC system transitioning from likely malfunctioning to likely operating correctly. The control unit is configured to update a model that is configured to identify causes of HVAC system malfunctions.

Abstract: Techniques are described for establishing a two-way voice communication session with an alarm system. The alarm system may establish a two-way voice communication session with an operator associated with a monitoring service that provides monitoring services for alarm events detected by the alarm system. The alarm system also may establish a two-way voice communication session with a notification recipient that is interested in receiving notifications associated with events detected by the alarm system.

Abstract: Image surveillance and reporting technology, in which an event that is indicative of potential physical activity within an area corresponding to a location of a camera unit is detected. In response to detection of the event, the camera unit is controlled to capture one or more images of the area corresponding to the location of the camera unit. The one or more images captured by the camera unit are analyzed to determine whether the one or more images include image data that is indicative of relevant physical activity within the area corresponding to the location of the camera unit. The one or more images are handled based on the determination of whether the one or more images include image data that is indicative of relevant physical activity within the area corresponding to the location of the camera unit.

Abstract: Virtual sensor technology, in which a camera is controlled to capture at least one configuration image of an area monitored by a monitoring system and input is received that defines one or more characteristics of the at least one configuration image that enable sensing of an event in the area. Based on the received input, configuration data used in sensing the event is generated and stored. After storage of the configuration data, the camera is controlled to capture one or more images of the area, the one or more images are analyzed based on the configuration data, and occurrence of the event is detected based on the analysis of the one or more images. Based on detecting occurrence of the event, a transmitting device is controlled to send, to a controller of the monitoring system, a signal that indicates the detection of the occurrence of the event.

Abstract: A system and method provide for the immediate transmission of a potential alarm to a remote alarm signal escrow site and from the escrow site to a host station in the event where a control panel or an alarm signaling device is tampered with or destroyed by a disablement tactic, e.g., a “crash and smash intrusion.” A system and method may also send an alarm signal during such an attack by using predictive analysis of real-time events.

Abstract: Techniques are described to improve the robustness of communication of critical life safety data when broadband networks are used as uphaul networks. Monitoring systems are examples of critical monitoring appliances, but the techniques described throughout this disclosure may be applied to any type of critical monitoring appliances, such as life-support devices, fire detectors, smoke detectors, and the like.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, including receiving, by a monitoring system that is configured to monitor a property and from a sensor of the monitoring system, sensor data, receiving video data, determining that a vehicle is in a vicinity of the property based on the sensor data and the video data, comparing frames of the video data to an image of a known vehicle, determining a confidence score that reflects a likelihood that the vehicle in the vicinity of the property matches the known vehicle, based on determining that the confidence score that reflects the likelihood that the vehicle in the vicinity of the property matches the known vehicle satisfies a confidence score threshold, identifying an action that is performed by the vehicle, identifying a monitoring system action that corresponds to the action performed by the vehicle, and performing the monitoring system action.

Abstract: Techniques are described for handling an event where a control panel or an alarm signaling device is tampered with or destroyed by a disablement tactic, e.g., a “crash and smash intrusion.