Method, system and apparatus for activation of a home security, monitoring and automation controller

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a single platform that provides controller functionality for each of security, monitoring and automation, as well as providing a capacity to function as a bidirectional Internet gateway. Embodiments of the present invention provide such functionality by virtue of a configurable architecture that enables a user to adapt the system for the user's specific needs. Embodiments of the present invention further provide for a software-based installation workflow to activate and provision the controller and associated sensors and network.

1 . A computer-implemented method for configuring a security, monitoring and automation (SMA) system, said method comprising:
 configuring a network in a domain comprising an SMA controller, wherein said configuring is performed using the SMA controller;   configuring one or more of security sensors, monitoring devices, and home area network devices having an automation interface to communicate with the SMA controller, wherein said configuring is performed using the SMA controller; and   testing a communication path between the SMA controller and a remote server.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 executing a script by the SMA controller, wherein
 the script guides a user of the SMA controller through said configuring the network, said configuring the one or more of security sensors, monitoring devices and home area network devices, and said testing the alarm communication path. 
   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said executing the script displays a series of user interfaces on a display coupled to the SMA controller. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 configuring one or more zones, wherein each zone is associated with a security sensor of the one or more security sensors; and   testing an alarm communication path.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the alarm communication path comprises:
 a link between a security sensor of the one or more security sensors and the SMA controller; and   a network link between the SMA controller and the remote server.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the alarm communication path further comprises a link between the remote server and an alarm central station. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said testing the alarm communication path further comprises:
 receiving an sensor fault event signal from the security sensor by the SMA controller; and   transmitting information related to the sensor fault event signal to the remote server in response to said receiving the sensor fault event signal when the SMA controller is in an armed state, wherein
 said transmitting is performed by the SMA controller, and 
 said transmitting is performed using the network link. 
   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the information related to the sensor fault event signal comprises an identifier of the security sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said configuring the one or more security sensors to communicate with the SMA controller comprises:
 searching for each of the one or more security sensors by the SMA controller;   displaying, on a display coupled to the SMA controller, information corresponding to each found security sensor of the one or more security sensors; and   pairing each found sensor.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the one or more security sensors communicate wirelessly with the SMA controller. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said configuring the one or more zones comprises:
 selecting a zone of the one or more zones; and   editing information associated with the selected zone.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said configuring the network in the domain comprising the SMA controller comprises:
 locating a network router in the domain;   securing the network router; and   creating a secure network, wherein
 the secure network comprises the SMA controller and the network router, and 
 said securing the network router and creating the secure network are performed in response to commands transmitted from the SMA controller to the network router. 
   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said configuring the network further comprises:
 performing a connectivity test between the SMA controller and the remote server, wherein
 said performing the connectivity test is performed using the secure network. 
   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the secure network is a WiFi network. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said configuring the network further comprises:
 locating a cellular network for which the SMA controller is provisioned; and   performing a connectivity test between the SMA controller and the remote server, wherein
 said performing the connectivity test is performed using the cellular network. 
   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said configuring the network in the domain comprising the SMA controller comprises:
 locating a power-line network adapter; and   securing the power-line network adapter, wherein
 said securing the power-line network adapter is performed in response to commands transmitted from the SMA controller to the power-line network adapter. 
   
     
     
         17 . A device comprising:
 one or more communication interfaces, each for communication with one or more of security sensors, monitoring devices, and home area network devices having an automation interface, respectively;   a network communication interface for communication with a network router in a domain comprising the device and the network router;   a processor, coupled to the one or more communication interfaces, network communication interface and a memory, and configured to execute instructions stored in the memory; and   the memory storing instructions configured to provide a workflow for activating the device, wherein the workflow comprises
 configuring a network in the domain using the network communication interface, wherein
 said configuring is performed by the device in communication with the network router, 
 
 configuring one or more of the security sensors, the monitoring devices, and the home area network devices having an automation interface to communicate with the device using the respective communication interfaces; and 
 testing a communication path between the device and a remote server using the network communication interface. 
   
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17  wherein the instructions configured to provide the workflow comprise instructions for executing a script, wherein the script guides a user of the device through said configuring the network, said configuring the one or more of the security sensors, monitoring devices and home area network devices, and said testing the alarm communication path. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18  further comprising:
 a display, coupled to the processor, and configured to display a series of user interfaces in response to said executing the script.   
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 17  wherein the instructions configured to provide the workflow comprise instructions for:
 configuring one or more zones, wherein
 each zone is associated with a security sensor of the one or more security sensors, and 
   testing an alarm communication path using the network communication interface.   
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 20  wherein the alarm communication path comprises:
 a link between a security sensor of the one or more security sensors and the device;   a network link between the device and the network router;   a network link between the network router and a remote server; and   a link between the remote server and an alarm central station.   
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 20  further comprising:
 a display coupled to the processor; and   wherein the workflow for said configuring the one or more security sensors to communicate with the device further comprises
 searching for each of the one or more security sensors, 
 displaying, on the display, information corresponding to each found security sensor of the one or more security sensors, and 
 pairing each found sensor. 
   
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 20  wherein the workflow for said configuring the one or more zones further comprises:
 selecting a zone of the one or more zones; and   editing information associated with the selected zone.   
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 17  wherein said workflow for configuring the network in the domain further comprises:
 locating the network router;   securing the network router; and   creating a secure network, wherein
 the secure network comprises the device and the network router, and 
 said securing the network router and creating the secure network are performed in response to commands transmitted from the device to the network router. 
   
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 24  further comprising:
 a cellular communication interface for communication with a cellular network for which the device is provisioned; and   wherein said workflow for configuring the network further comprises locating the cellular network, and
 performing a connectivity test between the device and a remote server, wherein
 said performing the connectivity test is performed using the cellular network. 
 
   
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 17  wherein said workflow for configuring the network in the domain further comprises:
 locating a power-line network adapter; and   securing the power-line network adapter, wherein
 said securing the power-line network adapter is performed in response to commands transmitted from the device to the power-line network adapter.