Building security and automation system

Abstract

A security system control panel or home automation control panel including an end-user replaceable cellular telephony module that is removable from the control panel without disassembling the control panel. The cellular module includes a body, a cellular telephony circuit coupled to the body, a cellular telephony antenna coupled to the body and the cellular telephony circuit, and a first connector coupled to the cellular telephony circuit and the body, wherein the first connector is sized and shaped or otherwise configured to be removably engaged by the end-user with a second connector in the control panel.

1 . A control panel comprising:
 an end-user-replaceable cellular telephony module that is removable from the control panel by an end user without disassembling the control panel, the cellular module including:
 a body; 
 a cellular telephony circuit coupled to the body; 
 a first cellular telephony antenna coupled to the body and the cellular telephony circuit; and 
 a first connector coupled to the cellular telephony circuit and the body, wherein the first connector is sized and shaped to be removably engaged by the end user with a second connector in the control panel. 
   
     
     
         2 . The control panel of  claim 1 , wherein the module is configured such that the first antenna can be detached from the body by the end user and replaced by a second antenna. 
     
     
         3 . The control panel of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the module is configured such that the first antenna can be detached from the body by the end user and replaced by a second antenna, and   wherein the second antenna is configured to have a different performance characteristic than the first antenna.   
     
     
         4 . The control panel of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a housing defining a slot,   wherein at least a portion of the end-user-replaceable cellular module is configured to fit through the slot.   
     
     
         5 . The control panel of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a housing defining a slot, wherein at least a portion of the end-user-replaceable cellular module is configured to fit through the slot; and   a door removably affixed to the housing, wherein at least a portion of the end-user-replaceable cellular module is sized and shaped to fit through the slot when the door is removed.   
     
     
         6 . The control panel of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a housing defining a slot, wherein at least a portion of the end-user-replaceable cellular module is configured to fit through the slot; and   a door removably affixed to the housing, wherein at least a portion of the end-user-replaceable cellular module is sized and shaped to fit through the slot when the door is removed;   a switch configured to detect an opening of the door affixed to the housing, wherein the switch is configured to change state upon detecting the opening; and   a processor configured to:
 detect the changed state of the switch; and 
 control transmission of a tamper-detection signal to a central monitoring station upon detection of the changed state of the switch. 
   
     
     
         7 . The control panel of  1 , further comprising:
 a housing defining a slot, wherein at least a portion of the end-user-replaceable cellular module is configured to fit through the slot; and   a door openably affixed to the housing, wherein at least a portion of the end-user-replaceable cellular module is configured to fit through the slot when the door is removed;   a switch configured to detect an opening of the door affixed to the housing, wherein the switch is configured to change state upon detecting the opening; and   a processor configured to:
 detect the changed state of the switch; and 
 control transmission of a tamper-detection signal to a central monitoring station upon detection of the changed state of the switch; 
   a display;   a housing configured to support the display;   a speaker having a front from which sound is projected, a rear opposite the front, a first side, and a second side opposite the first side; and   a sealed speaker enclosure positioned within the housing, the sealed speaker enclosure including a speaker case, wherein a portion of the speaker case and a portion of the speaker define the sealed speaker enclosure.   
     
     
         8 . The control panel of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a housing defining a slot, wherein at least a portion of the end-user-replaceable cellular module is configured to fit through the slot; and   a door removably affixed to the housing, wherein at least a portion of the end-user-replaceable cellular module is sized and shaped or otherwise configured to fit through the slot when the door is removed;   a switch configured to detect an opening of the door affixed to the housing, wherein the switch is configured to change state upon detecting the opening; and   a processor configured to:
 detect the changed state of the switch; and 
 control transmission of a tamper-detection signal to a central monitoring station upon detection of the changed state of the switch; 
   a display;   a housing configured to support the display;   a speaker having a front from which sound is projected, a rear opposite the front, a first side, and a second side opposite the first side; and   a speaker case, wherein a portion of the speaker case and a portion of the speaker define a sealed speaker enclosure.   
     
     
         9 . The control panel of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a housing defining a slot, wherein at least a portion of the end-user-replaceable cellular module is configured to fit through the slot; and   a door openably affixed to the housing, wherein at least a portion of the end-user-replaceable cellular module is sized and shaped or otherwise configured to fit through the slot when the door is removed;   a switch configured to detect an opening of the door affixed to the housing, wherein the switch is configured to change state upon detecting the opening; and   a processor configured to:
 detect the changed state of the switch; and 
 control transmission of a tamper-detection signal to a central monitoring station upon detection of the changed state of the switch; 
   a display;   a housing configured to support the display;   a speaker having a front from which sound is projected, a rear opposite the front, a first side, and a second side opposite the first side; and   a speaker case, wherein a portion of the speaker case and a portion of the speaker define a sealed speaker enclosure positioned within the housing, and wherein the sealed speaker enclosure has a volume of between about 0.35 liters to about 0.45 liters.   
     
     
         10 . The control panel of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a housing defining a slot, wherein at least a portion of the end-user-replaceable cellular module is configured to fit through the slot; and   a door openably affixed to the housing, wherein at least a portion of the end-user-replaceable cellular module is sized and shaped or otherwise configured to fit through the slot when the door is removed;   a switch configured to detect an opening of the door affixed to the housing, wherein the switch is configured to change state upon detecting the opening; and   a processor configured to:
 detect the changed state of the switch; and 
 control transmission of a tamper-detection signal to a central monitoring station upon detection of the changed state of the switch; 
   a display;   a housing configured to support the display;   a speaker having a front from which sound is projected, a rear opposite the front, a first side, and a second side opposite the first side; and   a speaker case, wherein a portion of the speaker case and a portion of the speaker define a sealed speaker enclosure positioned within the housing, and wherein the sealed speaker enclosure defines a primary acoustic volume of air that extends away from the first side of the speaker.   
     
     
         11 . The control panel of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a housing defining a slot, wherein at least a portion of the end-user-replaceable cellular module is configured to fit through the slot; and   a door openably affixed to the housing, wherein at least a portion of the end-user-replaceable cellular module is sized and shaped or otherwise configured to fit through the slot when the door is removed;   a switch configured to detect an opening of the door affixed to the housing, wherein the switch is configured to change state upon detecting the opening; and   a processor configured to:
 detect the changed state of the switch; and 
 control transmission of a tamper-detection signal to a central monitoring station upon detection of the changed state of the switch; 
   a display;   a housing configured to support the display;   a speaker having a front from which sound is projected, a rear opposite the front, a first side, and a second side opposite the first side; and   a speaker case, wherein a portion of the speaker case and a portion of the speaker define a sealed speaker enclosure positioned within the housing, and wherein the portion of the speaker that defines the sealed speaker enclosure includes a diaphragm of the speaker.   
     
     
         12 . The control panel of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a housing defining a slot, wherein at least a portion of the end-user-replaceable cellular module is configured to fit through the slot; and   a door openably affixed to the housing, wherein at least a portion of the end-user-replaceable cellular module is sized and shaped or otherwise configured to fit through the slot when the door is removed;   a switch configured to detect an opening of the door affixed to the housing, wherein the switch is configured to change state upon detecting the opening; and   a processor configured to:
 detect the changed state of the switch; and 
 control transmission of a tamper-detection signal to a central monitoring station upon detection of the changed state of the switch; 
   a display;   a housing configured to support the display;   a speaker having a front from which sound is projected, a rear opposite the front, a first side, and a second side opposite the first side; and   a speaker case, wherein a portion of the speaker case and a portion of the speaker define a sealed speaker enclosure positioned within the housing, wherein the housing has a front interior side, a rear interior side opposite the front interior side, a first lateral interior side and a second lateral interior side opposite the first interior side, wherein the second side of the speaker is positioned adjacent the second lateral interior side of the housing, and wherein the sealed speaker enclosure defines a secondary acoustic volume of air that extends between the second side of the speaker and the second lateral interior side of the housing.   
     
     
         13 . The control panel of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a housing defining a slot, wherein at least a portion of the end-user-replaceable cellular module is configured to fit through the slot; and   a door openably affixed to the housing, wherein at least a portion of the end-user-replaceable cellular module is sized and shaped or otherwise configured to fit through the slot when the door is removed;   a switch configured to detect an opening of the door affixed to the housing, wherein the switch is configured to change state upon detecting the opening; and   a processor configured to:
 detect the changed state of the switch; and 
 control transmission of a tamper-detection signal to a central monitoring station upon detection of the changed state of the switch; 
   a display;   a housing configured to support the display;   a speaker having a front from which sound is projected, a rear opposite the front, a first side, and a second side opposite the first side; and   a speaker case, wherein a portion of the speaker case and a portion of the speaker define a sealed speaker enclosure positioned within the housing, and wherein the sealed speaker enclosure defines a primary acoustic volume of air that extends away from the first side of the speaker, wherein the housing has a front interior side, a rear interior side opposite the front interior side, a first lateral interior side and a second lateral interior side opposite the first interior side, wherein the second side of the speaker is positioned adjacent the second lateral interior side of the housing, and wherein the primary acoustic volume of air extends away from the first side of the speaker toward the first interior side of the housing.   
     
     
         14 . The control panel of  claim 7 , wherein the housing has a front interior side, a rear interior side opposite the front interior side, a first interior side and a second interior side opposite the first interior side, wherein the speaker has a rear portion adjacent the rear interior side of the housing, and wherein the sealed speaker enclosure extends across only a portion of the rear portion of the speaker. 
     
     
         15 . The control panel of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a Bluetooth circuit configured to receive at least one Bluetooth signal from one or more Bluetooth-enabled devices;   a processor operably coupled to the Bluetooth circuit and configured to:
 store data identifying an authorized Bluetooth-enabled device in a memory; 
 detect the authorized Bluetooth-enabled device; and 
 disarm a security system of the control panel in response to the detection. 
   
     
     
         16 . The control panel of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a user interface including a display; and   a home screen module configured to:
 receive an input from the end-user defining at least one screen depicted on the display; 
 store data representing the at least one end-user-defined screen in a memory; and 
 perform one or more actions previously associated by the user with the defined screen. 
   
     
     
         17 . The control panel of  claim 16 , comprising:
 wherein the at least one screen depicted on the display includes a thermostat controller.   
     
     
         18 . The control panel of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a Bluetooth circuit configured to receive at least one Bluetooth signal from one or more Bluetooth-enabled devices;   a processor operably coupled to the Bluetooth circuit and configured to:
 store data identifying an authorized Bluetooth-enabled device in a memory, 
 detect the authorized Bluetooth-enabled device, and 
 disarm the control panel in response to the detection; 
   a user interface including a display; and   a home screen module configured to:
 receive an input from the end-user defining at least one screen depicted on the display, 
 store data representing the at least one end-user-defined screen in a memory, and 
 perform one or more actions previously associated by the user with the defined screen, wherein the at least one screen depicted on the display includes a room controller that includes at least one of lighting and temperature controls. 
   
     
     
         19 . The control panel of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a radio-frequency (RF) circuit configured to:
 when the control panel is in an unpowered state: 
 receive power from an RF signal from an RF programming device; 
 receive data embedded in the RF signal from the RF programming device; and 
 use the received power from the RF signal to store the data in a memory that is otherwise unpowered; and 
   a processor configured to:
 when the control panel is in a powered state: 
 receive the stored data; and 
 configure at least one parameter using the received data. 
   
     
     
         20 . The control panel of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a housing configured to support the display;   a speaker having a front from which sound is projected, a rear opposite the front, a first side, and a second side opposite the first side; and   a speaker case, wherein a portion of the speaker case and a portion of the speaker define a sealed speaker enclosure positioned within the housing.   
     
     
         21 . A control panel comprising:
 a Bluetooth circuit configured to receive at least one Bluetooth signal from one or more Bluetooth-enabled devices;   a processor configured to:
 store data identifying an authorized Bluetooth-enabled device in a memory; 
 detect the authorized Bluetooth-enabled device; and 
 disarm a security system of the control panel in response to the detection. 
   
     
     
         22 . A control panel comprising:
 a user interface including a display; and   a home screen module configured to:
 receive an input from an end user defining at least one end-user-defined screen depicted on the display; 
 store data representing the at least one end-user-defined screen in a memory; and 
 perform one or more actions previously associated by the end user with the defined screen. 
   
     
     
         23 . The control panel of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a display;   a housing configured to support the display;   a speaker having a front from which sound is projected, a rear opposite the front, a first side, and a second side opposite the first side; and   a sealed speaker enclosure positioned within the housing, the sealed speaker enclosure including a speaker case,   wherein a portion of the speaker case and a portion of the speaker define the sealed speaker enclosure;   a user interface including the display;   a home screen module configured to:
 receive an input from the end-user defining at least one screen depicted on the display; 
 store data representing the at least one end-user-defined screen in a memory; and 
 perform one or more actions previously associated by the user with the defined screen; 
   a Bluetooth circuit configured to receive at least one Bluetooth signal from one or more Bluetooth-enabled devices;   a processor configured to:
 store data identifying an authorized Bluetooth-enabled device in a memory; 
 detect the authorized Bluetooth-enabled device; and 
 disarm the security system control panel in response to the detection; and 
   a radio-frequency (RF) circuit configured to:
 when the control panel is in an unpowered state:
 receive power from an RF signal from an RF programming device; 
 receive data embedded in the RF signal from the powered RF circuit; and 
 using the received power from the RF signal store the data in a 
 
 memory that is otherwise unpowered, 
   wherein the processor is configured to:
 when the control panel is in a powered state:
 receive the stored data; and 
 configure at least one parameter using the received data.