A computer-implemented method includes receiving, by a base station of a first security system, an identification of a portable security system. The method further includes adding, by the base station, the portable security system as a sensor to a plurality of sensors monitored by the first security system. The method further includes configuring, by the base station, the portable security system in protect-mode, wherein the portable security system sounds an alarm in response to a sensor from the second system indicating a security-breach. The method further includes in response to the alarm from the portable security system, generating, by the base station, an alarm event of the first security system.

An alert device includes electronic circuitry and at least a first antenna. The circuitry is designed for sending out a first signal, for wireless communication with at least a first hand held communication device, and at least a second signal for wireless communication with at least a second hand held communication device. The second signal differs from the first signal, preferably in at least one of transmitting energy, transmitting frequency, coding and pulse length. The device includes a switch for switching between: a first mode in which only the first signal is transmitted and a second mode wherein the first and second signal are transmitted; or a first mode wherein only the first signal is transmitted and a second mode wherein only the second signal is transmitted.

Disclosed are methods, systems, and devices for management of a premises. The premises may comprise one or more devices, such as a gateway device, a control device, or a premises device. The gateway device may receive data and send the data to the control device. The data may comprise a command, an update, a configuration, or other information. Communication between the control device and any of the other devices at the premises may be configurable by a server device.

Some embodiments are directed to a lockdown apparatus for facilitating initiation of lockdown procedures at a facility that includes multiple doors and is configured for occupation by facility occupants. A lockdown actuator is disposed at the facility and configured to initiate transmission of a lockdown initiation signal upon being actuated, the lockdown actuator being configured to be recognizably distinguishable from the fire alarm actuator. A lockdown communicator is configured to produce a lockdown initiation communication for communicating initiation of lockdown procedures to the facility occupants and individuals not disposed proximate the facility upon transmission of the lockdown initiation signal, the lockdown initiation communication being recognizably distinguishable from the fire alarm communication. A display is configured to indicate status of each of the multiple doors of the facility upon transmission of the lockdown initiation signal, the status including at least one of open versus closed, and locked versus unlocked.

The disclosure includes a doorbell having a visitor detection system that can comprise at least one of a camera, a microphone, and a motion detector. The method for using the doorbell can comprise recording, via the camera, video data that represents a video. The method can also comprise recording, via the microphone, audio data that represents audio. The method of using the doorbell can comprise transmitting at least a portion of the video data and at least a portion of the audio data, to a remote computing device that is communicatively coupled to the doorbell. The method can also comprise transmitting the video data and the audio data to a remote server that is communicatively coupled to the doorbell.

A system enables a scheduled visitor to receive an optical credential in paper or electronic form, and a range of date-time validity for a video doorbell which may actuate a portal. Upon activation the video doorbell hashes the optical credential with the date-time of the actual access request, masked to a range of most significant bits to create a plurality of digital bit-keys. The bit-keys generated exclusively at that video doorbell at that time would be verified with a stored digital bit-lock which is a complementary transformation of the valid date-time range hashed with the original optical credential at a visitor filtration server. Overwriting a stored digital bit-lock in a video doorbell at any time effectively cancels access by that optical credential. An emergency access key phrase communicatively couples the video doorbell with a visitee interview panel overriding access policies. Installation of custom software on the visitor's terminal is unnecessary.

The disclosure includes a doorbell having a visitor detection system that can comprise at least one of a camera, a microphone, and a motion detector. The method for using the doorbell can comprise recording, via the camera, video data that represents a video. The method can also comprise recording, via the microphone, audio data that represents audio. The method of using the doorbell can comprise transmitting at least a portion of the video data and at least a portion of the audio data, to a remote computing device that is communicatively coupled to the doorbell. The method can also comprise transmitting the video data and the audio data to a remote server that is communicatively coupled to the doorbell.

A device for evaluating aspects of health of a residential property configured to: (i) receive a first element of internal home health data captured by one or more smart devices installed within a residential property, the first element of internal home health data reflecting an aspect of operational quality of one or more assets of the residential property; (ii) determine a safety score based upon the first element of internal home health data; (iii) receive a second element of internal home health data captured by the one or more smart devices; (iv) determine a home health score based upon the first or second elements of internal home health data, the home health score representing a measure of health of the residential property; and (v) cause to be displayed, to a homeowner via a graphical user interface, a home health evaluation that includes the safety score and the home health score.

A system, method and apparatus for controller functionality for each of security, monitoring and automation, as well as a bidirectional Internet gateway, is provided. Such functionality is provided by virtue of a configurable architecture that enables a user to adapt the system for the user's specific needs. In addition, functionality for gathering configuration information from a previously-installed security system and using that information in a subsequent takeover of that security system is provided.

A component 10 for use in an alarm system includes a component controller 12 and an offline configuration module 14. The offline configuration module 14 includes a passive RFID tag and is configured to receive and store an indication of at least one configuration parameter wirelessly transmitted to the configuration module. Upon initialisation of the component 10, the component controller 12 operates the component 10 in accordance with one or more protocol determined by the at least one configuration parameter indicated by the indication stored by the offline configuration module 14.