Various embodiments include a device comprising: two connectors for powering the device; a controller to operate an HVAC system; a memory; a transponder controller and an antenna for near field communication; and a transponder memory storing a configuration version and an address list. Firmware in the transponder memory includes instructions for the controller to: connect to a handheld device; determine an address thereof; determine whether the address is on the list; if so: receive initial configuration data from the handheld device, and store it in the transponder memory. There is firmware in the device memory telling it to: connect to the transponder controller; read a device version; read the configuration version in the transponder memory; determine whether the configuration version is compatible with the device version; and if so, transfer the initial configuration data to the memory, and thereafter use the initial configuration data in operation of the system.

A relay device includes a plurality of input/output ports (111); an authentication information storage unit (114) to store authentication information used for performing authentication of a target relay device which is a relay device to be authenticated; an authentication processing unit (113) to acquire a target authentication packet which is an authentication packet used for authentication of the target relay device via a target input/output port (111) which is an input/output port connected to the target relay device in the plurality of input/output ports and to authenticate the target relay device by referring to the authentication information, and a relay processing unit (112) to cause a transfer input/output port which is an input/output port (111) to which a transfer destination of the transfer packet is connected, and to discard the transfer packet when the authentication of the target relay device is failed.

Example techniques relate to playback queue subscriptions. An example implementation involves a computing system receiving, from a first computing device associated with a first user account, an instruction to enable subscription to a first playback queue associated with a first media playback system. In response to the instruction, the computing system enables second user accounts to subscribe to the first playback queue. The second user accounts are registered with respective second media playback systems in respective second household. The computing system receives, from a particular second media playback system, a request to subscribe to the first playback queue; and in response, sends one or more messages that update a control interface of the first control device to display a subscriber indication and (ii) sends one or more messages that populate a second playback queue of the particular second media playback system with audio tracks of the first playback queue.

Example techniques relate to playback queue subscriptions. An example implementation involves a computing system receiving, from a first computing device associated with a first user account, an instruction to enable subscription to a first playback queue associated with a first media playback system. In response to the instruction, the computing system enables second user accounts to subscribe to the first playback queue. The second user accounts are registered with respective second media playback systems in respective second household. The computing system receives, from a particular second media playback system, a request to subscribe to the first playback queue; and in response, sends one or more messages that update a control interface of the first control device to display a subscriber indication and (ii) sends one or more messages that populate a second playback queue of the particular second media playback system with audio tracks of the first playback queue.

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.

An example technique involves sending, from a user device associated with a particular user, a request for a confirmation message setting. The request may include an indication of an identity of the particular user. The example technique involves determining that an operation included in a predetermined set of operations has been cued. The example technique involves receiving a response comprising an indication of a confirmation message setting for the cued operation prior to performing the cued operation. The confirmation message setting may be based on data generated responsive to the sent request. The confirmation message setting for the cued operation may include an indication of whether or not to output a confirmation message. The example technique involves determining, based on the received response, whether to prompt the particular user via a user interface of the user device for a response to a confirmation message prior to performing the cued operation.

An example technique involves sending, from a user device associated with a particular user, a request for a confirmation message setting. The request may include an indication of an identity of the particular user. The example technique involves determining that an operation included in a predetermined set of operations has been cued. The example technique involves receiving a response comprising an indication of a confirmation message setting for the cued operation prior to performing the cued operation. The confirmation message setting may be based on data generated responsive to the sent request. The confirmation message setting for the cued operation may include an indication of whether or not to output a confirmation message. The example technique involves determining, based on the received response, whether to prompt the particular user via a user interface of the user device for a response to a confirmation message prior to performing the cued operation.

Video monitoring and alarm verification technology, in which a first connection is established between a first device and a camera located in a monitored property associated with a user of the first device and image data captured by the camera is received over the first connection and at the first device. A determination is made to establish a second connection with a second device that enables sharing of the received image data with the second device and, in response to the determination, the second connection is established between the first device and the second device. The received image data is shared with the second device over the second connection and the second device is restricted from directly accessing image data captured by the camera located in the monitored property.

The present disclosure provides a terminal-based control method for a smart household appliance and a terminal, and relates to a field of controlling a smart device. The terminal-based control method for a smart household appliance of the present disclosure comprises: determining a working state of each smart household appliance; when it is determined that at least one smart household appliance is in a power-on state through the terminal, opening a second-level control interface of at least one smart household appliance in the power-on state; the second-level control interface is configured to adjust working parameters of the smart household appliance. Through the second-level control interface, the working parameters of the smart household appliance may be adjusted directly, thereby realizing and improving convenience of controlling the smart household appliance.

The present disclosure provides a terminal-based control method for a smart household appliance and a terminal, and relates to a field of controlling a smart device. The terminal-based control method for a smart household appliance of the present disclosure comprises: determining a working state of each smart household appliance; when it is determined that at least one smart household appliance is in a power-on state through the terminal, opening a second-level control interface of at least one smart household appliance in the power-on state; the second-level control interface is configured to adjust working parameters of the smart household appliance. Through the second-level control interface, the working parameters of the smart household appliance may be adjusted directly, thereby realizing and improving convenience of controlling the smart household appliance.