A system comprises premises equipment including premises devices located at a premises. The system includes a partner device located at the premises and configured to use a partner protocol different from a protocol of the premises equipment. The system includes a system server configured to interact with the premises devices. The system server is configured to interact with the partner device via a partner proxy corresponding to the partner device. The system includes automation rules coupled to the system server. The automation rules include actions and triggers for controlling interactions between at least one of the partner device and the premises devices. The system includes a user interface coupled to the system server and configured to interact with the premises devices and the partner device.

Complex control instruction chains in a blockchain for a specific task for controlling devices to be managed in a simple manner is provided. which permits a prescribed validity to be assigned for a specific task of a blockchain-based device control, the validity being defined by the life cycle (e.g. the period of use) of a device, for example.

A method of remotely configuring one or more building system components at a building site uses a cloud-based server remote from the building site. The cloud-based server receives information from an intelligent gateway at the building site that identifies each of one or more building system components at the building site. The cloud-based server is used to create a site configuration that is based at least in part on the identified information for each of the one or more building system components. The site configuration is then downloaded from the cloud-based server to the intelligent gateway such that the intelligent gateway is able to pass configuration information to one or more local controllers that control operation of the one or more building system components.

Doorbell systems can include a speaker and a visitor detection system that includes at least one of a button, a camera, and a motion detector. Doorbell systems can be configured to detect an identity of a visitor via facial recognition, initiate a communication session with a remote computing device, and send the identity to the remote computing device via the first communication session.

Systems and methods comprise a gateway at a premises. The gateway is coupled to a remote system. An interface component is coupled to a processor of the gateway. The interface component comprises at least one module that interfaces and exchanges data with a processing component of a security system installed at a location. The processing component uses a proprietary protocol of the security system for processing data of the security system. The processor controls communications that comprise passing commands from the remote systems to the security system, and passing event data of the security system to the remote system.

A service management system communicates via wide area network with gateway devices located at respective user premises. The service management system remotely manages delivery of application services, which can be voice controlled, by a gateway, e.g. by selectively activating/deactivating service logic modules in the gateway. The service management system also may selectively provide secure communications and exchange of information among gateway devices and among associated endpoint devices. An exemplary service management system includes a router connected to the network and one or more computer platforms, for implementing management functions. Examples of the functions include a connection manager for controlling system communications with the gateway devices, an authentication manager for authenticating each gateway device and controlling the connection manager and a subscription manager for managing applications services and/or features offered by the gateway devices. A service manager, controlled by the subscription manager, distributes service specific configuration data to authenticated gateway devices.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, obtaining, from a network server device, first information regarding a first device, generating a media control package based on the first information, wherein the media control package relates to primary content to be presented, wherein the primary content is associated with a first timestamp that corresponds to a first event or context in the primary content, and wherein the media control package includes a first instruction for controlling the first device when a playback position of the primary content corresponds to the first timestamp, and causing the media control package to be provided to the network server device to enable augmentation of a presentation of the first event or context via control of the first device, in accordance with the first instruction, when the playback position of the primary content corresponds to the first timestamp. Other embodiments are disclosed.

A server controlling an external device is provided. The server includes a communicator; a processor; a memory which stores at least one natural language understanding (NLU) engine for generating a command corresponding to a user's utterance. The server receives, from a pairing device paired to the external device, the user's utterance controlling the external device and information about at least one external device registered with the pairing device, via the communicator, determines an NLU engine corresponding to the external device, from among the at least one NLU engine, based on the user's utterance controlling the external device and the information about the at least one external device, and generates the command controlling the external device based on the user's utterance, by using the determined NLU engine.

Controllers can be used to control the operation of various accessories. A group of accessories can be organized into an accessory network that can facilitate coordinated control of multiple accessories. The accessory network can be organized according to an environment model that can include a hierarchical representation of a physical environment where accessories are present. The environment model can be synchronized across different controllers that have access to the accessories.

A server-based environment for reporting a status of a security, monitoring and automation controller is provided. Detecting cessation of an always-on persistent network connection between the SMA controller and the server is also provided. Reporting the cessation of the network connection to an end user and defined others is further provided. A further aspect provides for automatically reporting an alarm event to a central station, the end user, and others, in the event the cessation of the network connection occurs while the SMA controller is armed and after a zone fault event, and not receiving a disarm notification prior to expiration of a preset entry delay.