Managing the operation of devices within a home or other property based upon electrical usage data. With customer knowledge or consent, a home controller may retrieve and analyze electrical usage data corresponding to a device, such as by comparing it to certain threshold data. If the analysis results in a trigger condition, the controller may generate a command, and transmit the command to the device for implementation, allowing modification of device operation to address any issues indicated in the electrical usage data. The controller may notify a home owner/occupant. As a result, faulty devices may be managed prior to their faults causing damage to the device and/or the property, and/or property owners may be timely prompted to investigate, repair, and/or replace a failing device. Insurance discounts may be provided based upon the risk mitigation/prevention functionality.

Methods and systems for monitoring multiple sensors over a distributed sensor network to enhance various monitoring operations. In some implementations, an identification of a sensor located in a property and a token that enables the mobile device to obtain data from the sensor are each received by a mobile device from a server. The mobile device is then determined to be within a communication range with the server that is indicated by the identification from the server. In response, data is obtained from the sensor by the mobile device using the token received from the server.

Methods and systems for managing a premises are disclosed. The premises may comprise a premises system and a gateway in communication with the premises. The gateway may send, to a remote device, premise data received from the premises system.

An information provision method includes accumulating, in a first database, a first identifier identifying each of one or more service providers, and first device information indicating an electrical device to be designated by each of the one or more service providers in association with each other; accumulating, in a second database, a second identifier identifying each of one or more users, and second device information indicating an electrical device to be used by the one or more users in association with each other; extracting a service provider associated with the first device information when the second device information is updated by addition of a new electrical device to be used by one of the one or more users, and when the new electrical device is included in the electrical devices indicated by the first device information.

A method for providing access to a target electronic device through a first service running on a different electronic device may include receiving in the first service a command directed to the target electronic device from a command sender and receiving in the service device operation status parameters of the target electronic device. The device operation status parameters may include properties of the target electronic device such as a battery level, a battery charging rate, an age, a planned lifespan, a recent wireless usage, an internal temperature, or any of the above in relation to an intervening electronic device over which communication to the target electronic device travels, or any combination thereof. The method may also include using the device operation status parameters to determine, using the service, whether to provide or not to provide an update signal incorporating the command or information to the target electronic device.

A data collection server includes a communicator, a use frequency estimator, and a data saver. The communicator receives device data from a device. The use frequency estimator estimates use frequency of the device data received by the communicator. The data saver stores the device data in, among a plurality of storage servers corresponding to different levels of use frequency, one of the plurality of storage servers that corresponds to the use frequency estimated by the use frequency estimator.

Methods and systems for autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicle control, routing, and automatic feature adjustment are disclosed. Sensors associated with autonomous operation features may be utilized to search an area for missing persons, stolen vehicles, or similar persons or items of interest. Sensor data associated with the features may be automatically collected and analyzed to passively search for missing persons or vehicles without vehicle operator involvement. Search criteria may be determined by a remote server and communicated to a plurality of vehicles within a search area. In response to which, sensor data may be collected and analyzed by the vehicles. When sensor data generated by a vehicle matches the search criteria, the vehicle may communicate the information to the remote server.

A speech-based system includes a local device in a user premises and a network-based control service that directs the local device to perform actions for a user. The control service may specify a first action that is to be performed upon detection by the local device of a stimulus. In some cases, performing the first action may rely on the availability of network communications with the control service or with another service. In these cases, the control service also specifies a second, fallback action that does not rely upon network communications. Upon detecting the stimulus, the local device performs the first action if network communications are available. If network communications are not available, the local device performs the second, fallback action.

A security system is described for managing a premises. The security system comprises security system components and a first controller. A takeover component receives security data of the security system from the first controller. The security data is used to configure a second controller to communicate with the security system. The second controller communicates with the security system components and replaces the first controller in management of the security system.

A home automation platform coalesces various devices for home monitoring, control and automation in a comprehensive control application for complete home control. Devices sourced from different vendors are responsive to the control application via a GUI from a personal device. User authentication is handled transparently through exchanges with the vendor specific website for a particular device. A set of agents monitors device operation and builds a model for issuing autonomous instructions to the devices based on the model of established operation. Compatible devices may be any suitable IP addressable device, and the agents gather a history of devices concerned with different comfort and function areas, such as lighting, appliances, air quality and occupancy awareness (e.g. security). In this manner, comprehensive, cross-vendor oversight is implemented from a common control via the personal device app, and a gathered history of home usage drives learning of a usage model for autonomous operation.