Apple wins a Patent describing various Scenarios for Managing Smart Home Configurations by an Owner, Builder or Pro Installer
As the rumors remind us, Apple appears to be set to make a splash in the smart home market with not one but two new devices. These rumored additions include a wall-mounted smart display and a security camera. Today the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officially granted Apple a patent that relates to managing smart home configurations by a contractor/builder or home owner.
Techniques For Managing Smart Home Configurations
Apple's granted patent covers systems, devices, methods, and computer-readable media for managing smart home configurations. A home device can store one or more secure certificates. The installer can authenticate his or her mobile device to install accessories in the home.
The installer can authenticate the installer mobile device by opening an App associated with the home device, selecting Installation Mode, and selecting an option to search for the home device. The installer can place the installer mobile device within close proximity (e.g., less than 4 centimeters) to authorize communication with the home device.
After the installer's mobile device has been authorized, the installer can authenticate the home device by checking the secure certificate of the home device through a network (e.g., the Internet). A remote secure server can validate the secure certificate of the home device to ensure that the home device is still valid and authorized to sign device certificates. Following validation, the installer device can provide an installer certificate to the home device for signature.
The home device can return a signed certificate. The installer can enter information for the accessory such as a name, id, and location of the accessory. This information can be associated with the accessory identification and stored in the home device. The signed certificate can be used to authorize one or more accessories to operate in the home ecosystem. The signed certificate can expire after a predetermined time. The installer device can receive accessory information from the one or more accessory devices. The accessory information can be sent to and stored in a memory of the home device.
Upon completion of the installation of accessories, the builder can authenticate his or her device in a similar way as the installer. Upon authentication, the home device can send the accessory information to the builder mobile device. The builder mobile device can import the accessory information and update the available accessories controlled through an App on the builder mobile device. The builder can configure the accessories to suit one or more preferences (e.g., of the future homeowner or based on common usage) and operate the accessories using the builder mobile device. Changes made to the configuration or setting of the accessories can be uploaded and stored on the home device.
Upon sale of the house, the builder can transfer identification code to the new owner. The new owner can reset the identification code and import the accessory information to the owner mobile device. Once imported, the owner can add the devices directly to their own ecosystem (e.g., a home application running on their mobile device).
To review the full details of this invention, check out granted patent 12199817. The lead on the project is noted as Andreas Gal, Smart home at Apple. Former CEO Silk Labs.