Interactive property communication system

Abstract

Disclosed herein, among other things, are apparatus and methods for interactive property communication. In various embodiments, an interactive property communication system includes two or more property communication nodes (PCNs) each adapted for coupling to an electrical service. PCNs include a radio transceiver for communications with a broker service adapted for controlling communications with one or more PCNs.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An interactive property communication system configured to communicate with a plurality of property communication devices configured for placement and communications at various premises of a plurality of subscribers, comprising:
 a processor;   a memory comprising instructions that cause the processor to execute:   a broker service module including software configured to execute on a network and to control bidirectional communications with at least one or more of the plurality of property communication devices at the variety of premises, the broker service module including:
 a communications interface configured to perform bidirectional communications with the at least one or more of the plurality of property communication devices; 
 a secure programming interface to provide limited access to a subscriber database via the communications interface; and 
 a content control module configured to programmably control content of the bidirectional communications with the one or more of the plurality of property communication devices; 
   wherein the secure programming interface is configured to receive content control instructions from at least some of the plurality of subscribers in the subscriber database,   wherein the content control module provides individualized content management of the bidirectional communications with each subscriber of the plurality of subscribers based on the content control instructions,   wherein the communications interface is configured to receive and transmit information representing data from at least one sensor at one or more premises of the various premises and the content control module is configured to control the information representing the data from the at least one sensor sent to each subscriber of the plurality of subscribers, wherein the communications interface controls communications between property communication devices at one or more individual premises, and   wherein the broker service module is configured to allow for individualized bidirectional communications with one or more of the plurality of property communication devices at one or more individual premises.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the communications interface is further configured to receive content from a broker service acting as a third party or acting as a broker to at least one third party, and wherein the content control module is further configured to control the content sent to each subscriber of the plurality of subscribers. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the memory includes instructions that cause the processor to store the information representing data from the at least one sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the memory includes instructions that cause the processor to process the information representing data from the at least one sensor and to control the communications interface to transmit the information representing data from the at least one sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the memory includes instructions that cause the processor to process the information representing data from the at least one sensor and to control the communications interface to transmit the information representing data from the at least one sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one of the following: a microphone, a motion detector, a camera, and a light detector. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one sensor is configured to capture data representing at least one of the following: data types, data levels, times, motion, light, darkness, sounds, noises, voice, pictures, images, video, and streaming video. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the property communication devices includes an annunciator, and wherein the annunciator includes at least one of a speaker and a display. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the property communication devices includes the display. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the display is configured to be in wired communication with at least one of the property communication devices. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the display is configured to be in wireless communication with at least one of the property communication devices. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the property communication devices includes at least one of the following devices: cell phone, smart phone, laptop computer, desktop computer, television, iPad®, TiVo® system, Wii® system, Playstation system, iPod®, and iPhone®. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the broker service module is configured to communicate with a programming device, and wherein at least one of the programming device and one or more property communication devices is integrated into at least one of the following: electrical device, kitchen appliance, appliance, refrigerator, and security device. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the communications interface is configured to at least one of receive, generate, and transmit at least one of location information and location identity information. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the location information or location identity information includes at least one of a type of location, a subscriber identity, a location code, latitude and longitude information, and global positioning system (GPS) information. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the broker service module is configured to control bidirectional video, data, images, audio, and signaling information communicated with at least one of one or more property communication devices and a programming device for the plurality of subscribers. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the broker service module is configured to communicate with at least one of one or more property communication devices and a programming device for securely programming the subscriber database. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the broker service module is configured to coordinate bidirectional premises-based communications with at least one of one or more property communication devices and a programming device based on sensed activity, or sensed inactivity, at a premises equipped with at least one property communication device. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the broker service module is configured to receive subscriber information from the plurality of subscribers and to store subscriber and subscription information of the plurality of subscribers from a broker service acting as a third party or acting as a broker to at least one third party. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the broker service module is configured to communicate with one or more programming devices configured to program communication settings for one or more subscribers of the system. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the broker service module supports voice prompts and voice commands at least one of the one or more property communication devices and a programming device. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the communications interface includes apparatus for communications using a wireless connection. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the wireless connection is selected from the group consisting of: a proprietary wireless protocol, a packet communication connection, a cellular connection, a WiFi connection, a radio connection, a software radio connection, and a Bluetooth connection. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the communications interface includes apparatus for communications using a wired connection. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the wired connection includes at least one of a public switched telephone network, an attached computer, a local area network, an Internet connected network, and electrical power wiring. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the broker service module executes on one or more servers in a computer network. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the broker service module executes in a plurality of computers in a cloud computing environment. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more individual premises includes an area outside a structure, confine, or enclosure. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more individual premises includes an area inside a structure, confine, or enclosure. 
     
     
         31 . A method for communicating with a plurality of property communication devices configured for placement and bidirectional communications at various premises of a plurality of subscribers, the method comprising:
 receiving at least one broker service communication authorization instruction from at least one of the plurality of subscribers or at least one authorized user, the at least one broker service communication authorization instruction allowing communications with the broker service module;   receiving at least one instruction to control content of the bidirectional communications with one or more property communication devices at one or more individual premises;   controlling, based on the least one broker service communication authorization instruction, communications with the broker service module;   controlling, based on the at least one received instruction to control content, the content sent to each subscriber of the plurality of subscribers or at least one authorized user;   controlling bidirectional communications between property communication devices at the one or more individual properties of the various premises;   receiving information representing data from at least one sensor at one or more premises of the various premises; and   transmitting the information representing data from the at least one sensor.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 receiving content from a broker service acting as a third party or acting as a broker to at least one third party; and   controlling the content sent to each subscriber of the plurality of subscribers.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 storing the information representing data from the at least one sensor.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 processing the information representing data from the at least one sensor and controlling the communications interface to transmit the information representing data from the at least one sensor.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 processing the information representing data from the at least one sensor and controlling the communications interface to transmit the information representing data from the at least one sensor.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein receiving information representing data from at least one sensor at one or more premises of the various premises includes:
 receiving information representing data from at least one of the following sensors: a microphone, a motion detector, a camera, and a light detector.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein controlling bidirectional communications between property communication devices at the one or more individual properties of the various premises includes:
 controlling bidirectional video, data, images, audio, and signaling information communicated with devices for the plurality of subscribers.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 communicating with a programming device for securely programming the subscriber database.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 coordinating bidirectional premises-based communications with one or more property communication devices based on sensed activity, or sensed inactivity, at a premises equipped with at least one property communication device.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 receiving subscriber information from the plurality of subscribers and storing subscriber and subscription information of the plurality of subscribers from third party vendors.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 communicating with one or more programming devices configured to program communication settings for one or more subscribers of the system.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 receiving, at one or more property communication devices, voice prompts and voice commands.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein transmitting the information representing data from the at least one sensor includes wirelessly transmitting the information representing data from the at least one sensor. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein wirelessly transmitting the information representing data from the at least one sensor includes using at least one of a proprietary wireless protocol, a packet communication connection, a radio connection, a software radio connection, a cellular connection, a WiFi connection, and a Bluetooth connection. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein transmitting the information representing data from the at least one sensor includes transmitting the information representing data from the at least one sensor using a wired connection. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the wired connection includes using at least one of a public switched telephone network, an attached computer, a local area network, an Internet connected network, and electrical power wiring. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 31 , comprising:
 executing the broker service module on one or more servers in a computer network.   
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 31 , comprising:
 executing the broker service module in a plurality of computers in a cloud computing environment.   
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 31 , comprising:
 communicating with at least one of the plurality of subscribers using an annunciator.   
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein communicating with at least one of the plurality of subscribers using an annunciator includes:
 communicating using at least one of a speaker and a display.   
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein communicating using at least one of a speaker and a display includes wirelessly communicating with the display. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein communicating using at least one of a speaker and a display includes communicating with the display using a wired connection. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein controlling bidirectional communications between property communication devices at the one or more individual properties of the various premises includes:
 controlling bidirectional communications between at least one property communication device integrated into at least one of the following at the one or more individual properties of the various premises: an electrical device, a kitchen appliance, an appliance, a refrigerator, and a security device.   
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the information representing data includes at least one of the following: data types, data levels, times, motion, light, darkness, sounds, noises, voice, pictures, images, video, and streaming video. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 31 , comprising:
 at least one of receiving, generating, and transmitting at least one of location information and location identity information.   
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the location information or location identity information includes at least one of a type of location, a subscriber identity, a location code, latitude and longitude information, and global positioning system (GPS) information.