# US 2016/0260313 A1 · Remote management of electronic and electrical devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0260313 A1 - Document ID: US20160260313A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/060,827 - Filed: 2016-03-04 - Published: 2016-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-03-05 - Assignees: Fire Avert, LLC. - Applicants: Fire Avert, LLC - Inventors: Peter Thorpe; F. Wesley Clark, II - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160260313A1 ## CPC - G08B 21/24: Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms - G08B 25/08: using communication transmission lines {(G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence)} - H01H 9/54: Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the switching device and for which no provision exists elsewhere - H04L 12/2827: {Reporting to a device within the home network; wherein the reception of the information reported automatically triggers the execution of a home appliance functionality} - H04L 67/125: involving control of end-device applications over a network - H04W 4/021: Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences - H04L 2012/2841: {Wireless} - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS - H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract Embodiments are directed to methods and apparatuses for remotely managing electrical devices. In one scenario, a computer system performs a method for remotely managing electrical devices. The method includes determining that an electrical device has been left turned on for a threshold minimum period of time. The method next includes determining that a first device management criteria has been met indicating that the electrical device is no longer being actively managed. The method then includes notifying a user that the electrical device is still turned on, receiving an indication that the electrical device is to be turned off, and turning the electrical device off. Other scenarios include an electronic device that allows remote management of electrical devices. ## Claims ### Claim 1 At a computer system including at least one processor, a computer-implemented method for remotely managing electrical devices, the method comprising: determining that at least one electrical device has been left turned on for a threshold minimum period of time; determining that at least a first device management criteria has been met indicating that the electrical device is no longer being actively managed; notifying at least one user that the electrical device is still turned on; receiving an indication that the electrical device is to be turned off; and turning the electrical device off. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first device management criteria comprises determining that the at least one user has left his or her home. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein determining that the at least one user has left his or her home comprises determining that the user is outside of an established geofence. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein determining that the user is outside of an established geofence comprises determining that an electronic device associated with the user is at least a specified distance away from the electrical device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the notification is sent upon determining that the user is outside of the established geofence for a specified minimum period of time. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein turning the electrical device off comprises sending a signal to a electrical controller that disconnects power to the electrical device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the electrical controller is electrically connected to a breaker box and is configured to shut off power to the electrical device at the breaker box. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a beacon is used to monitor the user's location and determine when the user is outside of a specified area, the determination indicating that the user is no longer actively managing the electrical device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining that at least a first device management criteria has been met indicating that the electrical device is no longer being actively managed comprises determining that an electronic device associated with the user has been stationary for a specified amount of time, indicating that the user is potentially asleep. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: actively monitoring the length of time that the electrical device is turned on; and notifying the user that the electrical device has been turned on for a specified amount of time. ### Claim 11 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the notification is sent to at least one mobile device associated with the user. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical device is turned off automatically upon hearing a smoke alarm signal. ### Claim 13 An electronic device comprising the following: a microphone configured to listen for an alarm signal; a communications module configured to send notifications to users regarding use of an electrical device and to receive indications from users regarding management of the electrical device; a switch that connects or disconnects power to the electrical device; an electronic controller that controls the switch to connect or disconnect power to the electrical device; and a processor configured to analyze input signals and determine when to indicate to the electronic controller that the electrical device is to be turned off. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The electronic device of claim 13, further comprising a speaker that is configured to provide audible notifications to users. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the microphone is configured to listen for user speech, and wherein the processor allows the user to control the electronic device using voice commands. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the microphone is configured to listen for an alarm signal, the alarm signal indicating that the alarm is in a specific state. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the communications module receives an indication that the alarm has been removed, and sends a notification to at least one user notifying the at least one user that the alarm has been removed. ### Claim 18 At a computer system including at least one processor, a computer-implemented method for determining the state of an alarm device, the method comprising: initiating a microphone to listen for a specified sound, the specified sound indicating that the alarm device is in a specified alarm state; determining that the specified sound has been emitted by the alarm device at least once; and notifying at least one user that the alarm device is in the specified state, allowing the user to take action to change the state of the alarm device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the specified alarm state indicates that the alarm device is in a low battery state. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the specified alarm state indicates that the alarm device has been removed from its place of installation.