System and method for home automation and security

A home automation system, comprising:

• a home automation controller located at a user premises;
• a home automation server, located remotely from the user premises, operative to control an operation of a load coupled to the home automation controller;
• a home automation application implemented by the home automation server, wherein the home automation application is, in response to receiving an indication of a security event, to determine whether an occupant is scheduled to be at the user premises according to an expected occupation schedule;
• and
• an information source coupled to the home automation server via a data network, wherein the home automation server receives a message from the information source and sends a control signal based on the message to the home automation controller to control an operation of a load coupled to the home automation controller in accordance with the message.

A method of operating a home automation system, comprising:

• configuring a home automation controller located at a user premises to implement one or more control signals that control one or more devices coupled to the home automation controller;
• and
• receiving, via an access line coupling the home automation controller to a home automation server located remotely from the user premises, the control signals, wherein the control signals are to be generated by a home automation application implemented on the home automation server, wherein the control signals are based on one or more requests received at the home automation application from the home automation controller;
• and
• determining, using the home automation application, whether an occupant is scheduled to be at the user premises according to an expected occupation schedule in response to receiving an indication of a security event.