Alarm.com Settles Patent-Infringement Lawsuit with IpDatatel

SHaaS (smart home as a service) provider Alarm.com (Nasdaq: ALRM) settles with IpDatatel, the precursor of Alula, on patent-infringement lawsuit regarding security and home-automation technology.

Alarm.com, a leading SHaaS (smart home as a service) provider, has settled a patent-infringement lawsuit against IpDatatel, the security and home-automation firm that merged with manufacturer Resolution Products in 2018 to form Alula.

Alarm.com first sued IpDatatel in 2017 for alleged infringement of five patents covering methods for monitoring and managing security and home-control systems remotely.

IpDatatel fired back, challenging the validity of three Alarm.com patents (below), which have been the subject of other patent-infringement cases by Alarm.com and its one-time cross-licensing partner (and competitor) Icontrol.

Law360.com reports that, as the Court was examining the validity of at least two of the patents (‘736 and ‘276), the parties settled the case and the suit was dismissed.

The Patents

7,956,736 – Method and system for communicating with and controlling an alarm system from a remote server
Filed 2009, issued 2011, assigned to uControl

A communication system is provided that can be added to a legacy alarm system to provide a plurality of communication modes to a remote server system from the legacy alarm system and provide remote control and monitoring to a user of the system via two-way communication links. The communication system can be configured to communicate with an alarm processor of the legacy alarm system through use of a keypad bus typically used by the legacy alarm system for communication between the alarm processor and one or more keypads. Communication modes that can be provided by embodiments of the present invention can include, for example, communication over a public switched telephone network, cellular transmission, broadband transmission, and the like. The communication system can monitor all configured communication modes and determine which communication mode is the best for providing communication between the alarm system and the remote server. Through these communication modes and by virtue of being coupled to the alarm processor via the keypad bus, the communication system can provide both transmission to the remote server of the status and alarm condition of the legacy alarm system as well as provide control signals from the remote server to the legacy alarm system. The remote server provides pre-determined responses to information received from the alarm system, including providing alarm system condition information to a user or a monitoring station for response.

9,141,276 – Integrated interface for mobile device
Filed 2011, issued Sept. 2015, assigned to Icontrol

An integrated security system integrates broadband and mobile access and control with conventional security systems and premise devices to provide a tri-mode security network that with remote connectivity and access. The integrated security system includes a touchscreen providing security keypad functionality as well as content management and presentation, and is used as a security system interface and an interface for interacting with a network. The integrated security system delivers remote premise monitoring and control functionality to conventional monitored premise protection and complements existing premise protection equipment. The integrated security system integrates into the premise network and couples wirelessly with the conventional security panel, enabling broadband access to premise security systems. Automation devices can be added, enabling users to remotely see live video or pictures and control home devices via a personal web portal, mobile phone, or other client device. Users can receive notifications of detected events via electronic message.

7,633,385 – Method and system for communicating with and controlling an alarm system from a remote server
Filed 2007, issued 2009, assigned to uControl