Amazon Security Panel Controller API Adds Home System Arming to Alexa
A consumer with the system enabled could say “Alexa, arm,” which would arm their security system. A disarm-by-voice feature is also available.
The Security Panel Controller API builds on Amazon’s Alexa Guard, a forthcoming alert feature that sends notifications to smartphones when an Amazon Echo speaker detects the sound of breaking glass or of a smoke or carbon monoxide (CO) alarm.
SEATTLE — Amazon announced it has added the ability for consumers to control their security systems via the Alexa-enabled voice assistant device.
A new security panel controller launched for developers will allow customers to arm, disarm and query their security systems with Alexa, according to an Amazon blog post.
The control panel API allows users to arm or disarm their security systems, specify certain modes (home, away and night) and simply check in. The functionality is available now in the United States, with companies like Abode, ADT, Honeywell, Ring and Scout Alarm already using it.
A consumer with the system enabled could say “Alexa, arm,” which would arm their security system. Disarming the system can work the same way, if a customer enables the disarm-by-voice feature in the Alexa app.
To get the disarm command up and running, users first have to enable the disarm-by-voice feature. This entails launching the Alexa app on a smartphone or PC, navigate to the settings page, and select between one of two options: providing your security system’s four-digit PIN code or creating an Alexa-specific voice code. Once users have completed that step, they are ready to proceed.
The Security Panel Controller API builds on Amazon’s Alexa Guard, a forthcoming alert feature that sends notifications to smartphones when an Amazon Echo speaker detects the sound of breaking glass or of a smoke or carbon monoxide (CO) alarm.
Alexa Guard can also randomize the lights in a user’s home when they away to make it appear as though somebody is home, and integrate with Ring and ADT so that alerts are sent to a monitoring center.
The feature, first announced in September, is not yet available to all Alexa device owners.
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