Smart Home Security Skill Overview

You can use the Alexa APIs to create Alexa skills that control smart home security devices such as cameras, locks, motion sensors, and other devices. You create smart home security skills the same way you create any other smart home skill. For details, see Understand the Smart Home Skill API and Steps to Build a Smart Home Skill.

You can build an Alexa skill for cloud-enabled cameras that stream video and audio by using Web Real-Time Communication (WebRTC) or the Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP). Amazon recommends that you use WebRTC whenever possible. If you want to support 2-way communication, you must use Alexa.RTCSessionController.

The Smart Home Skill API follows the OAuth2.0 specification. Every request sent from the Smart Home Skill API to a smart home skill contains an OAuth access token in the request to enable access to the customer's device cloud. The device cloud must support the authorization code grant flow type. For details, see Account Linking for Smart Home and Other Domains.

Utterances

When you use the Alexa interfaces to build smart home skills, the voice interaction model is already built for you. The following examples show some user utterances:

Alexa, talk to my front door camera.
Alexa, lock my front door.
Alexa, arm my home in away mode.

Alexa interfaces for smart home security skills

The following are the Alexa interfaces that you can use to build smart home security skills.

Alexa.CameraStreamController
Implement the CameraStreamController interface so that users can view the feed from their security cameras.
Alexa.ContactSensor
Implement the ContactSensor interface for devices that detect contact between two surfaces.
Alexa.DoorbellEventSource
The DoorbellEventSource interface describes a device that is capable of raising doorbell events.
Alexa.EventDetectionSensor
Implement the EventDetectionSensor interface so that you can notify Alexa when your security camera devices detect the presence of a person.
Alexa.LockController
Implement the LockController interface so that users can lock and unlock their lockable devices.
Alexa.MediaMetadata
Implement the MediaMetadata interface to manage media recordings from security cameras, and so that customers can view past recordings.
Alexa.MotionSensor
Implement the MotionSensor interface for devices that sense physical movement in an area.
Alexa.RTCSessionController
Implement the RTCSessionController interface for devices that are capable of Real-Time Communication. By using the RTCSessionController interface, Alexa users can communicate remotely with their security cameras and other devices.
Alexa.SecurityPanelController
Implement the SecurityPanelController interface so that users can arm and disarm security systems, and so that you can report alarm conditions to your users.

Works with Alexa Guidelines

Works with Alexa (WWA) is a certification program that raises the bar on responsiveness, reliability, and functionality, ensuring your customers have the best smart home experiences. When your products are certified, they can carry the Works with Alexa badge in the Amazon Smart Home Store and on product packaging. For details, see Works with Alexa Overview.