, Ethernet, HomePlug, etc. , and/or any other suitable communication protocol, including communication protocols not yet developed as of the filing date of this document. The memory 406 includes high speed random access memory, such as DRAM, SRAM, DDR RAM, or other random access solid state memory devices; and, optionally, includes non volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices, one or more optical disk storage devices, one or more flash memory devices, or one or more other non volatile solid state storage devices. The memory 406, or alternatively the non volatile memory within the memory 406, includes a non transitory computer readable storage medium. In some implementations, the memory 406, or the non transitory computer readable storage medium of the memory 406, stores the following programs, modules, and data structures, or a subset or superset thereof: operating logic 420 including procedures for handling various basic system services and for performing hardware dependent tasks;a device communication module 422 for connecting to and communicating with other network devices e. g. , using built in IR sensors, sound an alarm e. g. , through a built in speaker, or by sending commands to one or more external speakers, and send notifications to entities or users within/outside of the smart home network 100. In some implementations, the smart alarm system 122 also includes one or more input devices or sensors e. g.