Rules tell the Cox Home Security System how to react to events. For instance, you might create a rule that tells the system to send you a text (SMS) message if your front door doesn't open when your kids are due home from school.

• Add Rules
• Schedule Rules
• Event Rules
• Non-Event Rules
• Rule Types
• Rule Actions

Rules are a flexible method for generating a variety of system actions (such as sending a text message or turning on a light) whenever something else happens in a given circumstance.

The following rules are created by default:

• Default Alarm Rule
  This rule sends an email to the primary person on your account when an alarm is tripped at your premises. This rule cannot be deleted or disabled. It cannot be modified except in the following ways:
  • Change the method to notify from email to SMS (text) or SMS (text) to email.
  • Add or remove an email address or phone number from one or more people in your Contacts list.
    
    Note: The email of phone number for the primary person on the account must be one of the notification methods.
    
• Default Arm Rule
  This rule sends an email to the primary person on your account when the system is armed. You can delete, disable this rule. You can change anything about this rule except "When My" and "Becomes" menus that trigger the rule.
• Default Disarm Rule
  This rule sends an email to the primary person on your account when the system is disarmed. You can delete, disable this rule. You can change anything about this rule except "When My" and "Becomes" menus that trigger the rule.

To manage rules, click Rules > Rules Setup on the toolbar. 

Result: The Rules page displays.

Add Rules

Add rules at the Cox Home Security System Subscriber Portal at https://Portal.coxhomesecurity.com.

1. From the Rules page, click Add Rule.
2. Select Schedule, Event, Non-Event or Thermostat Schedule.
   
   
   Result: The criteria options for the selected rule type are displayed.
   
   Notes: 
   •  The options that appear in each list are dependent on your selections so far. For example, if you select a door / window sensor under When My, the options under Becomes include only conditions that relate to doors and windows (such as Open, Close, or Trouble).
   • The last option, Thermostat Schedule, will not appear if a schedule has already been created and is listed on the Rules page. If you want to run through the wizard again, delete the schedule. The thermostat schedule option will then appear. See Using Thermostat Schedule Wizard in Cox Home Security for more information on how to schedule your thermostat.
3. Select the criteria for your rule.
4. The Describe the Rule field changes based on your selected criteria. This will be the name of the rule.
5. Modify the Describe the Rule field as desired.
   

Schedule Rules

Scheduled Rules establish actions that occur at a given time, date, or date range. Scheduled Rules consist of the following options:

• At a Specific Time - The time and day or the time / day range when the rule will apply.
• Do This - The action the rule will take
• In Home Security Mode - During which arming mode (if any) the rule applies
  
  Note: For Scheduled Rules that apply during a time range, you can have the action repeat periodically during that time range. For example, you can have the system turn on a light for five minutes every 20 minutes between 7 p.m. and midnight.

Event Rules

Rules tell your security system how to react to events or non-events. For example a widow opens can be an event.

Event rules are triggered by events in security zones, by a trouble reported, or by an alarm being faulted in the Cox Home Security system.

Event rules consist of the following elements:

• When My... - Select a specific security zone that will trigger the action, or select the entire system.

• Becomes... - What happens at the security zone or the security system to trigger the action.

  For the entire system, the only options are Alarm or Trouble.

• Do This - The action the rule will take.
• How Often - The time range and days of the week when the rule is applicable. You can select Any Time to have the rule apply whenever the selected event occurs.
• In Home Security Mode - During which arming mode (if any) the rule applies.

If a dimmable light is set to zero and a rule causes the light to turn on, the light level
increases to 30% when it turns on. But if a dimmable light is set to any other value (even 1%), the light turns on at the specified setting.

Non-Event Rules

Rules tell your security system how to react to events or non-events. For example a non-event can be that the door does not open when the kids are due home from school.

Non-event rules are triggered when a specific event does not occur during a specific time range, either every day or on specified days.

Non-event rules consist of the following elements:

• When My... - Select a specific security zone to monitor.

• Does Not... - The event that fails to occur during the specified time range.

  For the entire system, the only options are Alarm or Trouble.

• Do This - The action the rule will take if the specified conditions are met.
• At a Specific Time - The time / day range when the rule is applicable. Alternately, you can set times based on sunrise and / or sunset for your location.
• In Home Security Mode - During which arming mode (if any) the rule applies.