IP Library Granted Patent US 10,276,026
Granted Patent B2
US 10,276,026 · App. 14/561,098 · Granted Apr 30, 2019

Voice annunciated reminders and alerts

Inventor: James Ellis Nye (Alpine, UT)
Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
G08B21/24G08B3/1016G08B25/016
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,276,026
App. No.
14/561,098
Granted
Apr 30, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A computer-implemented method for announcing reminders and alerts is described. In one embodiment, appointments of an electronic calendar are monitored via a processor of a home automation system. A trigger of an upcoming appointment is detected. Information regarding the upcoming appointment is announced via a speaker of the home automation system.

Claims (61)

1. A computer-implemented method for announcing audio data via a home automation system, the method comprising:

querying, via a processor located in an enclosure of a device comprising a speaker, a plurality of systems including at least an emergency alert system and a web-based calendar system, the device receiving information from the plurality of systems;

detecting, via the processor, a trigger of an upcoming appointment based at least in part on the querying;

storing, at a storage device located in the enclosure of the device comprising the speaker, data associated with the appointment based at least in part on the detecting;

determining, via a first module located in the enclosure of the device comprising the speaker, whether a room with the device comprising the speaker is occupied by a person, wherein the determining is performed by the first module in combination with a sensor in direct communication with the device comprising the speaker;

logically configuring, at the processor, an announcement indication corresponding to the data associated with the appointment;

upon determining, via the sensor, the room with the device comprising the speaker is occupied by a person:

determining, via a second module located in the enclosure of the device comprising the speaker, the identity of the person occupying the room, wherein the determining is performed by the second module in combination with the sensor;

determining, via the processor, whether the person is associated with the upcoming appointment;

when the person is not associated with the upcoming appointment, blocking the announcement of information regarding the upcoming appointment within the room; and

when the person is associated with the upcoming appointment, announcing, via the device comprising the speaker based at least in part on the data stored at the storage device, information regarding the upcoming appointment.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

announcing, via the speaker, an alert based on emergency information of the emergency alert system.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein querying the plurality of systems further comprises:

querying a web-based calendar system; and

receiving calendar information from the web-based calendar system.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein querying the plurality of systems further comprises:

querying a mobile device calendar system; and

receiving calendar information from the mobile device calendar system.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving calendar information from a user interfacing with a user interface of the home automation system.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

storing calendar information in a storage device of the home automation system.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, at the speaker, information regarding the upcoming appointment; and

storing the information regarding the upcoming appointment in a storage device at the speaker.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

upon determining the room with the speaker is occupied, announcing, via the speaker, information regarding the upcoming appointment.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

upon determining the room with the speaker is not occupied, blocking the announcement of information regarding the upcoming appointment.

10. A home automation system configured to announce audio data, comprising:

a processor located in an enclosure of a device comprising a speaker;

memory in electronic communication with the processor;

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to:

query, via the processor, a plurality of systems comprising at least an emergency alert system and a web-based calendar system, the device receiving information from the plurality of systems;

detect, via the processor, a trigger of an upcoming appointment based at least in part on the query;

store, at a storage device located in the enclosure of the device comprising the speaker, data associated with the appointment based at least in part on the detecting;

determine, via a first module located in the enclosure of the device comprising the speaker, whether a room with the device comprising the speaker is occupied by a person, wherein the determining is performed by the first module in combination with a sensor in direct communication with the device comprising the speaker;

logically configure, at the processor, an announcement indication corresponding to the data associated with the appointment;

upon determining, via the sensor, the room with the device comprising the speaker is occupied by a person:

determine, via a second module located in the enclosure of the device comprising the speaker, the identity of the person occupying the room, wherein the determining is performed by the second module in combination with the sensor;

determine, via the processor, whether the person is associated with the upcoming appointment;

when the person is not associated with the upcoming appointment, block the announcement of information regarding the upcoming appointment within the room; and

when the person is associated with the upcoming appointment, announce, via the device comprising the speaker based at least in part on the data stored at the storage device, information regarding the upcoming appointment.

11. The home automation system of claim 10 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

announce, via the speaker, an alert based on emergency information of the emergency alert system.

12. The home automation system of claim 10 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

upon determining the room with the speaker is occupied, announce, via the speaker, information regarding the upcoming appointment.

13. A computer-program product for announcing audio data, the computer-program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions thereon, the instructions being executable by a processor to:

query, via the processor located in an enclosure of a device comprising a speaker, a plurality of systems comprising at least an emergency alert system and a web-based calendar system, the device receiving information from the plurality of systems;

detect, via the processor, a trigger of an upcoming appointment based at least in part on the query;

store, at a storage device located in the enclosure of the device comprising the speaker, data associated with the appointment based at least in part on the detecting;

determine, via a first module located in the enclosure of the device comprising the speaker, whether a room with the device comprising the speaker is occupied by a person, wherein the determining is performed by the first module in combination with a sensor in direct communication with the device comprising the speaker;

logically configure, at the processor, an announcement indication corresponding to the data associated with the appointment;

upon determining, via the sensor, the room with the device comprising the speaker is occupied by a person:

determine, via a second module located in the enclosure of the device comprising the speaker, the identity of the person occupying the room, wherein the determining is performed by the second module in combination with the sensor;

determine, via the processor, whether the person is associated with the upcoming appointment;

when the person is not associated with the upcoming appointment, block the announcement of information regarding the upcoming appointment within the room; and

when the person is associated with the upcoming appointment, announce, via the device comprising the speaker based at least in part on the data stored at the storage device, information regarding the upcoming appointment.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining the identity of the person in conjunction with at least one of a facial recognition system, a global positioning system (GPS) sensor, a Wi-Fi positioning system sensor, a near-field sensor, a proximity sensor, and a voice sensor.

Assignments (11)
AFTER-ACQUIRED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 27, 2025
From: VIVINT LLC; SMART HOME PROS, INC.; VIVINT AMIGO, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS PRIORITY COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
Reel/Frame 070349/0816 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 7, 2025
From: VIVINT, INC.
To: VIVINT LLC
Reel/Frame 069767/0257 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT REEL 038275, FRAME 0377 Recorded Nov 11, 2024
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: VIVINT, INC.
Reel/Frame 069334/0010 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT REEL 049283, FRAME 0566 Recorded Nov 11, 2024
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: VIVINT, INC.
Reel/Frame 069334/0137 →
RELEASE (REEL 047029/ FRAME 0304) Recorded Nov 1, 2024
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: VIVINT LLC (F/K/A VIVINT, INC.)
Reel/Frame 069289/0468 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 12, 2021
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: VIVINT, INC.
Reel/Frame 056832/0725 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 23, 2019
From: VIVINT, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 049283/0566 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 6, 2018
From: VIVINT, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 047029/0304 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 11, 2016
From: VIVINT, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 038402/0356 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 28, 2016
From: VIVINT, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 038275/0377 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 4, 2014
From: NYE, JAMES ELLIS
To: VIVINT, INC.
Reel/Frame 034381/0244 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61912952 · Dec 6, 2013
Related Publication 20150161873A1 · Jun 11, 2015