IP Library Granted Patent US 9,640,055
Granted Patent B2
US 9,640,055 · App. 14/587,599 · Granted May 2, 2017

Interacting with a detected visitor at an entryway to a smart-home

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,640,055
App. No.
14/587,599
Granted
May 2, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

This patent specification relates to apparatus, systems, methods, and related computer program products for providing home security/smart home objectives. More particularly, this patent specification relates to a plurality of devices, including intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connected devices, that communicate with each other and/or with a central server or a cloud-computing system to provide any of a variety of useful home security/smart home objectives.

Claims (55)

1. A method of handling a visitor at a smart environment that comprises a plurality of smart devices, the method comprising:

detecting visitor information associated with the visitor at the smart environment using a first smart device of the plurality of smart devices;

analyzing the detected visitor information using a computing system that is communicatively coupled to the first smart device; and

based on the analyzing, providing feedback from the computing system to the visitor via a second smart device of the plurality of smart devices, wherein:

the feedback comprises

a pre-recorded system message from the computing system to the visitor;

the method further comprises, prior to the providing the feedback, automatically selecting, with the computing system, the pre-recorded message from a plurality of pre-recorded messages based on the analyzing;

the analyzing comprises determining at least one of the following:

the specific identity of the visitor;

an identity of a visitor class with which the visitor is a member; and

an intention of the visitor; and

when the determining comprises determining that the visitor is a solicitor, the selected pre-recorded message is indicative of instructions for the visitor to do at least one of the following:

leave the smart environment; and

record a message using a third smart device of the plurality of smart devices.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein, when the determining comprises determining that the visitor is a solicitor, the selected pre-recorded message is indicative of instructions for the visitor to leave the smart environment.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein, when the determining comprises determining that the visitor is a solicitor, the selected pre-recorded message is indicative of instructions for the visitor to record a message using a third smart device of the plurality of smart devices.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pre-recorded message is stored on the second smart device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises, prior to the providing the feedback, transmitting the selected pre-recorded message from the computing system to the second smart device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the analyzing comprises determining an intention of the visitor.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein, when the determining comprises determining that the visitor has a package for delivery, the selected pre-recorded message is indicative of instructions for the visitor to deposit the package at the smart environment.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein, when the determining comprises determining that the visitor is a solicitor, the selected pre-recorded message is indicative of instructions for the visitor to do each one of the following:

leave the smart environment; and

record a message using a third smart device of the plurality of smart devices.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the feedback further comprises a user message from a user of the smart environment to the visitor.

10. A method of handling a visitor at a smart environment that comprises a plurality of smart devices, the method comprising:

detecting visitor information associated with the visitor at the smart environment using a first smart device of the plurality of smart devices;

analyzing the detected visitor information using a computing system that is communicatively coupled to the first smart device; and

based on the analyzing, providing feedback from the computing system to the visitor via a second smart device of the plurality of smart devices, wherein:

the feedback comprises a pre-recorded system message from the computing system to the visitor;

the method further comprises, prior to the providing the feedback, automatically selecting, with the computing system, the pre-recorded message from a plurality of pre-recorded messages based on the analyzing;

the analyzing comprises determining at least one of the following:

the specific identity of the visitor;

an identity of a visitor class with which the visitor is a member; and

an intention of the visitor;

when the determining comprises determining that the visitor is an emergency responder, the selected pre-recorded message is indicative of instructions for the visitor to access an entryway to a portion of the smart environment; and

the method further comprises, prior to the providing, identifying, using the computing system, that a third smart device of the plurality of smart devices detected a hazard condition at the smart environment within a particular amount of time.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the feedback further comprises information indicative of the detected hazard condition.

12. A system for handling a visitor at a smart environment, the system comprising:

a plurality of smart devices at the smart environment; and

a computing system operative to:

receive visitor data from at least one sensor of a first smart device of the plurality of smart devices, wherein the visitor data is associated with the visitor at the smart environment;

process at least a portion of the received visitor data to determine that the visitor is an emergency responder;

based on the processed visitor data, provide feedback from the computing system to the visitor via a second smart device of the plurality of smart devices; and

prior to providing the feedback, identify that a third smart device of the plurality of smart devices detected a hazard condition at the smart environment, wherein the feedback comprises:

a pre-recorded system message from the computing system to the visitor indicative of instructions for the visitor to access an entryway to a portion of the smart environment; and

information indicative of the detected hazard condition.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein

the second smart device is an entryway interface smart device positioned at an entryway to a portion of the smart environment; and

the entryway interface smart device comprises:

an output component operative to provide the feedback to the visitor; and

a doorbell component operative to be interacted with by a user for generating a request to contact an occupant of the smart environment.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein

the first smart device is the entryway interface smart device; and

the entryway interface smart device further comprises at least one sensing component operative to detect the visitor data.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the first smart device is the second smart device.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 2, 2017
From: GOOGLE INC.
To: GOOGLE LLC
Reel/Frame 044097/0658 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 13, 2015
From: FADELL, ANTHONY MICHAEL; ROGERS, MATTHEW LEE; MATSUOKA, YOKY; SLOO, DAVID; HONJO, SHIGEFUMI; MCGARAGHAN, SCOTT A.; PLITKINS, MICHAEL; VERON, MAXIME; GUENETTE, ISABEL
To: GOOGLE INC.
Reel/Frame 035631/0061 →