Patent Application

App. No. 15/719,543

Abstract

Claims (97)

1 . A method for using a doorbell system to detect a presence of a visitor, the doorbell system comprising a doorbell having a speaker, a microphone, a camera, and a button, wherein the button is configurable to enable the visitor to sound a chime, the method comprising:

detecting, by the doorbell system, the presence of the visitor while the visitor is located outside a building to which the doorbell is attached, wherein the building comprises a door having a lock that is configured to fasten the door to inhibit unauthorized entry into the building; and

in response to detecting the presence of the visitor, actuating, by the doorbell system, a first appliance associated with the building.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein actuating the first appliance comprises actuating, by the doorbell system, a camera to record video and/or audio of an entryway located adjacent the doorbell.

3 . The method of claim 2 , in response to detecting, by the doorbell system, the presence of the visitor, the method further comprising actuating, by the doorbell system, a second appliance associated with the building.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein actuating the second appliance associated with the building comprises pausing, by the doorbell system, an image displayed on a screen of a television.

5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein actuating the second appliance associated with the building comprises illuminating, by the doorbell system, an outdoor light located within 10 feet of the doorbell.

6 . The method of claim 3 , wherein actuating the second appliance associated with the building comprises vibrating, by the doorbell system, a wearable device associated with a user.

7 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the first and second appliances are selected from the group consisting of air conditioning, heating, lighting, television, and ventilation.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining, by the doorbell system, whether the visitor is a resident, a known guest, or an unknown guest, wherein the resident is authorized access to the building any time of day, the known guest is authorized access to the building at a predetermined time of day, and the unknown guest is not authorized access to the building.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

in response to detecting the presence of the resident, determining whether the lock is in a locked position or an unlocked position, and in response to determining the lock is in the locked position, actuating, by the doorbell system, the lock to move to the unlocked position;

in response to detecting the presence of the known guest, determining, by the doorbell system, whether a present time is within the predetermined time of day and whether the lock is in the locked position or the unlocked position, wherein in response to determining the present time is within the predetermined time of day and the lock is in the locked position, actuating, by the doorbell system, the lock to move to the unlocked position, and wherein in response to determining the time of day is not within the predetermined time of day and the lock is in the unlocked position, actuating, by the doorbell system, the lock to move to the locked position; and

in response to detecting the presence of the unknown guest, determining, by the doorbell system, whether the lock is in the locked position or the unlocked position, and in response to determining the lock is in the unlocked position, actuating, by the doorbell system, the lock to move to the locked position.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein determining, by the doorbell system, whether the visitor is the resident, the known guest, or the unknown guest comprises determining, by the doorbell system, whether the visitor is the resident, the known guest, or the unknown guest via an identification method selected from the group consisting of facial recognition, retina scanning, iris recognition, and fingerprint recognition.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein determining, by the doorbell system, whether the visitor is a resident, known guest, or unknown guest comprises:

detecting, by the doorbell system, a presence of a remote computing device associated with the resident, known guest, or unknown guest; and

determining, by the doorbell system, whether the remote computing device is associated with the resident, known guest, or unknown guest.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the remote computing device is a smartphone, and wherein detecting, by the doorbell system, the presence of the remote computing device comprises detecting, by the doorbell system, the presence of the remote computing device via a technology selected from the group consisting of Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, infrared, cellular, and Global Positioning System.

13 . A method for using a doorbell system to detect a presence of an outside visitor and a presence of an inside visitor, the doorbell system comprising a doorbell having a speaker, a microphone, a camera, and a button, wherein the button is configurable to enable the outside visitor to sound a chime, the method comprising:

detecting, by the doorbell system, the presence of the outside visitor while the outside visitor is located outside a building to which the doorbell is attached, wherein the building comprises a door having a lock configured to fasten the door to inhibit unauthorized entry into the building; and

in response to detecting the presence of the outside visitor, detecting, by the doorbell system, the presence of the inside visitor while the inside visitor is located inside of the building.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

determining, by the doorbell system, whether the outside visitor is a first resident, first known guest, or first unknown guest; and

determining, by the doorbell system, whether the inside visitor is a second resident, second known guest, or second unknown guest,

wherein the first resident or second resident is authorized access to the building any time of day, wherein the first known guest or second known guest is authorized access to the building at a predetermined time of day, and wherein the first unknown guest or second unknown guest is not authorized access to the building.

15 . The method of claim 14 , in response to determining, by the doorbell system, the outside visitor is the first resident and the inside visitor is the second known guest or second unknown guest, the method further comprising actuating, by the doorbell system, at least one selected appliance from an appliance record associated with the outside visitor.

16 . The method of claim 14 , in response to determining the outside visitor is the first resident and the inside visitor is the second resident, the method further comprising:

determining, by the doorbell system, whether a first appliance record associated with the outside visitor is ranked higher than a second appliance record associated with the inside visitor; and

in response to determining the first appliance record associated with the outside visitor is ranked higher than the second appliance record associated with the inside visitor, actuating, by the doorbell system, at least one appliance from the first appliance record.

17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein a first appliance record is associated with the outside visitor and a second appliance record is associated with the inside visitor, and wherein in response to determining the outside visitor is the first resident and the inside visitor is the second resident, the method further comprising:

determining, by the doorbell system, whether a first appliance of the first appliance record is not defined in the second appliance record;

in response to determining the first appliance of the first appliance record is not defined in the second appliance record, actuating, by the doorbell system, the first appliance;

determining, by the doorbell system, whether a second appliance of the first appliance record is defined in the second appliance record;

in response to determining the second appliance of the first appliance record is defined in the second appliance record, determining, by the doorbell system, whether the second appliance is de-energized; and

in response to determining the second appliance is de-energized, actuating, by the doorbell system, the second appliance.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the first appliance record includes at least a first predetermined appliance setting, wherein the second appliance is a television, and wherein actuating, by the doorbell system, the second appliance comprises:

energizing, by the doorbell system, the television;

configuring, by the doorbell system, the television to receive a signal from a predetermined television channel as per the first predetermined appliance setting; and

configuring, by the doorbell system, the television to a predetermined volume as per the first predetermined appliance setting.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the first appliance record includes at least a first predetermined appliance setting, and wherein in response to determining the second appliance is energized, the method further comprising:

determining, by the doorbell system, whether the first appliance record is ranked higher than the second appliance record; and

in response to determining the first appliance record is ranked higher than the second appliance record, configuring, by the doorbell system, the second appliance as per the first predetermined appliance setting.

20 . A method for using a doorbell system to detect a presence of a first outside visitor and a presence of a second outside visitor, the doorbell system comprising a doorbell having a speaker, a microphone, a camera, and a button, wherein the button is configurable to enable the first outside visitor to sound a chime, the method comprising:

detecting, by the doorbell system, the presence of the first outside visitor while the first outside visitor is located outside of a building to which the doorbell is attached, wherein the building comprises a door having a lock that is configured to fasten the door to inhibit unauthorized entry into the building; and

in response to detecting the presence of the first outside visitor, detecting, by the doorbell system, the presence of the second outside visitor while the second outside visitor is located outside of the building.

21 . The method of claim 20 , further comprising:

determining, by the doorbell system, whether the first outside visitor is a first resident, first known guest, or first unknown guest; and

determining, by the doorbell system, whether the second outside visitor is a second resident, second known guest, or second unknown guest,

wherein the resident is authorized full access to the building, the known guest is authorized partial access to the building, and the unknown guest is not authorized access to the building, and wherein full access comprises unlocking the lock any time of day, and partial access comprises unlocking the lock at a predetermined time of day.

22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein determining whether the visitor is the resident, the known guest, or the unknown guest comprises determining, by the doorbell system, whether the visitor is the resident, the known guest, or the unknown guest via an identification method selected from the group consisting of facial recognition, fingerprint recognition, retina scanning, and iris recognition.

23 . The method of claim 21 , wherein a first appliance record is associated with the first outside visitor and a second appliance record is associated with the second outside visitor, and wherein in response to determining the first outside visitor is the first resident and the second outside visitor is the second resident, the method further comprising:

determining, by the doorbell system, whether the first appliance record is ranked higher than the second appliance record; and

in response to determining the first appliance record is ranked higher than the second appliance record, actuating and configuring, by the doorbell system, a plurality of appliances as per the first appliance record.

24 . The method of claim 20 , further comprising detecting, by the doorbell system, the presence of an inside visitor while the inside visitor is located inside of the building.

25 . The method of claim 24 , further comprising:

determining, by the doorbell system, whether the first outside visitor is a first resident, first known guest, or first unknown guest;

determining, by the doorbell system, whether the second outside visitor is a second resident, second known guest, or second unknown guest;

determining, by the doorbell system, whether the inside visitor is a third resident, third known guest, or third unknown guest;

in response to determining the first outside visitor is the first resident or the second outside visitor is the second resident, and in response to determining the inside visitor is the third resident, determining, by the doorbell system, whether a first appliance associated with an appliance record of the first resident or a second appliance associated with an appliance record of the second resident is de-energized; and

in response to determining the first appliance associated with the appliance record of the first outside visitor or second appliance associated with the appliance record of the second outside visitor is de-energized, actuating and configuring, by the doorbell system, the first appliance as per the appliance record of the first outside visitor or the second appliance as per the appliance record of the second outside visitor.

26 . A method for using a doorbell system to detect a presence of a first resident and a presence of a second resident, the doorbell system comprising a doorbell having a speaker, a microphone, a camera, and a button, wherein the button is configurable to enable the first resident to sound a chime, the method comprising:

detecting, by the doorbell system, the presence of the first resident while the first resident is located outside of a building to which the doorbell is attached, wherein the building comprises a door having a lock that is configured to fasten the door to inhibit unauthorized entry into the building; and

in response to detecting the presence of the first resident, detecting, by the doorbell system, an indication of a location of the second resident with respect to the building, wherein the second resident is located remotely from the building.

27 . The method of claim 26 , wherein in response to detecting the indication of the location of the second resident is greater than one mile from the building, the method further comprising actuating, by the doorbell system, at least one appliance as per a first appliance record associated with the first resident.

28 . The method of claim 26 , wherein a first appliance record is associated with the first resident and a second appliance record is associated with the second resident, and wherein in response to detecting the indication of the location of the second resident is less than one mile from the building, the method further comprising:

determining, by the doorbell system, whether the second appliance record is ranked higher than the first appliance record;

in response to determining the first appliance record is ranked higher than the second appliance record, actuating, by the doorbell system, all appliances as per the first appliance record;

determining, by the doorbell system, whether the second resident is moving towards the building;

in response to determining the second resident is moving towards the building and in response to determining the second appliance record is ranked higher than the first appliance record, actuating, by the doorbell system, all appliances as per the second appliance record; and

in response to determining the second resident is not moving towards the building, actuating, by the doorbell system, all appliances as per the first appliance record.

29 . The method of claim 26 , wherein a first appliance record is associated with the first resident and a second appliance record is associated with the second resident, and wherein in response to detecting that the indication of the location of the second resident is less than one mile from the building, the method further comprising:

detecting, by the doorbell system, whether an indication of a location of a third resident is less than one mile from the building, wherein the third resident is located remotely from the building, and wherein a third appliance record is associated with the third resident; and

in response to detecting the indication of the location of the third resident is less than one mile from the building, the method further comprising:

determining, by the doorbell system, whether the first appliance record, second appliance record, or third appliance record is ranked highest;

in response to determining the first appliance record is ranked higher than the second and third appliance records, actuating, by the doorbell system, all appliances as per the first appliance record;

in response to determining the second appliance record is ranked higher than the first and third appliance records, actuating, by the doorbell system, all appliances as per the second appliance record; and

in response to determining the third appliance record is ranked higher than the first and second appliance records, actuating, by the doorbell system, all appliances as per the third appliance record.

30 . The method of claim 26 , wherein a first appliance record is associated with the first resident and a second appliance record is associated with the second resident, and wherein in response to detecting that the indication of the location of the second resident is less than one mile from the building, the method further comprising:

detecting, by the doorbell system, whether an indication of a location of a third resident is less than one mile from the building, wherein the third resident is located remotely from the building, and wherein a third appliance record is associated with the third resident; and

in response to detecting the indication of the location of the third resident is less than one mile from the building, the method further comprising:

determining, by the doorbell system, whether the second resident is moving towards the building;

determining, by the doorbell system, whether the third resident is moving towards the building;

in response to determining the second and third residents are moving towards the building, the method further comprising:

determining, by the doorbell system, whether the first appliance record, second appliance record, or third appliance record is ranked highest;

in response to determining the first appliance record is ranked higher than the second and third appliance records, actuating, by the doorbell system, all appliances as per the first appliance record;

in response to determining the second appliance record is ranked higher than the first and third appliance records, actuating, by the doorbell system, all appliances as per the second appliance record; and

in response to determining the third appliance record is ranked higher than the first and second appliance records, actuating, by the doorbell system, all appliances as per the third appliance record;

in response to determining the second resident is moving towards the building and the third resident is not moving towards the building, the method further comprising:

determining, by the doorbell system, whether the first appliance record or the second appliance record is ranked highest;

in response to determining the first appliance record is ranked higher than the second appliance record, actuating, by the doorbell system, all appliances as per the first appliance record;

in response to determining the second appliance record is ranked higher than the first appliance record, actuating, by the doorbell system, all appliances as per the second appliance record;

in response to determining the third resident is moving towards the building and the second resident is not moving towards the building, the method further comprising:

determining, by the doorbell system, whether the first appliance record or the third appliance record is ranked highest;

in response to determining the first appliance record is ranked higher than the third appliance record, actuating, by the doorbell system, all appliances as per the first appliance record;

in response to determining the third appliance record is ranked higher than the first appliance record, actuating, by the doorbell system, all appliances as per the third appliance record; and

in response to determining the second and third residents are not moving towards the building, actuating, by the doorbell system, all appliances as per the first appliance record.

Assignments (10)