IP Library Granted Patent US 10,586,114
Granted Patent B2
US 10,586,114 · App. 15/863,837 · Granted Mar 10, 2020

Enhanced doorbell camera interactions

Inventors: Tanner Hawkes Potter (Orem, UT); Wes Frisby (Pleasant Grove, UT); Michael D. Child (Draper, UT); Spencer J. Nugent (American Fork, UT); Michelle Bea Zundel (Draper, UT); Max Benjamin Crebs (Salt Lake City, UT)
Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
G06K9/00771G06K9/00255G06K9/00288G08B3/10G08B13/19602G08B13/19628G08B13/19656H04M11/025H04N7/186G08B15/002
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,586,114
App. No.
15/863,837
Filed
Jan 5, 2018
Granted
Mar 10, 2020
Kind
B2
Examiner
DANG, PHILIP
Art Unit
2488
USPC
348/143
Abstract

Techniques are described for enhanced interactions for a security automation system using a doorbell camera. One method includes detecting, by the doorbell camera, an object located within a pre-determined distance from the doorbell camera; identifying, by the doorbell camera, a suggested security action for the security and automation system to perform based at least in part on the detecting; transmitting the suggested action to the security and automation system based at least in part on the identifying; and transmitting, in response to identifying the suggested security action, a message to a user associated with the security automation system regarding the suggested security action.

Claims (60)

1. A method of monitoring an entry to a structure for a security and automation system using a doorbell camera, comprising:

detecting, by the doorbell camera, an object located within a first pre-determined distance from the doorbell camera based at least in part on a movement of the object within the first pre-determined distance, wherein the movement of the object is at least in part towards the entry of the structure;

analyzing images of the object captured by the doorbell camera to identify the object, triggered by the detecting that the object is located at the first pre-determined distance from the entry of the structure, wherein the analyzing is irrespective of a manual interaction with a security automation component, wherein the analyzing comprises identifying an email delivery confirmation, identifying a tracking number in the email delivery confirmation, and confirming a validity of the email delivery confirmation and the tracking number;

identifying, by the doorbell camera, a suggested security action for the security and automation system to perform based at least in part on the analyzing;

transmitting the suggested security action to the security and automation system; and

transmitting, in response to identifying the suggested security action, a message to a user associated with the security and automation system regarding the suggested security action, wherein transmitting the message comprises receiving a written message, translating the written message into a verbal message, and broadcasting the verbal message at or near the entry to the structure.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the object located within the first pre-determined distance from the doorbell camera further comprises:

detecting a presence of the object located within zero degrees, inclusive, to 90 degrees, inclusive, downward from a midline horizontal viewing plane of a lens coupled to the doorbell camera.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the object located within the first pre-determined distance from the doorbell camera further comprises:

detecting a presence of the object located within 90 degrees, inclusive, to 180 degrees, inclusive, upward from a midline horizontal viewing plane of a lens coupled to the doorbell camera.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the object located within the first pre-determined distance from the doorbell camera further comprises:

detecting a presence of the object located within a range inclusive of 90 degrees on either side of a midline vertical viewing plane of a lens coupled to the doorbell camera.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the object located within the first pre-determined distance from the doorbell camera further comprises:

detecting a presence of the object located within six inches from a lens coupled to the doorbell camera.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the object further comprises:

receiving data from a sensor coupled to the doorbell camera, the sensor capturing images at an aspect ratio of 4 to 3.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

converting the images captured at the aspect ratio of 4 to 3 into images having an aspect ratio of 1 to 1.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

transmitting the converted images to the user prior to determining the suggested security action.

9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

transmitting the converted images to the user after determining the suggested security action.

10. A doorbell camera for monitoring an entry to a structure of a security and automation system, comprising:

a processor;

a memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

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

detect, by the doorbell camera, an object located within a first pre-determined distance from the doorbell camera based at least in part on a movement of the object within the first pre-determined distance, wherein the movement of the object is at least in part towards the entry of the structure;

analyze images of the object captured by the doorbell camera to identify the object, triggered by the detecting that the object is located at the first pre-determined distance from the entry of the structure, wherein the analyzing is irrespective of a manual interaction with a security automation component, wherein the analyzing comprises identifying an email delivery confirmation, identifying a tracking number in the email delivery confirmation, and confirming a validity of the email delivery confirmation and the tracking number;

identify, by the doorbell camera, a suggested security action for the security and automation system to perform based at least in part on the analyzing;

transmit the suggested security action to the security and automation; and

transmit, in response to identifying the suggested security action, a message to a user associated with the security and automation system regarding the suggested security action, wherein transmitting the message comprises receiving a written message, translating the written message into a verbal message, and broadcasting the verbal message at or near the entry to the structure.

11. The doorbell camera of claim 10 , further comprising:

a lens coupled to the processor, the lens comprising a 180-degree field of view around a midline horizontal viewing plane; and

the lens further comprising a 180-degree field of view around a midline vertical viewing plane.

12. The doorbell camera of claim 10 , further comprising:

at least one infrared light emitting diode coupled to an exterior housing of the doorbell camera.

13. The doorbell camera of claim 10 , wherein when the processor detects the object, the instructions are further executable to instruct the processor to:

detect a presence of the object located within 90 degrees, inclusive, to 180 degrees, inclusive, upward from a midline horizontal viewing plane of a lens coupled to the doorbell camera.

14. The doorbell camera of claim 10 , wherein when the processor detects the object, the instructions are further executable to instruct the processor to:

detect a presence of the object located within a range inclusive of 90 degrees on either side of a midline vertical viewing plane of a lens coupled to the doorbell camera.

15. The doorbell camera of claim 10 , wherein when the processor detects the object, the instructions are further executable to instruct the processor to:

detect a presence of the object located within zero degrees, inclusive, to 90 degrees, inclusive, downward from a midline horizontal viewing plane of a lens coupled to the doorbell camera.

16. The doorbell camera of claim 10 , wherein when the processor detects the object, the instructions are further executable to instruct the processor to:

detect a presence of the object located within six inches from a lens coupled to the doorbell camera.

17. The doorbell camera of claim 10 , wherein when the processor detects the object, the instructions are further executable to instruct the processor to:

receive data from a sensor coupled to the doorbell camera, the sensor capturing images at an aspect ratio of 4 to 3.

18. The doorbell camera of claim 17 , wherein when the processor receives data, the instructions are further executable to instruct the processor to:

convert the images captured at the aspect ratio of 4 to 3 into images having an aspect ratio of 1 to 1.

19. The doorbell camera of claim 18 , wherein the instructions are further executable to instruct the processor to:

transmit the converted images to the user.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable code for security and/or automation systems, the code executable by a processor to:

detect, by a doorbell camera, an object located within a first pre-determined distance from the doorbell camera based at least in part on a movement of the object within the first pre-determined distance, wherein the movement of the object is at least in part towards the entry of the structure;

analyze images of the object captured by the doorbell camera to identify the object, triggered by the detecting that the object is located at the first pre-determined distance from the entry of the structure, wherein the analyzing is irrespective of a manual interaction with a security automation component, wherein the analyzing comprises identifying an email delivery confirmation, identifying a tracking number in the email delivery confirmation, and confirming a validity of the email delivery confirmation and the tracking number;

identify, by the doorbell camera, a suggested security action for the security and automation system to perform based at least in part on the analyzing;

transmit the suggested security action to the security and automation system; and

transmit, in response to identifying the suggested security action, a message to a user associated with the security and automation system regarding the suggested security action, wherein transmitting the message comprises receiving a written message, translating the written message into a verbal message, and broadcasting the verbal message at or near the entry to the structure.

21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the movement of the object is at least in part towards the doorbell camera.

22. The method of claim 1 , wherein the doorbell camera is located at the structure, and wherein the first pre-determined distance and a second pre-determined distance are within an area associated with the structure.

23. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detecting the object further comprises detecting a person and a package.

24. The method of claim 1 , wherein the analyzing of the object further comprises identifying a person.

Assignments (8)
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 →
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 21, 2024
From: CHILD, MICHAEL D.; WARREN, JEREMY B.; PEACOCK, ALEN L.; ZUNDEL, MICHELLE
To: VIVINT, INC.
Reel/Frame 068951/0681 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 12, 2021
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: VIVINT, INC.
Reel/Frame 056832/0824 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 23, 2019
From: VIVINT, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 049283/0566 →
SUPPL. NO. 2 SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 6, 2018
From: VIVINT, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA N.A.
Reel/Frame 047024/0048 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 6, 2018
From: VIVINT, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 047029/0304 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation In Part 15489052 · Apr 17, 2017
Continuation In Part 14596047 · Jan 13, 2015
Related Publication 20180129885A1 · May 10, 2018
Cited By (4)
US 12,657,975 US 12,682,706 US 12,688,743 US 12,688,744