IP Library Granted Patent US 10,715,677
Granted Patent B2
US 10,715,677 · App. 16/200,297 · Granted Jul 14, 2020

Techniques to extend a doorbell chime

Inventor: Craig Matsuura (Draper, UT)
Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
H04M11/025G08B3/10G08B25/14H04N7/186
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,715,677
App. No.
16/200,297
Granted
Jul 14, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices for security and/or automation systems are described. In some embodiments, the methods may include detecting an input at a doorbell, and communicating the detected input to a doorbell signal generating component associated with the doorbell based at least in part on the detecting. The methods may further include generating a first alert at the doorbell signal generating component associated with the doorbell. In some embodiments, the methods may further include communicating the detected input to one or more alert components associated with the security and/or automation system based at least in part on the detecting, and generating a second alert at the one or more alert components associated with the security and/or automation system.

Claims (66)

1. A method of home automation communications, the method comprising:

identifying an event associated with an entry to a structure associated with a home automation system;

determining a location within the structure to broadcast a notification signal based at least in part on the event; and

transmitting, to a home automation component at the location, a command to broadcast the notification signal based at least in part on the determining.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the event associated with the entry to the structure further comprises:

receiving a signal from a device proximate to the entry to the structure; and

determining that a person is proximate to the entry to the structure based at least in part on the received signal from the device,

wherein the device is associated with the person.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the event associated with the entry to the structure further comprises:

receiving information from a second home automation component associated with the home automation system, wherein the information comprises an indication of sound proximate to the entry to the structure; and

determining that a person is proximate to the entry to the structure based at least in part on the indication of sound being proximate to the entry to the structure.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the event associated with the entry to the structure further comprises:

receiving information from a second home automation component associated with the home automation system, wherein the information comprises an indication of motion proximate to the entry to the structure; and

determining that a person is proximate to the entry to the structure based at least in part on the indication of motion being proximate to the entry to the structure.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the event associated with the entry to the structure further comprises:

receiving information from a second home automation component associated with the home automation system, wherein the information comprises a multimedia recording of a person approaching the entry to the structure; and

determining that the person is proximate to the entry to the structure based at least in part on the multimedia recording.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the event associated with the entry to the structure further comprises:

receiving information from a second home automation component associated with the home automation system, wherein the information comprises an indication of a manual input,

wherein the manual input comprises actuating a feature of the second home automation component, and the second home automation component comprises a doorbell unit.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

transmitting, to the second home automation component having a location proximate to the entry to the structure, a command to broadcast a second notification signal.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the location within the structure to broadcast the notification signal further comprises:

determining an occupancy within the structure based at least in part on sensor information; and

identifying the location within the structure based at least in part on the occupancy.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

identifying a first occupant at the location within the structure based at least in part on the occupancy; and

determining a state of the first occupant based at least in part on a physiological parameter of the first occupant, the physiological parameter comprising a heart rate or respiration rate, or both, wherein the state comprises an awake state or a sleep state,

wherein transmitting, to the home automation component, the command to broadcast the notification signal is based at least in part on the first occupant being in the awake state.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

identifying a second occupant at a second location within the structure based at least in part on the occupancy;

determining the state of the second occupant based at least in part on a physiological parameter of the second occupant, the physiological parameter comprising a heart rate or respiration rate, or both, wherein the state comprises an awake state or a sleep state; and

refraining from transmitting, to a second home automation component, a command to broadcast the notification signal based at least in part on the second occupant being in the sleep state.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the event comprises an actuation of a doorbell associated with the entry to the structure.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the notification signal comprises a visual notification, an auditory notification, or a haptic notification, or a combination thereof.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the home automation component comprises a control panel or a personal computing device of an occupant associated with the structure.

14. An apparatus of a home automation system, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor;

a communication interface in electronic communication with the processor, and

instructions stored in the memory and operable, when executed by the processor, to cause the apparatus to:

identify an event associated with an entry to a structure associated with a home automation system;

determine a location within the structure to broadcast a notification signal based at least in part on the event; and

transmit, to a home automation component at the location, a command to broadcast the notification signal based at least in part on the determining.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the instructions to identify the event associated with the entry to the structure are further executable by the processor to:

receive a signal from a device proximate to the entry to the structure; and

determine that a person is proximate to the entry to the structure based at least in part on the received signal from the device,

wherein the device is associated with the person.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the instructions to identify the event associated with the entry to the structure are further executable by the processor to:

receive information from a second home automation component associated with the home automation system, wherein the information comprises an indication of sound proximate to the entry to the structure; and

determine that a person is proximate to the entry to the structure based at least in part on the indication of sound being proximate to the entry to the structure.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the instructions to identify the event associated with the entry to the structure are further executable by the processor to:

receive information from a second home automation component associated with the home automation system, wherein the information comprises an indication of motion proximate to the entry to the structure; and

determine that a person is proximate to the entry to the structure based at least in part on the indication of motion being proximate to the entry to the structure.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the instructions to identify the event associated with the entry to the structure are further executable by the processor to:

receive information from a second home automation component associated with the home automation system, wherein the information comprises an indication of a manual input,

wherein the manual input comprises actuating a feature of the second home automation component, and the second home automation component comprises a doorbell unit.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

transmit, to the second home automation component having a location proximate to the entry to the structure, a command to broadcast a second notification signal.

20. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the instructions to determine the location within the structure to broadcast the notification signal are further executable by the processor to:

determine an occupancy within the structure based at least in part on sensor information; and

identify the location within the structure based at least in part on the occupancy.

21. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for a home automation system at a control panel, the code comprising instructions executable by a processor of the control panel to:

identify an event associated with an entry to a structure associated with a home automation system;

determine a location within the structure to broadcast a notification signal based at least in part on the event; and

transmit, to a home automation component at the location, a command to broadcast the notification signal based at least in part on the determining.

Assignments (9)
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 051935, FRAME 0695 Recorded Nov 11, 2024
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: VIVINT, INC.
Reel/Frame 069334/0131 →
RELEASE (REEL 051934 / FRAME 0839) Recorded Nov 1, 2024
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: VIVINT LLC (F/K/A VIVINT, INC.)
Reel/Frame 069289/0510 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 12, 2021
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: VIVINT, INC.
Reel/Frame 056823/0020 →
SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 14, 2020
From: VIVINT, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 051934/0839 →
SUPPL. NO. 3 TO SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 14, 2020
From: VIVINT, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 051935/0273 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 14, 2020
From: VIVINT, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 051935/0659 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 26, 2018
From: MATSUURA, CRAIG
To: VIVINT, INC.
Reel/Frame 047584/0572 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 15819996 · Nov 21, 2017
Continuation 15064514 · Mar 8, 2016
Related Publication 20190174007A1 · Jun 6, 2019