IP Library Granted Patent US 11,025,863
Granted Patent B2
US 11,025,863 · App. 16/391,089 · Granted Jun 1, 2021

Home automation system-initiated calls

Inventors: Matthew Mahar (Salt Lake City, UT); Matthew J. Eyring (Provo, UT); Clint Huson Gordon-Carroll (Orem, UT); Jeremy Bruce Warren (Draper, UT); James Ellis Nye (Alpine, UT); Jefferson Huhta Lyman (Alpine, UT); Michael D. Child (Lehi, UT)
Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
H04N7/147G08B13/196G08B25/008G08B25/08H04N7/183
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 11,025,863
App. No.
16/391,089
Granted
Jun 1, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, apparatuses, and techniques for security and/or automation systems are described. In one embodiment, the method may include receiving a call initiation instruction at a video monitoring component of a home automation system. The method may further include analyzing the call initiation instruction, and communicating a call request from the video monitoring component of the home automation system to a first remote user based at least in part on the received call initiation instruction.

Claims (61)

1. A method for security and/or automation systems, comprising:

receiving a call initiation instruction from a user at a video monitoring component of a home security and/or automation system, the call initiation instruction comprising an indication of a first remote user of the security and/or automation systems;

communicating a call request from the video monitoring component of the home security and/or automation system to the first remote user based at least in part on the receiving the call initiation instruction;

determining, after communicating the call request to the first remote user, a second remote user different from the first remote user indicated within the call initiation instruction based at least in part on an indication of the second remote user included in a user profile of the user at the video monitoring component that is stored at the video monitoring component of the home security and/or automation system, a characteristic of the user of the video monitoring component, and an availability of the first remote user; and

communicating the call request from the video monitoring component of the home security and/or automation system to the second remote user different from the first remote user indicated within the call initiation instruction.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

analyzing the call initiation instruction to determine an identity of the user of the video monitoring component, wherein the characteristic of the user of the video monitoring component is based at least in part on the identity of the user.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a first call acceptance from the first remote user;

receiving a second call acceptance from the second remote user; and

initiating a two-way call between the user of the video monitoring component, the first remote user, and the second remote user.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a call rejection from the first remote user, wherein communicating the call request from the video monitoring component of the home security and/or automation system to the second remote user is based at least in part on the receiving the call rejection from the first remote user.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the call initiation instruction comprises the indication indicating the first remote user and the second remote user, and

the communicating the call request to the first remote user and the second remote user is based at least in part on the indication.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the first remote user and the second remote user are members of a household associated with the home security and/or automation system, and

the communicating the call request to the first remote user and the second remote user is based at least in part on the household.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein:

the call initiation instruction comprises the indication indicating the members of the household associated with the home security and/or automation system, and

the communicating the call request to the first remote user and the second remote user is based at least in part on the indication of the members of the household.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communicating the call request from the video monitoring component of the home security and/or automation system to the first remote user and the communicating the call request from the video monitoring component of the home security and/or automation system to the second remote user occurs sequentially.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying a portion of the call initiation instruction, wherein determining the second remote user is based at least in part on the identifying the portion of the call initiation instruction.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein:

the portion of the call initiation instruction is a key phrase or key word identifying a relationship between the first remote user and the user of the video monitoring component, and

the relationship between the first remote user and the user of the video monitoring component is a same relationship as a relationship between the second remote user and the user of the video monitoring component.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second remote user is associated with the first remote user and the user of the video monitoring component.

12. A video monitoring component for a home security and/or automation system, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

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

receive a call initiation instruction from a user of the video monitoring component, the call initiation instruction comprising an indication of a first remote user of the home security and/or automation system;

communicate a call request to the first remote user based at least in part on the receiving the call initiation instruction;

determine, after communicating the call request to the first remote user, a second remote user different from the first remote user indicated within the call initiation instruction based at least in part on an indication of the second remote user included in a user profile of the user at the video monitoring component that is stored at the video monitoring component of the home security and/or automation system, a characteristic of the user of the video monitoring component, and an availability of the first remote user; and

communicate the call request to the second remote user different than the first remote user indicated within the call initiation instruction.

13. The video monitoring component of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

analyze the call initiation instruction to determine an identity of the user of the video monitoring component, wherein the characteristic of the user of the video monitoring component is based at least in part on the identity of the user.

14. The video monitoring component of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive a first call acceptance from the first remote user;

receive a second call acceptance from the second remote user; and

initiate a two-way call between the user of the video monitoring component, the first remote user, and the second remote user.

15. The video monitoring component of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive a call rejection from the first remote user, wherein communicating the call request to the second remote user is based at least in part on the receiving the call rejection from the first remote user.

16. The video monitoring component of claim 12 , wherein:

the call initiation instruction comprises the indication indicating the first remote user and the second remote user, and

the communicating the call request to the first remote user and the second remote user is based at least in part on the indication.

17. The video monitoring component of claim 12 , wherein:

the first remote user and the second remote user are members of a household associated with the home security and/or automation system, and

the communicating the call request to the first remote user and the second remote user is based at least in part on the household.

18. The video monitoring component of claim 17 , wherein:

the call initiation instruction comprises the indication indicating the members of the household associated with the home security and/or automation system, and

the communicating the call request to the first remote user and the second remote user is based at least in part on the indication of the members of the household.

19. The video monitoring component of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

identify a portion of the call initiation instruction, wherein determining the second remote user is based at least in part on the identifying the portion of the call initiation instruction.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable code, the code executable by a processor to:

receive a call initiation instruction from a user at a video monitoring component of a home security and/or automation system, the call initiation instruction comprising an indication of a first remote user of the home security and/or automation system;

communicate a call request from the video monitoring component of the home security and/or automation system to the first remote user based at least in part on the receiving the call initiation instruction;

determine, after communicating the call request to the first remote user, a second remote user different from the first remote user indicated within the call initiation instruction based at least in part on an indication of the second remote user included in a user profile of the user at the video monitoring component that is stored at the video monitoring component of the home security and/or automation system, a characteristic of the user of the video monitoring component, and an availability of the first remote user; and

communicate the call request from the video monitoring component of the home security and/or automation system to the second remote user different than the first remote user indicated within the call initiation instruction.

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 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 Apr 22, 2019
From: MAHAR, MATTHEW; EYRING, MATTHEW J.; GORDON-CARROLL, CLINT HUSON; WARREN, JEREMY BRUCE; NYE, JAMES ELLIS; LYMAN, JEFFERSON HUHTA; CHILD, MICHAEL D.; ZUNDEL, MICHELLE
To: VIVINT, INC.
Reel/Frame 048960/0458 →