IP Library Granted Patent US 11,565,398
Granted Patent B2
US 11,565,398 · App. 16/674,887 · Granted Jan 31, 2023

Smart home robot assistant

Inventors: Wes Frisby (Pleasant Grove, UT); Craig Matsuura (Draper, UT); Aaron Davis (Pleasant Grove, UT)
Assignee: VIVINT, INC.
B25J9/0003B25J9/1679B25J11/008B25J13/006E05F1/002G05D1/0282A47L2201/00E05F15/611E05Y2900/132G05B2219/25011G05B2219/25168G05B2219/2642G05B2219/39001G05D2201/0215Y10S901/01
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,565,398
App. No.
16/674,887
Granted
Jan 31, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and systems are described for robot transportation of objects into or out of a home automation system. One example may include determining, by a mobile robotic device, that an object is available to cross a boundary of the home automation system. The method may include deactivating at least a portion of the home automation system. The method also include retrieving, by the mobile robotic device, the object and transporting, by the mobile robotic device, the object across the boundary. The method further includes leaving, by the mobile robotic device, the object at a drop-off location. The method may also include reactivating at least the portion of the home automation system.

Claims (55)

1. A method for robotic delivery in a home automation system, comprising:

determining, by a mobile robotic device, that an object is available to cross a boundary of the home automation system;

transmitting, by the mobile robotic device, a request to retrieve the object based at least in part on determining that the object is available to cross the boundary;

deactivating, by the mobile robotic device, at least a portion of the home automation system based at least in part on the transmitting the request; and

retrieving, by the mobile robotic device, the object based at least in part on deactivating at least the portion of the home automation system.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the object is a delivery package, the method further comprising:

determining a time window for delivery of the delivery package.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

scanning a delivery area for the delivery package during the time window based at least in part on determining the time window.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein determining that the object is available to cross the boundary comprises:

identifying that the delivery package is located outside the boundary of the home automation system during the time window.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein deactivating at least the portion of the home automation system comprises:

deactivating a security lock or an alarm system associated with the home automation system.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

transporting the object across the boundary of the home automation system based at least in part on retrieving the object.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying a drop-off location based at least in part on retrieving the object; and

transporting the object to the drop-off location based at least in part on identifying the drop-off location.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

activating at least the portion of the home automation system that was deactivated based at least in part on transporting the object to the drop-off location.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a name associated with the object, a source of the object, tracking information for the object, information about the object, or a combination thereof based at least in part on determining that the object is available to cross the boundary.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

performing a safety inspection of the object based at least in part on retrieving the object; and

determining that the object is within a threshold safety level based at least in part on performing the safety inspection.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

transmitting a command via wireless signals to a home device, appliance, fixture, or a combination thereof.

12. A mobile robot device, comprising:

one or more sensors or devices configured to:

determine that an object is available to cross a boundary of a home automation system;

transmit a request to retrieve the object based at least in part on determining that the object is available to cross the boundary;

deactivate at least a portion of the home automation system based at least in part on the transmitting the request; and

retrieve the object based at least in part on deactivating at least the portion of the home automation system.

13. The mobile robot device of claim 12 , wherein the object is a delivery package, the one or more sensors or devices further configured to:

determine a time window for delivery of the delivery package.

14. The mobile robot device of claim 13 , wherein the one or more sensors or devices are further configured to:

scan a delivery area for the delivery package during the time window based at least in part on determining the time window.

15. The mobile robot device of claim 13 , wherein the one or more sensors or devices are further configured to:

identify that the delivery package is located outside the boundary of the home automation system during the time window based at least in part on determining that the object is available to cross the boundary.

16. The mobile robot device of claim 12 , wherein the one or more sensors or devices are further configured to:

deactivate a security lock or an alarm system associated with the home automation system based at least in part on the transmitting the request.

17. An apparatus in a home 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:

determine that an object is available to cross a boundary of the home automation system;

transmit a request to retrieve the object based at least in part on determining that the object is available to cross the boundary;

deactivate at least a portion of the home automation system based at least in part on the transmitting the request; and

retrieve the object based at least in part on deactivating at least the portion of the home automation system.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the object is a delivery package, the instructions further executable to:

determine a time window for delivery of the delivery package.

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

scan a delivery area for the delivery package during the time window based at least in part on determining the time window.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the instructions are further executable to:

identify that the delivery package is located outside the boundary of the home automation system during the time window based at least in part on determining that the object is available to cross the boundary.

Assignments (6)
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 067456, FRAME 0729 Recorded Nov 11, 2024
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: VIVINT, INC.
Reel/Frame 069334/0165 →
RELEASE (REEL 057434 / FRAME 0591) Recorded Nov 1, 2024
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: VIVINT LLC (F/K/A VIVINT, INC.)
Reel/Frame 069289/0529 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 21, 2024
From: FRISBY, WES; MATSUURA, CRAIG; DAVIS, AARON
To: VIVINT, INC.
Reel/Frame 068955/0079 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 17, 2024
From: VIVINT, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 067456/0729 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT NO. 2 Recorded Jul 12, 2021
From: VIVINT, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 057434/0591 →