DOORBELL COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS

1 . A method of operating a doorbell system comprising a doorbell including a housing, a speaker, a microphone, a camera, and a motion detector, the method comprising:

detecting, via a component selected from the group consisting of the microphone, the camera, and the motion detector, a first visitor;

capturing, via the component selected from the group consisting of the microphone, the camera, and the motion detector, an identity trait of the first visitor;

searching an unwelcome visitor database to determine whether the identity trait of the first visitor matches an identity trait of an unwelcome visitor who has previously visited a building to which the doorbell system is attached;

receiving at least one image; and

initiating a communication session with a remote computing device of a first resident in response to determining that the identity trait of the first visitor and the identity trait of the unwelcome visitor are different.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising electing to contact the first resident based on at least one of a first contact parameter related to the first visitor and a time at which the doorbell system detects an indication of the first visitor.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising electing to contact the first resident based on a first contact parameter related to the first visitor and based on a time at which the doorbell system detects an indication of the first visitor, wherein the first contact parameter comprises the identity trait of the first visitor.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, in response to detecting the first visitor, emitting a noise with a chime located remotely relative to the doorbell system, wherein the chime is communicatively coupled to the doorbell system.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein contacting the first resident comprises initiating a first communication session with a first remote computing device of the first resident.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the at least one image comprises receiving at least one image from an online social network.

7 . A method of operating a doorbell system comprising a housing, a speaker, a microphone, a camera, and a motion detector, the method comprising:

detecting, via the doorbell, a first visitor;

detecting, via the doorbell, a second visitor;

capturing, via a component selected from the group consisting of the microphone, the camera, and the motion detector, an identity trait of the first visitor and an identity trait of the second visitor;

searching, via the doorbell system, an unwelcome visitor database to determine whether the identity trait of the first visitor matches an identity trait of an unwelcome visitor identity which has previously visited a building to which the doorbell system is attached;

searching, via the doorbell system, the unwelcome visitor database to determine whether the identity trait of the second visitor matches the identity trait of an unwelcome visitor identity which has previously visited the building to which the doorbell system is attached;

receiving at least one image;

initiating a communication session with a remote computing device of a first resident in response to determining that the identity trait of the first visitor and the identity trait of the unwelcome visitor are different; and

initiating a communication session with a remote computing device of a second resident in response to determining that the identity trait of the second visitor and the identity trait of the unwelcome visitor are different.

8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising contacting the first resident in response to the first resident being associated with the first visitor and contacting the second resident in response to the second resident being associated with the second visitor.

9 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising, in response to detecting the first visitor, emitting a noise with a chime located remotely relative to the doorbell system, wherein the chime is communicatively coupled to the doorbell system.

10 . he method of claim 7 , wherein contacting the first resident comprises initiating, in response to detecting via facial recognition the first visitor, a first communication session with a first remote computing device of the first resident and wherein contacting the second resident comprises initiating a second communication session with a second remote computing device of the second resident.

11 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising electing to contact the first resident based on a first contact parameter, wherein the first contact parameter is at least one of related to the first identity and comprises the identity trait of the first visitor, and electing to contact the second resident based on a second contact parameter, wherein the second contact parameter comprises the identity trait of the second visitor.

12 . The method of claim 7 , wherein contacting the first resident comprises initiating a first communication session with a first remote computing device of the first resident, and wherein contacting the second resident comprises initiating a second communication session with a second remote computing device of the second resident.

13 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising electing to contact the first resident based on a first time at which the doorbell system detects a first indication of the first visitor and electing to contact the second resident based on a second time at which the doorbell system detects a second indication of the second visitor.

14 . he method of claim 13 , further comprising electing to contact the first resident based on a first contact parameter, wherein the first contact parameter comprises the identity trait of the first visitor.

15 . The method of claim 7 , wherein receiving the at least one image comprises receiving at least one image from an online social network.

16 . A method of operating a doorbell system comprising a doorbell including a housing, a speaker, a microphone, a camera, and a motion detector, the method comprising:

detecting, via the doorbell, a first visitor;

capturing, via a component selected from the group consisting of the microphone, the camera, and the motion detector, an identity trait of the first visitor;

searching, via the doorbell system, an unwelcome visitor database to determine whether the identity trait of the first visitor matches an identity trait of an unwelcome visitor which has previously visited a building to which the doorbell system is attached;

receiving at least one image; and

refraining from initiating a communication session with a remote computing device of a first resident in response to determining that the identity trait of the first visitor matches the identity trait of the unwelcome visitor.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising sending an alert to the remote computing device, wherein the alert comprises:

an identity of the unwelcome visitor; and

comprises a number of times the unwelcome visitor has previously visited the building to which the doorbell system is attached.

18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising selecting, via the remote computing device, a sound to be emitted by the doorbell in response to determining, via the doorbell, the identity trait of the first visitor matches the identity trait of the unwelcome visitor.

19 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

capturing, via the camera, an image of the first visitor; and

transmitting the image of the first visitor to a remote server for facial recognition analysis.

20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein receiving the at least one image comprises receiving at least one image from an online social network.