IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,589,418
Granted Patent B2
US 10,589,418 · App. 15/688,620 · Granted Mar 17, 2020

Package delivery techniques

Inventors: Clint Huson Gordon-Carroll (Highland, UT); Rongbin Lanny Lin (Draper, UT); Brandon Bunker (Highland, UT)
Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
B25J9/0003A47L9/2852A47L9/2894B25J9/1679B25J11/008B25J13/006B25J13/08E05F1/002G05B15/02G05D1/0282G06Q10/00G06Q10/0631G06Q10/08G06Q10/20A47L2201/04E05F15/611E05Y2800/00E05Y2900/132G05B2219/25011G05B2219/25168G05B2219/2642G05B2219/39001G05D2201/0215Y10S901/01
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,589,418
App. No.
15/688,620
Granted
Mar 17, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and systems are described for communicating action instructions between a home automation system and a mobile robotic device. In some embodiments, methods may comprise receiving, from a first device, information regarding a delivery of a package to a first location, determining that a mobile robotic device and the first device are part of a predetermined group of devices operating in a neighborhood network, transporting, by the mobile robotic device, the package to a drop-off location, and initiating a notification for the first device based at least in part on transporting the package.

Claims (62)

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

receiving, from a first device, information regarding a delivery of a package to a first location;

determining that a mobile robotic device and the first device are part of a predetermined group of devices operating in a neighborhood network based at least in part on receiving the information regarding the delivery of the package;

determining that the mobile robotic device is wirelessly networked with the first device when the mobile robotic device is within a predetermined distance of the first device or that the mobile robotic device is at a predetermined location based at least in part on determining that the mobile robotic device and the first device are operating in the neighborhood network;

transporting, by the mobile robotic device, the package to a drop-off location based at least in part on determining that the mobile robotic device is wirelessly networked with the first device when the mobile robotic device is within the predetermined distance of the first device or that the mobile robotic device is at the predetermined location; and

initiating a notification for the first device based at least in part on transporting the package.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first device comprises a stationary device associated with a home automation system at the first location and the mobile robotic device comprises an unmanned air vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, from the first device, a request to transport the package to the drop-off location, wherein transporting the package is based at least in part on receiving the request.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

receiving data related to occupancy at the first location; and

determining to transport the package to the drop-off location based at least in part on the received data, wherein transporting the package is based at least in part on determining to transport the package.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

determining an expected occupancy at the first location, the expected occupancy comprising an expectancy that the first location will remain unoccupied for a threshold period of time, wherein transporting the package is based at least in part on determining the expected occupancy.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the expected occupancy is based at least in part on a schedule for one or more occupants of the first location.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving information regarding the delivery of the package further comprises receiving of a height of the package, a length of the package, a width of the package, an estimated weight of the package, a volume of the package, an identification of the package, an image of the package, information associated with a current location of the package, or a combination thereof.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

retrieving one or more identifying details associated with the package from the received information;

capturing an image of the package;

comparing the captured image with the one or more retrieved identifying details associated with the package; and

identifying the package at the first location based at least in part on the comparing.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining the drop-off location for the package based at least on a name on the package, a type of one or more items delivered, a code on the package, tracking information, instructions from the first device, instructions from an occupant of the first location, or a combination thereof.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying a secured area within the first location as the drop-off location;

deactivating at least a portion of a home automation system at the first location;

transporting the package to the secured area within the first location; and

reactivating at least the portion of the home automation system at the first location.

11. A method for security or automation systems, comprising:

determining, at a first device, information regarding a delivery of a package to a first location;

determining that a mobile robotic device and the first device are part of a predetermined group of devices operating in a neighborhood network based at least in part on receiving the information regarding the delivery of the package;

determining that the mobile robotic device is wirelessly networked with the first device when the mobile robotic device is within a predetermined distance of the first device or that the mobile robotic device is at a predetermined location based at least in part on determining that the mobile robotic device and the first device are operating in the neighborhood network;

generating a request to transport the package to a drop-off location based at least in part on determining that the mobile robotic device is wirelessly networked with the first device when the mobile robotic device is within the predetermined distance of the first device or that the mobile robotic device is at the predetermined location; and

transmitting the request to the mobile robotic device.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first device comprises a stationary device associated with a home automation system at the first location and the mobile robotic device comprises an unmanned air vehicle.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

detecting a person having the package at the first location;

detecting, via one or more sensors of the first device, the package being delivered at the first location; and

generating the request to transport the package based at least in part on detecting the package being delivered.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

capturing at least one image of the person placing the package in the first location; and

including the at least one image in the request to transport the package to the drop-off location.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

determining a location of an occupant of the first location; and

upon determining the location of the occupant is beyond a predefined distance from the first location, automatically generating the request to transport the package to the drop-off location.

16. An apparatus for security and/or automation systems, 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, from a first device, information regarding a delivery of a package to a first location;

determine that a mobile robotic device and the first device are part of a predetermined group of devices operating in a neighborhood network based at least in part on receiving the information regarding the delivery of the package;

determine that the mobile robotic device is wirelessly networked with the first device when the mobile robotic device is within a predetermined distance of the first device or that the mobile robotic device is at a predetermined location based at least in part on determining that the mobile robotic device and the first device are operating in the neighborhood network;

transport, by the mobile robotic device, the package to a drop-off location based at least in part on determining that the mobile robotic device is wirelessly networked with the first device when the mobile robotic device is within the predetermined distance of the first device or that the mobile robotic device is at the predetermined location; and

initiate a notification for the first device based at least in part on transporting the package.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the first device comprises a stationary device associated with a home automation system at the first location and the mobile robotic device comprises an unmanned air vehicle.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

receive, from the first device, a request to transport the package to the drop-off location, wherein transporting the package is based at least in part on receiving the request.

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

receive data related to occupancy at the first location; and

determine to transport the package to the drop-off location based at least in part on the received data, wherein transporting the package is based at least in part on determining to transport the package.

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

determine an expected occupancy at the first location, the expected occupancy comprising an expectancy that the first location will remain unoccupied for a threshold period of time, wherein transporting the package is based at least in part on determining the expected occupancy.

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 →
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 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 6, 2018
From: VIVINT, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 047029/0304 →
SUPPL. NO. 2 SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 6, 2018
From: VIVINT, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA N.A.
Reel/Frame 047024/0048 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 28, 2017
From: GORDON-CARROLL, CLINT HUSON; LIN, RONGBIN LANNY; BUNKER, BRANDON
To: VIVINT, INC.
Reel/Frame 043426/0870 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation In Part 14530143 · Oct 31, 2014
Related Publication 20170355076A1 · Dec 14, 2017
Cited By (13)
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