Doorbell communication systems and methods

• US 10,044,519 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2015
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SkyBell Technologies Ip, LLC
• Original Assignee: Skybell Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Kasmir, Seton Paul, Scalisi, Joseph Frank, Thomas, Andrew Paul, Mejia, Desiree
• Primary Examiner(s): Walker, Jared T
• Application Number:
  US14/861,613
• Publication Number:
  US 20160284170A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,050 Days
• Field of Search: 348143
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/00 Identifying, scaring or incapacitating burglars, thieves or intruders, e.g. by explosives
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 19/00 Alarms responsive to two or more different undesired or abnormal conditions, e.g. burglary and fire, abnormal temperature and abnormal rate of flow
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/06 using electric transmission , e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/064 indicating houses needing emergency help, e.g. with a flashing light or sound
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2823 Reporting information sensed by appliance or service execution status of appliance services in a home automation network device-related reporting H04L43/065; arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2825 Reporting to a device located outside the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with telemetering systems H04M11/002
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/025 Door telephones adapted for television H04N7/186
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/186 Video door telephones

Abstract

Doorbell systems can include a doorbell and a remote communication device. In some embodiments, the remote communication device can be communicatively coupled to a wireless network of a building, to the doorbell, and to a remote computing device. In several embodiments, the remote communication device facilitates communication with at least one of the doorbell, the remote computing device, and a remote sensor.

Claims

1. A method of using a doorbell system comprising a doorbell and a remote communication device, wherein the doorbell system is configured to be coupled to a building, the method comprising:

coupling communicatively the remote communication device to a wireless network of the building, to the doorbell, and to a remote computing device;

detecting, by the doorbell, a trigger of a button of the doorbell

taking, by a camera, an image of a visitor;

searching, by the doorbell system, a database comprising a plurality of images;

determining, by the doorbell system, an identity of the visitor from the plurality of images;

receiving a first communication, by the remote communication device, from the wireless network;

sending a second communication from the remote communication device to the doorbell in response to receiving the first communication; and

entering, by the doorbell, a higher power state in response to the doorbell receiving the second communication.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising electrically coupling the remote communication device to a power outlet of the building.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising mechanically coupling the remote communication device to a power outlet of the building such that the remote communication device is held by the power outlet.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising coupling the doorbell to an exterior of the building and coupling the remote communication device to an interior of the building.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein entering the higher power state comprises taking, by the doorbell, a video.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein entering the higher power state comprises sending, by the doorbell, a third communication from the doorbell to the wireless network of the building.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein entering the higher power state comprises sending, by the doorbell, a third communication from the doorbell to the remote computing device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicatively coupling the remote communication device to the doorbell via a first wireless communication system, and communicatively coupling the doorbell to the wireless network of the building via a second wireless communication system that consumes more energy per unit of operating time than the first wireless communication system.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating the second wireless communication system, by the doorbell, in response to the doorbell receiving a first communication from the remote communication device.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising sending, by the remote communication device, the first communication to the doorbell in response to receiving, by the remote communication device, a second communication from the remote computing device.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising entering, by the remote computing device, a doorbell setting parameter, receiving, by the remote communication device, the doorbell setting parameter, sending the doorbell setting parameter from the remote communication device to the doorbell, and then updating a doorbell setting in response to the doorbell receiving the doorbell setting parameter.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a video from the doorbell to the remote communication device, and then sending the video from the remote communication device to the remote computing device such that the remote communication device communicatively couples the doorbell to the remote computing device.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising sending the video from the doorbell to the remote communication device while the doorbell is located outside of the building and while the remote communication device is located inside of the building.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote communication device comprises a speaker, the method further comprising emitting a notification sound from the speaker in response to the doorbell detecting the trigger of the button.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a visitor alert from the remote communication device to the remote computing device via the wireless network of the building.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising electrically coupling the doorbell to an Ethernet cable such that the Ethernet cable electrically powers the doorbell.

17. A doorbell system configured to be coupled to a building having a wireless network, the doorbell system comprising:

a doorbell having a button configured to be pressed by a visitor to notify occupants of the building, wherein the doorbell comprises a first wireless communication system and a second wireless communication system, wherein the first wireless communication system consumes less energy per unit of operating time than the second wireless communication system, wherein the doorbell comprises a camera configured to take an image of a visitor; and

a remote communication device coupled to a power outlet of the building and located remotely relative to the doorbell, wherein the remote communication device comprises a speaker configured to emit a sound in response to the visitor pressing the button, wherein the remote communication device comprises a third wireless communication system and a fourth wireless communication system, wherein the third wireless communication system consumes less energy per unit of operating time than the fourth wireless communication system,

wherein the doorbell system is configured to search a database comprising a plurality of images and determine an identity of the visitor from the plurality of images.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the remote communication device is communicatively coupled with the wireless network via the fourth wireless communication system, and is communicatively coupled with the first wireless communication system of the doorbell via the third wireless communication system.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the doorbell is communicatively coupled with the wireless network via the second wireless communication system in response to receiving a communication from the remote communication device via the first wireless communication system.