Communication and monitoring system

• US 10,200,660 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2016
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SB IP Holdings LLC (Skybell Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Eyetalk365, LLC
• Inventors: Carter, Ronald
• Primary Examiner(s): Laekemariam, Yosef K
• Application Number:
  US15/237,933
• Publication Number:
  US 20170048497A1
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• Field of Search: 348 1402, 348 48, 348 64, 3482118, 34821112, 34821114
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00563 using personal physical data of the operator, e.g. finger prints, retinal images, voicepatterns
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/32 in combination with an identity check
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/33 by means of a password
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/61 for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/025 Door telephones adapted for television H04N7/186
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/144 camera and display on the same optical axis, e.g. optically multiplexing the camera and display for eye to eye contact
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/148 Interfacing a video terminal to a particular transmission medium, e.g. ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/186 Video door telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/20 Adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/10 adapted for application session management, e.g. SIP [Session Initiation Protocol] connection management H04W76/00; arrangements for session management H04L67/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

An audio-video communication system comprises a wireless exterior module located proximate an entrance, a computerized controller running a software application, and a remote peripheral device. The wireless exterior module includes a proximity sensor for detecting a person at the entrance, a video camera for recording an image of the person at the entrance, a microphone for recording the person at the entrance, a speaker for playing audio to the person at the entrance, a transmitter for communicating sounds and images of the person at the entrance, and a receiver for receiving communications at the wireless exterior module. The computerized controller is disposed in wireless electronic communication with the wireless exterior module via the transmitter and the receiver of the wireless exterior module. The remote peripheral device is configured to electronically communicate with the computerized controller for viewing an image from the video camera communicated from the wireless exterior module.

Claims

1. A detection and viewing system associated with an entrance comprising:

an exterior device comprising;

a camera; and

a motion detector;

wherein the exterior device further comprises an outer housing,

wherein the exterior device is capable of wirelessly transmitting digital streaming video, via a wireless router, to a peripheral device, which is a cell phone, upon detection of a person by the motion detector,

wherein the exterior device is capable of receiving a request to change a sensitivity of the motion detector,

wherein the exterior device is capable of modifying the sensitivity of the motion detector upon receiving a request to do so,

wherein the system is configured to encrypt the digital streaming video transmitted from the exterior device,

wherein the exterior device is configured to operate in at least one low light condition,

wherein the exterior device comprises an antenna for transmission of the digital streaming video,

wherein the exterior device is configured to receive a request to modify a view of the camera from the peripheral device,

wherein the exterior device is configured to modify the view of the camera after receiving the request, and

wherein one or more icons are displayed at the same time the digital streaming video is displayed on the peripheral device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the exterior device is configured to encrypt a password associated with the system.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein a software application used by the peripheral device is operable to display a list of recorded video files and an indication of when the recorded video files were created, and

wherein the exterior device comprises software capable of initializing the camera upon setup of the exterior device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the exterior device is operable to detect motion via a software application that analyzes video images, and

wherein the peripheral device is operable to display an icon that, when selected, is operable to take a snapshot using the camera of the exterior device.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a software application on the peripheral device that is configured to interact with the exterior device and is capable of;

a. displaying an image associated with the entrance;

b. receiving an indication of the presence of the person at the entrance;

c. displaying two or more control settings for the exterior device at the same time; and

d. allowing a user to modify the view of the camera.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a software application on the peripheral device configured to allow automatic panning.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a database with a hierarchy of storage of audio and video data based upon, at least in part, the exterior device,

wherein at least a portion of the database is replicated on one or more computers.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the system, upon receipt of an indication of an alarm at the entrance, is configured to notify one or more individuals associated with the exterior device.

9. A detection and viewing system associated with an entrance comprising:

an exterior device comprising;

a camera;

a microphone;

a speaker;

a motion detector; and

one or more buttons,

wherein the exterior device is capable of wirelessly transmitting digital streaming video,

wherein the exterior device is capable of wirelessly transmitting digital audio,

wherein the exterior device is capable of receiving the digital audio from a peripheral device after a person associated with the entrance has been detected,

wherein the exterior device is capable of playing the digital audio received from the peripheral device through the speaker of the exterior device,

wherein the exterior device is capable of operating in at least one low light condition,

wherein the exterior device comprises an antenna for transmission of the digital streaming video,

wherein the exterior device is capable of encrypting the digital streaming video or the digital audio during or before the transmission of the digital streaming video or the digital audio,

wherein the exterior device is capable of receiving a request to change a sensitivity of the motion detector, and

wherein the exterior device is capable of modifying the sensitivity of the motion detector upon receiving a request to do so.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the exterior device is splash-resistant, and wherein the peripheral device is a cell phone that is operable to display the sensitivity of the motion detector and allow a user to modify the sensitivity of the motion sensor.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the exterior device is configured to transmit the digital streaming video to a computerized controller,

wherein the computerized controller is configured to wirelessly transmit the digital streaming video to a wireless router after receiving the digital streaming video from the exterior device, and

wherein the computerized controller comprises a software application and RF circuitry configured to transmit the digital streaming video to the wireless router.

12. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

a software application capable of;

displaying video and an icon at the same time;

displaying one or more control settings;

modifying a threshold of the motion sensor; and

playing digital audio received from the exterior device.

13. A method for using a detection and viewing system comprising:

wirelessly transmitting streaming video from an interior device upon detection of a person, wherein the interior device comprises a camera, a microphone, a speaker, a transceiver, and a motion sensor;

transmitting digital audio using the interior device;

receiving audio at the interior device that was captured by a peripheral device, which is a cell phone, after the person has been detected by the interior device;

displaying an icon and the streaming video at the same time on the peripheral device;

storing the streaming video and digital audio in a database and associating the interior device with the stored streaming video and digital audio;

replicating at least a portion of the database on one or more computers; and

providing a storage hierarchy for the streaming video and digital audio stored in the database.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

encrypting the streaming video and the digital audio, and

receiving one or more instructions, at the interior device, to modify two or more control settings for operation of the camera,

wherein the icon, when selected, allows a user to speak to the person.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

running an application for the camera on the interior device; and

modifying an amount of ambient light captured by the camera after receiving an instruction to modify the amount of ambient light.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

providing a MAC address, via the interior device, upon receiving a request for the MAC address at the interior device,

receiving one or more instructions to modify two or more control settings for operation of the camera, and

receiving an instruction to modify a sensitivity of the motion sensor.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving an indication of a predetermined event occurring from a door sensor at the interior device.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

storing the streaming video and digital audio in memory that is part of the interior device.

19. A detection and viewing system associated with an entrance comprising:

an exterior device comprising;

a camera;

a microphone;

a speaker;

a motion detector; and

one or more buttons,

wherein the exterior device is capable of wirelessly transmitting digital streaming video,

wherein the exterior device is capable of wirelessly transmitting digital audio,

wherein the exterior device is capable of receiving the digital audio from a peripheral device after a person associated with the entrance has been detected,

wherein the exterior device is capable of playing the digital audio received from the peripheral device through the speaker of the exterior device,

wherein the exterior device comprises an antenna for transmission of the digital streaming video and the digital audio, and

wherein the exterior device is capable of encrypting the digital streaming video or the digital audio during or before the transmission of the digital streaming video or the digital audio; and

a software application operable to;

display the digital streaming video;

play the digital audio;

receive a message from the exterior device;

send a message to the exterior device;

modify a threshold associated with the motion sensor;

display multiple control settings for the exterior device; and

display an icon that, upon selection, allows a user to speak with the person at the entrance.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the software application is operable to display the digital streaming video and an icon that allows a user to speak with the person at the entrance at the same time.