Audio/video recording and communication devices in network communication with additional cameras

• US 10,205,909 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2018
• Issued: 02/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ring Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Siminoff, James, Lemberger, Elliott
• Primary Examiner(s): Woo, Stella L.
• Application Number:
  US15/872,827
• Publication Number:
  US 20180205911A1
• Time in Patent Office: 392 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19636 pertaining to the camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19643 wherein the cameras play different roles, e.g. different resolution, different camera type, master-slave camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19658 Telephone systems used to communicate with a camera, e.g. PSTN, GSM, POTS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/45 for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/611 where the recognised objects include parts of the human body
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/65 Control of camera operation in relation to power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6811 based on the image signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6812 based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• 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 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/186 Video door telephones

Abstract

Audio/video (A/V) recording and communication devices in network communication with additional cameras in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure are provided. In one embodiment, an audio/video (A/V) recording and communication device is provided comprising: a first camera configured to capture image data at a first resolution; a communication module; and a processing module operatively connected to the first camera and the communication module, wherein the processing module is in network communication with a backend server, the processing module comprising: a processor; and a camera application that configures the processor to: maintain the first camera in a low-power state; receive a power-up command signal from the backend server based on an output signal from a second camera; power up the first camera in response to the power-up command signal; and capture image data using the first camera in response to the power-up command signal.

Claims

1. An audio/video (A/V) recording and communication device comprising:

a first camera configured to capture image data at a first resolution;

a communication module; and

a processing module operatively connected to the first camera and the communication module, wherein the processing module is in network communication with a backend server via the communication module, the processing module comprising;

a processor; and

a camera application, wherein the camera application configures the processor to;

maintain the first camera in a low-power state;

receive a power-up command signal from the backend server based on an output signal from a second camera in network communication with the backend server, wherein the power-up command signal is transmitted by the backend server upon determining that the output signal includes image data of a person of interest;

power up the first camera in response to the power-up command signal from the backend server based on the output signal from the second camera; and

capture image data using the first camera in response to the power-up command signal from the backend server based on the output signal from the second camera.

2. The A/V recording and communication device of claim 1, wherein the camera application further configures the processor to capture image data using the first camera for a predetermined length of time in response to the power-up command signal from the backend server based on the output signal from the second camera.

3. The A/V recording and communication device of claim 1, wherein the second camera is configured to capture image data at a second resolution that is lower than the first resolution.

4. The A/V recording and communication device of claim 1, wherein the camera application further configures the processor to transmit the image data captured using the first camera to the backend server using the communication module.

5. The A/V recording and communication device of claim 1, wherein the camera application further configures the processor to transmit the image data captured using the first camera to a client device using the communication module.

6. The A/V recording and communication device of claim 1, further comprising a battery for providing power to the A/V recording and communication device.

7. The A/V recording and communication device of claim 6, wherein the A/V recording and communication device draws less power from the battery when the first camera is in the low-power state than when the first camera is powered up in response to the power-up command signal.

8. The A/V recording and communication device of claim 1, wherein determining that the output signal includes image data of a person of interest includes comparing image data captured by the second camera for a match in at least one database.

9. The A/V recording and communication device of claim 8, wherein the at least one database is a criminal registry.

10. The A/V recording and communication device of claim 8, wherein the at least one database is a social network.

11. A method for an audio/video (A/V) recording and communication device comprising a first camera configured to capture image data at a first resolution, a communication module, and a processing module operatively connected to the first camera and the communication module, wherein the processing module is in network communication with a backend server via the communication module, the method comprising:

maintaining the first camera in a low-power state;

receiving a power-up command signal from the backend server based on an output signal from a second camera in network communication with the backend server and based on a location of the second camera and a location of the A/V recording and communication device, wherein the power-up command signal is transmitted by the backend server upon determining that the output signal includes image data of a person of interest;

powering up the first camera in response to the power-up command signal from the backend server based on the output signal from the second camera; and

capturing image data using the first camera in response to the power-up command signal from the backend server based on the output signal from the second camera.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising capturing image data using the first camera for a predetermined length of time in response to the power-up command signal from the backend server based on the output signal from the second camera.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the second camera is configured to capture image data at a second resolution that is lower than the first resolution.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising transmitting the image data captured using the first camera to the backend server using the communication module.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising transmitting the image data captured using the first camera to a client device using the communication module.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the A/V recording and communication device further comprises a battery for providing power to the A/V recording and communication device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the A/V recording and communication device draws less power from the battery when the first camera is in the low-power state than when the first camera is powered up in response to the power-up command signal.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein determining that the output signal includes image data of a person of interest includes comparing image data captured by the second camera for a match in at least one database.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the at least one database is a criminal registry.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the at least one database is a social network.