Video on demand for audio/video recording and communication devices

• US 10,257,475 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2016
• Issued: 04/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Modestine, John, Roth, Joshua
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson, II, James M
• Application Number:
  US15/380,303
• Publication Number:
  US 20170171517A1
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19669 Event triggers storage or change of storage policy
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19689 Remote control of cameras, e.g. remote orientation or image zooming control for a PTZ camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/026 Details of "hello" or keep-alive messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0291 Door telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/73 Battery saving arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/651 for reducing power consumption by affecting camera operations, e.g. sleep mode, hibernation mode or power off of selective parts of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/186 Video door telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 : Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/18 : Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

In an A/V recording and communication device, the power configuration of the device is considered when determining a setting for a keep-alive interval of the device. If the device is connected to a reliable and continuous source of power, such as AC mains, then the keep-alive interval may be set to a very short duration, thereby reducing or eliminating any latency that the user might experience when attempting to remotely access the camera of the device. By contrast, if the device relies solely on a rechargeable battery for power, then the keep-alive interval may be set to a longer duration, thereby reducing the rate at which the rechargeable battery will be discharged. And, if the device is connected to an intermittent source of power, such as a solar panel, then the keep-alive interval may be set to a moderate duration to balance the competing interests of reducing latency and conserving battery life.

Claims

1. A method for communicating among a client device, a network device, and an audio/video (A/V) recording and communication device, the method comprising:

the network device receiving a power setting signal from the client device, the power setting signal indicating a power configuration of the A/V recording and communication device, wherein the power setting signal indicates the power configuration of the A/V recording and communication device is at least one of battery power and AC mains power and wherein a keep-alive interval associated with the AC mains power configuration is shorter than a keep-alive interval associated with the battery power configuration;

the network device determining whether the received power setting signal indicates a first power setting;

if the received power setting signal indicates the first power setting, the network device updating a data structure entry for the A/V recording and communication device with a first keep-alive interval; and

if the received power setting signal does not indicate the first power setting, the network device determining whether the received power setting signal indicates a second power setting, and, if the received power setting signal indicates the second power setting, the network device updating the data structure entry for the A/V recording and communication device with a second keep-alive interval.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the network device receiving a check-in signal from the A/V recording and communication device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the network device, in response to receiving the check-in signal from the A/V recording and communication device, sending a keep-alive interval signal to the A/V recording and communication device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein, if the power setting signal indicates the first power setting, then the keep-alive interval signal includes the first keep-alive interval.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein, if the power setting signal indicates the second power setting, then the keep-alive interval signal includes the second keep-alive interval.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the power setting signal indicates the power configuration of the A/V recording and communication device further includes solar power.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the network device is a server or a backend API (application programming interface).

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the A/V recording and communication device is a doorbell.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the first power setting corresponds to the AC mains power configuration of the A/V recording and communication device.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the second power setting corresponds to the battery power configuration of the A/V recording and communication device.

9. A method, comprising:

displaying, on a display of a client device, a graphical user interface (GUI) for indicating a power source of an audio/video (A/V) recording and communication device having a camera, wherein the GUI includes a plurality of options for indicating the power source of the A/V recording and communication device, and wherein;

each of the plurality of options has an associated duration for a preset interval, each of the preset intervals comprising a length of time that the A/V recording and communication device waits between sending data requests to a network device to determine whether a user request to access the camera has been received by the network device;

the plurality of options includes at least one of AC mains power and battery power; and

the preset interval associated with the AC mains power option is shorter than the preset interval associated with the battery power option;

receiving an input of a user selection of one of the plurality of options for indicating the power source of the A/V recording and communication device; and

transmitting a signal to a network, wherein the signal indicates the user selection of the one of the plurality of options for indicating the power source of the A/V recording and communication device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of options further includes at least solar power.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the preset interval associated with the solar power option is shorter than the preset interval associated with the battery power option and longer than the preset interval associated with the AC mains power option.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of options includes a first battery power option and a second battery power option.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the preset interval associated with the first battery power option is shorter than the preset interval associated with the second battery power option.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the GUI further comprises an element for enabling a camera access feature of the A/V recording and communication device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the element for enabling the camera access feature of the A/V recording and communication device comprises a selector.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the GUI further comprises a warning about the impact that enabling a camera access feature could have on battery life.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein the A/V recording and communication device is a doorbell.

18. The method of claim 9, wherein the client device is a smartphone.