Providing status information for secondary devices with video footage from audio/video recording and communication devices

• US 10,397,528 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2017
• Issued: 08/27/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: A9.com Incorporated (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Siminoff, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Krisna
• Application Number:
  US15/588,412
• Publication Number:
  US 20170280112A1
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/143 Sensing or illuminating at different wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/52 Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19684 Portable terminal, e.g. mobile phone, used for viewing video remotely
• 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 27/003 Signalling to neighbouring houses
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 25/57 for processing of video signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/91 Television signal processing therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/186 Video door telephones

Abstract

Systems and methods for communicating in a network using share signals in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure are provided. In one embodiment, a method for communicating in a network may include receiving, from a first client device, a share signal including image data captured by a camera of a first audio/video (A/V) recording and communication device; transmitting, to a second A/V recording and communication device, a secondary device state request signal; receiving, from the second A/V recording and communication device a secondary device update signal that includes a status of the at least one secondary device in network communication with the second A/V recording and communication device; and generating and transmitting an alert to a second client device associated with the second A/V recording and communication device, wherein the alert includes the image data and the status of the at least one secondary device.

Claims

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

a camera configured to capture image data;

a communication module; and

a processing module operatively connected to the camera and the communication module, wherein the processing module is in network communication with at least one secondary device via the communication module, the processing module comprising;

a processor; and

one or more computer-readable media storing a device status check application comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform operations including;

receiving a secondary device state request signal from a server via the communication module, wherein the server is in network communication with the A/V device;

checking a status of the at least one secondary device in network communication with the processing module;

generating a secondary device status update signal, wherein the secondary device status update signal provides the status of the at least one secondary device based on the checked status; and

transmitting the secondary device status update signal to the server using the communication module.

2. The A/V device of claim 1, wherein the device status check application comprises further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to check the status of the at least one secondary device by transmitting a check status request signal to the at least one secondary device and receiving a check status update signal from the least one secondary device, wherein the check status update signal provides the status of the least one secondary device.

3. The A/V device of claim 2, wherein the device status check application comprises further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to transmit a command signal to the at least one secondary device to change the status from a first status to a second status.

4. The A/V device of claim 1, wherein the at least one secondary device includes a smart door lock.

5. The A/V device of claim 4, wherein the secondary device update signal includes either an indication that the smart door lock is locked or an indication that the smart door lock is unlocked.

6. The A/V device of claim 1, wherein the at least one secondary device includes a security system.

7. The A/V device of claim 6, wherein the secondary device update signal includes either an indication that the security system is armed or an indication that the security system is disarmed.

8. The A/V device of claim 1, wherein the at least one secondary device includes a lighting system.

9. The A/V device of claim 8, wherein the secondary device update signal includes either an indication that the lighting system is on or an indication that the lighting system is off.

10. The A/V device of claim 1, wherein the device status check application comprises further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to check the status of the at least one secondary device by:

transmitting an acknowledgement request signal to the at least one secondary device;

waiting a predetermined time-out period for an acknowledgment update signal from the at least one secondary device; and

determining that the at least one secondary device is on when the acknowledgment update signal is received within the predetermined time-out period or that the at least one secondary device is off when the acknowledgment update signal is not received within the predetermined time-out period.

11. The A/V device of claim 10, wherein the device status check application comprises further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to transmit, upon determining that the at least one secondary device is off, a command signal that configures the at least one secondary device to change the status to on.

12. The A/V device of claim 10, wherein the device status check application comprises further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to transmit, upon determining that the at least one secondary device is on, a command signal that configures the at least one secondary device to change the status to off.

13. A method for an audio/video recording and communication device (A/V device) comprising a camera, a communication module, and a processing module operatively connected to the camera and to the communication module and in network communication with at least one secondary device, the method comprising:

receiving a secondary device state request signal from a server via the communication module, wherein the server is in network communication with the A/V device;

checking a status of the at least one secondary device in network communication with the processing module;

generating a secondary device status update signal, wherein the secondary device status update signal provides the status of the at least one secondary device based on the checked status; and

transmitting the secondary device status update signal to the server using the communication module.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising checking the status of the at least one secondary device by transmitting a check status request signal to the at least one secondary device and receiving a check status update signal from the least one secondary device, wherein the check status update signal provides the status of the least one secondary device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising transmitting a command signal, using the communication module, to the at least one secondary device to change the status from a first status to a second status.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one secondary device includes a smart door lock.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the secondary device update signal includes either an indication that the smart door lock is locked or an indication that the smart door lock is unlocked.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one secondary device includes a security system.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the secondary device update signal includes either an indication that the security system is armed or an indication that the security system is disarmed.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one secondary device includes a lighting system.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the secondary device update signal includes either an indication that the lighting system is on or an indication that the lighting system is off.

22. The method of claim 13, further comprising checking the status of the at least one secondary device by:

transmitting an acknowledgement request signal to the at least one secondary device;

waiting a predetermined time-out period for an acknowledgment update signal from the at least one secondary device; and

determining that the at least one secondary device is on when the acknowledgment update signal is received within the predetermined time-out period or that the at least one secondary device is off when the acknowledgment update signal is not received within the predetermined time-out period.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising transmitting, upon determining that the at least one secondary device is off, a command signal that configures the at least one secondary device to change the status to on.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising transmitting, upon determining that the at least one secondary device is on, a command signal that configures the at least one secondary device to change the status to off.

25. A server for audio/video recording and communication devices (A/V devices), the server comprising:

a network interface; and

a processing module operatively connected to the network interface, wherein the processing module is in network communication with a first client device associated with a first A/V device and a second client device associated with a second A/V device wherein the second A/V device is in network communication with at least one secondary device, the processing module comprising;

a processor; and

a server application, the server application comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations including;

receiving, from the first client device, a share signal including image data captured by a camera of the first A/V device associated with the first client device, the share signal including a command to share the image data with a network of users;

transmitting to the second A/V device a secondary device state request signal using the network interface;

receiving, from the second A/V device a secondary device update signal, wherein the secondary device update signal includes a status of the at least one secondary device in network communication with the second A/V device; and

generating an alert and transmit the alert to the second client device associated with the second A/V device, wherein the alert includes the image data and the status of the at least one secondary device.

26. The server of claim 25, wherein the share signal further includes audio data captured by a microphone of the first A/V device associated with the first client device.

27. The server of claim 25, wherein the share signal further includes text data that describes the image data.

28. The server of claim 25, wherein the at least one secondary device includes a smart door lock.

29. The server of claim 28, wherein the secondary device update signal includes either an indication that the smart door lock is locked or an indication that the smart door lock is unlocked.

30. The server of claim 25, wherein the at least one secondary device includes a security system.

31. The server of claim 30, wherein the secondary device update signal includes either an indication that the security system is armed or an indication that the security system is disarmed.

32. The server of claim 25, wherein the at least one secondary device includes a lighting system.

33. The backend server of claim 32, wherein the secondary device update signal includes either an indication that the lighting system is on or an indication that the lighting system is off.

34. A method for communicating in a network, the method comprising:

receiving, from a first client device, at a server in network communication with the first client device, a share signal including image data captured by a camera of a first audio/video recording and communication device (A/V device) associated with the first client device, the share signal including a command to share the image data with a network of users;

transmitting, to a second A/V device, by the server in network communication with the second A/V device, a secondary device state request signal using the network interface;

receiving, from the second A/V device a secondary device update signal, wherein the secondary device update signal includes a status of the at least one secondary device in network communication with the second A/V device; and

generating an alert and transmitting the alert to a second client device associated with the second A/V device, wherein the alert includes the image data and the status of the at least one secondary device.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the share signal further includes audio data captured by a microphone of the first A/V device associated with the first client device.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the share signal further includes text data that describes the image data.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein the at least one secondary device includes a smart door lock.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the secondary device update signal includes either an indication that the smart door lock is locked or an indication that the smart door lock is unlocked.

39. The method of claim 34, wherein the at least one secondary device includes a security system.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the secondary device update signal includes either an indication that the security system is armed or an indication that the security system is disarmed.

41. The method of claim 34, wherein the at least one secondary device includes a lighting system.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the secondary device update signal includes either an indication that the lighting system is on or an indication that the lighting system is off.

43. A server for smart home devices, the server comprising:

a network interface; and

a processing module operatively connected to the network interface, wherein the processing module is in network communication with a first client device associated with an audio/video recording and communication device (A/V device) and a second client device associated with a smart-home hub device, wherein the smart-home hub device is in network communication with at least one secondary device, the processing module comprising;

a processor; and

a server application comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations including;

receiving, from the first client device, a share signal including image data captured by a camera of the A/V device associated with the first client device, the share signal including a command to share the image data with a network of users;

transmitting to the smart-home hub device a secondary device state request signal using the network interface;

receiving from the smart-home hub device a secondary device update signal, wherein the secondary device update signal includes a status of the at least one secondary device in network communication with the smart-home hub device; and

generating an alert and transmit the alert to the second client device associated with the smart-home hub device, wherein the alert includes the image data and the status of the at least one secondary device.

44. The server of claim 43, wherein the share signal further includes audio data captured by a microphone of the A/V device associated with the first client device.

45. The server of claim 43, wherein the share signal further includes text data that describes the image data.

46. The server of claim 43, wherein the at least one secondary device includes a smart door lock.

47. The server of claim 46, wherein the secondary device update signal includes either an indication that the smart door lock is locked or an indication that the smart door lock is unlocked.

48. The server of claim 43, wherein the at least one secondary device includes a security system.

49. The server of claim 48, wherein the secondary device update signal includes either an indication that the security system is armed or an indication that the security system is disarmed.

50. The server of claim 43, wherein the at least one secondary device includes a lighting system.

51. The server of claim 50, wherein the secondary device update signal includes either an indication that the lighting system is on or an indication that the lighting system is off.

52. A method for communicating in a network, the method comprising:

receiving, from a first client device, at a server in network communication with the first client device, a share signal including image data captured by a camera of an audio/video recording and communication device (A/V device) associated with the first client device, the share signal including a command to share the image data with a network of users;

transmitting, to a smart-home hub device, by the server in network communication with the smart-home hub device, a secondary device state request signal using the network interface;

receiving, from the smart-home hub device a secondary device update signal, wherein the secondary device update signal includes a status of the at least one secondary device in network communication with the smart-home hub device; and

generating an alert and transmitting the alert to a second client device associated with the smart-home hub device, wherein the alert includes the image data and the status of the at least one secondary device.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the share signal further includes audio data captured by a microphone of the A/V device associated with the first client device.

54. The method of claim 52, wherein the share signal further includes text data that describes the image data.

55. The method of claim 52, wherein the at least one secondary device includes a smart door lock.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein the secondary device update signal includes either an indication that the smart door lock is locked or an indication that the smart door lock is unlocked.

57. The method of claim 52, wherein the at least one secondary device includes a security system.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the secondary device update signal includes either an indication that the security system is armed or an indication that the security system is disarmed.

59. The method of claim 52, wherein the at least one secondary device includes a lighting system.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the secondary device update signal includes either an indication that the lighting system is on or an indication that the lighting system is off.