Directional control of audio/video recording and communication devices in network communication with additional cameras

• US 10,419,727 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2018
• Issued: 09/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Siminoff, James, Siminoff, Mark, Lemberger, Elliott
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phung-Hoang J
• Application Number:
  US15/997,606
• Publication Number:
  US 20180359451A1
• Time in Patent Office: 470 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/193 using focusing means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19604 involving reference image or background adaptation with time to compensate for changing conditions, e.g. reference image update on detection of light level change
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19606 Discriminating between target movement or movement in an area of interest and other non-signicative movements, e.g. target movements induced by camera shake or movements of pets, falling leaves, rotating fan
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19645 Multiple cameras, each having view on one of a plurality of scenes, e.g. multiple cameras for multi-room surveillance or for tracking an object by view hand-over
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• 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 13/19697 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/025 Door telephones adapted for television H04N7/186
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42221 Conversation recording systems at the subscriber's set H04M1/656
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• 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 23/695 Control of camera direction for changing a field of view, e.g. pan, tilt or based on tracking of objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/155 involving storage of or access to video conference sessions tracking arrangements for later retrieval of a computer conference content or participants activities H04L12/1831
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/186 Video door telephones

Abstract

Direction control of audio/video (A/V) recording and communication devices in network communication with additional cameras is provided. In one embodiment, an A/V recording and communication device comprises: a first camera configured to capture first image data, wherein the first camera is pointed in a first direction; a communication module; and a 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; receive an orientation signal from the backend server based on the output signal from the second camera; point the first camera in a second direction in response to the orientation signal; power up the first camera in response to the power-up command signal; and capture the first image data in response to the power-up command signal.

Claims

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

a first camera configured to capture first image data at a first resolution, wherein the first camera is pointed in a first direction;

a communication module;

a processor operatively connected to the first camera and the communication module, wherein the A/V device is in network communication with a server via the communication module; and

a memory storing a camera application comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the A/V device to;

maintain the first camera in a low-power state;

receive a power-up command signal from the server based on an output signal from a second camera in network communication with the server;

receive an orientation signal from the server based on the output signal from the second camera in network communication with the server;

point the first camera in a second direction in response to the orientation signal from the server based on the output signal from the second camera, wherein the orientation signal includes a specific rotational degree relative to a fixed direction to point the first camera in the second direction;

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

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

2. The A/V device of claim 1, wherein the orientation signal and the power-up command signal are included in a single command signal.

3. The A/V device of claim 1, wherein the fixed direction is true north.

4. The A/V device of claim 1, wherein the specific rotational degree is relative to a position of the second camera.

5. The A/V device of claim 1, further comprising a motorized mount configured to point the first camera in the second direction in response to the orientation signal.

6. The A/V device of claim 5, wherein the motorized mount is configured to rotate the A/V device to point the first camera in any direction about a 360-degree rotational axis.

7. The A/V device of claim 1, wherein the camera application comprises further instructions, that when executed by the processor, further cause the A/V device to capture the first image data using the first camera for a predetermined length of time in response to the power-up command signal from the server based on the output signal from the second camera.

8. The A/V device of claim 1, wherein the second camera is configured to capture second image data at a second resolution.

9. The A/V device of claim 8, wherein the first resolution is higher than the second resolution.

10. The A/V device of claim 1, wherein the camera application comprises further instructions, that when executed by the processor, further cause the A/V device to transmit the first image data captured using the first camera to the server using the communication module.

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

maintaining the first camera in a low-power state;

receiving a power-up command signal from the second camera;

receiving an orientation signal from the second camera;

pointing the first camera in a second direction in response to the orientation signal from the second camera, wherein the orientation signal includes a specific rotational degree relative to a fixed direction to point the first camera in the second direction;

powering up the first camera in response to the power-up command signal from the second camera; and

capturing the first image data using the first camera in response to the power-up command signal from the second camera.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the orientation signal and the power-up command signal are included in a single command signal.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the fixed direction is true north.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the specific rotational degree is relative to a position of the second camera.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the first camera is pointed in the second direction in response to the orientation signal using a motorized mount.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the motorized mount rotates the A/V device to point the first camera in any direction about a 360-degree rotational axis.

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

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the second camera is configured to capture second image data at a second resolution.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first resolution is higher than the second resolution.

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