Communicating with law enforcement agencies using client devices that are associated with audio/video recording and communication devices

• US 10,475,330 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2018
• Issued: 11/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Siminoff, James, Gerstberger, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Alizada, Omeed
• Application Number:
  US15/991,908
• Publication Number:
  US 20180350225A1
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19654 Details concerning communication with a camera
• 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 25/012 using recorded signals, e.g. speech G08B25/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/186 Video door telephones

Abstract

Communicating with law enforcement agencies using client devices that are associated with audio/video (A/V) recording and communication devices are provided. In one embodiments, a method for a client device for preventing redundant calls to an emergency call center is provided, the method comprising: receiving, at the client device, a notification, along with video footage associated with the notification, about an event generated by an A/V recording and communication device, the video footage captured by a camera of the A/V recording and communication device; receiving a request for contacting the emergency call center; informing one or more backend devices, in communication with the client device and a home security monitoring center that monitors a security system, of the received request to suppress a potential redundant call to the emergency call center from the home security monitoring center; and contacting the emergency call center.

Claims

1. A method for a client device for preventing redundant calls to an emergency call center, the method comprising:

receiving, at the client device, a notification, along with video footage associated with the notification, about an event generated by an audio/video (A/V) recording and communication device, the video footage captured by a camera of the A/V recording and communication device;

receiving a request for contacting the emergency call center;

informing one or more backend devices, in communication with the client device and a home security monitoring center that monitors a security system, of a received request to suppress a potential redundant call to the emergency call center from the home security monitoring center; and

contacting the emergency call center.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the emergency call center comprises a 911 call center.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the request comprises:

displaying, on a display of the client device, a control button for contacting the emergency call center; and

receiving a selection of the control button.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein displaying the control button comprises displaying the control button while the video footage associated with the notification is played on the display of the client device.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising, after informing the one or more backend devices, receiving another notification from at least one of the one or more backend devices about a contact made to the emergency call center by the home security monitoring center.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the another notification further requires a user acknowledgement, and wherein contacting the emergency call center comprises contacting the emergency call center after receiving the user acknowledgement.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the security system is installed at a same property at which the A/V recording and communication device is installed.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the property is located within a region, and wherein the emergency call center comprises a local 911 call center that serves the region.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the property is located within a first region, and wherein the client device is located within a second, different region.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more backend devices are further in communication with a security hub device of the security system.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the notification comprises receiving the notification after the A/V recording and communication device detects motion in an area about the A/V recording and communication device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the client device comprises one of a smartphone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a tablet computer, a laptop computer, and a desktop computer.

13. An electronic device comprising:

a display;

at least one processor; and

a non-transitory machine-readable medium storing a program for preventing redundant calls to an emergency call center, the program executable by at least one processor, the program comprising sets of instructions for;

receiving a notification, along with video footage associated with the notification, about an event generated by an audio/video (A/V) recording and communication device, the video footage captured by a camera of the A/V recording and communication device;

displaying the video footage on the display of the electronic device;

receiving a request for contacting the emergency call center;

informing one or more backend devices, in communication with the electronic device and a home security monitoring center, of a received request to suppress a potential redundant call to the emergency call center from the home security monitoring center; and

contacting the emergency call center.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the set of instructions for receiving the request comprises sets of instructions for:

displaying, on a display of the client device, a control button for contacting the emergency call center; and

receiving a selection of the control button.

15. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the set of instructions for displaying the control button comprises a set of instructions for displaying the control button while the video footage associated with the notification is played on the display of the client device.

16. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the notification is a first notification, and wherein the program further comprises a set of instructions for, after informing the one or more backend devices, receiving a second notification from at least one of the one or more backend devices about a contact made to the emergency call center by the home security monitoring center.

17. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the second notification further requires a user acknowledgement, and wherein the set of instructions for contacting the emergency call center comprises a set of instructions for contacting the emergency call center after receiving the user acknowledgement.

18. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the security system is installed at a same property at which the A/V recording and communication device is installed.

19. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the one or more backend devices are further in communication with a security hub device of the security system.

20. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the electronic device comprises one of a smartphone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a tablet computer, a laptop computer, and a desktop computer.