System and Method for Remote Home Monitoring Utilizing a VoIP Phone

• US 20140153447A1
• Filed: 02/10/2014
• Published: 06/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hawkins, Johnny D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,398,060 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/259
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/61 for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A system and method for remote monitoring through a voice over Internet Protocol phone. An indicator configured to activate a video interface of the VoIP phone is received. A determination is made whether the indicator authorizes the video interface. The video interface of the VoIP phone is activated in response to determining the indicator authorizes the video interface. Video communications are sent and received between the VoIP phone utilized by a receiving party and a communications device utilized by a calling party. An action is performed in response to recognizing a response from the receiving party.

Claims

1. A method for remote monitoring a premises through a voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone, the method comprising:

receiving, at the VoIP phone, a telephone call from a calling party remote from the premises;

receiving, at the VoIP phone and through the telephone call, an indicator from the calling party, the indicator configured to activate a video interface of the VoIP phone;

determining, at the VoIP phone, whether the indicator authorizes the video interface;

activating the video interface of the VoIP phone in response to determining the indicator authorizes the video interface, without interaction from any person at the premises;

sending video communications over the telephone call for monitoring by the calling party remote from the premises, without interaction from any person at the premises.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the indicator is a pass code and wherein the method further comprises:

prompting the calling party for the pass code;

determining whether the pass code is correct.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

playing, with the VoIP phone, a monitor alert.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the VoIP phone provides no indication that monitoring is being performed.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

recording, with the VoIP phone, the monitored video communications.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining, with the VoIP phone, an action linked with the monitored video communication; and

performing the action linked with the response.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the response is a voice response indicating the action to be performed.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the action is to call 911 and sound an emergency alert.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein the action is a message sent to one or more recipients.

10. The method according to claim 6, wherein the action is a call linked between the VoIP phone and one or more recipients.

11. A VoIP phone comprising:

a processing unit; and

a memory configured to store a non-transitory set of instructions executable by the processing unit, the set of instructions comprising;

instructions to receive, at the VoIP phone, a telephone call from a calling party remote from the premises;

instructions to receive, at the VoIP phone and through the telephone call, an indicator from the calling party, the indicator configured to activate a video interface of the VoIP phone;

instructions to determine, at the VoIP phone, whether the indicator authorizes the video interface;

instructions to activate the video interface of the VoIP phone in response to determining the indicator authorizes the video interface, without interaction from any person at the premises;

instructions to send video communications over the telephone call for viewing by the calling party remote from the premises, without interaction from any person at the premises.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the indicator is a pass code and wherein the set of instructions further comprises:

instructions to prompt the calling party for the pass code;

instructions to determine whether the pass code is correct.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein the set of instructions further comprises:

instructions to play, with the VoIP phone, a monitor alert.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein the VoIP phone provides no indication that monitoring is being performed.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein the set of instructions further comprises:

instructions to record, with the VoIP phone, the monitored video communications.

16. The system according to claim 11, wherein the set of instructions further comprises:

instructions to determine, with the VoIP phone, an action linked with the monitored video communication; and

instructions to perform the action linked with the response.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the response is a voice response indicating the action to be performed.

18. The system according to claim 16, wherein the action is to call 911 and sound an emergency alert.

19. The system according to claim 16, wherein the action is a message sent to one or more recipients.

20. The system according to claim 16, wherein the action is a call linked between the VoIP phone and one or more recipients.