METHODS FOR USING AN IMAGE CAPTURE DEVICE INTEGRATED AT A BUILDING ENTRY WITH AN AUTOMATION CONTROL PANEL, AND SYSTEMS AND DEVICES RELATED THERETO

• US 20140267716A1
• Filed: 03/10/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Child, Michael D., Santiago, Todd Matthew, Warren, Jeremy B.
• Granted Patent: US 10,999,561 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/186 Video door telephones

Abstract

A system is described herein including a control panel configured to communicate with at least one mobile wireless device, including sending image data to the at least one mobile wireless device using electronic messaging protocols. The system also includes at least one automation component wirelessly connected to the control panel through short range wireless communication protocols. The at least one automation component includes at least one sensor configured to detect a presence of a person at an entry to the physical structure, at least one camera inconspicuously integrated within an entry component at the entry, and at least one short range wireless transceiver coupled to the at least one sensor and the at least one camera and configured to communicate image and sensor data to the control panel and to receive control information from the control panel.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for monitoring an entry to a structure, comprising:

detecting that a person is present at or near the entry to the structure;

capturing an image of the person in response to detecting that the person is present; and

transmitting the captured image to a control panel of an automation and security system of the structure for delivery of the captured image to a remote computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting that the person is present includes at least one of:

sensing motion at or near the entry to the structure;

sensing a pressure on a handle of an access element at or near the entry;

sensing vibration at or near the entry;

sensing sound at or near the entry; and

sensing activation of a doorbell at or near the entry.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the access element is a door or window.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising turning on a camera in response to detecting that a person is present at or near the entry, the camera being operable to capture the image.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the access element includes at least one of:

a handle;

a lock;

a light fixture;

a doorbell;

a peephole; and

a window.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein capturing the image includes operating a camera, the camera being integrated into an access element component at the entry.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the camera is arranged to be inconspicuous.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein capturing the image includes operating a camera, the camera being part of an image capture system extending through a door at the entry.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the image capture system includes:

a camera;

a power supply; and

a transmitter.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the camera includes a lens exterior to the door, and wherein the power supply and transmitter are interior to the door.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

processing the captured image to at least one of;

detect an identity of the person;

detect a category of the person;

or

timestamp the image.

12. A computer-implemented method for monitoring an entry to a structure using a control panel of an automation system, comprising:

receiving image data at the control panel of the automation system, the image data corresponding to a person at the entry to the structure;

sending the image data from the control panel to a remote computing device;

receiving an instruction from the remote computing device to perform an event using the automation system; and

triggering the event.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein triggering the event includes at least one of:

establishing a communication session between a mobile wireless device and a communication system at the entry;

turning a light on or off at the physical structure;

locking or unlocking a door of the physical structure;

turning an alarm on or off at the physical structure; and

arming or disarming a security system at the physical structure.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein receiving an instruction from the remote computing device to perform an event using the automation system includes receiving audio or video data from a mobile wireless device, and triggering the event includes sending the audio or video data to a communication system at the entry of the physical structure.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

automatically determining a content of the image data.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein automatically determining the content includes performing facial recognition.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

sending the image data to the remote computing device only when the content satisfies predetermined criteria.

18. An automation system for a physical structure, comprising:

a control panel configured to communicate with at least one mobile wireless device, including sending image data to the at least one mobile wireless device using electronic messaging protocols;

at least one automation component wirelessly connected to the control panel through short range wireless communication protocols, wherein the at least one automation component includes;

at least one sensor configured to detect a presence of a person at an entry to the physical structure;

at least one camera inconspicuously integrated within an entry component at the entry; and

at least one short range wireless transceiver coupled to the at least one sensor and the at least one camera and configured to communicate image and sensor data to the control panel and to receive control information from the control panel.

19. The automation system of claim 18, wherein the at least one sensor and the at least one camera are part of an imaging capture system.

20. The automation system of claim 18, wherein the control panel includes an image capture module operable to:

determine when the at least one sensor indicates the presence of the person at the entry;

selectively capture at least one image at the entry when the person is present; and

selectively send the at least one image to the at least one mobile wireless device.