Wireless Entrance Communication Device

• US 20150022620A1
• Filed: 09/29/2014
• Published: 01/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: A9.com Incorporated (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bot Home Automation Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Siminoff, James
• Granted Patent: US 9,584,775 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0291 Door telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/025 Door telephones adapted for television H04N7/186
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/186 Video door telephones

Abstract

A device for communicating including a housing including a camera, a microphone, a speaker, a button, a battery, a sensor, non-volatile memory, a processor, and a wireless communications module, wherein the non-volatile memory stores code operable by the processor for switching the processor from low-power mode to active mode in response to an activation trigger, receiving, from the one of the microphone and the camera, outbound audio and video signals, then sending a signal to a server via the wireless communications module during active mode, the signal including one or more of an alert signal, a signal based on the outbound audio signal, and a signal based on the outbound video signal, receiving from the server an inbound audio signal and outputting a signal based on the inbound audio signal via the speaker, and switching the processor from active mode to low-power mode in response to a deactivation trigger.

Claims

1. A device for communicating, mounted externally near a user'"'"'s door, comprising:

a housing including a camera, a microphone, a speaker, a button, a battery, a sensor, non-volatile memory, a processor, and a wireless communications module,

wherein the non-volatile memory stores code operable by the processor for;

switching the processor from low-power mode to active mode in response to an activation trigger;

receiving, from the one of the microphone and the camera, outbound audio and video signals, then sending an alert signal to a server via the wireless communications module during active mode, the signal comprising one or more of an alert signal, a signal based on the outbound audio signal, and a signal based on the outbound video signal;

receiving from the server a response to the alert signal;

sending to the server one or more of an outbound audio signal and an outbound video signal of a predetermined time duration when the response indicates the alert signal was denied or ignored by the user at a remote communication device;

receiving from the server an inbound audio signal and outputting a signal based on the inbound audio signal via the speaker when the response indicates the alert signal was accepted by the user at the remote communication device; and

switching the processor from active mode to low-power mode in response to a deactivation trigger,

wherein the activation trigger comprises one or more of a button signal, a sensor signal, and a signal from the user at the remote communication device.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the deactivation trigger comprises one or more of a termination signal sent by the server and expiration of a predetermined time period where the device does not receive an activation trigger.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises one or more proximity sensors, and wherein the code is further operable for:

receiving a proximity signal from the one or more proximity sensors;

identifying one of plurality of zones corresponding to bounded physical spaces based on the proximity signal; and

transmitting zone identification information to the server.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises one or more proximity sensors, and wherein the code is further operable for:

receiving a proximity signal from the one or more proximity sensors;

identifying one of plurality of zones corresponding to bounded physical spaces based on the proximity signal;

receiving from the server a zone ignore list identifying one or more zones to ignore; and

transmitting zone identification information and the signal comprising one or more of the alert signal, the signal based on the outbound audio signal, and the signal based on the outbound video signal, when the zone is not on the zone ignore list.