DOORBELL COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20150029335A1
• Filed: 09/22/2014
• Published: 01/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SkyBell Technologies Ip, LLC
• Original Assignee: Skybell Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Kasmir, Seton Paul, Scalisi, Joseph Frank, Harrison, Gregory Saul, Mejia, Desiree, Thomas, Andrew Paul
• Granted Patent: US 9,065,987 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19684 Portable terminal, e.g. mobile phone, used for viewing video remotely
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0291 Door telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72418 for supporting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/00 Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/025 Door telephones adapted for television H04N7/186
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/186 Video door telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253

Abstract

Methods can include using a doorbell to wirelessly communicate with a remotely located computing device. Doorbells can include a speaker, a microphone, a camera, and a button to sound a chime. Some embodiments include using a doorbell to close an electrical circuit that has a sound output device in a way that precludes the sound output device from inappropriately emitting a notification sound.

Claims

1. A method for using a doorbell system, the method comprising:

obtaining a doorbell that comprises a speaker, a microphone, a camera, and an outer housing;

connecting the doorbell electrically to an electrical power supply of a building;

connecting the doorbell electrically to a sound output device that is located remotely relative to the doorbell;

connecting the doorbell communicatively to a remote computing device;

receiving a first current into the doorbell from the power supply of the building;

using the first current to provide at least a first portion of a first electrical energy to the camera and to the microphone; and

using the doorbell to close an electrical circuit that comprises the sound output device such that the first current flows through the sound output device and the first current provides a first electricity that is less than a triggering threshold of the sound output device such that the sound output device does not emit a notification sound in response to the first electricity.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the doorbell to detect a presence of a visitor while closing the electrical circuit such that first current provides the first electricity that is less than the triggering threshold,

then in response to detecting the presence of the visitor, using the doorbell to close the electrical circuit to supply a second electricity to the sound output device, wherein the second electricity is greater than the triggering threshold of the sound output device such that the sound output device emits the notification sound in response to the second electricity, and sending a wireless notification to the remote computing device regarding the presence of the visitor.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the electrical circuit comprises the doorbell, the sound output device, and a transformer, wherein the transformer electrically couples the electrical circuit to the power supply of the building such that the transformer is configured to provide electrical power from the power supply to the electrical circuit, and the transformer comprises an electrical output having a direct current, wherein receiving the first current into the doorbell from the power supply of the building comprises receiving the direct current from the transformer.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the electrical circuit comprises the doorbell, the sound output device, and a transformer, wherein the transformer electrically couples the electrical circuit to the power supply of the building such that the transformer is configured to provide electrical power from the power supply to the electrical circuit, and the transformer comprises an electrical output having an alternating current, wherein receiving the first current into the doorbell from the power supply of the building comprises receiving the alternating current from the transformer, the method further comprising converting at least a second portion of the alternating current into a direct current, wherein the converting occurs within the outer housing of the doorbell.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the power supply provides the second electricity to the electrical circuit, and wherein the doorbell is configured to control whether the doorbell system provides the first electricity or the second electricity to the sound output device.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

while using the doorbell to supply the second electricity to the sound output device, initiating a transmission of the wireless notification to the remote computing device regarding the presence of the visitor, and

then after initiating the transmission of the wireless notification to the remote computing device, terminating the supply of the second electricity to the sound output device and using the doorbell to close the electrical circuit to provide a third electricity to the sound output device, wherein the third electricity is less than the triggering threshold of the sound output device such that the sound output device does not emit the notification sound in response to the third electricity.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising using the doorbell to supply the third electricity to the sound output device while continuing to transmit the wireless notification to the remote computing device.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

terminating the supply of the second electricity to the sound output device and using the doorbell to close the electrical circuit to provide a third electricity to the sound output device, wherein the third electricity is less than the triggering threshold of the sound output device such that the sound output device does not emit the notification sound in response to the third electricity; and

initiating a transmission of the wireless notification from the doorbell to the remote computing after terminating the supply of the second electricity to the sound output device.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein using the doorbell to detect the presence of the visitor while closing the electrical circuit comprises using a motion sensor to detect the presence of the visitor, wherein the method further comprises using the first current to provide at least a second portion of the first electrical energy to the motion sensor, wherein the second portion of the first electrical energy is greater than an operational threshold of the motion sensor such that the second portion of first electrical energy is capable of providing sufficient electrical power for the doorbell to operate the motion sensor while the first current provides the first electricity that is less than the triggering threshold of the sound output device.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein using the doorbell to detect the presence of the visitor while closing the electrical circuit comprises using a proximity sensor to detect the presence of the visitor, wherein the method further comprises using the first current to provide at least a second portion of the first electrical energy to the proximity sensor, wherein the second portion of the first electrical energy is greater than an operational threshold of the proximity sensor such that the second portion of first electrical energy is capable of providing sufficient electrical power for the doorbell to operate the proximity sensor while the first current provides the first electricity that is less than the triggering threshold of the sound output device.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein using the doorbell to detect the presence of the visitor while closing the electrical circuit comprises using image analysis to detect the presence of the visitor, wherein the method further comprises using the first current to provide at least a second portion of the first electrical energy to an image analysis system, wherein the second portion of the first electrical energy is greater than an operational threshold of the image analysis system such that the second portion of first electrical energy is capable of providing sufficient electrical power for the doorbell to operate the image analysis system while the first current provides the first electricity that is less than the triggering threshold of the sound output device.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein the first current is configured such that the first portion of the first electrical energy is greater than an operational threshold of the camera while the first current is configured such that the first current provides the first electricity that is less than the triggering threshold of the sound output device.

13. The method of claim 2, wherein the first current is configured such that the first portion of the first electrical energy is less than an operational threshold of the camera while the first current is configured such that the first current provides the first electricity that is less than the triggering threshold of the sound output device, the method further comprising using the first portion of the first electrical energy to charge a battery located inside of the outer housing of the doorbell, and then discharging at least an electrical portion of the battery to provide a second electrical energy that is greater than the operational threshold to the camera.

14. The method of claim 2, wherein the doorbell comprises a wireless communication system configured to enable sending the wireless notification from the doorbell to the remote computing device,

wherein the method further comprises using the first current to provide at least a second portion of the first electrical energy to the wireless communication system, wherein the first current is configured such that the second portion of the first electrical energy is less than an operational threshold of the wireless communication system while the first current is configured such that the first current provides the first electricity that is less than the triggering threshold of the sound output device,

the method further comprising using the second portion of the first electrical energy to charge a battery located inside of the outer housing of the doorbell, and then discharging at least an electrical portion of the battery to provide a second electrical energy that is greater than the operational threshold to the wireless communication system, and then using the wireless communication system to send the wireless notification to the remote computing device using the second electrical energy.

15. A method for replacing a first doorbell with a second doorbell, wherein the first doorbell comprises a switch configured to close an electrical circuit having a transformer and a sound output device to enable the sound output device to emit a notification sound, the method comprising:

detaching the first doorbell from a first wire that is electrically connected to the transformer;

detaching the first doorbell from a second wire that is electrically connected to the sound output device;

obtaining the second doorbell, wherein the second doorbell comprises a speaker, a microphone, a camera, and an outer housing, wherein the speaker, the microphone, and the camera are coupled to the outer housing;

connecting the second doorbell electrically to the first wire that is electrically connected to the transformer;

connecting the second doorbell electrically to the second wire that is electrically connected to the sound output device, wherein the second doorbell is located remotely relative to the sound output device;

connecting the second doorbell communicatively to a remote computing device;

receiving a first current into the second doorbell from at least one of the first wire and the second wire;

using the first current to provide a first electrical energy to at least a first portion of the second doorbell; and

draining the first current to at least one of the first wire and the second wire.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

entering a first mode in response to connecting the second doorbell electrically to the first wire that is electrically connected to the transformer, and in response to connecting the second doorbell electrically to the second wire that is electrically connected to the sound output device, wherein during the first mode, the method comprises using the second doorbell to close the electrical circuit having the transformer and the sound output device such that the first current flows through the sound output device and the first current provides a first electricity that is less than a triggering threshold of the sound output device such that the sound output device does not emit a notification sound in response to the first electricity; and

entering a second mode in response to using the doorbell to detect a presence of a visitor, wherein during the second mode, the method comprises using the doorbell to close the electrical circuit to supply a second electricity to the sound output device, wherein the second electricity is greater than the triggering threshold of the sound output device such that the sound output device emits the notification sound in response to the second electricity, and sending a wireless notification to the remote computing device regarding the presence of the visitor.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the second doorbell receives the first current via the first wire, and the second doorbell drains the first current via the second wire.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the transformer comprises an electrical output having a direct current or an alternating current.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the remote computing device is a smart phone.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the second doorbell comprises a wireless communication system configured to enable sending the wireless notification from the second doorbell to the remote computing device,

wherein the method further comprises using the first current to provide at least a first portion of the first electrical energy to the wireless communication system, wherein the first current is configured such that the first portion of the first electrical energy is less than an operational threshold of the wireless communication system while the first current is configured such that the first current provides the first electricity that is less than the triggering threshold of the sound output device,

the method further comprising using the first portion of the first electrical energy to charge a battery located inside of the outer housing of the doorbell, and then discharging at least an electrical portion of the battery to provide a second electrical energy that is greater than the operational threshold to the wireless communication system, and then using the wireless communication system to send the wireless notification to the remote computing device using the second electrical energy.