DOORBELL SECURITY AND SAFETY

• US 20150070495A1
• Filed: 11/17/2014
• Published: 03/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SkyBell Technologies Ip, LLC
• Original Assignee: Skybell Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Scalisi, Joseph Frank
• Granted Patent: US 9,060,103 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 3/1016 using wireless transmission calling systems using transmission by inductive loop H04B5/00
• 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 11/025 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

Tampering with doorbells can lead to injury and doorbell theft. Methods and systems can discourage doorbell tampering by emitting an alert when a doorbell detects tampering. In some embodiments, a doorbell includes a system to detect movement of the outer housing of the doorbell. In several embodiments, if a doorbell detects movement of the outer housing while the doorbell detects that it is connected to an external power supply, the doorbell can emit an alert to warn against additional tampering.

Claims

1. A method for discouraging tampering with a doorbell of a doorbell system, wherein the doorbell system comprises the doorbell and a remote computing device, the method comprising:

obtaining the doorbell that comprises an outer housing, a movement detection system, a speaker, and a button configurable to enable a visitor to sound a chime, wherein the movement detection system is configured to detect movement of the outer housing of the doorbell;

using the movement detection system of the doorbell to detect a first movement of the outer housing; and

using the doorbell system to emit a first alert via at least one of the remote computing device, the chime, and the speaker of the doorbell in response to detecting the first movement of the outer housing of the doorbell.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first alert comprises a sound, the method further comprising:

connecting the doorbell to an external power supply; and

emitting the sound of the first alert from the speaker of the doorbell in response to detecting the first movement and in response to the doorbell being electrically coupled to the external power supply while detecting the first movement of the outer housing,

wherein the doorbell is configured to not emit the sound of the first alert if the doorbell is not electrically coupled to the external power supply when the doorbell detects the first movement of the outer housing.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the method further comprises configuring the doorbell to continue to emit the sound of the first alert for at least five seconds after the doorbell is electrically decoupled from the external power supply.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the doorbell comprises a battery, the method further comprising configuring the doorbell such that the battery provides power to enable the doorbell to continue to emit the sound from the speaker after the doorbell is electrically decoupled from the external power supply.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising detecting a second movement of the outer housing, and then the doorbell system blocking a second alert from being emitted from the speaker of the doorbell, wherein the blocking is in response to the doorbell not being electrically coupled to the external power supply while detecting the second movement.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising detecting a second movement of the outer housing, and then the doorbell system blocking a second alert from being emitted from the speaker of the doorbell, wherein the blocking is in response to the remote computing device receiving a command from a user of the remote computing device while the remote computing device is authorized to adjust at least one setting of the doorbell.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising simultaneously emitting the first alert from the doorbell, the chime, and the remote computing device after the doorbell is decoupled from the external power supply, wherein the simultaneously emitting is in response to the doorbell detecting the first movement.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the doorbell comprises a camera and a battery, the method further comprising:

connecting the doorbell to an external power supply;

connecting the doorbell to a wireless local area network;

recording a video using the camera of the doorbell in response to detecting the first movement and in response to the doorbell being electrically coupled to the external power supply while detecting the first movement of the outer housing;

sending at least a portion of the video from the doorbell to the remote computing device via the wireless local area network after the doorbell is decoupled from the external power supply and before the doorbell leaves the wireless local area network; and

using the battery to provide power to the doorbell to send the portion of the video after the doorbell is decoupled from the external power supply and before the doorbell leaves the wireless local area network.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the movement detection system of the doorbell comprises an accelerometer, the method further comprising:

configuring the accelerometer of the doorbell such that an average press of the button does not cause the doorbell system to emit the first alert;

using the accelerometer to detect the first movement of the outer housing of the doorbell; and

using the doorbell system to emit the first alert in response to the accelerometer detecting the first movement of the outer housing of the doorbell.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the chime is configured to emit a first sound in response to the visitor pressing the button, and wherein emitting the first alert comprises emitting a second sound from the chime, wherein the second sound is different than the first sound.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein emitting the first alert comprises sending a notification to the remote computing device.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein emitting the first alert comprises emitting a first sound from the speaker of the doorbell.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the first alert comprises a sound, the method further comprising emitting the sound of the first alert from the speaker of the doorbell in response to detecting the first movement of the outer housing of the doorbell and in response to the doorbell being electrically coupled to an external power supply while detecting the first movement of the outer housing,

wherein the doorbell is configured to not emit the sound of the first alert if the doorbell is not electrically coupled to the external power supply when the doorbell detects the first movement of the outer housing.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising configuring the doorbell system to emit the first alert in response to detecting the first movement of the outer housing of the doorbell above a predetermined threshold such that the doorbell system is configured to not emit the first alert in response to detecting a second movement of the outer housing that is less than the predetermined threshold.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the doorbell comprises a screw and a mounting bracket configured to be coupled to a building, wherein the screw secures the outer housing to the mounting bracket, and wherein the movement detection system is configured to detect when the screw is moved to uncouple the outer housing from the mounting bracket, the method further comprising:

using the movement detection system to detect screw movement; and

emitting the first alert in response to detecting the screw movement and in response to the doorbell being electrically coupled to an external power supply while detecting the first movement.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein emitting the first alert comprises emitting a first sound from the speaker of the doorbell.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the movement detection system comprises a switch that is covered by the outer housing of the doorbell, wherein the switch is configured such that removing the doorbell from a building to which the doorbell is coupled triggers the switch, the method further comprising:

using the movement detection system to detect a triggering of the switch caused by removing the doorbell from the building; and

emitting the first alert in response to detecting the triggering of the switch and in response to the doorbell being electrically coupled to an external power supply while detecting the triggering of the switch.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein emitting the first alert comprises sending a notification from the doorbell to the remote computing device.

19. A method for discouraging tampering with a doorbell of a doorbell system, wherein the doorbell system comprises the doorbell and a remote computing device, the method comprising:

obtaining the doorbell that comprises an outer housing, a movement detection system, a speaker, and a button configurable to enable a visitor to sound a chime, wherein the movement detection system is configured to detect movement of the outer housing of the doorbell;

configuring the doorbell to emit a first alert in response to detecting a first movement of the outer housing of the doorbell; and

using the movement detection system of the doorbell to detect the first movement of the outer housing.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising blocking the doorbell from emitting the first alert, wherein the doorbell system blocks the doorbell from emitting the first alert in response to detecting that the doorbell is not electrically coupled to an external power supply within fifteen seconds prior to the doorbell detecting the first movement of the outer housing.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the movement detection system of the doorbell comprises an accelerometer, the method further comprising:

configuring the accelerometer of the doorbell such that an average press of the button does not cause the doorbell to detect the first movement of the outer housing; and

using the accelerometer to detect the first movement of the outer housing of the doorbell.

22. A doorbell configured to discourage tampering, the doorbell comprising:

an outer housing;

a button configured to enable a visitor to sound a chime, wherein the button is coupled to the outer housing;

an accelerometer coupled to the outer housing such that the accelerometer is configured to detect movement of the outer housing of the doorbell; and

a speaker coupled to the outer housing, wherein the speaker is configured to emit a first alert in response to the accelerometer detecting movement of the outer housing of the doorbell.

23. The doorbell of claim 22, further comprising:

a power detection system configured to detect whether the doorbell is electrically coupled to an external power supply; and

an electronic control system electrically coupled to the speaker such that the speaker emits the first alert in response to the accelerometer detecting the movement of the outer housing of the doorbell and in response to the power detection system detecting the external power supply.

24. The doorbell of claim 23, further comprising a wireless communication system configured to send a second alert to a remote computing device in response to the accelerometer detecting the movement of the outer housing of the doorbell and in response to the power detection system detecting the external power supply.

25. The doorbell of claim 24, further comprising a battery configured to provide power to enable the doorbell to continue to emit the first alert from the speaker after the doorbell is electrically decoupled from the external power supply.