LIMITED ACCESS INVITATION HANDLING AT A SMART-HOME

• US 20150112885A1
• Filed: 12/31/2014
• Published: 04/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Fadell, Anthony Michael, Rogers, Matthew Lee, Matsuoka, Yoky, Sloo, David, Honjo, Shigefumi, McGaraghan, Scott A., Plitkins, Michael, Veron, Maxime, Guenette, Isabel
• Granted Patent: US 10,510,035 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/330
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/002 with occupancy simulation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 19/005 combined burglary and fire alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/002 Generating a prealarm to the central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/00 Alarm systems in which the alarm condition is signalled from a central station to a plurality of substations
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/003 Signalling to neighbouring houses
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/185 Signal analysis techniques for reducing or preventing false alarms or for enhancing the reliability of the system

Abstract

This patent specification relates to apparatus, systems, methods, and related computer program products for providing home security/smart home objectives. More particularly, this patent specification relates to a plurality of devices, including intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connected devices, that communicate with each other and/or with a central server or a cloud-computing system to provide any of a variety of useful home security/smart home objectives.

Claims

1. A method of handling delivery of a package by a deliverer of a delivery service-provider entity that comprises a delivery computing system to a smart environment that comprises at least one smart device, the method comprising:

facilitating at least a portion of a placement of an order by an orderer for the delivery of the package to the smart environment using the delivery computing system;

generating unique invitation identification information for the order using the delivery computing system;

acquiring, at an environment computing system, the unique invitation identification information and additional order information from the delivery computing system; and

based on the acquiring, automatically defining, using the environment computing system, at least a portion of a mode setting that is associated with the acquired unique invitation identification information and the smart environment and that comprises at least one platform action.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after the defining, receiving, at the environment computing system from the smart environment, invitation identification data detected by the at least one smart device from the deliverer, wherein the received invitation identification data comprises the unique invitation identification information;

analyzing, using the environment computing system, the unique invitation identification information of the received invitation identification data from the smart environment to identify the defined mode setting associated with the unique invitation identification information and the smart environment; and

automatically carrying out, using the environment computing system, the at least one platform action of the identified defined mode setting based on the analyzing.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

prior to the receiving, incorporating the generated unique invitation identification information into a label; and

prior to the receiving, coupling the label to the package.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one smart device is operative to detect the invitation identification data at the label from the deliverer.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the carrying out the at least one platform action comprises enabling temporary accessibility to a portion of the smart environment.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein:

the at least one smart device comprises a smart doorknob device for a door to a secure area of the smart environment; and

the carrying out the at least one platform action comprises unlocking the door with the smart doorknob device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the secure area comprises one of:

a lobby of a structure; and

an interior of a smart safe appliance.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the carrying out the at least one platform action comprises conveying a message to the deliverer via the at least one smart device.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the carrying out the at least one platform action comprises conveying a message to a user of the smart environment.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the user is the orderer; and

the conveying comprises conveying the message to a second smart device of the smart environment most proximate to the current location of the user at the smart environment.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the defining comprises defining at least a portion of the message based on the acquired additional order information.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the additional order information comprises information indicative of at least one of the following:

the identification of the orderer;

the identification of the delivery service-provider entity; and

the identification of the contents of the package.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after the acquiring but before the defining, identifying, at the environment computing system, the smart environment of the order based on the acquired additional order information for use during the defining.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the additional order information comprises information indicative of at least one of the following:

the identification of the smart environment; and

the identification of the orderer.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the additional order information comprises information indicative of at least one of the following:

the identification of the smart environment;

the identification of the orderer;

the identification of the delivery service-provider entity; and

the identification of the contents of the package.

16. A delivery computing system of a delivery entity for enhancing delivery of a package by the delivery entity to a smart environment comprising at least one smart device, the delivery computing system comprising:

a communication interface; and

a processor operative to;

facilitate at least a portion of a placement of an order by an orderer for the delivery of the package to the smart environment via a first portion of the communication interface;

generate unique invitation identification information for the order; and

share the generated unique invitation identification information and additional order information with an environment computing system via a second portion of the communication interface for the purpose of defining at least a portion of a mode setting that is associated with the unique invitation identification information and the smart environment and that comprises at least one platform action.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the additional order information comprises information indicative of at least one of the following:

the identification of the smart environment;

the identification of the orderer;

the identification of the delivery entity; and

the identification of the contents of the package.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein:

the generated unique invitation identification information comprises a password;

the at least one smart device comprises one of the following;

a microphone operative to detect the password when the password is orally spoken by a deliverer of the delivery entity in a sensing region of the microphone; and

a camera operative to detect the password when a print-out of the password is positioned by a deliverer of the delivery entity in a sensing region of the camera.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein:

the generated unique invitation identification information comprises a barcode;

the at least one smart device comprises a scanner operative to detect the barcode when the barcode is positioned by a deliverer of the delivery entity in a sensing region of the scanner.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer readable instructions recorded thereon for:

facilitating at least a portion of a placement of an order by an orderer for the delivery of a package to a smart environment using a delivery computing system;

generating unique invitation identification information for the order using the delivery computing system; and

sharing, using the delivery computing system, the generated unique invitation identification information and additional order information with an environment computing system for the purpose of defining at least a portion of a mode setting that is associated with the unique invitation identification information and the smart environment and that comprises at least one platform action.