AUTOMATED HANDLING OF A PACKAGE DELIVERY AT A SMART-HOME

• US 20150120015A1
• Filed: 12/31/2014
• Published: 04/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• 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
• Application Number:
  US14/587,322
• Publication Number:
  US 20150120015A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/90
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 19/005 combined burglary and fire alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks

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 a delivery attempt of a package provided by a deliverer at a smart environment that comprises a plurality of smart devices, the method comprising:

detecting package information associated with the package provided by the deliverer at the smart environment using an entryway interface smart device of the plurality of smart devices;

analyzing the detected package information using a computing system that is communicatively coupled to the entryway interface smart device; and

at least one of;

automatically communicating with a first smart device of the plurality of smart devices using the computing system based on the analyzing; and

automatically providing feedback from the computing system to the deliverer via a second smart device of the plurality of smart devices based on at least one of the analyzing and the communicating.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting comprises:

conveying an instruction to the deliverer with an output component of the entryway interface smart device; and

after the conveying, sensing the package information with at least one sensing component of the entryway interface smart device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to the detecting the package information, determining the presence of the deliverer at the smart environment using the entryway interface smart device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the determining comprises at least one of:

sensing a particular visual characteristic of the deliverer using a camera sensing component of the entryway interface smart device; and

sensing a particular aural characteristic of the deliverer using a microphone sensing component of the entryway interface smart device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to the detecting the package information, initially generating with the computing system at least a portion of the package information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing comprises analyzing the detected package information in combination with a current mode of the smart environment.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the current mode is at least partially defined by the computing system based on at least one instruction received from a user of the smart environment.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the current mode is at least partially defined by the computing system based on environment data detected from at least one smart device of the plurality of smart devices.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the current mode is indicative of at least one of the following:

a current location of a user of the smart environment;

an estimated future location of a user of the smart environment;

a current availability of a user of the smart environment; and

an estimated future availability of a user of the smart environment.

10-46. -46. (canceled)

47. A method of handling a delivery attempt of a package provided by a deliverer at a smart environment that comprises a plurality of smart devices, the method comprising:

detecting package information associated with the package provided by the deliverer at the smart environment using an entryway interface smart device of the plurality of smart devices;

in response to the detecting, determining a current mode of the smart environment using a computing system that is communicatively coupled to the entryway interface smart device;

analyzing the detected package information in combination with at least one setting of the determined current mode using the computing system; and

in response to the analyzing, automatically using the computing system for one of the following;

communicating delivery information indicative of the package to a system user associated with the smart environment via a first smart device of the plurality of smart devices; and

communicating feedback information to the deliverer via a second smart device of the plurality of smart devices.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the determining comprises:

receiving environment data from the plurality of smart devices;

processing the received environment data; and

at least partially defining the at least one setting of the current mode of the smart environment based on the processing.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein the determining comprises:

receiving user instructions from a system user associated with the smart environment;

processing the received user instructions; and

at least partially defining the at least one setting of the current mode of the smart environment based on the processing.

50. The method of claim 47, wherein the determining comprises:

receiving environment data from the plurality of smart devices;

receiving user instructions from a system user associated with the smart environment;

processing the received environment data in combination with the received user instructions; and

at least partially defining the at least one setting of the current mode of the smart environment based on the processing.

51. The method of claim 47, wherein the at least one setting is indicative of at least one of the following:

a current location of a user of the smart environment;

an estimated future location of a user of the smart environment;

a current availability of a user of the smart environment; and

an estimated future availability of a user of the smart environment.

52. The method of claim 47, wherein the delivery information comprises identification of at least one of:

an orderer of the package;

a fulfillment entity of the package;

a deliverer entity of the package;

an intended recipient of the package;

an intended delivery location of the package;

the content of the package; and

at least one requirement for the delivery of the package.

53. The method of claim 47, wherein the first smart device comprises a hazard detector smart device.

54. The method of claim 47, wherein the first smart device comprises a personal electronic device of the system user.

55. The method of claim 47, wherein the feedback information comprises an instruction for the deliverer to do one of the following:

leave the package at a particular location of the smart environment;

leave the package at a location associated with the deliverer;

return with the package to the smart environment at a later time;

deliver the package to another smart environment; and

authorize request to deliver the package without physical user receipt.

56. The method of claim 47, wherein the automatically using comprises automatically using the computing system for:

communicating feedback information to the deliverer via a second smart device of the plurality of smart devices; and

adjusting the functionality of a third smart device of the plurality of smart devices, wherein the functionality comprises providing limited accessibility to a secure area of the smart environment.

57. A system for handling a delivery attempt of a package provided by a deliverer at a smart environment that comprises a plurality of smart devices, the system comprising:

an entryway interface smart device of the plurality of smart devices that is operative to detect package information associated with the package provided by the deliverer at the smart environment; and

a computing system operative to;

receive the detected package information;

determine a current mode of the smart environment when the detected package information is received;

analyze the detected package information in combination with at least one setting of the determined current mode; and

based on the analysis, automatically do one of the following;

communicate delivery information indicative of the package to a system user associated with the smart environment via a first smart device of the plurality of smart devices; and

communicate feedback information to the deliverer via a second smart device of the plurality of smart devices.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein the second smart device is the entryway interface smart device.

59. The system of claim 57, wherein the entryway interface smart device comprises:

at least one sensing component that is operative to detect the package information; and

a doorbell input component that is operative to be touched by the deliverer for generating a request to contact an occupant of the smart environment.

60. The system of claim 59, wherein the second smart device is the entryway interface smart device.

61. The system of claim 57, wherein the computing system is operative to determine the current mode of the smart environment by:

receiving environment data from the plurality of smart devices;

processing the received environment data; and

at least partially defining the at least one setting of the current mode of the smart environment based on the processing.

62. The system of claim 57, wherein the computing system is operative to determine the current mode of the smart environment by:

receiving user instructions from a system user associated with the smart environment;

processing the received user instructions; and

at least partially defining the at least one setting of the current mode of the smart environment based on the processing.

63. The system of claim 57, wherein the computing system is operative to determine the current mode of the smart environment by:

receiving environment data from the plurality of smart devices;

receiving user instructions from a system user associated with the smart environment;

processing the received environment data in combination with the received user instructions; and

at least partially defining the at least one setting of the current mode of the smart environment based on the processing.

64. The system of claim 57, wherein the at least one setting is indicative of at least one of the following:

a current location of a user of the smart environment;

an estimated future location of a user of the smart environment;

a current availability of a user of the smart environment; and

an estimated future availability of a user of the smart environment.

65. (canceled)