DOORBELL COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20150145993A1
• Filed: 02/03/2015
• Published: 05/28/2015
• 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 9,058,738 B1
• 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 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• 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

Doorbells can be configured to wirelessly communicate with a remotely located computing device. Some embodiments of the doorbell can be configured to enter a network connection mode. The network connection mode can include detecting a first wireless network having a name and a password. The network connection mode can also include using the remotely located computing device to scan a barcode such as a Quick Response Code.

Claims

1. A method for using a doorbell that is configurable to wirelessly communicate with a remotely located computing device, the method comprising:

obtaining the doorbell that comprises a speaker, a microphone, a camera, and a button, wherein the doorbell is configurable to enable a visitor to sound a chime;

receiving a wireless notification from the doorbell with the remotely located computing device regarding a presence of the visitor; and

entering a network connection mode prior to receiving the wireless notification, wherein the network connection mode comprises using the remotely located computing device to scan a barcode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the network connection mode comprises detecting a first wireless network having a name and a password, wherein the barcode represents a doorbell identification code that is associated with the doorbell, and wherein the network connection mode further comprises using the doorbell identification code to verify whether the remotely located computing device is authorized to communicate with the doorbell, wherein the network connection mode comprises creating a second wireless network by at least one of the doorbell and the remotely located computing device, and the network connection mode comprises transmitting the name and the password of the first wireless network directly from the remotely located computing device to the doorbell via the second wireless network to enable the doorbell to communicate with the remotely located computing device via the first wireless network, wherein the method comprises the doorbell directly communicating with the remotely located computing device via the second wireless network prior to the doorbell indirectly communicating with the remotely located computing device via the first wireless network.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the barcode comprises a Quick Response Code.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the second wireless network is created by the doorbell.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the second wireless network is created by the remotely located computing device.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising communicatively coupling the remotely located computing device to a WiFi router and the doorbell via the first wireless network.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

detecting multiple wireless networks and automatically selecting the first wireless network for communicating between the doorbell and the remotely located computing device, wherein prior to the automatic selection the remotely located computing device is connected to the first wireless network; and

receiving authorization to use the remotely located computing device to communicate with the doorbell in response to pressing the button for a predetermined amount of time.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the predetermined amount of time is at least twenty seconds.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the network connection mode comprises detecting a first wireless network having a name and a password, wherein scanning the barcode comprises using the remotely located computing device to take a picture of the barcode and then using the remotely located computing device to analyze the barcode to extract a doorbell identification code from the barcode, the method further comprising transmitting the doorbell identification code from the remotely located computing device to a remote computer, and then in response to the remote computer receiving the doorbell identification code from the remotely located computing device, receiving authorization from the remote computer for the remotely located computing device to configure the doorbell, wherein configuring the doorbell comprises transmitting the password of the first wireless network from the remotely located computing device to the doorbell.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the barcode comprises a Quick Response Code.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the barcode is packaged with the doorbell, the method further comprising receiving a package that comprises the doorbell and the barcode.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the network connection mode comprises the doorbell creating a second wireless network, and the network connection mode comprises transmitting the name and the password of the first wireless network directly from the remotely located computing device to the doorbell via the second wireless network to enable the doorbell to communicate with the remotely located computing device via the first wireless network, wherein the method comprises using the remotely located computing device to directly communicate with the doorbell via the second wireless network prior to using the remotely located computing device to indirectly communicate with the doorbell via the first wireless network.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the network connection mode comprises using the remotely located computing device to create a second wireless network, and the network connection mode comprises transmitting the name and the password of the first wireless network directly from the remotely located computing device to the doorbell via the second wireless network to enable the doorbell to communicate with the remotely located computing device via the first wireless network, wherein the method comprises using the remotely located computing device to directly communicate with the doorbell via the second wireless network prior to using the remotely located computing device to indirectly communicate with the doorbell via the first wireless network.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the network connection mode comprises detecting a first wireless network having a name and a password, wherein the barcode represents a doorbell identification code that is associated with the doorbell, and wherein the network connection mode further comprises using the doorbell identification code to verify whether the remotely located computing device is authorized to communicate with the doorbell, and the network connection mode comprises transmitting the name and the password of the first wireless network directly from the remotely located computing device to the doorbell to enable the doorbell to communicate with the remotely located computing device via the first wireless network.

15. A method for using a doorbell that is configurable to wirelessly communicate with a remotely located computing device, the method comprising:

obtaining the doorbell that comprises a speaker, a microphone, a camera, and a button, wherein the doorbell is configurable to enable a visitor to sound a chime;

receiving a wireless notification from the doorbell with the remotely located computing device regarding a presence of the visitor; and

entering a network connection mode prior to receiving the wireless notification, wherein the network connection mode comprises using the remotely located computing device to scan a Quick Response Code.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the network connection mode comprises detecting a first wireless network having a name and a password, wherein the Quick Response Code represents a doorbell identification code that is associated with the doorbell, and wherein the network connection mode further comprises using the doorbell identification code to verify whether the remotely located computing device is authorized to communicate with the doorbell.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the network connection mode comprises communicatively coupling the remotely located computing device with the doorbell, and the network connection mode further comprises transmitting the name and the password of the first wireless network directly from the remotely located computing device to the doorbell to enable the doorbell to communicate with the remotely located computing device via the first wireless network, wherein the method comprises using the remotely located computing device to directly communicate with the doorbell via the second wireless network prior to using the remotely located computing device to indirectly communicate with the doorbell via the first wireless network.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein communicatively coupling the remotely located computing device with the doorbell comprises communicatively coupling the remotely located computing device with the doorbell via a cable.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving authorization to use the remotely located computing device to communicate with the doorbell in response to pressing the button for a predetermined amount of time.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the Quick Response Code is packaged with the doorbell, the method further comprising receiving a package that comprises the doorbell and the Quick Response Code.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the doorbell identification code comprises at least 24 characters, wherein the camera is a first camera, and wherein the remotely located computing device comprises a second camera, the method further comprising scanning the Quick Response Code via the second camera, wherein the doorbell is obtained from a package, and wherein the Quick Response Code is located along one of a surface of the package and a surface of the doorbell.

22. A method for using a doorbell that is configurable to wirelessly communicate with a remotely located computing device, the method comprising:

obtaining the doorbell that comprises a speaker, a microphone, a camera, and a button, wherein the doorbell is configurable to enable a visitor to sound a chime;

receiving a wireless notification from the doorbell with the remotely located computing device regarding a presence of the visitor;

entering a network connection mode prior to receiving the wireless notification, wherein the network connection mode comprises detecting a first wireless network having a name and a password; and

scanning a barcode, wherein the barcode represents a doorbell identification code that is associated with the doorbell.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the network connection mode further comprises:

after detecting the first wireless network, then using the remotely located computing device to scan the barcode;

after using the remotely located computing device to scan the barcode, then using the doorbell identification code to verify whether the remotely located computing device is authorized to communicate with the doorbell;

after using the doorbell identification code to verify whether the remotely located computing device is authorized to communicate with the doorbell, then communicatively coupling the remotely located computing device with the doorbell;

after communicatively coupling the remotely located computing device with the doorbell, then transmitting the name and the password of the first wireless network directly from the remotely located computing device to the doorbell to enable the doorbell to communicate with the remotely located computing device via the first wireless network; and

the doorbell communicating directly with the remotely located computing device prior to the doorbell indirectly communicating with the remotely located computing device via the first wireless network.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising, after communicating with the remotely located computing device, detecting multiple wireless networks and automatically selecting the first wireless network for communicating between the doorbell and the remotely located computing device, wherein prior to the automatic selection the remotely located computing device is connected to the first wireless network.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein detecting the first wireless network having the name and the password occurs in response to pressing the button for a predetermined amount of time, the method further comprising, after pressing the button for a predetermined amount of time, then receiving authorization to use the remotely located computing device to communicate with the doorbell.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the barcode comprises a Quick Response Code, and wherein the remotely located computing device is communicatively coupled with the doorbell via a second wireless network that is created by one of the doorbell and the remotely located computing device.