SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OPERATING A DOORBELL CAMERA

• US 20150163463A1
• Filed: 12/05/2014
• Published: 06/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hwang, Jungtaik, Eyring, Matthew J., Warren, Jeremy Bruce, Nye, James Ellis
• Application Number:
  US14/561,633
• Publication Number:
  US 20150163463A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

A computer-implemented method for a doorbell camera is described. In one embodiment, an image is captured using a camera in a doorbell unit. The doorbell unit is wired to doorbell wiring. The doorbell wiring includes a first wire and a second wire. Data associated with the capturing of the image is sent over the doorbell wiring. The data associated with capturing of the image is received, over doorbell wiring, at a chime unit.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for operating a doorbell camera, the method comprising:

capturing an image using a camera in a doorbell unit, the doorbell unit being wired to doorbell wiring, the doorbell wiring comprising a first wire and a second wire; and

sending data associated with the capturing of the image over the doorbell wiring.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the doorbell wiring comprises at least a portion of preexisting doorbell wiring that predates an installation of the doorbell unit.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the installation of the doorbell unit comprises replacing a preexisting doorbell unit with the doorbell unit, the preexisting doorbell unit being wired with the preexisting doorbell wiring.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

continuously capturing images via the camera at a predetermined frame rate according to a setting of a user policy.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting motion via a sensor in the doorbell unit; and

upon detecting the motion via the sensor, capturing one or more images via the camera.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

upon determining that the camera is set to record continuously, adjusting a frame rate of the camera from a first frame rate to a second frame rate upon detecting the motion via the sensor.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a press of a button on the doorbell unit; and

upon detecting the press of the button, capturing one or more images via the camera.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

upon determining that the camera is set to record continuously, adjusting a frame rate of the camera from a first frame rate to a second frame rate upon detecting the press of the button.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, over the doorbell wiring, a request to capture one or more images using the camera; and

sending the requested one or more images to a computing device for display.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending, over the doorbell wiring, the data from the doorbell unit to a chime unit, the doorbell unit being installed on an exterior of a dwelling and the chime unit being installed on an interior of the dwelling.

11. A computer-implemented method for operating a doorbell camera, the method comprising:

receiving, at a chime unit, data associated with capturing an image using a camera in a doorbell unit, the data being sent over doorbell wiring between the chime unit and the doorbell unit, the doorbell wiring comprising a first wire and a second wire.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

sending the data received at the chime unit to a control unit over a data communication network.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving a request to capture one or more images using the camera in the doorbell unit; and

sending, over the doorbell wiring, the request from the chime unit to the doorbell unit.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving, at the chime unit, the requested one or more images over the doorbell wiring.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

sending, from the chime unit, the requested one or more images to a control unit over a data communication network.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

sending, from the chime unit, the requested one or more images to a computing device over a data communication network.

17. An apparatus for operating a doorbell camera, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to;

capture an image using a camera in a doorbell unit, the doorbell unit being wired to doorbell wiring, the doorbell wiring comprising a first wire and a second wire; and

send data associated with the capturing of the image over the doorbell wiring.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the doorbell wiring comprises at least a portion of preexisting doorbell wiring that predates an installation of the doorbell unit.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the installation of the doorbell unit comprises replacing a preexisting doorbell unit with the doorbell unit, the preexisting doorbell unit being wired with the preexisting doorbell wiring.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the instructions being further executable by the processor to:

continuously capture images via the camera at a predetermined frame rate according to a setting of a user policy.