Wireless Peephole Camera and Door Status Indicator
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for detection and notification of door status events, comprising:
- a mounting bracket coupled to a peephole in a door;
a camera apparatus coupled to the mounting bracket, the camera apparatus comprising;
a camera positioned such that the camera is capable of capturing images or video through the peephole;
a sensor capable of sensing a door status event at the door or in proximity to the door;
a wireless transmitter/receiver capable of communicating with a wireless network and transmitting digital information via the wireless network;
a central processing unit capable of storing and executing computer code to initiate operation of the camera to capture one or more images or video visible through the peephole when the door status event sensed by the sensor exceeds a predetermined level, and to transmit the images or video using the wireless transmitter/receiver to a predetermined destination on the wireless network.
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Abstract
The present application is directed to methods and devices for detection and notification of door status events. A camera may be coupled to a peephole in a door and one or more images may be captured when a door status event occurs. The images may be uploaded to a computer network.
29 Citations
42 Claims
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1. An apparatus for detection and notification of door status events, comprising:
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a mounting bracket coupled to a peephole in a door; a camera apparatus coupled to the mounting bracket, the camera apparatus comprising; a camera positioned such that the camera is capable of capturing images or video through the peephole; a sensor capable of sensing a door status event at the door or in proximity to the door; a wireless transmitter/receiver capable of communicating with a wireless network and transmitting digital information via the wireless network; a central processing unit capable of storing and executing computer code to initiate operation of the camera to capture one or more images or video visible through the peephole when the door status event sensed by the sensor exceeds a predetermined level, and to transmit the images or video using the wireless transmitter/receiver to a predetermined destination on the wireless network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for detection and notification of door status events, comprising:
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a mounting bracket comprising a hole adapted to receive therein an interior portion of a peephole device such that the interior portion of the peephole device couples the mounting bracket to a door when the interior portion of the peephole is coupled to an exterior portion of the peephole device in the door; a camera apparatus coupled to the mounting bracket, the camera apparatus comprising; a camera positioned such that the camera is capable of capturing images or video through the peephole device; a sensor capable of sensing a vibration or spatial movement of the door; a wireless transmitter/receiver capable of communicating with a wireless network and transmitting digital information via the wireless network; a central processing unit capable of storing and executing computer code to initiate operation of the camera to capture one or more images or video visible through the peephole when the vibration or spatial movement of the sensed by the sensor exceeds a predetermined level, and to transmit the images or video using the wireless transmitter/receiver to a predetermined destination on the wireless network. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for detection and notification of door status events, comprising:
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coupling a camera apparatus to a peephole in a door such that the camera unit is optically aligned with the peephole, the camera apparatus comprising a sensor unit, a camera unit, a wireless transmitter/receiver unit, and a processing unit; sensing by the sensor unit a door status event at the door or in proximity to the door; initiating an algorithm stored in memory in the processing unit to determine whether the sensed event exceeds a predetermined threshold; and activating the camera unit when the sensed event exceeds the predetermined threshold and recording one or more images or video visible through the peephole. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method for detection and notification of a person at a door, comprising:
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coupling a camera apparatus to a peephole in a door such that the camera unit is optically aligned with the peephole, the camera apparatus comprising a sensor unit comprising an accelerometer, a camera unit, a wireless transmitter/receiver unit, and a processing unit; sensing by the sensor unit vibration or spatial movement of the door; initiating an algorithm stored in memory in the processing unit to determine whether the sensed vibration or movement exceeds a predetermined threshold; activating the camera unit when the sensed vibration or movement exceeds the predetermined threshold and recording one or more images or video visible through the peephole; establishing a Wi-Fi connection to a computer network with the wireless transmitter/receiver unit and uploading the one or more images or video to the network; and delivering the one or more uploaded images or video to an electronic device for viewing by a user.
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39. A coupling apparatus, comprising:
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a mounting bracket, the mounting bracket comprising; a mounting surface having a first peripheral edge; a first sidewall extending generally perpendicular from the first peripheral edge, the first sidewall and the mounting surface defining a receiving space therebetween; a first coupling device; and an alignment member; a device housing, the device housing comprising; a coupling surface having a second peripheral edge; a second sidewall extending generally perpendicular from the second peripheral edge, the second sidewall and the coupling surface defining an insert, the insert adapted for releasable placement in the receiving space; a second coupling device that acts with the first coupling device to couple the device housing to the mounting bracket when the insert is placed in the receiving space; and a guide member that engages the alignment member to align the device housing relative to the mounting bracket when the insert is placed in the receiving space. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42)
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Specification