DOORBELL COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20170373876A1
• Filed: 09/12/2017
• Published: 12/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SkyBell Technologies Ip, LLC
• Original Assignee: Skybell Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Scalisi, Joseph Frank
• Application Number:
  US15/701,451
• Publication Number:
  US 20170373876A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19684 Portable terminal, e.g. mobile phone, used for viewing video remotely
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/00 Identifying, scaring or incapacitating burglars, thieves or intruders, e.g. by explosives
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/064 indicating houses needing emergency help, e.g. with a flashing light or sound
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2825 Reporting to a device located outside the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with telemetering systems H04M11/002
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0291 Door telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/025 Door telephones adapted for television H04N7/186
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/06 including a wireless LAN interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control
• 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

Doorbell systems can include a speaker and a visitor detection system that includes at least one of a button, a camera, and a motion detector. Doorbell systems can be configured to detect an identity of a visitor via facial recognition, initiate a communication session with a remote computing device, and send the identity to the remote computing device via the first communication session.

Claims

1. A method of operating a doorbell system comprising a speaker, a microphone, and a visitor detection system having a button and a camera, the method comprising:

detecting, via facial recognition by the doorbell system, a first identity of a first visitor;

initiating a first communication session with a first remote computing device; and

sending the first identity to the first remote computing device via the first communication session.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the first identity of the first visitor via facial recognition in response to the first visitor pressing the button of the doorbell system.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the first identity of the first visitor via facial recognition in response to the doorbell system detecting the first visitor.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an indication of the button being pressed by the first visitor, and in response to the button being pressed, emitting a message from the speaker to ask the first visitor to speak a resident'"'"'s name.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an indication of the button being pressed by the first visitor, and in response to the button being pressed, emitting a message from the speaker that comprises at least one resident'"'"'s name.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, by the doorbell system from a remote location, data that comprises a first indication of a high-risk visitor.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising detecting, by the doorbell system, a second indication of a second visitor, and in response to detecting the second indication, determining that the second indication substantially matches the first indication of the high-risk visitor.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising emitting a noise from the speaker of the doorbell system in response to determining that the second indication substantially matches the first indication.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising initiating an alert in response to determining that the second indication substantially matches the first indication, wherein the alert comprises a communication to the first remote computing device to inform a user of the first remote computing device regarding a high-risk indication.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising electing to contact the first remote computing device based on a first contact parameter, wherein the first contact parameter comprises the first identity of the first visitor.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising contacting the first remote computing device in response to the first remote computing device being associated with the first visitor.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an image of the first visitor to enable the doorbell system to recognize the first visitor via facial recognition when the first visitor approaches the doorbell system.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving data regarding the first visitor to enable the doorbell system to recognize the first visitor via facial recognition when the first visitor approaches the doorbell system.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising emitting a noise with a chime located remotely relative to the doorbell system in response to detecting the first identity via facial recognition.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the chime is communicatively coupled to the doorbell system.

16. A method of operating a doorbell system comprising a speaker, a microphone, and a visitor detection system having a button and a camera, the method comprising:

detecting a first visitor pressing the button of the doorbell system; and

determining, via facial recognition, a first identity of the first visitor in response to detecting the first visitor pressing the button of the doorbell system.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising contacting a resident in response to the resident being associated with the first visitor.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising electing to contact a first resident based on a first contact parameter, wherein the first contact parameter comprises the first identity of the first visitor, and contacting the first resident in response to determining the first identity.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising contacting a remote computing device in response to the remote computing device being associated with the first visitor.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising electing to contact a remote computing device based on a first contact parameter, wherein the first contact parameter comprises the first identity of the first visitor, and contacting the remote computing device in response to determining the first identity.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising retrieving, by the doorbell system, an identifying characteristic of the first visitor.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the identifying characteristic is configured to enable the doorbell system to recognize the first visitor, the method further comprising using the identifying characteristic to determine, via facial recognition, the first identity of the first visitor.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising associating the identifying characteristic of the first visitor with a particular resident, and contacting the particular resident in response to detecting the first visitor.

24. The method of claim 16, further comprising retrieving, by the doorbell system, an identifying characteristic of the first visitor, wherein the identifying characteristic is associated with a remote computing device, and contacting, by the doorbell system, the remote computing device in response to detecting the first visitor and determining the first identity.

25. The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving, by the doorbell system, an image of the first visitor to enable the doorbell system to recognize the first visitor via facial recognition.