System and method for home monitoring using a set top box

• US 8,619,136 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2006
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Howarter, Jamie C., Lesher, Charles M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Follansbee, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mejia, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US11/607,186
• Publication Number:
  US 20080129821A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,587 Days
• Field of Search: 348/143, 348/14.04, 348152-155, 726/1, 340/328, 340/330, 340/506, 725/81, 725/84, 725/74, 725/110, 455/404, 379/167.05, 379/167.07
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/196 using television cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/186 Video door telephones

Abstract

A system and method for displaying security content from a set top box to a television. In one embodiment, the television receives media content for display. Security content from one or more wireless cameras replaces the media content in response to receiving an alert from the one or more wireless cameras.

Claims

1. A method for displaying security content from a set top box to a television, the method comprising:

receiving media content for display on the television;

detecting, with the set top box, that one or more cameras have been linked with the set top box;

in response to detecting the one or more cameras, prompting a user to establish user preferences for each of the one or more cameras, the user preferences including at least one channel selection for displaying security content, wherein a plurality of camera views are displayed in the security content;

establishing one or more channels for displaying the plurality of camera views, in response to the user selection;

designating the one or more channels for the one or more camera views;

receiving, from the user, selections of channels for displaying security content from each of the one or more cameras;

setting the user preferences to establish how the one or more camera views are displayed to the television;

receiving an alert from one of the cameras linked with the set top box in response to camera activity; and

automatically displaying security content received from the camera on the channel selected for that camera according to the user preferences, in response to receiving the alert from the camera.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

alerting a user on the television of the alert from the camera for allowing the user to select to see the security content.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

displaying the one or more wireless camera views to the user on the television in response to the user selecting a camera view selector.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the camera view selector is any of a button on the set top box, television, an indicator on a remote control, and an indicator on a cell phone.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the alert is generated by a door bell.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the alert is associated with motion detected by the one or more cameras.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

recording a camera view when a camera detects activity.

8. A set top box for displaying content from a content provider comprising:

display components for communicating the content to a television;

a security module for sending security content to the display components according to user preferences;

a transceiver for receiving the security content from one or more cameras; and

an interface for communicating the security content to the display components;

wherein the set top box is configured to;

detect that one or more cameras have been linked with the set top box;

in response to detecting the one or more cameras, prompt a user to establish user preferences for each of the one or more cameras, the user preferences including at least one channel selection for displaying security content, wherein a plurality of camera views are displayed in the security content;

establish one or more channels for displaying the plurality of camera views, in response to the user selection;

designate the one or more channels for the one or more camera views;

receive, from the user, selections of channels for displaying security content from each of the one or more cameras;

set the user preferences to establish how the one or more camera views are displayed to the television;

receive an alert from one of the cameras linked with the set top box in response to camera activity; and

automatically display security content received from the camera on the channel selected for that camera according to the user preferences, in response to receiving the alert from the camera.

9. The set top box according to claim 8, further comprising:

a cache for storing the security content;

a format converter for converting the security content to a signal compatible with the television for the display components.

10. The set top box according to claim 8, wherein the content is any of regular television content, video content, and Internet content, and wherein the security module is operable to (1) replace the media content with the received security content, (2) transparently overlay the media content with the received security content, and (3) display the received security content utilizing picture-in-picture, utilizing the user preferences.

11. The set top box according to claim 8, wherein the security content is displayed on the television in response to receiving the alert from the one or more cameras.

12. The set top box according to claim 8, wherein the alert is generated by any of a doorbell, sound sensor, and motion detector.

13. The set top box according to claim 8, further comprising:

a camera view selector for allowing a user to display the security content.

14. The set top box according to claim 13, wherein the camera view selector is part of a remote control for the set top box.

15. The set top box according to claim 8, wherein the set top box is any of a digital video recorder, a network digital video recorder, a cable television set top box, a satellite set top box, and a set top box for displaying Internet content.

16. A method for displaying security content on a set top box, the method comprising:

detecting, with the set top box, that one or more cameras have been linked with the set top box;

in response to detecting the one or more cameras, prompting a user to establish user preferences for each of the one or more cameras, the user preferences including at least one channel selection for displaying security content, wherein a plurality of camera views are displayed in the security content;

establishing one or more channels for displaying the plurality of camera views, in response to the user selection;

designating the one or more channels for the one or more camera views;

receiving, from the user, selections of channels for displaying security content from each of the one or more cameras;

setting the user preferences to establish how the one or more camera views are displayed to the television;

recording security content streamed wireless from one of the cameras, in response to camera activity;

indicating to a user according to user preferences that the security content has been received through at least the camera and recorded; and

automatically communicating the recorded security content wirelessly to at least one personal wireless device according to the user preferences.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the camera activity is any of a doorbell activation, motion detection, sound detection, and presence detection.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the security content is enabled to be displayed to a television using a picture in picture display, transparent overlay, and screen replacement in response to the user preferences.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the recorded security content is displayed simultaneously to two or more of a television, a computer, and the least one personal wireless device phone according to the user preferences.