In-home monitoring method and system having a video camera connected to a set-top box
First Claim
1. A system for providing communications with an in-home system at a residence of a user, comprising:
- a set top box having a first communication port configured to receive digital television programming content;
said set top box being responsive to a user input to tune to a selected digital television programming content;
said set top box having a second port configured to be connected to a television;
said set top box having a third port configured to transmit data to, and receive data from, an in-home system that includes a video camera;
wherein said set top box is configured to received video content from the video camera and is configurable by the user to cause said video content to be displayed on a television connected to said second port;
said set top box being connected to the internet or mobile telephone network or a local area network and being configured to connect to a remote user device over the internet or mobile telephone network or a local area network;
wherein said set top box includes a memory and is configurable by the user to cause said received video content to be stored in said memory for subsequent display in response to a user input;
wherein one or more templates are stored in the memory;
wherein said set top box is configured to cause at least some of the templates to be displayed on the remote user device connected to the set top box over the internet or mobile telephone network or a local area network; and
wherein said at least some of said templates are configured to present information to the user for monitoring operation of the in-home system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Provided is a method of receiving digital television programming content from a television service provider, receiving a first user input of a selected digital television programming content, receiving a message from a system, in response to receiving the message, causing a notification to be displayed on the television as an overlay over the displayed television programming content, receiving a first user command, determining a first control message to transmit to the system in response to receiving the first user command, transmitting the first control message. Also provided is a system including a video camera, an entry way security system, an HVAC system, a lighting system, an alarm system, or other system. User inputs may be received via a remote control to a set top box or from a computing device at a remote computer system through the internet and/or a mobile telephone network.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A system for providing communications with an in-home system at a residence of a user, comprising:
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a set top box having a first communication port configured to receive digital television programming content; said set top box being responsive to a user input to tune to a selected digital television programming content; said set top box having a second port configured to be connected to a television; said set top box having a third port configured to transmit data to, and receive data from, an in-home system that includes a video camera; wherein said set top box is configured to received video content from the video camera and is configurable by the user to cause said video content to be displayed on a television connected to said second port; said set top box being connected to the internet or mobile telephone network or a local area network and being configured to connect to a remote user device over the internet or mobile telephone network or a local area network; wherein said set top box includes a memory and is configurable by the user to cause said received video content to be stored in said memory for subsequent display in response to a user input; wherein one or more templates are stored in the memory; wherein said set top box is configured to cause at least some of the templates to be displayed on the remote user device connected to the set top box over the internet or mobile telephone network or a local area network; and wherein said at least some of said templates are configured to present information to the user for monitoring operation of the in-home system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A set top box for providing communications with an in-home system at a residence of a user, comprising:
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a first port configured to receive digital television programming content; said set top box being responsive to a user input to tune to a selected digital television programming content; a second port configured to be connected to a television; a third port configured to transmit data to, and receive data from, an in-home system; a memory; wherein said set top box being connected to the internet or mobile telephone network and being configured to connect to a remote user device over the internet or mobile telephone network; wherein said memory stores one or more user commands available to the user for controlling the in-home system; wherein said memory stores one or more messages recognizable by the in-home system; wherein at least one message is associated in said memory with each of the one or more user commands; and wherein said set top box is configured to receive a first user command from the remote user device, to select at least one message associated with the first user command, and to transmit via the third port the selected at least one message to the in-home system. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of using a set top box to provide communications with an in-home system at a residence of a user, comprising:
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receiving digital television programming content from a television service provider; receiving a first user input of a selected digital television programming content; in response to receiving the first user input, causing the selected digital television programming content to be displayed on a television; receiving a message from an in-home system; wherein said set top box being connected to the internet or mobile telephone network and being configured to connect to a remote user device over the internet or mobile telephone network; in response to receiving the message, causing a notification to be displayed on the remote user device; receiving a first user command; determining a first control message to transmit to the in-home system in response to receiving the first user command; and transmitting the first control message to the in-home system, wherein the in-home system comprises one of the group of;
a video camera, an entry way security system, and an air conditioning system, wherein said displaying a notification, said receiving a first user command, said determining a first control message to transmit, and said transmitting the first control message are performed by the set top box located at the residence of the user. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification