System and method to monitor a person in a residence using a video camera

• US 9,788,057 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2015
• Issued: 10/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Belz, Steven, Pratt, James, Van Vleck, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Application Number:
  US14/947,137
• Publication Number:
  US 20160088350A1
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 3405731, 3405391-53915, 340540, 340500, 702182, 348143-159, 725133, 725141, 725153
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0423 detecting deviation from an expected pattern of behaviour or schedule
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0476 Cameras to detect unsafe condition, e.g. video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0492 Sensor dual technology, i.e. two or more technologies collaborate to extract unsafe condition, e.g. video tracking and RFID tracking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44218 Detecting physical presence or behaviour of the user, e.g. using sensors to detect if the user is leaving the room or changes his face expression during a TV program methods or arrangements for recognising human body or animal bodies or body parts G06V40/10; methods or arrangements for acquiring or recognising human faces, facial parts, facial sketches, facial expressions G06V40/16; methods or arrangements for recognising movements or behaviour G06V40/20; arrangements for identifying users in broadcast systems H04H60/45

Abstract

A method includes receiving, at a device configured to receive media content from equipment of a service provider, an activation request from a monitoring service. The activation request is associated with activation of a video camera coupled to the device. The activation request is received based on satisfaction of an alert condition. The method also includes activating the video camera based on data responsive to a prompt. The prompt is presented by the device in response to reception of the activation request.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory accessible to the processor, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to perform operations including;

determining whether an alert condition is satisfied based on first data received from a device, the device configured to receive media content from equipment of a service provider; and

sending an activation request to the device in response to satisfaction of the alert condition, wherein the activation request enables the device to initiate a prompt, and wherein the activation request is associated with activation of a video camera coupled to the device, the activation based on second data responsive to the prompt.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the prompt is presented at an output device coupled to the device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory further comprises a profile associated with the device, and wherein the operations further include determining whether the alert condition is satisfied based on the profile.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first data includes location information, the location information indicating a location of a monitoring device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first data received from the device includes a time stamp associated with the location information.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first data received from the device includes biological information from a biosensor, the biosensor coupled to an entity being monitored.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further include:

determining whether the second data is associated with an unsatisfactory input received via the device; and

sending a notification to a third party when the second data is associated with the unsatisfactory input.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further include:

determining whether the second data was received via the device during a response time period; and

sending a notification to a third party when the second data was not received during the response time period.

9. A method comprising:

receiving, at a device configured to receive media content from equipment of a service provider, an activation request from a monitoring service, the activation request associated with activation of a video camera coupled to the device, wherein the activation request is received based on satisfaction of an alert condition; and

activating the video camera based on data responsive to a prompt, wherein the prompt is presented by the device in response to reception of the activation request.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising presenting the prompt at an output device coupled to the device.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining whether the data includes a correct code; and

blocking activation of the video camera when the data includes the correct code.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving an input from a location system associated with the device, wherein the location system is operable to identify a location of a monitoring device; and

prior to receiving the activation request, sending location data based on the input to a monitoring service device associated with a monitoring service.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein a location system associated with the device includes a radio frequency identification emitter configured to be coupled to an entity to be monitored.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the location system includes a plurality of radio frequency identification detectors associated with the device.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a first input from a location system associated with the device, wherein the first input identifies a first location of a monitoring device at a first time;

receiving a second input from the location system, wherein the second input identifies a second location of the monitoring device at a second time, the second time subsequent to the first time; and

sending first data to a monitoring service device associated with a monitoring service, wherein the first data is based on the first input and the second input.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

determining whether the first location matches the second location based on the first input and the second input; and

sending second data to the monitoring service device, wherein the second data includes an indication of whether the first location matches the second location.

17. A computer-readable hardware storage device storing instructions executable by a processor to cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

determining whether an alert conditions is satisfied based on first data received from a device, wherein the device is configured to receive media content from equipment of a service provider; and

sending, to the device, an activation request in response to satisfaction of the alert condition, wherein the activation request enables the device to initiate a prompt, and wherein the activation request is associated with activation of a video camera coupled to the device, the activation based on second data responsive to the prompt.

18. The computer-readable hardware storage device of claim 17, wherein the alert condition is associated with a location of an entity being monitored, a change in a movement pattern of the entity, a deviation from an anticipated movement pattern of the entity, a lack of movement of the entity, biological data associated with the entity, or a combination thereof.

19. The computer-readable hardware storage device of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise comparing the first data to information associated with the alert condition.

20. The computer-readable hardware storage device of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise sending a signal to the device to enable an adjustment of the video camera.