Power outlet cameras

• US 9,997,036 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2017
• Issued: 06/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SkyBell Technologies Ip, LLC
• Original Assignee: Skybell Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Scalisi, Joseph Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Walker, Jared T
• Application Number:
  US15/615,818
• Publication Number:
  US 20170280109A1
• Time in Patent Office: 371 Days
• Field of Search: 348143
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/52 Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19619 Details of casing
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19667 Details realated to data compression, encryption or encoding, e.g. resolution modes for reducing data volume to lower transmission bandwidth or memory requirements
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19682 Graphic User Interface [GUI] presenting system data to the user, e.g. information on a screen helping a user interacting with an alarm system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19684 Portable terminal, e.g. mobile phone, used for viewing video remotely
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19695 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19697 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors generate an alarm themselves
• 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 25/12 Manually actuated calamity alarm transmitting arrangements emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm, activators, e.g. details of alarm push buttons mounted on an infrastructure
• 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 12/4625 Single bridge functionality, e.g. connection of two networks over a single bridge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/025 : Door telephones adapted for television H04N7/186
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 : with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 : Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 : Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 : Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/611 : where the recognised objects include parts of the human body
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/65 : Control of camera operation in relation to power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 : Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/667 : Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/69 : Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 : for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/144 : Movement detection for video coding H04N19/503; analysis of motion in general G06T7/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/186 : Video door telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 : associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/003 : Digital PA systems using, e.g. LAN or internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/005 : Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/00 : Monitoring arrangements; Testing arrangements for hearing aids H04R25/30; detection of loudspeaker connection H04R5/04; sound-field adaptation dependent on speaker detection H04S7/308

Abstract

A security system can can be configured to mount to a power outlet. The security system can include a detection system comprising a camera, motion detector, speaker, microphone, and a pair of electrical prongs arranged and configured to protrude into the power outlet to receive power for the detection system. The security system can also include a remote computing device communicatively coupled to the detection system.

Claims

1. A security system configured to mount to a power outlet, the security system comprising:

a detection system comprising a camera, motion detector, speaker, microphone, and a pair of electrical prongs configured to receive power from the power outlet; and

a remote computing device communicatively coupled to the detection system, the remote computing device remotely located with respect to the detection system,

wherein the security system is arranged and configured to detect a location of a last movement and display the location of the last movement on the remote computing device, and

wherein the security system is arranged and configured to send a first alert to the remote computing device in response to the motion detector detecting no motion during a first predetermined time of day, and

wherein the security system is arranged and configured to refrain from sending a second alert to the remote computing device in response to the motion detector detecting no motion during a second predetermined time of day that is different from the first predetermined time of day.

2. The security system of claim 1, wherein the security system is arranged and configured to send the first alert to the remote computing device in response to the motion detector detecting no motion for at least a predetermined amount of time.

3. The security system of claim 1, wherein the security system is arranged and configured to refrain from sending a third alert to the remote computing device in response to the motion detector detecting no motion during a third predetermined time of day that is different from the first and second predetermined times of day.

4. The security system of claim 1, wherein the detection system further comprises a button that when pressed initiates a communication session with the remote computing device.

5. The security system of claim 4, wherein when the button is pressed the camera captures an image of an area adjacent the detection system, and wherein the security system sends an image file to the remote computing device whereby the image file represents the image captured by the camera.

6. The security system of claim 4, wherein when the button is pressed the microphone records an audible sound from an area adjacent the detection system, and wherein the security system sends an audio file to the remote computing device whereby the audio file represents the audible sound captured by the microphone.

7. The security system of claim 1, wherein the security system is arranged and configured to emit a prerecorded message from the speaker in response to the motion detector detecting no motion for at least a predetermined amount of time.

8. A method of detecting a nonmotion event with a security system mounted to a power outlet, the security system comprising a detection system including a camera, motion detector, speaker, microphone, and a pair of electrical prongs arranged and configured to protrude into the power outlet to receive power, and a remote computing device communicatively coupled to the detection system, the method comprising:

detecting, via the motion detector, the nonmotion event, wherein the nonmotion event comprises no detectable movement within a field of view of the motion detector;

initiating a communication session between the detection system and the remote computing device in response to detecting the nonmotion event;

detecting a location of a last movement and displaying the location of the last movement on the remote computing device;

sending a first alert to the remote computing device in response to the motion detector detecting no motion during a first predetermined time of day, and

refraining from sending a second alert to the remote computing device in response to the motion detector detecting no motion during a second predetermined time of day that is different from the first predetermined time of day.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining, via the security system, whether the nonmotion event has occurred for at least a predetermined amount of time; and

initiating the communication session between the detection system and the remote computing device in response to determining that the nonmotion event has occurred for at least the predetermined amount of time.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising emitting, via the speaker, a prerecorded message in response to the motion detector detecting the nonmotion event for at least the predetermined amount of time.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

detecting, via the microphone, an audible sound; and

initiating the communication session between the detection system and the remote computing device in response to detecting the audible sound.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the audible sound comprises a response to the prerecorded message.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining, via the security system, whether the nonmotion event has occurred during a first predetermined time of day; and

initiating the communication session between the detection system and the remote computing device in response to determining that the nonmotion event has occurred during the first predetermined time of day.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining, via the security system, whether the nonmotion event has occurred during a second predetermined time of day; and

not initiating a communication session between the detection system and the remote computing device in response to determining that the nonmotion event has occurred during a second predetermined time of day.

15. A method of detecting a nonmotion event with a security system mounted to a power outlet, the security system comprising a detection system including a camera, motion detector, speaker, microphone, a button, and a pair of electrical prongs arranged and configured to protrude into the power outlet to receive power, and a remote computing device communicatively coupled to the detection system, the method comprising:

determining, via the security system, that the button has been pressed;

initiating a communication session between the detection system and the remote computing device in response to determining that the button has been pressed;

detecting a location of a last movement and displaying the location of the last movement on the remote computing device;

sending a first alert to the remote computing device in response to the motion detector detecting no motion during a first predetermined time of day, and

refraining from sending a second alert to the remote computing device in response to the motion detector detecting no motion during a second predetermined time of day that is different from the first predetermined time of day.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

capturing, via the camera, an image of an area adjacent the detection system in response to determining that the button has been pressed; and

transmitting an image file to the remote computing device whereby the image file represents the image captured by the camera.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

recording, via the microphone, an audible sound from an area adjacent the detection system in response to determining that the button has been pressed; and

transmitting an audio file to the remote computing device whereby the audio file represents the audible sound captured by the microphone.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving, via the security system, an input from the remote computing device; and

initiating the communication session between the detection system and the remote computing device in response to receiving the input from the remote computing device.