Camera data access based on subscription status

• US 10,768,644 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2019
• Issued: 09/08/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Karp, Igor, Stesin, Lev
• Primary Examiner(s): Mudrick, Timothy A
• Application Number:
  US16/291,843
• Publication Number:
  US 20190208250A1
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 719328
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/04 involving the use of models or simulators
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1904 variable in time
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/005 Input arrangements through a video camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/541 via adapters, e.g. between incompatible applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/546 Message passing systems or structures, e.g. queues
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1672 using sonic detecting means, e.g. a microphone operating in the audio frequency range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19602 Image analysis to detect motion of the intruder, e.g. by frame subtraction
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/10 Actuation by presence of smoke or gases , e.g. automatic alarm devices for analysing flowing fluid materials by the use of optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2816 Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2829 involving user profiles according to which the execution of a home appliance functionality is automatically triggered
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/04 for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 : involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 : Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 : using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 : Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 : Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 : Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/231 : Content storage operation, e.g. caching movies for short term storage, replicating data over plural servers, prioritizing data for deletion
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25816 : involving client authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2743 : Video hosting of uploaded data from client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 : Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4431 : characterized by the use of Application Program Interface [API] libraries
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/64 : Computer-aided capture of images, e.g. transfer from script file into camera, check of taken image quality, advice or proposal for image composition or decision on when to take image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 : Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6811 : based on the image signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/186 : Video door telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/033 : of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

In embodiments of camera data access based on subscription status, a camera device captures and communicates video to a server device that receives the video, and records and maintains the video as remotely recorded video. An application implemented by a client computing device provides all access, some access, or no access to the remotely recorded video at the server device based on a subscription level corresponding to the camera device. The server device manages subscription levels associated with the user of the camera device, the subscription levels each delineating a level of access to the remotely recorded video. A first subscription level provides access to the live video captured by the camera device, and at least a second subscription level provides access to both the live video and the remotely recorded video at the server device.

Claims

1. A cloud-based service, comprising:

a server system configured to receive data from an electronic device associated with a user, the server system further configured to record and maintain the data as recorded data; and

a security service application executable by a processor of the server system and configured to;

manage subscription levels associated with the user of the electronic device, the subscription levels each delineating a level of access to the recorded data received from the electronic device; and

allow a client device security application that is associated with the user all access, some access, or no access to the recorded data based on a subscription level corresponding to the electronic device, and via an application programming interface (API) of the cloud-based service.

2. The cloud-based service as recited in claim 1, wherein the subscription levels comprise at least a first subscription level that provides access to the data as captured live by the electronic device, and a second subscription level that provides access to both the data as captured live by the electronic device and the recorded data related to one or more events related to the electronic device.

3. The cloud-based service as recited in claim 2, wherein the events related to the electronic device include motion events, noise events, or both.

4. The cloud-based service as recited in claim 3, wherein the electronic device is a camera device, wherein the recorded data is recorded video data from the camera device, and wherein the motion events or the noise events are reported by the security service application as cue points in the recorded video data.

5. The cloud-based service as recited in claim 2, wherein the electronic device is installed in a structure, wherein a mesh network comprising smart-home devices is installed in the structure, and wherein the security service application executable by the processor of the server system is configured to:

allow the client device security application that is associated with the user all access, some access, or no access to the recorded data based on a subscription level corresponding to an event detected by a smart-home device.

6. The cloud-based service as recited in claim 5, wherein the smart-home device is a door lock, and wherein the event is the door lock being unlocked.

7. The cloud-based service as recited in claim 5, wherein the smart-home device is a garage door opener, and wherein the event is the garage door opening.

8. The cloud-based service as recited in claim 5, wherein the smart-home device is a doorbell, and wherein the event is the doorbell ringing.

9. The cloud-based service as recited in claim 5, wherein the smart-home device is a baby monitor, and wherein the event is a detected sound or a detected motion of a baby.

10. The cloud-based service as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic device is installed in a structure, and wherein the security service application executable by the processor of the server system and is configured to:

based on a motion event or a noise event detected by the electronic device, initiate communication with a lighting fixture in the structure, the communication being effective to direct the lighting fixture to turn a light on or turn a light off.

11. The cloud-based service as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a camera device, and wherein the security service application executable by the processor of the server system is configured to:

based on a motion event or a noise event, communicate one or more captured images from the camera device to a television device, a mobile device, or a wearable device.

12. The cloud-based service as recited in claim 1, wherein the security service application executable by the processor of the server system is configured to:

based on a motion event or a noise event related to animal activity, allow the client device security application all access, some access, or no access to the recorded data related to the animal activity.

13. A monitoring system, comprising:

an electronic device owned by a user, the electronic device configured to capture data and communicate the data to a cloud-based service that records and maintains the data as recorded data; and

a subscription program managed at the cloud-based service, the subscription program including subscription levels associated with the user of the electronic device, the subscription levels related to the electronic device, each delineating a level of access to the recorded data associated with the electronic device, the subscription levels comprising at least a first subscription level that allows access, via an application programming interface (API) of the cloud-based service, to the data as captured live by the electronic device, and a second subscription level that allows access to both the data as captured live by the electronic device and the recorded data related to one or more events related to the electronic device.

14. The monitoring system of claim 13, wherein the events related to the electronic device include motion events, noise events, or both.

15. The monitoring system of claim 14, wherein the electronic device is a camera device, wherein the recorded data is recorded video data from the camera device, and wherein the motion events or the noise events are reported as cue points in the recorded video data.

16. The monitoring system of claim 13, wherein the electronic device is installed in a structure, wherein a mesh network comprising smart-home devices is installed in the structure, and wherein the subscription program is configured to:

allow a client device application that is associated with the user all access, some access, or no access to the recorded data based on a subscription level corresponding to an event detected by a smart-home device.

17. The monitoring system of claim 16, wherein the smart-home device is a door lock, and wherein the event is the door lock being unlocked.

18. The monitoring system of claim 16, wherein the smart-home device is a doorbell, and wherein the event is the doorbell ringing.

19. The monitoring system of claim 16, wherein the smart-home device is a garage door opener, and wherein the event is the garage door opening.

20. The monitoring system of claim 16, wherein the electronic device is installed in a structure, and wherein the subscription program is configured to:

based on a motion event or a noise event detected by the electronic device, initiate communication with a lighting fixture in the structure, the communication being effective to direct the lighting fixture to turn a light on or turn a light off.