Providing Status Information for Secondary Devices with Video Footage from Audio/Video Recording and Communication Devices

• US 20170280112A1
• Filed: 05/05/2017
• Published: 09/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: A9.com Incorporated (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bot Home Automation Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Siminoff, James
• Granted Patent: US 10,397,528 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/143 Sensing or illuminating at different wavelengths
• 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 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19684 Portable terminal, e.g. mobile phone, used for viewing video remotely
• 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 27/003 Signalling to neighbouring houses
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 25/57 for processing of video signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/91 Television signal processing therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/186 Video door telephones

Abstract

Systems and methods for communicating in a network using share signals in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure are provided. In one embodiment, a method for communicating in a network may include receiving, from a first client device, a share signal including image data captured by a camera of a first audio/video (A/V) recording and communication device; transmitting, to a second A/V recording and communication device, a secondary device state request signal; receiving, from the second A/V recording and communication device a secondary device update signal that includes a status of the at least one secondary device in network communication with the second A/V recording and communication device; and generating and transmitting an alert to a second client device associated with the second A/V recording and communication device, wherein the alert includes the image data and the status of the at least one secondary device.

Claims

1. An audio/video (A/V) recording and communication device comprising:

a camera configured to capture image data;

a communication module; and

a processing module operatively connected to the camera and the communication module, wherein the processing module is in network communication with at least one secondary device via the communication module, the processing module comprising;

a processor; and

a device status check application, wherein the device status check application configures the processor to;

receive a secondary device state request signal from a backend server via the communication module, wherein the backend server is in network communication with the A/V recording and communication device;

check a status of the at least one secondary device in network communication with the processing module;

generate a secondary device status update signal, wherein the secondary device status update signal provides the status of the at least one secondary device based on the checked status; and

transmit the secondary device status update signal to the backend server using the communication module.

2. The A/V recording and communication device of claim 1, wherein the device status check application further configures the processor to check the status of the at least one secondary device by transmitting a check status request signal to the at least one secondary device and receiving a check status update signal from the least one secondary device, wherein the check status update signal provides the status of the least one secondary device.

3. The A/V recording and communication device of claim 2, wherein the device status check application further configures the processor to transmit a command signal to the at least one secondary device to change the status from a first status to a second status.

4. The A/V recording and communication device of claim 1, wherein the at least one secondary device includes a smart door lock.

5. The A/V recording and communication device of claim 4, wherein the secondary device update signal includes either an indication that the smart door lock is locked or an indication that the smart door lock is unlocked.

6. The A/V recording and communication device of claim 1, wherein the at least one secondary device includes a security system.

7. The A/V recording and communication device of claim 6, wherein the secondary device update signal includes either an indication that the security system is armed or an indication that the security system is disarmed.

8. The A/V recording and communication device of claim 1, wherein the at least one secondary device includes a lighting system.

9. The A/V recording and communication device of claim 8, wherein the secondary device update signal includes either an indication that the lighting system is on or an indication that the lighting system is off.

10. The A/V recording and communication device of claim 1, wherein the device status check application further configures the processor to check the status of the at least one secondary device by:

transmitting an acknowledgement request signal to the at least one secondary device;

waiting a predetermined time-out period for an acknowledgment update signal from the at least one secondary device; and

determining that the at least one secondary device is on when the acknowledgment update signal is received within the predetermined time-out period or that the at least one secondary device is off when the acknowledgment update signal is not received within the predetermined time-out period.

11. The A/V recording and communication device of claim 10, wherein the device status check application further configures the processor to transmit, upon determining that the at least one secondary device is off, a command signal that configures the at least one secondary device to change the status to on.

12. The A/V recording and communication device of claim 10, wherein the device status check application further configures the processor to transmit, upon determining that the at least one secondary device is on, a command signal that configures the at least one secondary device to change the status to off

13. A method for an audio/video (A/V) recording and communication device comprising a camera, a communication module, and a processing module operatively connected to the camera and to the communication module and in network communication with at least one secondary device, the method comprising:

receiving a secondary device state request signal from a backend server via the communication module, wherein the backend server is in network communication with the A/V recording and communication device;

checking a status of the at least one secondary device in network communication with the processing module;

generating a secondary device status update signal, wherein the secondary device status update signal provides the status of the at least one secondary device based on the checked status; and

transmitting the secondary device status update signal to the backend server using the communication module.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising checking the status of the at least one secondary device by transmitting a check status request signal to the at least one secondary device and receiving a check status update signal from the least one secondary device, wherein the check status update signal provides the status of the least one secondary device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising transmitting a command signal, using the communication module, to the at least one secondary device to change the status from a first status to a second status.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one secondary device includes a smart door lock.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the secondary device update signal includes either an indication that the smart door lock is locked or an indication that the smart door lock is unlocked.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one secondary device includes a security system.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the secondary device update signal includes either an indication that the security system is armed or an indication that the security system is disarmed.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one secondary device includes a lighting system.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the secondary device update signal includes either an indication that the lighting system is on or an indication that the lighting system is off

22. The method of claim 13, further comprising checking the status of the at least one secondary device by:

transmitting an acknowledgement request signal to the at least one secondary device;

waiting a predetermined time-out period for an acknowledgment update signal from the at least one secondary device; and

determining that the at least one secondary device is on when the acknowledgment update signal is received within the predetermined time-out period or that the at least one secondary device is off when the acknowledgment update signal is not received within the predetermined time-out period.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising transmitting, upon determining that the at least one secondary device is off, a command signal that configures the at least one secondary device to change the status to on.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising transmitting, upon determining that the at least one secondary device is on, a command signal that configures the at least one secondary device to change the status to off

25. A backend server for audio/video (A/V) recording and communication devices, the server comprising:

a network interface; and

a processing module operatively connected to the network interface, wherein the processing module is in network communication with a first client device associated with a first A/V recording and communication device and a second client device associated with a second A/V recording and communication device wherein the second A/V recording and communication device is in network communication with at least one secondary device, the processing module comprising;

a processor; and

a server application, wherein the server application configures the processor to;

receive, from the first client device, a share signal including image data captured by a camera of the first A/V recording and communication device associated with the first client device, the share signal including a command to share the image data with a network of users;

transmit to the second A/V recording and communication device a secondary device state request signal using the network interface;

receive from the second A/V recording and communication device a secondary device update signal, wherein the secondary device update signal includes a status of the at least one secondary device in network communication with the second A/V recording and communication device; and

generate an alert and transmit the alert to the second client device associated with the second A/V recording and communication device, wherein the alert includes the image data and the status of the at least one secondary device.

26. The backend server of claim 25, wherein the share signal further includes audio data captured by a microphone of the first A/V recording and communication device associated with the first client device.

27. The backend server of claim 25, wherein the share signal further includes text data that describes the image data.

28. The backend server of claim 25, wherein the at least one secondary device includes a smart door lock.

29. The backend server of claim 28, wherein the secondary device update signal includes either an indication that the smart door lock is locked or an indication that the smart door lock is unlocked.

30. The backend server of claim 25, wherein the at least one secondary device includes a security system.

31. The backend server of claim 30, wherein the secondary device update signal includes either an indication that the security system is armed or an indication that the security system is disarmed.

32. The backend server of claim 25, wherein the at least one secondary device includes a lighting system.

33. The backend server of claim 32, wherein the secondary device update signal includes either an indication that the lighting system is on or an indication that the lighting system is off.

34. A method for communicating in a network, the method comprising:

receiving, from a first client device, at a backend server in network communication with the first client device, a share signal including image data captured by a camera of a first audio/video (A/V) recording and communication device associated with the first client device, the share signal including a command to share the image data with a network of users;

transmitting, to a second A/V recording and communication device, by the backed server in network communication with the second A/V recording and communication device, a secondary device state request signal using the network interface;

receiving, from the second A/V recording and communication device a secondary device update signal, wherein the secondary device update signal includes a status of the at least one secondary device in network communication with the second A/V recording and communication device; and

generating an alert and transmitting the alert to a second client device associated with the second A/V recording and communication device, wherein the alert includes the image data and the status of the at least one secondary device.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the share signal further includes audio data captured by a microphone of the first A/V recording and communication device associated with the first client device.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the share signal further includes text data that describes the image data.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein the at least one secondary device includes a smart door lock.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the secondary device update signal includes either an indication that the smart door lock is locked or an indication that the smart door lock is unlocked.

39. The method of claim 34, wherein the at least one secondary device includes a security system.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the secondary device update signal includes either an indication that the security system is armed or an indication that the security system is disarmed.

41. The method of claim 34, wherein the at least one secondary device includes a lighting system.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the secondary device update signal includes either an indication that the lighting system is on or an indication that the lighting system is off.

43. A backend server for smart home devices, the server comprising:

a network interface; and

a processing module operatively connected to the network interface, wherein the processing module is in network communication with a first client device associated with an A/V recording and communication device and a second client device associated with a smart-home hub device, wherein the smart-home hub device is in network communication with at least one secondary device, the processing module comprising;

a processor; and

a server application, wherein the server application configures the processor to;

receive, from the first client device, a share signal including image data captured by a camera of the A/V recording and communication device associated with the first client device, the share signal including a command to share the image data with a network of users;

transmit to the smart-home hub device a secondary device state request signal using the network interface;

receive from the smart-home hub device a secondary device update signal, wherein the secondary device update signal includes a status of the at least one secondary device in network communication with the smart-home hub device; and

generate an alert and transmit the alert to the second client device associated with the smart-home hub device, wherein the alert includes the image data and the status of the at least one secondary device.

44. The backend server of claim 43, wherein the share signal further includes audio data captured by a microphone of the A/V recording and communication device associated with the first client device.

45. The backend server of claim 43, wherein the share signal further includes text data that describes the image data.

46. The backend server of claim 43, wherein the at least one secondary device includes a smart door lock.

47. The backend server of claim 46, wherein the secondary device update signal includes either an indication that the smart door lock is locked or an indication that the smart door lock is unlocked.

48. The backend server of claim 43, wherein the at least one secondary device includes a security system.

49. The backend server of claim 48, wherein the secondary device update signal includes either an indication that the security system is armed or an indication that the security system is disarmed.

50. The backend server of claim 43, wherein the at least one secondary device includes a lighting system.

51. The backend server of claim 50, wherein the secondary device update signal includes either an indication that the lighting system is on or an indication that the lighting system is off.

52. A method for communicating in a network, the method comprising:

receiving, from a first client device, at a backend server in network communication with the first client device, a share signal including image data captured by a camera of an audio/video (A/V) recording and communication device associated with the first client device, the share signal including a command to share the image data with a network of users;

transmitting, to a smart-home hub device, by the backed server in network communication with the smart-home hub device, a secondary device state request signal using the network interface;

receiving, from the smart-home hub device a secondary device update signal, wherein the secondary device update signal includes a status of the at least one secondary device in network communication with the smart-home hub device; and

generating an alert and transmitting the alert to a second client device associated with the smart-home hub device, wherein the alert includes the image data and the status of the at least one secondary device.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the share signal further includes audio data captured by a microphone of the A/V recording and communication device associated with the first client device.

54. The method of claim 52, wherein the share signal further includes text data that describes the image data.

55. The method of claim 52, wherein the at least one secondary device includes a smart door lock.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein the secondary device update signal includes either an indication that the smart door lock is locked or an indication that the smart door lock is unlocked.

57. The method of claim 52, wherein the at least one secondary device includes a security system.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the secondary device update signal includes either an indication that the security system is armed or an indication that the security system is disarmed.

59. The method of claim 52, wherein the at least one secondary device includes a lighting system.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the secondary device update signal includes either an indication that the lighting system is on or an indication that the lighting system is off.