Notification of image capture

• US 8,649,368 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2006
• Issued: 02/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Daniell, William Todd, Kent, Larry Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Hemant
• Application Number:
  US11/548,798
• Publication Number:
  US 20080075243A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,679 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.12, 379/88.13, 379/88.14, 379/88.17, 379/88.25, 379/208.01, 379/32.04, 379/194, 379/196, 379/197, 379/210.02, 379 37- 52, 379 671- 8828, 37910201-10802, 37916701-189, 379/201.01, 348/207.11, 348/208.1, 348/208.2, 348/211.1, 348/211.2, 348 1401- 1416, 455/556.2, 455/557, 455/404.1, 455/420, 455/556.1, 4554121-4262, 4555501-560, 4555751-5759, 455 901- 903, 4554561-466, 370259-271, 370351-357, 704270-278, 709201-207, 709217-248
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, systems, and devices of user notification. In this regard, one embodiment of such a method, among others, can be broadly summarized by the following: capturing an image in response to an event; relaying capturing of the image to a telephone device; and sending a message to a user at a remote location via the telephone device, the message notifying the user of the capturing of the image.

Claims

1. A method of notification comprising:

interfacing a home automation system with a home terminating telephone device;

receiving an incoming call to a called telephone number at the home terminating telephone device;

producing a single ring at the home terminating telephone device to announce the incoming call;

capturing an image in response to an event;

relaying the capturing of the image to the home terminating telephone device;

sending the image in an instant message from the home terminating telephone device over an Internet channel to an address associated with a remote user to notify of the event;

before the incoming call is answered at the home terminating telephone device, sending another instant message from the home terminating telephone device over the Internet channel to the address to notify the remote user of a calling number of the incoming call;

updating a log of calls stored in memory of the home terminating telephone device with call information;

receiving a reply instant message over the Internet channel at the home terminating telephone device, the reply instant message requesting the log of calls;

retrieving the log of calls from the memory of the home terminating telephone device; and

sending the log of calls from the home terminating telephone device over the Internet channel to the address associated with the remote user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising including a hyperlink in the instant message to the image.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the event comprises conversing on a handset of the home terminating telephone device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the event comprises detection of motion by a camera that captured the image.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a voice message from the home terminating telephone device over a public switched telephone network to inform of the image.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a voice message from the home terminating telephone device over the Internet channel to inform of the image.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising capturing the image by an application that controls operation of a camera in the home terminating telephone device.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising remotely capturing the image and communicating the image to the home terminating telephone device via a network connection.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising uploading captured images from the home terminating telephone device over the Internet channel to a network server.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising wirelessly communicating the image to the home terminating telephone device.

11. A non-transitory computer readable medium having a computer notification program, the program having instructions for performing a method, comprising:

interfacing a home automation system with a home terminating telephone device;

receiving an incoming call to a called telephone number at the home terminating telephone device;

producing a single ring at the home terminating telephone device to announce the incoming call;

capturing an image in response to an event;

relaying the capturing of the image to the home terminating telephone device;

sending the image in an instant message from the home terminating telephone device over an Internet channel to an address associated with a remote user to notify of the event;

before the incoming call is answered at the home terminating telephone device, sending another instant message from the home terminating telephone device over the Internet channel to the address to notify the remote user of a calling number of the incoming call;

updating a log of calls stored in memory of the home terminating telephone device with call information;

receiving a reply instant message over the Internet channel at the home terminating telephone device that requests the log of calls;

retrieving the log of calls from the memory; and

sending the log of calls over the Internet channel to the address associated with the remote user.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 11, further comprising instructions for including a hyperlink in the instant message to the image.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the event comprises conversing on a handset of the home terminating telephone device.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the event comprises detection of motion by a camera that captured the image.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 11, further comprising instructions for sending a voice message from the home terminating telephone device over a public switched telephone network to inform of the image.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 11, further comprising instructions for sending a voice message from the home terminating telephone device over the Internet channel to inform of the image.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 11, further comprising instructions for capturing the image by an application that controls operation of a camera in the home terminating telephone device.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17, further comprising instructions for remotely capturing the image and for communicating the image to the home terminating telephone device via a network connection.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18, further comprising instructions for uploading captured images from the home terminating telephone device to a network server.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 18, further comprising instructions for wirelessly communicating the image to the home terminating telephone device.

21. A system of notification comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing instructions that when executed cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

interfacing a home automation system with a home terminating telephone device;

receiving an incoming call to a called telephone number at the home terminating telephone device;

producing a single ring at the home terminating telephone device to announce the incoming call;

capturing an image in response to an event;

relaying the capturing of the image to the home terminating telephone device;

sending the image in an instant message from the home terminating telephone device over an Internet channel to an address associated with a remote user to notify of the event;

before the incoming call is answered at the home terminating telephone device, sending another instant message from the home terminating telephone device over the Internet channel to the address to notify the remote user of a calling number of the incoming call;

updating a log of calls stored in memory of the home terminating telephone device with call information;

receiving a reply instant message over the Internet channel at the home terminating telephone device that requests the log of calls;

retrieving the log of calls from the memory; and

sending the log of calls over the Internet channel to the address associated with the remote user.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the operations further comprise including a hyperlink in the message to the image.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the operations further comprise controlling operation of a camera in the home terminating telephone device.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the operations further comprise detecting motion by a camera in the home terminating telephone device that captured the image.