Doorbell communication systems and methods

• US 9,094,584 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2014
• Issued: 07/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SkyBell Technologies Ip, LLC
• Original Assignee: Skybell Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Scalisi, Joseph Frank, Harrison, Gregory Saul, Mejia, Desiree, Thomas, Andrew Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Rao, Andy
• Assistant Examiner(s): WALKER, JARED T
• Application Number:
  US14/502,601
• Publication Number:
  US 20150049191A1
• Time in Patent Office: 301 Days
• Field of Search: 348/143
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19684 Portable terminal, e.g. mobile phone, used for viewing video remotely
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/1016 using wireless transmission calling systems using transmission by inductive loop H04B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0291 Door telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72418 for supporting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/00 Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/025 Door telephones adapted for television H04N7/186
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/186 Video door telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253

Abstract

Methods can include using a doorbell to wirelessly communicate with a remotely located computing device. Doorbells can include a speaker, a microphone, and a camera. Some embodiments include entering a network connection mode to connect the doorbell to a first wireless network. The remotely located computing device can create a second wireless network to facilitate connecting the doorbell to the first wireless network.

Claims

1. A method for using a doorbell that is configurable to wirelessly communicate with a remotely located computing device, the method comprising:

detecting a first wireless network;

creating a second wireless network between the doorbell and the remotely located computing device, wherein the doorbell and the remotely located computing device directly communicate via the second wireless network; and

connecting the doorbell to the first wireless network to which the remotely located computing device is connected such that the doorbell can send an alert regarding a presence of a visitor to the remotely located computing device via the first wireless network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a first indication of the visitor, wherein the first wireless network comprises a first name and a first password;

transmitting the first password of the first wireless network directly from the remotely located computing device to the doorbell via the second wireless network to enable the doorbell to communicate with the remotely located computing device via the first wireless network; and

directly communicating with the remotely located computing device via the second wireless network prior to the doorbell indirectly communicating with the remotely located computing device via the first wireless network.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a proximity indication of the remotely located computing device;

determining if the proximity indication meets a predetermined proximity threshold such that the proximity indication indicates that the remotely located computing device is sufficiently close to the doorbell; and

connecting the doorbell to the second wireless network in response to the proximity indication meeting the predetermined proximity threshold.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the second wireless network comprises a signal quality, and wherein the proximity indication comprises a measurement of the signal quality.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein determining if the proximity indication meets the predetermined proximity threshold comprises a signal to noise analysis of the second wireless network.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the proximity indication comprises a measurement of at least one of signal strength of the second wireless network, upload speed, and download speed, wherein the upload speed and the download speed are measured between the doorbell and the remotely located computing device.

10. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

transmitting the first password from the remotely located computing device to the doorbell;

transmitting data to the doorbell to enable the doorbell to realize that the remotely located computing device is configured to communicate with the doorbell; and

accepting the first password from the remotely located computing device in response to the doorbell receiving the data from the remotely located computing device.

11. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

detecting the second wireless network, wherein the second wireless network does not have a second password such that the second wireless network is configured to enable the doorbell to connect to the second wireless network without the second password; and

connecting the doorbell to the second wireless network prior to connecting the doorbell to the first wireless network in response to the second wireless network being configured to enable the doorbell to connect to the second wireless network without the second password.

12. The method of claim 2, further comprising prompting a user of the remotely located computing device to enter the first password of the first wireless network into the remotely located computing device, and then transmitting the first password of the first wireless network directly from the remotely located computing device to the doorbell via the second wireless network, and then using the first password to enable indirect communication between the doorbell and the remotely located computing device via the first wireless network.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting multiple wireless networks, wherein the multiple wireless networks comprise the first wireless network, the method further comprising the doorbell selecting the first wireless network from the multiple wireless networks in response to the remotely located computing device being connected to the first wireless network to enable the doorbell to connect to the first wireless network to which the remotely located computing device is connected.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising detecting that the remotely located computing device is connected to the first wireless network and then selecting the first wireless network from the multiple wireless networks in response to the doorbell detecting that the remotely located computing device is connected to the first wireless network.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the doorbell detects that the remotely located computing device is connected to the first wireless network based on data sent from the remotely located computing device to the doorbell via the second wireless network.

16. The method of claim 2, further comprising detecting multiple wireless networks, wherein the multiple wireless networks comprise the first wireless network, the method further comprising the doorbell selecting the first wireless network from the multiple wireless networks in response to the remotely located computing device being configured to connect to the first wireless network.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the remotely located computing device is configured to connect to the first wireless network such that the remotely located computing device has the first password of the first wireless network and such that the remotely located computing device is arranged to connect to the first wireless network when the remotely located computing device is located with a wireless range of the first wireless network.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising the doorbell automatically connecting to the first wireless network in response to detecting that the remotely located computing device is connected to the first wireless network and in response to receiving the first password from the remotely located computing device.

3. A method for using a doorbell that is configurable to wirelessly communicate with a remotely located computing device, wherein the doorbell has a button, the method comprising:

entering a network connection mode in response to pressing the button for at least a predetermined amount of time;

detecting a first wireless network, wherein the first wireless network comprises a first name and a first password;

inputting a doorbell identification code into the remotely located computing device to verify whether the remotely located computing device is authorized to communicate with the doorbell; and

transmitting the name and the password of the first wireless network from the remotely located computing device to the doorbell.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising creating a second wireless network between the doorbell and the remotely located computing device, wherein the doorbell and the remotely located computing device directly communicate via the second wireless network, wherein the network connection mode comprises at least one of the doorbell and the remotely located computing device creating the second wireless network.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising directly communicating with the remotely located computing device via the second wireless network prior to the doorbell indirectly communicating with the remotely located computing device via the first wireless network.

19. The method of claim 4, wherein a doorbell system comprises the doorbell and a remotely located computer that is connected to an Internet, the method further comprising connecting the doorbell to the first wireless network using the first password of the first wireless network transmitted from the remotely located computing device to the doorbell via the second wireless network created by the remotely located computing device, and then at least a portion of the doorbell system preventing the doorbell from connecting to a third wireless network in response to the doorbell previously being configured to connect to the first wireless network, and then the remotely located computer enabling the doorbell to connect to the third wireless network.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the doorbell system prevents the doorbell from connecting to the third wireless network by placing the doorbell in a connection lock mode that prevents the doorbell from connecting to a new wireless network, and wherein the remotely located computer enables the doorbell to enter a connection unlock mode that is configured such that the doorbell can connect to the new wireless network.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein when the doorbell is stolen, the connection lock mode is configured to prevent the doorbell from connecting to the new wireless network without intervention by the remotely located computer, wherein the remotely located computer is configured to enable the doorbell to enter the connection unlock mode in response to input from a remotely located administrator.

22. The method of claim 4, further comprising entering the network connection mode in response to the doorbell detecting electricity from an external power source.

23. The method of claim 4, wherein the doorbell comprises a battery, the method further comprising coupling the doorbell to an external power source, then charging the battery with the external power source, and then entering the network connection mode in response to at least partially charging the battery.

24. The method of claim 4, further comprising connecting the remotely located computing device to the first wireless network, and then at least one of the doorbell and the remotely located computing device creating the second wireless network, and then placing the doorbell and the remotely located computing device in direct wireless communication via the second wireless network, and then connecting the doorbell to the first wireless network with the second wireless network, and connecting the doorbell to the first wireless network in response to the remotely located computing device having been connected to the first wireless network prior to the doorbell being connected to the first wireless network, and then receiving a wireless notification with the remotely located computing device via the first wireless network.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising performing the following after the remotely located computing device is connected to the first wireless network and before the doorbell is connected to the first wireless network:

entering the first password into the remotely located computing device while the remotely located computing device already has the first password; and

then

sending the first password from the remotely located computing device to the doorbell via the second wireless network.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising detecting a first indication and a second indication of a visitor, and further comprising receiving the wireless notification with the remotely located computing device in response to detecting both the first indication and the second indication.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein detecting the first indication comprises detecting a signal indicative of the visitor above a first threshold, and detecting the second indication comprises detecting the signal indicative of the visitor above a second threshold, wherein the second threshold is greater than the first threshold, and wherein the doorbell comprises a first sensor, and the signal indicative of the visitor is sensed by the first sensor of the doorbell.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the doorbell comprises a first sensor and a second sensor, and wherein the first indication is detected with the first sensor and the second indication is detected with the second sensor, wherein the first sensor is a different type of sensor than the second sensor.

29. The method of claim 4,

wherein while the remotely located computing device and the doorbell are located within a connection range of a third wireless network, automatically selecting, by the remote computing device, the first wireless network rather than the third wireless network for future doorbell wireless communication in response to the remotely located computing device being connected to the first wireless network, and

then connecting the doorbell to the first wireless network due at least in part to selecting the first wireless network for the future doorbell wireless communication, wherein the future doorbell wireless communication comprises the doorbell indirectly communicating with the remotely located computing device via the first wireless network to send a wireless notification regarding the visitor.