Doorbell communication systems and methods

• US 9,172,922 B1
• Filed: 06/18/2015
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SkyBell Technologies Ip, LLC
• Original Assignee: Skybell Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Kasmir, Seton Paul, Scalisi, Joseph Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Rao, Andy
• Assistant Examiner(s): WALKER, JARED T
• Application Number:
  US14/743,849
• Time in Patent Office: 131 Days
• Field of Search: 348/143
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 19/00 Alarms responsive to two or more different undesired or abnormal conditions, e.g. burglary and fire, abnormal temperature and abnormal rate of flow
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2827 Reporting to a device within the home network; wherein the reception of the information reported automatically triggers the execution of a home appliance functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/186 Video door telephones

Abstract

A doorbell system can include a remote computing device and a doorbell that has a camera. The doorbell can receive a communication from a remote sensor in response to an event. The communication may cause a power setting of the doorbell to be overridden. Then, the doorbell can send an outgoing communication.

Claims

1. A method of using a doorbell system, wherein the doorbell system comprises a remote computing device and a doorbell having a camera, the method comprising:

detecting, by a remote sensor, an event;

receiving, with the doorbell, an incoming wireless communication in response to the remote sensor detecting the event; and

overriding, at least partially in response to receiving the incoming wireless communication, at least one power setting of the doorbell to enable the doorbell to record a first video.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating data regarding the event with the first video, wherein the event is detected in a first location and the first video is recorded in a second location.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting the event, by the remote sensor, in a first location and recording, by the doorbell, the first video in a second location such that the first video does not show the first location.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a notification to the remote computing device in response to the doorbell receiving the incoming wireless communication from the remote sensor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein overriding the power setting of the doorbell comprises causing the doorbell to exit a camera sleep mode in which the camera is configured to not record, and comprises enabling the camera to record the first video during a camera recording mode, wherein the camera sleep mode consumes less power than the camera recording mode.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the event comprises the remote sensor detecting a motion indicative of a visitor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the event comprises the remote sensor detecting glass breaking.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the event comprises the remote sensor detecting at least one of smoke and fire.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the event comprises the remote sensor detecting a signal from an electronic device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the event comprises the remote sensor detecting a package delivery.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the event comprises the remote sensor detecting a vehicle.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting, by the remote sensor, the event while the remote sensor is located in an interior portion of the building, and receiving, with the doorbell, the incoming wireless communication, while the doorbell is coupled to an exterior portion of the building.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the event comprises a motion indicative of a visitor.

14. A method of using a doorbell system, wherein the doorbell system comprises a remote computing device and a doorbell having a camera, the method comprising:

detecting, by a remote sensor, an event;

receiving, with the doorbell, an incoming wireless communication in response to the remote sensor detecting the event; and

overriding, at least partially in response to receiving the incoming wireless communication, at least one power setting of the doorbell to enable the doorbell to enter a transmit mode to send an outgoing wireless communication to the remote computing device, wherein the overriding causes the doorbell to enter a higher power mode.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising overriding, at least partially in response to receiving the incoming wireless communication, a power setting of the doorbell to enable the doorbell to enter a transmit mode to send an outgoing wireless communication regarding the event to the remote computing device, wherein the overriding comprises causing the doorbell to exit a listen mode in which the doorbell is configured to detect the incoming wireless communication, but is not configured to send the outgoing wireless communication, the method further comprising entering the transmit mode and sending the outgoing wireless communication.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising communicatively coupling the remote sensor and the doorbell, and communicatively coupling the doorbell and the remote computing device such that the doorbell communicatively couples the remote sensor to the remote computing device.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising sending information regarding the event from the remote sensor to the remote computing device via the doorbell.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising sending a notification to the remote computing device in response to the doorbell receiving the incoming wireless communication from the remote sensor.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the event comprises a motion indicative of a visitor.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising detecting, by the remote sensor, the event while the remote sensor is located in an interior portion of the building, and receiving, with the doorbell, the incoming wireless communication, while the doorbell is coupled to an exterior portion of the building.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising detecting, by the remote sensor, the event while the remote sensor monitors a first side of the building, and receiving, with the doorbell, the incoming wireless communication, while the doorbell monitors a second side of the building.

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising overriding, at least partially in response to receiving the incoming wireless communication, at least one power setting of the doorbell to enable the doorbell to enter a transmit mode to send an outgoing wireless communication regarding the event to the remote computing device.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the overriding causes the doorbell to enter a higher power mode.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein overriding the power setting of the doorbell comprises causing the doorbell to exit a listen mode in which the doorbell is configured to detect the incoming wireless communication, but is not configured to send the outgoing wireless communication.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein overriding the power setting of the doorbell comprises causing the doorbell to exit a camera sleep mode in which the camera is configured to not record, and comprises enabling the camera to record a first video during a camera recording mode, wherein the camera sleep mode consumes less power than the camera recording mode.

26. The method of claim 16, wherein detecting the event comprises the remote sensor detecting glass breaking.

27. The method of claim 16, wherein detecting the event comprises the remote sensor detecting at least one of smoke and a fire.

28. The method of claim 14 further comprising overriding, at least partially in response to receiving the incoming wireless communication, at least one power setting of the doorbell to enable the doorbell to record a first video.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein overriding the power setting of the doorbell comprises causing the doorbell to exit a listen mode in which the doorbell is configured to detect the incoming wireless communication, but is not configured to send the outgoing wireless communication.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising entering the transmit mode and sending the outgoing wireless communication within ten seconds of recording the first video.