Doorbell communication systems and methods

• US 9,253,455 B1
• Filed: 07/30/2015
• Issued: 02/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SkyBell Technologies Ip, LLC
• Original Assignee: Skybell Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Harrison, Gregory Saul, Mejia, Desiree, Scalisi, Joseph Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Rao, Andy
• Assistant Examiner(s): WALKER, JARED T
• Application Number:
  US14/813,479
• Time in Patent Office: 187 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: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• 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 11/025 Door telephones adapted for television H04N7/186
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/186 Video door telephones

Abstract

A doorbell system can be configured to detect a weather event. The doorbell system can comprise a doorbell, a button coupled to the doorbell, and a pressure sensor coupled to the doorbell. As well, the doorbell system can determine an occurrence of a weather event and thereby transmit weather data to a remote server that is remotely located with respect to the doorbell system.

Claims

1. A doorbell system comprising:

a doorbell;

a button coupled to the doorbell;

an atmospheric pressure sensor coupled to the doorbell;

a weather detection system coupled to the doorbell, the weather detection system comprising at least one of a camera and a microphone; and

a wireless weather communication emitted by the doorbell in response to at least one of the pressure sensor, camera, and microphone detecting a weather event.

2. The doorbell system of claim 1, further comprising

a printed circuit board electrically coupled to the pressure sensor and located at least partially inside the doorbell.

3. The doorbell system of claim 2, further comprising

a communication device communicatively coupled to the doorbell.

4. The doorbell system of claim 3, wherein the communication device comprises a home automation hub, the doorbell system further comprising a weather notification received by the home automation hub in response to the wireless weather communication being emitted by the doorbell.

5. The doorbell system of claim 3, wherein the communication device comprises a remote computing device, the doorbell system further comprising a weather indication displayed by the remote computing device in response to the wireless weather communication being emitted by the doorbell.

6. The doorbell system of claim 2, further comprising a memory coupled to the printed circuit board, the memory comprising weather data that is stored for at least a predetermined time.

7. The doorbell system of claim 2, further comprising at least one of a weather video captured by the camera and a weather sound captured by the microphone.

8. The doorbell system of claim 1, further comprising a meteorology sensor coupled to the doorbell, the meteorology sensor comprising at least one of a humidity sensor, a precipitation sensor, a temperature sensor, a thunder and lightning sensor, a wind speed sensor, and a wind direction sensor.

9. A method of using a doorbell system to detect a weather event, wherein the doorbell system comprises a weather sensor coupled to a doorbell, the method comprising:

determining, by the doorbell system, an occurrence of a weather event;

transmitting, by the doorbell system, weather data to a remote server that is remotely located with respect to the doorbell system in response to the doorbell system determining the occurrence of the weather event, wherein the weather data is associated with the weather event; and

initiating a communication session with a remote computing device that is communicatively coupled to the doorbell, wherein the communication session comprises an indication of the weather event.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the doorbell system comprises a weather detection system coupled to the doorbell, the weather detection system comprising at least one of a camera and a microphone, the method further comprising:

recording, by the weather detection system, at least one of audio and video associated with the weather event in response to the doorbell system determining the occurrence of the weather event,

wherein transmitting, by the doorbell system, the weather data to the remote server comprises transmitting, by the doorbell system, at least one of the audio and the video to the remote server in response to the weather detection system recording at least one of the audio and the video.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the weather data is used by the remote server to confirm the occurrence of the weather event.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising activating an alert communication system of the doorbell in response to determining the occurrence of the weather event.

13. A method of using a doorbell system to receive an indication of a weather event, wherein the doorbell system comprises a doorbell coupled to a building, the method comprising:

receiving, by the doorbell system, weather data from a third party source communicatively coupled to the doorbell system and remotely located with respect to the building; and

activating an alert communication system of the doorbell in response to receiving the weather data from the third party source.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the alert communication system comprises a speaker coupled to the doorbell, and wherein activating the alert communication system comprises emitting, from the speaker, an audible notification of the indication of the weather event.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the alert communication system comprises a light coupled to the doorbell, and wherein activating the alert communication system comprises illuminating the light.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the alert communication system comprises a communication device communicatively coupled to the doorbell and located within the building, wherein activating the alert communication system comprises at least one of illuminating a light of the communication device and emitting an audible notification of the weather event from the communication device.

17. A method of using a doorbell system to receive an indication of a weather event, wherein the doorbell system comprises a doorbell coupled to a building, the method comprising:

receiving, by the doorbell system, weather data from a third party source communicatively coupled to the doorbell system and remotely located with respect to the building; and

transmitting, by the doorbell system, a first indication of the weather data to a communication device that is communicatively coupled to the doorbell.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the communication device comprises a home automation hub located within the building, the method further comprising transmitting a second indication of the weather data to a peripheral device that is communicatively coupled to the home automation hub in response to the doorbell system transmitting the first indication of the weather data to the communication device.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising emitting, by the communication device, at least one of an audible alert and a visual alert.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein transmitting, by the doorbell system, the first indication of the weather data to the communication device comprises initiating a communication session with a remote computing device that is communicatively coupled to the doorbell, wherein the communication session comprises an indication of the weather event.