Wireless communication USB dongle

• US 9,734,675 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2014
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bot Home Automation Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Siminoff, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Girma, Fekadeselassie
• Application Number:
  US14/905,653
• Publication Number:
  US 20160163163A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,125 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/025 Door telephones adapted for television H04N7/186
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/186 Video door telephones

Abstract

A communication device that may be removably coupled to a USB port, the device having a processor and non-volatile memory and configured to execute code, including code for receiving a wireless transmission including an alert signal from a second device, where the second device is a wireless doorbell, code for sounding an alarm via an audio or visual indicator on the communication device in response to the alert signal, code for receiving input from a user and transmitting a response signal to the second device, and code for allowing two-way audio communication between the communication device and the wireless doorbell.

Claims

1. A wireless communication device configured to communicate with a wireless communication doorbell, the wireless communication device comprising:

a processor configured to process inbound data delivered from the wireless communication doorbell to the wireless communication device via a network device;

a communication module configured to send outbound data to the network device, the outbound data including identifying information related to the wireless communication device and the wireless communication doorbell, such that the network device can identify the wireless communication device as being associated with the wireless communication doorbell;

a microphone;

a speaker;

a male USB (Universal Serial Bus) connector configured for connecting the wireless communication device to an external power source, wherein the wireless communication device does not include an internal power source, such that the wireless communication device cannot function unless connected to an external power source; and

a wireless data signal amplifier configured for receiving a wireless data signal transmitted from the network device associated with a first network, amplifying the wireless data signal, and then transmitting the amplified wireless data signal to another wireless communication device associated with the first network;

wherein the processor is further configured to transmit a notifying signal to the speaker in response to a ring signal received from the wireless communication doorbell via the network device;

wherein the speaker is configured to emit an audio ringtone in response to the notifying signal received from the processor; and

wherein the wireless communication device further comprises a button that, when pressed in response to the audio ringtone, is configured to activate the microphone to open audio communication between a user at the wireless communication device and a visitor at the wireless communication doorbell via the network device.

2. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the communication module is configured for communication via a wireless local area network (WLAN).

3. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the wireless signal comprises a Wi-Fi signal.

4. The wireless communication device of claim 1, further comprising non-volatile memory configured for storing additional audio ringtones.

5. The wireless communication device of claim 1, further comprising a light-emitting component configured to receive the notifying signal from the processor and to emit light in response to the notifying signal received from the processor.

6. A method for wireless communication between a wireless communication device and a wireless communication doorbell, the wireless communication device including a processor, a communication module, a microphone, a male USB (Universal Serial Bus) connector, a wireless data signal amplifier, and a speaker, the method comprising:

the communication module sending outbound data to a network device, the outbound data including identifying information related to the wireless communication device and the wireless communication doorbell, such that the network device can identify the wireless communication device as being associated with the wireless communication doorbell;

the processor transmitting a notifying signal to the speaker in response to a ring signal received from the wireless communication doorbell via the network device;

the speaker emitting an audio ringtone in response to the notifying signal received from the processor;

the male USB (Universal Serial Bus) connector connecting the wireless communication device to an external power source, wherein the wireless communication device does not include an internal power source, such that the wireless communication device cannot function unless connected to an external power source;

the wireless data signal amplifier receiving a wireless data signal transmitted from the network device associated with a first network, amplifying the wireless data signal, and then transmitting the amplified wireless data signal to another wireless communication device associated with the first network; and

the wireless communication device activating, in response to a button press occurring in response to the audio ringtone, the microphone to start audio communication between a user at the wireless communication device and a visitor at the wireless communication doorbell via the network device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the communication module sends the outbound data to the network device via a wireless local area network (WLAN).

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the wireless communication device further comprises non-volatile memory configured for storing additional audio ringtones.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the wireless communication device further comprises a light-emitting component that receives the notifying signal from the processor and emits light in response to the notifying signal received from the processor.