Doorbell communication systems and methods

• US 9,743,049 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2016
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SkyBell Technologies Ip, LLC
• Original Assignee: Skybell Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Scalisi, Joseph Frank, Kasmir, Seton Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): WALKER, JARED T
• Application Number:
  US15/156,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20160330412A1
• Time in Patent Office: 463 Days
• Field of Search: 348143
• 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 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72439 for image or video messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/186 Video door telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring

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 doorbell system, comprising:

a doorbell comprising a camera and a button, the camera configurable to capture images and the button configurable to enable a visitor to sound a chime, the doorbell configurable to enter a sleep mode whereby the camera does not capture images,

wherein the doorbell configurable to exit the sleep mode and enter a live view mode in response to a mobile application on a remote computing device and the doorbell receiving a wireless communication from the remote computing device.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising the remote computing device communicatively coupled to the doorbell, the remote computing device configurable to display a first image while the doorbell is in the live view mode.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the remote computing device comprises at least one of a smartphone and a tablet, and wherein the first image is visually displayed by the remote computing device.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein in the live mode the camera captures a first video comprising the first image.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication is a first wireless communication, and the doorbell is configurable to re-enter the sleep mode at least partially in response to receiving a second wireless communication from the remote computing device.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the first wireless communication and the second wireless communication are sent via a server that is communicatively coupled to both the remote computing device and the doorbell.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the live view mode consumes more power than the sleep mode.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the doorbell is configurable to attach to a building and be powered by a battery power source.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the doorbell is configurable to attach to a building and be powered by an AC power source.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the doorbell is configurable to attach to a building and be electrically coupled, via electrical wires, to a building power source whereby the doorbell receives power from the building power source.

11. A doorbell system, comprising:

a doorbell comprising a camera, a button, and a motion sensor, the camera configurable to capture images, the button configurable to enable a visitor to sound a chime, the motion sensor configurable to detect motion, and the doorbell configurable to enter a sleep mode whereby the camera does not capture images, wherein when the doorbell is in the sleep mode the doorbell is configurable to detect motion and thereby enter a live view mode in response to detecting motion; and

a remote computing device communicatively coupled to the doorbell, the remote computing device configurable to display an image captured by the camera when the doorbell is in the live view mode.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the remote computing device comprises at least one of a smartphone and a tablet.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the remote computing device is configurable to display a video of the motion detected by the motion sensor.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the remote computing device is configurable to receive an input from the user, and the input causes the remote computing device to open a mobile application that visually displays an image of the motion detected by the motion sensor.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the motion detected by the motion sensor automatically causes the camera to record an image of the motion.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the image of the motion is stored on a server that is communicatively coupled to the doorbell.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the wireless communication is sent via a server that is communicatively coupled to both the remote computing device and the doorbell.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the doorbell is configurable to attach to a building and be powered by a battery power source.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the doorbell is configurable to attach to a building and be powered by an AC power source.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the doorbell is configurable to attach to a building and be electrically coupled, via electrical wires, to a building power source whereby the doorbell receives power from the building power source.

21. The system of claim 11, wherein the doorbell receives constant power when the doorbell is in the sleep mode and the live view mode.