Sharing video footage from audio/video recording and communication devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10417776-B2
Application number	US-201816008364-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 14, 2018
Priority date	Feb 26, 2016
Publication date	Sep 17, 2019
Grant date	Sep 17, 2019

Abstract

Sharing video footage recorded by audio/video (A/V) recording and communication devices, such as video doorbells and security cameras. When an A/V recording and communication device records video footage of suspicious activity, or even criminal activity, a user viewing the footage may alert his or her neighbors by sharing the video. In various embodiments, the user may share the video with anyone of the user's choosing, including neighbors, friends, and family.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for communicating among a first audio/video recording and communication device (A/V device), a first client device associated with the first A/V device, a second A/V device, a second client device associated with the second A/V device, and a network device, the system comprising:
the network device having a processor and a memory, wherein the memory stores code operable by the processor for:
receiving a location of the first A/V device;
receiving from the first client device an enable signal for a share feature of the first A/V device;
receiving a notification distance associated with the share feature of the first A/V device;
updating at least one data structure maintained by the network device with the location of the first A/V device and the notification distance;
receiving a share signal from the second client device;
in response to receiving the share signal from the second client device, determining that the second A/V device is within the notification distance from the location of the first A/V device; and
transmitting a share notification signal to the first client device.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the memory further stores code operable by the processor for receiving a playback request signal from the first client device in response to the share notification signal.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the memory further stores code operable by the processor for transmitting a video signal to the first client device in response to the playback request signal, the video signal including images captured by a camera of the second A/V device.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the share signal from the second client device includes text describing the images captured by the camera of the second A/V device.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the memory further stores code operable by the processor for transmitting the text together with the share notification signal to the first client device.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the notification distance is configurable by a user of the first A/V device.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first A/V device and the second A/V device is an audio/video communication doorbell.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first client device and the second client device is a smartphone.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the network device is a server.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the network device comprises one or more network services.

11. A method for communicating among a first audio/video recording and communication device (A/V device), a first client device associated with the first A/V device, a second A/V device, a second client device associated with the second A/V device, and a network device, the method comprising:
receiving a location of the first A/V device;
receiving from the first client device an enable signal for a share feature of the first A/V device;
receiving from the first client device a notification distance associated with the share feature of the first A/V device;
updating at least one data structure with the location of the first A/V device and the notification distance;
receiving a share signal from the second client device;
in response to receiving the share signal from the second client device, determining that the second A/V device is within the notification distance from the location of the first A/V device; and
transmitting a share notification signal to the first client device.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising receiving a playback request signal from the first client device in response to the share notification signal.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising transmitting a video signal to the first client device in response to the playback request signal, the video signal including images captured by a camera of the second A/V device.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the share signal from the second client device includes text describing the images captured by the camera of the second A/V device.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising transmitting the text together with the share notification signal to the first client device.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the notification distance is configurable by a user of the first A/V device.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first A/V device and the second A/V device is an audio/video communication doorbell.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first client device and the second client device is a smartphone.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the network device is a server.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the network device comprises one or more network services.

Assignees

• Amazon Tech Inc

Inventors

• Siminoff James
• Cziment August
• Harpole Aaron
• Lemberger Elliott
• Modestine John
• Sommerlatt Darrell

Classifications

• G08B13/19636

  pertaining to the camera · CPC title

• G08B13/19608

  Tracking movement of a target, e.g. by detecting an object predefined as a target, using target direction and or velocity to predict its new position · CPC title

• G06T7/292 Primary

  Multi-camera tracking · CPC title

• H04N23/651 Primary

  for reducing power consumption by affecting camera operations, e.g. sleep mode, hibernation mode or power off of selective parts of the camera · CPC title

• H04N23/51

  Housings · CPC title