Confirming package delivery using audio/video recording and communication devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11115629-B1
Application number	US-201816175121-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Oct 30, 2018
Priority date	Oct 30, 2018
Publication date	Sep 7, 2021
Grant date	Sep 7, 2021

Abstract

A method for remotely confirming delivery of a package may be accomplished using a client device and a using a network-connectable audio/video (A/V) recording and communication device. The method includes initiating the two-way communication between the client device and the A/V recording and communication device. The method further includes receiving, via a user interface of the client device, an indication that a package is being delivered to a building associated with the A/V recording and communication device. The method further includes receiving, at the client device, information about the package and displaying, on a display of the client device, the information about the package. The method further includes receiving, via the user interface, an electronic signature indicating acceptance of delivery of the package. The method further includes transmitting, by the client device, the electronic signature to a delivery service server.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by a client device, cause the client device to perform operations comprising:
receiving, at the client device, a signal indicative of a request to begin a two-way audio communication between the client device and a network-connectable audio/video recording and communication device (“A/V device”);
receiving, via a user interface of the client device, a first input indicating an acceptance of the request to begin the two-way audio communication;
receiving, via the user interface during the two-way audio communication, a second input indicating that a package is being delivered to a building associated with the A/V device;
based on the receiving of the second input indicating that the package is being delivered, initiating a delivery confirmation process at the client device, wherein the delivery confirmation process comprises:
receiving, at the client device, information about the package comprising at least one of a description of contents of the package, an identity of a sender of the package, a tracking number associated with the package, or a delivery address of the package;
displaying, on a display of the client device, the information about the package;
receiving, via the user interface, an electronic signature indicating acceptance of delivery of the package; and
transmitting, by the client device, data representative of the electronic signature to a delivery service server.

2. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
receiving, at the client device, first audio data and video data from the A/V device;
capturing, by a microphone of the client device, second audio; and
transmitting, from the client device, second audio data representative of the second audio to the A/V device.

3. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 2 , wherein the video data received at the client device is representative of at least one image of the package being delivered.

4. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 2 , wherein the second audio data transmitted to the A/V device is representative of an audio message instructing a delivery person where to place the package being delivered.

5. A method comprising:
receiving, at a first network-connectable electronic device from a second network-connectable electronic device:
first audio data representative of first audio captured at the second network-connectable electronic device, and
video data representative of at least one image captured by a camera of the second network-connectable electronic device;

transmitting, from the first network-connectable electronic device to the second network-connectable electronic device, second audio data representative of second audio captured at the first network-connectable electronic device, wherein the receiving of the first audio data and the transmitting of the second audio data comprises a two-way audio communication between the first network-connectable electronic device and a second network-connectable electronic device;
displaying, on a display of the first network-connectable electronic device, the video data received from the second network-connectable device along with a display element for indicating that a package is being delivered, wherein the video data and the display element are displayed together on the display at a same time;
receiving, via a user interface of the first network-connectable electronic device, a signal indicating that a package is being delivered based on a selection of the display element via the user interface;
based on the receiving of the signal indicating that the package is being delivered based on the selection of the display element at the first network-connectable device, initiating a delivery confirmation process at the first network-connectable device, wherein the delivery confirmation process comprises:
receiving, via the user interface, an input indicating acceptance of delivery of the package, wherein the input is received during the two-way audio communication between the first network-connectable electronic device and the second network-connectable electronic device; and
transmitting, by the first network-connectable electronic device, a message indicating the acceptance of delivery of the package to a server.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the video data received at the first network-connectable device is representative of at least one image of the package being delivered.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the second audio data transmitted to the second network-connectable device is representative of an audio message instructing a delivery person where to place the package being delivered.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the input is a first input and the method further comprises:
receiving, at the first network-connectable electronic device, a request to initiate the two-way communication; and
receiving, via the user interface, a second input indicating an acceptance of the request to initiate the two-way communication.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising displaying, on the user interface of the first network connectable device, a display element representative of the request to initiate the two-way communication.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the request to initiate the two-way communication is received from the second network-connectable electronic device.

11. The method of claim 5 , further comprising, during the two-way communication, receiving, at the first network-connectable device, information about the package, wherein the information comprises at least one of a description of contents of the package, an identity of a sender of the package, a tracking number associated with the package, a delivery address of the package, or an identity of a delivery service delivering the package.

12. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first network-connectable electronic device and the second network-connectable electronic device are physically remote from one another.

13. The method of claim 5 , wherein the input indicating acceptance of delivery of the package comprises at least one of an electronic signature, a verbal passcode, or a press of a button.

14. The method of claim 5 , wherein the display and the user interface of the first network-connectable electronic device comprises a touchscreen.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the signal indicating that the package is being delivered is received in response to a touching of the touchscreen in an area where the display element is displayed.

16. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first network-connectable electronic device comprises at least one of a laptop, a tablet, a smartphone, or a virtual assistant device; and the second network-connectable electronic device comprises at least one of a smartphone, a laptop, a tablet, or an audio/video recording and communication device.

17. The method of claim 5 , wherein the signal indicating that the package is being delivered is not an unlock door signal, and further wherein the method comprises transmitting, by the first network-connectable electronic device, the signal indicating that the package is being delivered to at least one of the server, the second network-connectable electronic device, or a third network-connectable electronic device.

18. A method comprising:
connecting a two-way audio communication between a first network-connectable electronic device and a second network-connectable electroni

Assignees

• Amazon Tech Inc

Inventors

• Lemberger Elliott
• Modestine John
• Roth Joshua
• Stone Micah

Classifications

• H04W12/77

  Graphical identity · CPC title

• H04W12/47

  using near field communication [NFC] or radio frequency identification [RFID] modules · CPC title

• H04W12/106

  Packet or message integrity · CPC title

• H04N7/186 Primary

  Video door telephones · CPC title

• H04L63/123

  received data contents, e.g. message integrity · CPC title