Smart home robot assistant

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11565398-B2
Application number	US-201916674887-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 5, 2019
Priority date	Oct 31, 2014
Publication date	Jan 31, 2023
Grant date	Jan 31, 2023

Abstract

Methods and systems are described for robot transportation of objects into or out of a home automation system. One example may include determining, by a mobile robotic device, that an object is available to cross a boundary of the home automation system. The method may include deactivating at least a portion of the home automation system. The method also include retrieving, by the mobile robotic device, the object and transporting, by the mobile robotic device, the object across the boundary. The method further includes leaving, by the mobile robotic device, the object at a drop-off location. The method may also include reactivating at least the portion of the home automation system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for robotic delivery in a home automation system, comprising:
determining, by a mobile robotic device, that an object is available to cross a boundary of the home automation system;
transmitting, by the mobile robotic device, a request to retrieve the object based at least in part on determining that the object is available to cross the boundary;
deactivating, by the mobile robotic device, at least a portion of the home automation system based at least in part on the transmitting the request; and
retrieving, by the mobile robotic device, the object based at least in part on deactivating at least the portion of the home automation system.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the object is a delivery package, the method further comprising:
determining a time window for delivery of the delivery package.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
scanning a delivery area for the delivery package during the time window based at least in part on determining the time window.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein determining that the object is available to cross the boundary comprises:
identifying that the delivery package is located outside the boundary of the home automation system during the time window.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein deactivating at least the portion of the home automation system comprises:
deactivating a security lock or an alarm system associated with the home automation system.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transporting the object across the boundary of the home automation system based at least in part on retrieving the object.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
identifying a drop-off location based at least in part on retrieving the object; and
transporting the object to the drop-off location based at least in part on identifying the drop-off location.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
activating at least the portion of the home automation system that was deactivated based at least in part on transporting the object to the drop-off location.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a name associated with the object, a source of the object, tracking information for the object, information about the object, or a combination thereof based at least in part on determining that the object is available to cross the boundary.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
performing a safety inspection of the object based at least in part on retrieving the object; and
determining that the object is within a threshold safety level based at least in part on performing the safety inspection.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transmitting a command via wireless signals to a home device, appliance, fixture, or a combination thereof.

12. A mobile robot device, comprising:
one or more sensors or devices configured to:
determine that an object is available to cross a boundary of a home automation system;
transmit a request to retrieve the object based at least in part on determining that the object is available to cross the boundary;
deactivate at least a portion of the home automation system based at least in part on the transmitting the request; and
retrieve the object based at least in part on deactivating at least the portion of the home automation system.

13. The mobile robot device of claim 12 , wherein the object is a delivery package, the one or more sensors or devices further configured to:
determine a time window for delivery of the delivery package.

14. The mobile robot device of claim 13 , wherein the one or more sensors or devices are further configured to:
scan a delivery area for the delivery package during the time window based at least in part on determining the time window.

15. The mobile robot device of claim 13 , wherein the one or more sensors or devices are further configured to:
identify that the delivery package is located outside the boundary of the home automation system during the time window based at least in part on determining that the object is available to cross the boundary.

16. The mobile robot device of claim 12 , wherein the one or more sensors or devices are further configured to:
deactivate a security lock or an alarm system associated with the home automation system based at least in part on the transmitting the request.

17. An apparatus in a home automation system, comprising:
a processor;
a memory in electronic communication with the processor; and
instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to:
determine that an object is available to cross a boundary of the home automation system;
transmit a request to retrieve the object based at least in part on determining that the object is available to cross the boundary;
deactivate at least a portion of the home automation system based at least in part on the transmitting the request; and
retrieve the object based at least in part on deactivating at least the portion of the home automation system.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the object is a delivery package, the instructions further executable to:
determine a time window for delivery of the delivery package.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the instructions are further executable to:
scan a delivery area for the delivery package during the time window based at least in part on determining the time window.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the instructions are further executable to:
identify that the delivery package is located outside the boundary of the home automation system during the time window based at least in part on determining that the object is available to cross the boundary.

Assignees

• Vivint Inc

Inventors

• Frisby Wes
• Matsuura Craig
• Davis Aaron

Classifications

• G05B2219/2642

  Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house · CPC title

• G05D1/0282

  generated in a local control room · CPC title

• B25J13/006

  by means of a wireless system for controlling one or several manipulators · CPC title

• G05B2219/25011

  Domotique, I-O bus, home automation, building automation · CPC title

• E05Y2900/132

  Doors · CPC title