Using motion and presence of an end-user to switch operational modes of an internet of things device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12395697-B2
Application number	US-202318319015-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 17, 2023
Priority date	Aug 10, 2022
Publication date	Aug 19, 2025
Grant date	Aug 19, 2025

Abstract

In one aspect, a method includes using a Wi-Fi module of a computing device to detect that an end-user has entered a monitored environment of the computing device, where the computing device is separate from, and communicatively coupled over an Internet of Things (IoT) network to, a battery-powered IoT device. The method also includes in response to detecting that the end-user has entered the monitored environment of the computing device, causing the IoT device to switch from operating in a standby mode to instead operating in an active mode, where operation in the standby mode comprises a mode in which the IoT device consumes less power than when operating in the active mode.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for use in connection with (i) a computing device having a Wi-Fi module and (ii) a battery-powered Internet of Things (IoT) device, wherein the IoT device is a camera, the method comprising:
using the Wi-Fi module to detect that an end-user has entered a monitored environment of the computing device, wherein the computing device is separate from, and communicatively coupled over an IoT network to, the IoT device; and
responsive to detecting, by using the Wi-Fi module, that the end-user has entered the monitored environment of the computing device, causing the IoT device to switch from operating in a standby mode to instead operating in an active mode, wherein operation in the standby mode comprises a mode in which the IoT device consumes less power than when the IoT device is operating in the active mode, wherein operation in the standby mode further comprises a mode in which the camera is not recording footage of a camera-monitored environment and wherein operation in the active mode comprises a mode in which the camera is recording footage of the camera-monitored environment, wherein the camera-monitored environment and the monitored environment are the same environment.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is performed while the computing device is electrically connected to a wall outlet.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computing device comprises a set-top box.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the IoT device is a remote controller.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the IoT device comprises an actuator device,
operation in the active mode comprises a mode in which the IoT device is configured to perform a first action in response to detecting actuation of the actuator device,
operation in the standby mode further comprises a mode in which the IoT device is configured to perform a second action, different from the first action, in response to detecting actuation of the actuator device, and
the second action comprises switching from operating in the standby mode to instead operating in the active mode.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the IoT device comprises an actuator device and a backlight disposed underneath the actuator device,
operation in the standby mode further comprises a mode in which the backlight is turned off, and
operation in the active mode comprises a mode in which the backlight is turned on.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the IoT device comprises a microphone,
operation in the standby mode further comprises a mode in which the IoT device is configured to perform an action in response to the microphone detecting a volume level of an incoming acoustic signal that is higher than a first predefined volume threshold,
operation in the active mode comprises a mode in which the IoT device is configured to perform the action in response to the microphone detecting a volume level of an incoming acoustic signal that is higher than a second predefined volume threshold, and
the second predefined volume threshold is higher than the first predefined volume threshold.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the IoT device comprises a motion sensor,
operation in the standby mode further comprises a mode in which the IoT device is configured to perform an action in response to the motion sensor detecting a motion signal that exceeds a first predefined motion threshold, and
operation in the active mode comprises a mode in which the IoT device is configured to perform the action in response to the motion sensor detecting a motion signal that exceeds a second predefined motion threshold that is higher than the first predefined motion threshold.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
operation in the standby mode further comprises a mode in which the IoT device periodically wakes up at a first frequency to perform an action that facilitates identifying a location of the IoT device within the monitored environment to the end-user, and
operation in the active mode comprises a mode in which the IoT device periodically wakes up at a second frequency, higher than the first frequency, to perform the action that facilitates identifying the location of the IoT device within the monitored environment to the end-user.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein causing the IoT device to switch from operating in the standby mode to instead operating in the active mode comprises transmitting, to the IoT device, an instruction for the IoT device to switch from operating in the standby mode to instead operating in the active mode.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the monitored environment of the computing device comprises the IoT device.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the IoT device is located outside of the monitored environment of the computing device.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, having stored thereon program instructions that, upon execution by a processor, cause performance of a set of operations for use in connection with (i) a computing device having a Wi-Fi module and (ii) a battery-powered Internet of Things (IoT) device, wherein the IoT device is a camera, the set of operations comprising:
using the Wi-Fi module to detect that an end-user has entered a monitored environment of the computing device, wherein the computing device is separate from, and communicatively coupled over an IoT network to, the IoT device; and
responsive to detecting, by using the Wi-Fi module, that the end-user has entered the monitored environment of the computing device, causing the IoT device to switch from operating in a standby mode to instead operating in an active mode, wherein operation in the standby mode comprises a mode in which the IoT device consumes less power than when the IoT device is operating in the active mode, wherein operation in the standby mode further comprises a mode in which the camera is not recording footage of a camera-monitored environment, and wherein operation in the active mode comprises a mode in which the camera is recording footage of the camera-monitored environment, wherein the camera-monitored environment and the monitored environment are the same environment.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein:
the IoT device comprises an actuator device,
operation in the active mode comprises a mode in which the IoT device is configured to perform a first action in response to detecting actuation of the actuator device,
operation in the standby mode further comprises a mode in which the IoT device is configured to perform a second action, different from the first action, in response to detecting actuation of the actuator device, and
the second action comprises switching from operating in the standby mode to instead operating in the active mode.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein:
the IoT device comprises a microphone,
operation in the standby mode further comprises a mode in which the IoT device is configured to perform an action in response to the microphone detecting a volume level of an incoming acoustic signal that is higher than a first predefined volume threshold,
operation in the active mode comprises a mode in which the IoT device is configured to perform the action in response to the microphone detecting a volume level of an incoming acoustic signal that is higher than a second predefined volume threshold, and
the second predefined volume threshold is higher than the first predefined volume threshold.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein:
the IoT device compri

Assignees

• Roku Inc

Inventors

• Garner Greg
• Stern David

Classifications

• H04N21/42203

  sound input device, e.g. microphone · CPC title

• H04N21/42222

  Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device · CPC title

• G06F1/3231

  Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users · CPC title

• H04W52/0229

  where the received signal is a wanted signal · CPC title

• G06F1/1698

  the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone (details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266) · CPC title