Cameras and networked security systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016105644-A1
Application number	US-201514853914-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 14, 2015
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Apr 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system includes a remote server and a device having a wireless transceiver, microphone, and processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to monitor the microphone for a siren signature. The processing circuit is configured to use the wireless transceiver to send information to the remote server in response to a detection of the siren signature. The remote server causes wireless cameras located near the device to capture a current image and to send the captured image to the remote server for further distribution.

First claim

1 .- 25 . (canceled)

26 . A social media alarming system, comprising:
a server computer which receives information from a remote device associated with a user, and wherein the server computer provides a graphical user interface for creating multiple tiers of associated users, and wherein the server computer causes an alert to be forwarded to different tiers of associated users depending on the length of time from receiving the information and receiving no action from a user regarding the information.

27 . The system of claim 26 , wherein the server is configured to provide a graphical user interface which allows a user to adjust the length of time for each tier and/or for each user.

28 . The system of claim 26 , wherein the tiers are automatically built by the server computer based on geographic distance from the remote device.

29 .- 38 . (canceled)

39 . A distributed security system, comprising:
a plurality of remote devices in different locations associated with different households; and a server computer configured to distribute alert information to a first geographic tier away from a remote device generating an alert; wherein the server computer is configured to distribute alert information to a second geographic tier away from the remote device responsive to at least one user in the first tier indicating the alert is of interest, or no user in the first tier acknowledging viewing the alert within a certain period of time.

40 . The distributed security system of claim 39 , wherein the remote devices comprise wireless cameras, and wherein wireless cameras within the first geographic tier are caused to capture video and to provide the video to the server for distribution within a user or geographic tier associated with the wireless camera generating the alert.

41 . The distributed security system of claim 39 , wherein distribution is discontinued to further tiers unless a threshold amount of users indicate interest in the alert during a period of time.

42 .- 47 . (canceled)

48 . The system of claim 26 , wherein forwarding is discontinued to further tiers unless a threshold amount of users indicate interest in the alert during the length of time.

49 . The distributed security system of claim 39 , wherein the server computer is configured to provide a graphical user interface which allows a user to adjust the length of time for each tier and/or for each user.

50 . The distributed security system of claim 39 , wherein the tiers are automatically built by the server based on geographic distance from the remote device.

51 . A lock box comprising:
a main body forming a compartment; a lid configured to be lockable to the main body to conceal the compartment; an electronic locking mechanism configured to lock the lid to the main body and unlock the lid from the main body; a camera configured to capture at least one image based on a trigger; a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with a server, the wireless transceiver transmitting the at least one image to the server, the wireless transceiver receiving from the server unlock commands to unlock the electronic locking mechanism responsive to the transmitting of the at least one image; and a processing circuit configured to unlock the electronic locking mechanism responsive to the unlock commands received from the server;

52 . The lock box of claim 51 , further comprising a keypad configured to receive user input, wherein the processing electronics is further configured to unlock the electronic locking mechanism responsive to a determination that the user input received from the keypad matches a predetermined passcode.

53 . The lock box of claim 51 , further comprising a keypad configured to receive user input, wherein the processing electronics uses the user input to configure at least one of network settings, registration of the lock box with the server, or a passcode.

54 . The lock box of claim 51 , wherein the server provides the at least one image to a remote device, the server receiving the unlock command commands from the remote device based on input from a user of the remote device responsive to receipt of the at least one image.

55 . The lock box of claim 51 , wherein the trigger comprises input from at least one of a keypad, a movement sensor, a microphone, or a lid sensor.

56 . The lock box of claim 51 , further comprising at least one of a speaker or a microphone to facilitate audio communication.

57 . The lock box of claim 51 , further comprising:
a battery to power the lock box; and a keypad configured to receive user input, the keypad not capable of entering into a low power sleep state; wherein the processing circuit, wireless transceiver, camera, and electronic locking mechanism each operate in a low power sleep state until awoken by at least one of user input on the keypad or a wakeup interrupt configured to cause the wireless transceiver to check-in with the server.

58 . The lock box of claim 51 , further comprising a display configured to provide visual feedback to a user of the lockbox.

59 . The lock box of claim 58 , wherein the display is configured to receive an e-signature from the user of the lockbox, the processing circuit causing the electronic locking device to unlock responsive to an accepted e-signature.

60 . The lock box of claim 58 , wherein the display and camera are configured to facilitate two-way video communication with a remote device via the wireless transceiver and the server.

Assignees

• Master Lock Co
• Vardr Pty Ltd

Inventors

• Smith Geoff
• Fitzpatrick Matthew
• Celinski Tom
• Richards Mark
• Bartucci John

Classifications

• H04N23/62

  Control of parameters via user interfaces · CPC title

• H04N23/651

  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

• H04N23/661

  Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet · CPC title

• H04N7/188 Primary

  Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position (signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253) · CPC title

• H04N5/23216

  Electricity · mapped topic