Directional Control of Audio/Video Recording and Communication Devices in Network Communication with Additional Cameras

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018359451-A1
Application number	US-201815997606-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 4, 2018
Priority date	Jun 7, 2017
Publication date	Dec 13, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

Direction control of audio/video (A/V) recording and communication devices in network communication with additional cameras is provided. In one embodiment, an A/V recording and communication device comprises: a first camera configured to capture first image data, wherein the first camera is pointed in a first direction; a communication module; and a processing module comprising: a processor; and a camera application that configures the processor to: maintain the first camera in a low-power state; receive a power-up command signal from the backend server based on an output signal from a second camera; receive an orientation signal from the backend server based on the output signal from the second camera; point the first camera in a second direction in response to the orientation signal; power up the first camera in response to the power-up command signal; and capture the first image data in response to the power-up command signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An audio/video (A/V) recording and communication device comprising:
a first camera configured to capture first image data at a first resolution, wherein the first camera is pointed in a first direction; a communication module; and a processing module operatively connected to the first camera and the communication module, wherein the processing module is in network communication with a backend server via the communication module, the processing module comprising:
a processor; and
a camera application, wherein the camera application configures the processor to:
maintain the first camera in a low-power state;
receive a power-up command signal from the backend server based on an output signal from a second camera in network communication with the backend server;
receive an orientation signal from the backend server based on the output signal from the second camera in network communication with the backend server;
point the first camera in a second direction in response to the orientation signal from the backend server based on the output signal from the second camera;
power up the first camera in response to the power-up command signal from the backend server based on the output signal from the second camera; and
capture the first image data using the first camera in response to the power-up command signal from the backend server based on the output signal from the second camera.

2 . The A/V recording and communication device of claim 1 , wherein the orientation signal and the power-up command signal are included in a single command signal.

3 . The A/V recording and communication device of claim 1 , wherein the orientation signal includes a specific rotational degree relative to a fixed direction to point the first camera in the second direction.

4 . The A/V recording and communication device of claim 3 , wherein the fixed direction is true north.

5 . The A/V recording and communication device of claim 1 , wherein the orientation signal includes a specific rotational degree relative to a position of the second camera to point the first camera in the second direction.

6 . The A/V recording and communication device of claim 1 , further comprising a motorized mount configured to point the first camera in the second direction in response to the orientation signal.

7 . The A/V recording and communication device of claim 6 , wherein the motorized mount is configured to rotate the A/V recording and communication device to point the first camera in any direction about a 360-degree rotational axis.

8 . The A/V recording and communication device of claim 1 , wherein the camera application further configures the processor to capture the first image data using the first camera for a predetermined length of time in response to the power-up command signal from the backend server based on the output signal from the second camera.

9 . The A/V recording and communication device of claim 1 , wherein the second camera is configured to capture second image data at a second resolution.

10 . The A/V recording and communication device of claim 9 , wherein the first resolution is higher than the second resolution.

11 . The A/V recording and communication device of claim 1 , wherein the camera application further configures the processor to transmit the first image data captured using the first camera to the backend server using the communication module.

12 . A method for an audio/video (A/V) recording and communication device comprising a first camera configured to capture first image data at a first resolution, wherein the first camera is pointed in a first direction, a communication module, and a processing module operatively connected to the first camera and the communication module, wherein the processing module is in network communication with a second camera via the communication module, the method comprising:
maintaining the first camera in a low-power state; receiving a power-up command signal from the second camera; receiving an orientation signal from the second camera; pointing the first camera in a second direction in response to the orientation signal from the second camera; powering up the first camera in response to the power-up command signal from the second camera; and capturing the first image data using the first camera in response to the power-up command signal from the second camera.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the orientation signal and the power-up command signal are included in a single command signal.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the orientation signal includes a specific rotational degree relative to a fixed direction to point the first camera in the second direction.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the fixed direction is true north.

16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the orientation signal includes a specific rotational degree relative to a position of the second camera to point the first camera in the second direction.

17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the first camera is pointed in the second direction in response to the orientation signal using a motorized mount.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the motorized mount rotates the A/V recording and communication device to point the first camera in any direction about a 360-degree rotational axis.

19 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising capturing the first image data using the first camera for a predetermined length of time in response to the power-up command signal from the backend server based on the output signal from the second camera.

20 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the second camera is configured to capture second image data at a second resolution.

21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the first resolution is higher than the second resolution.

22 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising transmitting the first image data captured using the first camera to a backend server using the communication module.

Assignees

• Amazon Tech Inc

Inventors

• Siminoff James
• Siminoff Mark
• Lemberger Elliott

Classifications

• 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

• H04N23/56

  provided with illuminating means · CPC title

• H04N23/90

  Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums · CPC title

• H04N23/695

  Control of camera direction for changing a field of view, e.g. pan, tilt or based on tracking of objects · CPC title

• H04N23/661

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