Doorbell communication systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9013575-B2
Application number	US-201414529334-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 31, 2014
Priority date	Jul 26, 2013
Publication date	Apr 21, 2015
Grant date	Apr 21, 2015

Abstract

Doorbells can be used to detect visitors. Doorbells can have a field of view that includes a first portion and a second portion. Some embodiments include using a doorbell to detect a first object within the first portion of the field of view, and then determining if a doorbell button is pressed. If the doorbell button is not pressed, the doorbell may become less sensitive to objects detected in the first portion of the field of view. If the doorbell button is pressed, the doorbell may become more sensitive to objects detected in the first portion of the field of view. Multiple portions of the field of view may be independently adjusted based on doorbell button data.

First claim

The following is claimed:

1. A method for using a doorbell system to detect a first visitor, wherein the doorbell system comprises a doorbell and a remote computing device, the method comprising:
obtaining the doorbell system that comprises a visitor detection system, wherein the visitor detection system comprises at least one of a camera, a motion detector, and an infrared detector, wherein the visitor detection system is configured to detect a first indication suggestive of the first visitor, wherein the doorbell comprises a button that is configurable to enable the first visitor to sound a chime;
configuring the doorbell system such that the visitor detection system comprises a field of view;
using the visitor detection system to detect the first indication suggestive of the first visitor within a first portion of the field of view;
determining that the first indication detected within the first portion of the field of view is not associated with a triggering of the button;
reducing a first sensitivity of the doorbell system to a second indication suggestive of a second visitor within the first portion of the field of view to reduce a first probability of causing a first alert configured to notify the remote computing device regarding a presence of the second visitor, wherein the reducing is at least partially in response to determining that the first indication detected within the first portion of the field of view is not associated with the triggering of the button;
using the visitor detection system to detect a third indication suggestive of a third visitor within a second portion of the field of view; and
receiving a second alert regarding the third visitor with the remote computing device in response to detecting the third indication within the second portion.

2. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the reducing the first sensitivity comprises excluding the first portion of the field of view from causing the first alert, wherein the excluding is at least partially in response to determining that the first indication detected within the first portion of the field of view is not associated with the triggering of the button, wherein the excluding prevents the second indication from causing the first alert.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first indication is a first motion indication, the second indication is a second motion indication, and the third indication is a third motion indication.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the doorbell system determines that the first indication detected within the first portion of the field of view is not associated with the triggering of the button by determining that the button was not triggered within a time after detecting the first indication.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the visitor detection system comprises the camera, wherein using the visitor detection system to detect the first indication within the first portion of the field of view comprises using the camera to take a first image and then the doorbell system analyzing the first image to detect the first indication, the method further comprising reducing the first sensitivity of the doorbell system in response to determining that the button was not triggered within a predetermined time after taking the first image.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising using the camera to take a second image, and then the doorbell system analyzing the second image to detect the third indication suggestive of the third visitor within the second portion of the field of view; and
increasing a second sensitivity of the visitor detection system within the second portion at least partially in response to determining that the button was triggered within a time after detecting the third indication by analyzing the second image,
wherein increasing the second sensitivity increases a second probability of sending the second alert to the remote computing device.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the visitor detection system comprises the motion detector, wherein using the visitor detection system to detect the first indication within the first portion of the field of view comprises detecting a first motion within the first portion, wherein determining that the first indication is not associated with the triggering of the button comprises determining that the button was not triggered within a first predetermined time after detecting the first indication.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising using the visitor detection system to detect a second motion within the second portion of the field of view; and
increasing a second sensitivity of the visitor detection system within the second portion at least partially in response to determining that the button was triggered within a second predetermined time after detecting the second motion,
wherein increasing the second sensitivity increases a second probability of sending the second alert to the remote computing device.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising dividing the field of view into the first portion and the second portion such that the doorbell system is configured to distinguish between the first motion detected in the first portion and the second motion detected in the second portion.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the visitor detection system comprises the infrared detector, wherein using the visitor detection system to detect the first indication within the first portion of the field of view comprises detecting a first infrared signature within the first portion,
the method further comprising reducing the first sensitivity of the visitor detection system within the first portion at least partially in response to determining that the button was not triggered within a first predetermined time after detecting the first indication.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the infrared detector comprises a first infrared sensor and a second infrared sensor, wherein the doorbell comprises a wall that separates the first infrared sensor from the second infrared sensor such that the first infrared sensor is configured to detect the first infrared signature within the first portion and the second infrared sensor is configured to detect a second infrared signature within the second portion of the field of view.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising using the infrared detector to detect the third indication suggestive of the third visitor within the second portion of the field of view; and
increasing a second sensitivity of the visitor detection system within the second portion at least partially in response to determining that the button was triggered within a second predetermined time after detecting the third indication,
wherein increasing the second sensitivity increases a second probability of sending the second alert to the remote computing device.

13. A method for using a doorbell system to detect a first visitor, wherein the doorbell system comprises a doorbell and a remote computing device, the method comprising:
obtaining the doorbell that comprises a camera and a button, wherein the button is configurable to enable the first visitor to sound a chime;
configuring the doorbell system such that the camera comprises a field of view;
using the camera of the doorbell to take a baseline image to calibrate the doorbell system by establishing a baseline of at least a part of the field of view;
using the camera of the doorbell to take a second image of at least the part of the field of view;
determining that a first object is present in the second image, but not in the baseline image;
associating the first object with a first portion of the field of view;
excluding the first port

Assignees

• Skybell Technologies Inc

Inventors

• Scalisi Joseph Frank

Classifications

• H04N23/661

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

• H04N23/45

  for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images · CPC title

• H04N23/56

  provided with illuminating means · CPC title

• H04N23/631

  Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters · CPC title

• H04N7/186 Primary

  Video door telephones · CPC title