# US 11,308,333 B1 · Outdoor camera and neighborhood watch techniques

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- Number: US 11,308,333 B1
- Document ID: US11308333B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 15/824,844
- Filed: 2017-11-28
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2017-11-28
- Assignees: Vivint, Inc.
- Applicants: Vivint, Inc.
- Inventors: Landon Mark Langford; Michael D. Child; Michelle Bea Zundel
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11308333B1

## CPC

- G06V 20/52: Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects (recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69)
- G06V 10/141: Control of illumination
- G06V 20/44: {Event detection}
- G08B 13/196: using television cameras
- G08B 13/19613: {Recognition of a predetermined image pattern or behaviour pattern indicating theft or intrusion}
- G08B 15/00: Identifying, scaring or incapacitating burglars, thieves or intruders, e.g. by explosives
- H04L 12/2823: {Reporting information sensed by appliance or service execution status of appliance services in a home automation network (device-related reporting H04L43/065; arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00)}
- H04N 7/18: Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
- H04N 7/183: {for receiving images from a single remote source}
- H04N 21/42204: {User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor (constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205)}
- H04N 21/43615: {Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals (home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805)}
- H04L 12/2854: {Wide area networks, e.g. public data networks}
- G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING
- G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

Techniques are described for security and automation system. One method includes receiving, from an exterior camera located outside a structure, data associated with an occurrence of a security event associated with the structure, activating a light of the camera based at least in part on determining the received data is associated with the security event, and initiating an action at the first location based at least in part on determining that the received data is associated with the security event.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for security or automation systems, comprising:
receiving, from a camera located outside a first structure, data associated with an occurrence of a security event associated with the first structure;
determining that the received data is associated with the security event based at least in part on one or more computer learning techniques;
assigning a threat level to the security event based at least in part on data from the camera and a type of the security event, the type of the security event determined based at least in part on the one or more computer learning techniques;
determining, using the one or more computer learning techniques, whether the security event is authorized based at least in part on detecting a plurality of security events having the type of the security event within a period of time, the plurality of security events comprising the security event;
determining, using the one or more computer learning techniques, that the plurality of security events occurs in a threshold field of view;
sending a notification to adjust a field of view of the camera based at least in part on determining that the plurality of security events occurs in the threshold field of view;
updating the threat level of the security event using the one or more computer learning techniques based at least in part on processing a user input received in response to the security event and determining whether the security event is authorized;
activating a light of the camera based at least in part on determining the received data is associated with the security event and the updated threat level, wherein a characteristic of the light is associated with the updated threat level; and
initiating an action at a first location based at least in part on the one or more computer learning techniques, determining that the received data is associated with the security event, and the updated threat level.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein activating the light further comprises activating a geometric light shape disposed around a face of a lens of the camera.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein activating the light further comprises:
illuminating the light with a selected color based at least in part on an association between the selected color and receiving data associated with the occurrence of the security event.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein activating the light further comprises:
illuminating the light with a selected flashing pattern based at least in part on an association between the selected flashing pattern and receiving data associated with the occurrence of the security event.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, further comprising:
determining an occurrence of a second security event associated with the first structure occurring after the security event; and
selecting a second color to light a geometric light shape based at least in part on determining the occurrence of the second security event.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, further comprising:
selecting a second color to light a geometric light shape based at least in part on a passage of time after the occurrence of the security event.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein receiving data associated with the occurrence of the security event further comprises receiving data associated with the security event occurring within a predetermined distance of the first structure.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein receiving data associated with the occurrence of the security event further comprises receiving data associated with the occurrence of a third security event at a second structure in wireless communication with the first structure.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising:
activating a light of a second camera located outside of the second structure based at least in part on determining the received data is associated with the third security event at the second structure; and
illuminating the light with a second selected color based at least in part on an association between the second selected color and determining the third security event at the second structure.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising:
sending an instruction to a third structure to activate a light of a third camera located outside the third structure based at least in part on determining that the received data is associated with a fourth security event at the third structure and the third security event at the second structure.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising:
coordinating at least one of a color and a flashing pattern of the light of the camera, the second camera, and the third camera based at least in part on determining the security events at the first structure, the second structure, and the third structure are related.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein receiving data associated with the occurrence of the third security event at the second structure further comprises receiving data associated with a neighboring security event at a neighboring house.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
determining that the occurrence of the security event is an approved event; and
deactivating the light based at least in part on the determining.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein determining that the occurrence of the security event is an approved event further comprises:
determining the security event is approved based at least in part on determining historic event data occurring over a predetermined period of time.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein initiating the action further comprises at least one of:
activating an alarm, closing a door, locking the door, locking a window, activating sprinklers, activating a video mode on the camera, sending a first notification to an occupant of the first location, sending the first notification or a second notification to a third party, closing a garage door, locking a motor vehicle door, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein activating the alarm further comprises:
activating one of a plurality of alarms based at least in part on determining the occurrence of the security event.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
sending a suggested action to an occupant of the first structure based at least in part on receiving data associated with the security event.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein receiving data associated with the occurrence of the security event associated with the first structure further comprises:
receiving, from the camera, an indication of a presence of a person located within a predetermined distance of the first location;
determining that the person is not approved to be within the predetermined distance of the first location; and
wherein activating the light further comprises illuminating the light with a predetermined color based at least in part on determining that the person is not approved.

### Claim 19

An apparatus for security or automation systems, comprising:
a processor;
memory in electronic communication with the processor; and
instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to:
receive, from a camera located outside a structure, data associated with an occurrence of a security event associated with the structure;
determine that the received data is associated with the security event based at least in part on one or more computer learning techniques;
assign a threat level to the security event based at least in part on data from the camera and a type of the security event, the type of the security event determined based at least in part on the one or more computer learning techniques;
determine, using the one or more computer learning techniques, whether the security event is authorized based at least in part on detecting a plurality of security events having the type of the security event within a period of time, the plurality of security events comprising the security event;
determine, using the one or more computer learning techniques, that the plurality of security events occurs in a threshold field of view;
send a notification to adjust a field of view of the camera based at least in part on determining that the plurality of security events occurs in the threshold field of view;
update the threat level of the security event using the one or more computer learning techniques based at least in part on processing a user input received in response to the security event and determining whether the security event is authorized;
activate a light of the camera based at least in part on determining the received data is associated with the security event and the updated threat level, wherein a characteristic of the light is associated with the updated threat level; and
initiate an action at a first location based at least in part on the one or more computer learning techniques, determining that the received data is associated with the security event, and the updated threat level.

### Claim 20

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable code, the code executable by a processor to:
receive, from a camera located outside a structure, data associated with an occurrence of a security event associated with the structure;
determine that the received data is associated with the security event based at least in part on one or more computer learning techniques;
assign a threat level to the security event based at least in part on data from the camera and a type of the security event, the type of the security event determined based at least in part on the one or more computer learning techniques;
determine, using the one or more computer learning techniques, whether the security event is authorized based at least in part on detecting a plurality of security events having the type of the security event within a period of time, the plurality of security events comprising the security event;
determine, using the one or more computer learning techniques, that the plurality of security events occurs in a threshold field of view;
send a notification to adjust a field of view of the camera based at least in part on determining that the plurality of security events occurs in the threshold field of view;
update the threat level of the security event using the one or more computer learning techniques based at least in part on processing a user input received in response to the security event and determining whether the security event is authorized;
activate a light of the camera based at least in part on determining the received data is associated with the security event and the updated threat level, wherein a characteristic of the light is associated with the updated threat level; and
initiate an action at a first location based at least in part on the one or more computer learning techniques, determining that the received data is associated with the security event, and the updated threat level.