Patent Application
20140098227
1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to smart home technology, and particularly to a smart doorbell device capable of functioning by remote control and a remote doorbell control system using the smart doorbell device.
2. Description of Related Art
Existing doorbells can provide video function to allow user to check who the visitors are, and to carry out dialogue with the visitors, and then the user can identify the visitors, and decide whether to open the door. However, these doorbells are only for use if the user is at home. If the user is out (not at home) the visitors cannot communicate through the doorbell with the user. Further, the outdoor user cannot check if someone is at the door when not at home.
Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.
Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
In this embodiment, the smart doorbell device 20 generates doorbell signal and sends it to the control device 40 via the smart gateway 30, and user can use the control device 40 to send control signals to the smart doorbell device 20 via the smart gateway 30. The smart doorbell device 20 executes corresponding functions when it receives the control signals. The smart doorbell device 20 can further send doorbell information back to the control device 40 for user to check, via or not via the smart gateway 30. Therefore, the user can remote control the smart doorbell device 20 via the control device 40.
The doorbell signal generating unit 22 generates a doorbell signal and sends the doorbell signal to the control circuit 251. In an embodiment, the doorbell signal generating unit 22 comprises a button for activating the generation of the doorbell signal when it is pressed. In another embodiment, the doorbell signal generating unit 22 comprises a proximity sensor for activating the generation of the doorbell signal when it has sensed that someone come close to it.
The camera 21 captures video of outdoor surroundings.
The outdoor sound sensor 23 and the indoor sound sensor 26 respectively sense outdoor and indoor sound signals, and obtain corresponding audio information.
The display screen 27 displays the video captured by the camera 21, and provides an operation interface for the user to answer the doorbell signal, or enable or unable a dialogue function, et al.
The memory 252 stores answer modes for the smart doorbell device 20. In this embodiment, the answer modes for the smart doorbell device 20 include a local answer mode and a remote answer mode. In a first embodiment, the answer modes for the smart doorbell device 20 are switchable by the user through the operation interface provided on the display screen 27. In a second embodiment, when the control circuit 251 receives the doorbell signal, the control circuit 251 automatically sets the local answer mode. If the control circuit 251 does not receive any response signal, such as an unlocking control signal to unlock the door, in a predetermined time period, the control circuit 251 determines that nobody is at home at this time, and then automatically switches the local answer mode to the remote answer mode for the smart doorbell device 20. In a third embodiment, the system 100 further includes an indoor sensor for sensing whether someone is at home. When the indoor sensor obtains sensed information indicating that someone is home at this time, the control circuit 251 automatically sets the smart doorbell device 20 to the local answer mode; otherwise, the control circuit 251 automatically sets the smart doorbell device 20 to the remote answer mode.
In this embodiment, if the smart doorbell device is set to the local answer mode, when the control circuit 251 receives a doorbell signal. The control circuit 251 controls the indoor sound sensor 26 to ring to alert indoor user that a visitor has arrived. Simultaneously the control circuit 251 controls the camera 21 to capture video of outdoor surroundings, controls the display screen 27 to display the video, and activates the outdoor sound sensor 23 and the indoor sound sensor 26 to carry out a dialogue between the indoor user and the visitor.
If the smart doorbell device is set to the remote answer mode, when the control circuit 251 receives a doorbell signal. The control circuit 251 sends the doorbell signal to the control device 40 having the preset communication number via the smart gateway 30.
In this embodiment, the first communication module 253 includes a first wireless communication module 2531 and a first wired communication module 2532.
The second communication module 32 includes a second wireless communication module 321 and a second wired communication module 322.
In this embodiment, the first wireless communication module 2531 and the second wireless communication module 321 can both emit and receive near field wireless signals, in order to allow the smart doorbell device 20 to communicate with the smart gateway 30 via wireless communication technology. The near field wireless signals may include, but are not limited to be, infrared, BLUETOOTH, Z-WAVE, NFC, ZIGBEE, RF, and WIFI signals.
The first wired communication module 2532 and the second wired communication module 322 can communicate with each other via Power Line Communication (PLC), Optical Fiber Power Line Communication (OPLC), or via the Internet, coaxial cable, telephone line, or other communication technologies. Therefore, the smart doorbell device 20 can communicate with the smart gateway 30 via wired communication technology.
In this embodiment, the smart doorbell device 20 is connected to the smart gateway 30 via a power line 50 (as shown in
The second wireless communication module 321 of the smart gateway 30 can also communicate with the control device 40 via near field wireless communication technology. Correspondingly, the control device 40 may be selected from a group consisting of a mobile phone, a tablet computer, and a notebook computer, which is provided with infrared, BLUETOOTH, Z-WAVE, ZIGBEE, RF, or WIFI communication functions.
In this embodiment, the second communication module 32 of the smart gateway 30 can also communicate with the control device 40 via Internet, GPRS, GSM, CDMA, 3G, or 4G communication technologies. Correspondingly, the control device 40 may be a computer, which can be connected to Internet, or may be a mobile phone, which is provided with GPRS, GSM, CDMA, 3G, or 4G communication functions.
In this embodiment, the control circuit 251 controls the first communication module 253 to send the doorbell signal to the smart gateway 30. The second communication module 32 of the smart gateway 30 receives the doorbell signal, and the control module 31 reads the preset communication number from the storage module 33 in response to the doorbell signal, and controls the second communication module 32 to sends the doorbell signal to the control device 40 having the preset communication number.
The second communication module 32 of the smart gateway 30 can also receive control signals from the control device 40 and send the control signals to the smart doorbell device 20. The control circuit 251 of the smart doorbell device 20 then activates corresponding functions in response to the control signals. Therefore, the system 100 allows the user to operate the control device 40 in his hands to remotely control the smart doorbell device 20 at anywhere and anytime.
In this embodiment, the control signals include, but are not limited to be, video control signal, audio control signal, and unlocking control signal.
In this embodiment, the control device 40 can first pop-up a hint to alert the user whether to check the video, and generates a video control signal back to the smart doorbell device 20 if the user chooses to check the video.
The control device 40 can then display the control interface 401. The control interface 401 can be provided with a display area for displaying the video, and several control icons 402, such as “Lock” icon, “Dialogue” icon, “Off” icon, which aligns with the display area.
The control circuit 251 activates the camera 21 to real timely capture the video and controls the first communication module 253 to send the video to the control device 40 for displaying, in response to the video control signal.
If the user further chooses the “Dialogue” icon, the control device 40 generates an audio control signal and sends it to the smart doorbell device 20. The control circuit 251 of the smart doorbell device 20 activates the outdoor sound sensor 23 in response to the audio control signal. Then the audio information can be transmitted between the smart doorbell device 20 and the control device 40 in real time.
If the user further chooses an “Unlock” option associated to the “Lock” icon, the control device 40 generates an unlocking control signal and sends it to the smart doorbell device 20. The control circuit 251 of the doorbell device 20 controls the locking device 24 to open the door in response to the unlocking control signal.
In another embodiment, even if no doorbell signal has been received, the user can use the control device 40 to actively send control signals to the smart doorbell device 20 to check doorbell information of the house. Therefore, the security of the house can be improved.
Moreover, it is to be understood that the disclosure may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit thereof. Thus, the present examples and embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the disclosure is not to be limited to the details given herein.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012103809131 | Oct 2012 | CN | national |
