Smart Doorbell Automatic Call Setup Time Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional smart video doorbell systems take too long to establish a communication connection between the doorbell unit and a smartphone or external device, often exceeding 30 seconds, which can be inconvenient for individuals like postmen who are in a hurry.

Innovation Solution

A method that automatically establishes a call setup between the doorbell unit and an external device upon detection of the doorbell activation, sending bell information and muting the call until the user manually unmuting it, allowing for swift voice or video communication connection establishment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If a conventional smart video doorbell system is used to establish communication between the doorbell unit and external device, then the communication connection can be established, but the call setup time exceeds 30 seconds which is too long for users in a hurry

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecall setup timeVSAvoidautomatic call establishment
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing communication channels and pre-loading necessary communication protocols before the actual call is needed. When the doorbell is activated, the communication infrastructure is already prepared, allowing immediate connection establishment without requiring full setup procedures to be executed from scratch.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The doorbell unit automatically initiates and manages the call establishment process without requiring user intervention. The system detects bell activation, automatically dials the registered external device, and establishes the communication connection autonomously, eliminating the need for users to manually initiate calls or configure settings during the ringing event.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Loss of time

If the call setup is automatically established upon doorbell activation, then the communication connection is established quickly, but the call may be established before the user is ready to answer

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecall setup timeVSAvoidcall connection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the doorbell unit monitors whether the external device has successfully answered the call. If the call is not answered within a predetermined time period, the system automatically terminates the call attempt and can retry or notify the user, ensuring that communication resources are not wasted on unsuccessful connections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The call establishment process is made dynamic by allowing the system to adapt its behavior based on real-time conditions. The call can be automatically established and quickly terminated if not answered, or extended if the user takes time to respond. The system dynamically adjusts the call duration and termination based on whether the external device answers within the expected time frame.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3337100B1Method for providing a communication between a doorbell unit of a smart home and an external device, computer program products and doorbell unit
Publication Date: 2019.05.01 VODAFONE GMBH
  • EP3337100B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3337100B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3337100B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for providing a communication connection between a doorbell unit (10) of a smart home (20) and at least one external device (30) outside the smart home (20), comprising the steps: detecting an activation of a bell (11) of the doorbell unit (10), upon detection of the activation of the bell (11), automatically establishing a call setup (100) between the doorbell unit (10) and the external device (30) for a call, in particular a voice call, between a user of the external device (30) and an activator of the bell (11), and sending bell information to the external device (10). The invention further relates to a doorbell unit (10), a computer program product (1) of the doorbell unit (10) and a computer program product (2) configured to carry out the inventive method.