Smart Home Mesh Network Visitor Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current smart home systems lack integrated, intelligent, and network-connected devices that can seamlessly communicate to provide comprehensive home security and automation, leading to inefficiencies in managing visitors, security alerts, and energy management.
Innovation Solution
The development of intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connected devices such as smart thermostats, hazard detectors, doorbells, wall switches, and entry detectors that communicate with each other and a central server or cloud-computing system to provide automated control and feedback, enabling enhanced security, energy management, and visitor handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional separate security and automation systems are used, then device simplicity is maintained, but system integration and communication efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate security and automation devices into a unified smart home system where entry detectors, doorbells, thermostats, and hazard detectors all communicate through a common mesh network, enabling integrated control and shared intelligence across previously separate systems
Solution Approach 2:
The smart home devices are designed with multi-functionality, where a single device can serve multiple purposes - for example, the entry detector not only detects visitors but also integrates with the doorbell, security system, and automation routines, allowing one device to perform what previously required multiple specialized devices
2Productivity
If manual visitor management is used, then system complexity is reduced, but visitor handling efficiency and security response deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides self-service capabilities where visitors can interact with the smart doorbell, view displays, and receive automated responses without manual intervention from homeowners, while the system automatically manages detection, notification, and coordination between various security and automation devices
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback loops where the entry detector communicates visitor information to the doorbell and security system, which then provide automated responses and notifications back to visitors and homeowners, creating an intelligent feedback mechanism that improves visitor handling without requiring manual system management
3Reliability
If basic security devices are used, then device cost is reduced, but real-time monitoring and alert capabilities deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The smart home devices use periodic communication and event-triggered updates rather than continuous monitoring, where devices like entry detectors and thermostats transmit data periodically or when state changes occur, maintaining reliable security monitoring while reducing overall energy consumption compared to continuous active monitoring systems
Data Source
AI summary
This patent specification relates to apparatus, systems, methods, and related computer program products for providing home security/smart home objectives. More particularly, this patent specification relates to a plurality of devices, including intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connected devices, that communicate with each other and/or with a central server or a cloud-computing system to provide any of a variety of useful home security/smart home objectives.