Parcel Theft Deterrence for Audio/Video Recording and Communication Devices

Abstract

Methods for audio/video (A/V) recording and communication devices including a camera, are provided. One such method comprises determining that a parcel has been left within an area about the A/V recording and communication device, determining that the parcel has been removed from the area about the A/V recording and communication device, determining whether removal of the parcel from the area about the A/V recording and communication device was authorized, and when the removal of the parcel from the area about the A/V recording and communication device is determined to have been unauthorized, generating an alert.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An audio/video recording and communication device (A/V device), comprising:
 a camera having a field of view;   a communication module;   a processor operatively connected to the camera and to the communication module; and   memory storing a program comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the A/V device to:
 record, using the camera, video of the field of view; 
 determine that a parcel has been left within an area about the A/V device; 
 determine that the parcel has been removed from the area about the A/V device; 
 determine that removal of the parcel from the area about the A/V device was unauthorized; and 
 generate an alert. 
   
     
     
         2 . The A/V device of  claim 1 , wherein the program comprises further instructions that, when executed by the processor, further cause the A/V device to determine that the parcel has been left within the area about the A/V device by at least one of comparing a plurality of video frames of the video recorded using the camera of the A/V device, receiving information from a carrier that delivered the parcel, or using automatic identification and data capture (AIDC). 
     
     
         3 . The A/V device of  claim 2 , wherein the AIDC comprises at least one of a barcode, a matrix code, a bokode, and radio frequency identification (RFID). 
     
     
         4 . The A/V device of  claim 1 , wherein the program comprises further instructions that, when executed by the processor, further cause the A/V device to determine that the parcel has been removed from the area about the A/V device by at least one of comparing a plurality of video frames of the video recorded using the camera of the A/V device, or using automatic identification and data capture (AIDC). 
     
     
         5 . The A/V device of  claim 4 , wherein the AIDC comprises at least one of a barcode, a matrix code, a bokode, and radio frequency identification (RFID). 
     
     
         6 . The A/V device of  claim 1 , wherein the program comprises further instructions that, when executed by the processor, further cause the A/V device to determine that removal of the parcel from the area about the A/V device was unauthorized by at least one of detecting a direction of movement of the parcel, or using automatic identification and data capture (AIDC). 
     
     
         7 . The A/V device of  claim 6 , wherein the AIDC comprises at least one of a barcode, a matrix code, a bokode, radio frequency identification (RFID), a smart card, a magnetic stripe, optical character recognition (OCR), biometrics, voice recognition, facial recognition, three-dimensional facial recognition, and skin texture analysis. 
     
     
         8 . The A/V device of  claim 1 , wherein the alert comprises the video recorded using the camera of the A/V device. 
     
     
         9 . The A/V device of  claim 1 , wherein the program comprises further instructions that, when executed by the processor, further cause the A/V device to send, using the communication module, the video recorded using the camera to a network device. 
     
     
         10 . The A/V device of  claim 1 , wherein the program comprises further instructions that, when executed by the processor, further cause the A/V device to send, using the communication module, the alert to a client device via a server. 
     
     
         11 . The A/V device of  claim 1  further comprising a speaker, wherein the alert comprises an audible alarm emitted from the speaker of the A/V device. 
     
     
         12 . The A/V device of  claim 1  further comprising a speaker, wherein the alert comprises an announcement emitted from the speaker of the A/V device, the announcement comprising a warning that the area about the A/V device is being recorded. 
     
     
         13 . An audio/video recording and communication device (A/V device), comprising:
 a camera having a field of view;   a speaker;   a communication module;   a processor operatively connected to the camera, the speaker, and the communication module; and   memory storing a program comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the A/V device to:
 determine that a parcel has been left within an area about the A/V device; 
 detect a person within the area about the A/V device; 
 record, using the camera, video of the field of view; and 
 emit an alert from the speaker of the A/V device. 
   
     
     
         14 . The A/V device of  claim 13 , wherein the program comprises further instructions that, when executed by the processor, further cause the A/V device to determine that the parcel has been left within the area about the A/V device by comparing a plurality of video frames of the video recorded using the camera of the A/V device. 
     
     
         15 . The A/V device of  claim 13 , wherein the program comprises further instructions that, when executed by the processor, further cause the A/V device to detect the person within the area about the A/V device by comparing a plurality of video frames of the video recorded using the camera of the A/V device. 
     
     
         16 . The A/V device of  claim 13 , wherein the program comprises further instructions that, when executed by the processor, further cause the A/V device to determine that the parcel has been left within the area about the A/V device by at least one of receiving information from a carrier that delivered the parcel, or using automatic identification and data capture (AIDC). 
     
     
         17 . The A/V device of  claim 16 , wherein the AIDC comprises at least one of a barcode, a matrix code, a bokode, and radio frequency identification (RFID). 
     
     
         18 . The A/V device of  claim 13 , wherein the alert comprises at least one of an audible alarm and an announcement warning the person that he or she is being recorded. 
     
     
         19 . The A/V device of  claim 13 , wherein the program comprises further instructions that, when executed by the processor, further cause the A/V device to send, using the communication module, the video recorded using the camera to a network device. 
     
     
         20 . The A/V device of  claim 13 , wherein the program comprises further instructions that, when executed by the processor, further cause the A/V device to send, using the communication module, an alert to a client device via a server.