Parcel theft deterrence for audio/video recording and communication devices

Abstract

Some aspects of the present embodiments provide a method for setting an audio/video (A/V) recording and communication device in a parcel protection mode. The method receives, form the A/V recording and communication device, a notification about a parcel being placed within an area about the A/V recording and communication device. The method receives a request for activating the parcel protection mode. Upon receiving the request, the method sends an activation signal to the A/V recording and communication device to set the A/V recording and communication device in the parcel protection mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for parcel protection, the method comprising:
 determining, at a network device, that a parcel has been left in an area about an audio/video recording and communication device (A/V device);   sending an activation signal to set the A/V device in a parcel protection mode;   receiving, from the A/V device while in the parcel protection mode, at least one image depicting a face of a person removing the parcel from the area about the A/V device;   comparing the image to at least one other image stored in a database, the database including images of previously-identified persons involved in an activity; and   generating an alert when the at least one image matches the at least one other image.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , the activity including criminal activity. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , the activity including parcel theft. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , the database including images of previously-identified persons involved in the activity within a defined area about a location of the A/V device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , the database including images previously published and captured by other A/V devices within a defined area. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , the alert indicating that removal of the parcel is unauthorized. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sending the alert to a client device associated with the A/V device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , the alert comprising audio and/or video data generated by the A/V device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sending a signal to cause the A/V device to emit audio from a speaker of the A/V device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , the audio comprising one of an audible alarm or an announcement. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , the determining that the parcel has been left comprising:
 receiving, from the A/V device, information of an object near the A/V device; and   comparing the information with other information in one or more databases to determine whether the object is a parcel.   
     
     
         12 . A method for automatic parcel protection, the method comprising:
 determining that a parcel has been left in an area about an audio/video recording and communication device (A/V device);   transitioning the A/V device into a parcel protection mode;   capturing at least one image of a person removing the parcel;   sending the at least one image to a network device;   receiving, from the network device, a signal; and   in response to the signal, generating audio from a speaker of the A/V device.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising determining that the parcel is being removed. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , the determining that the parcel has been left comprising:
 capturing an image of an object using a camera of the A/V device; and   determining, within a vision processing unit of the A/V device, that the object is a parcel.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , the vision processing unit comprising an artificial intelligence (AI) accelerator. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , the vision processing unit running a machine vision algorithm selected from the group comprising a convolutional neural network and smart information flow technologies (SIFT). 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , the determining that the parcel has been left comprising:
 sending information of the object to a network device; and   receiving, from the network device, an indication that the object is a parcel.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , the determining that the parcel has been left comprising receiving, from a network device, a signal indicating that the parcel has been left.