Obviousness

US patent 7583191 ("the '191 patent") describes a security system and method for remote surveillance and communication at an entry point, typically a doorway, using a cellular telephone. The system allows an individual, such as a homeowner, to monitor visual and audio communications at the entry point and engage in two-way audio communication with a visitor, even when away from the property. The patent highlights the advantage of allowing the homeowner to appear present, deterring potential intruders.

Under 35 U.S.C. § 103, an invention is deemed obvious if "the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the subject matter as a whole would have been obvious at the time the invention was made to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the subject matter pertains." This analysis requires identifying a combination of prior art references that disclose all elements of the claim and a motivation for a person having ordinary skill in the art (PHOSITA) to combine these references.

The priority date of US7583191 is November 14, 2006. The following analysis focuses on independent claims 1, 8, 14, and 19, which cover the core aspects of the invention.

Combination of Prior Art References

A compelling combination of prior art references that would render the claims of US7583191 obvious to a PHOSITA includes:

1. US5907352A to Gilley (1999): Discloses a "door mountable security system" that includes a "door mounted video camera," a "PIR sensor" (Passive Infrared sensor) for detecting activity, and an "internal telephone with an automatic dialer to dial a pre-programmed number" to a remote monitoring service or homeowner when the sensor is triggered.
2. US7193644B2 to Revolutionary Concepts, Inc. (priority 2002): Describes an "Automated audio video messaging and answering system" for an entrance that allows a remotely located person to "receive visual and auditory information" and to "communicate two-way audio information with the visitor" via a "mobile telephone." It includes an "audio pick-up device" (microphone) and an "audio play back device" (speaker) at the entrance.
3. US6661340B1 to Microstrategy Incorporated (2003): Teaches a "system and method for connecting security systems to a wireless device," specifically mentioning "a cellular phone," to allow a user to "remotely monitor and control a security system."

Obviousness Analysis

Claim 1: Doorbell Monitoring System (System Claim)

Claim 1 describes a doorbell monitoring system with an entry point, a doorbell as a triggering event, a video camera and external microphone at the entry point for capturing and transmitting A/V communications, an external speaker for rendering cellular audio, a control unit, and a remote cellular telephone for two-way audio and rendering received A/V.

• Doorway, Doorbell as Triggering Event: Gilley discloses a "door mountable security system" for a residential or business establishment, inherently at a doorway. While Gilley primarily uses a PIR sensor as a trigger, a doorbell is a conventional and obvious alternative or additional triggering event for a door monitoring system. A PHOSITA would readily understand that ringing a doorbell is a primary way a visitor announces their presence at an entry point, making it a natural trigger for surveillance.
• Video Camera and External Microphone Disposed in Entry Point, Capturing A/V, Transmitting: Gilley teaches a "door mounted video camera." Revolutionary Concepts specifically discloses an "audio pick-up device" (microphone) and a camera at an entrance for capturing "visual and auditory information." Combining a video camera with an audio microphone for comprehensive surveillance at an entry point would be an obvious design choice for a PHOSITA, as many existing security and intercom systems of the time integrated both. Both references disclose transmitting this captured data.
• External Speaker Disposed in Entry Point for Rendering Cellular Audio: Revolutionary Concepts teaches an "audio play back device" or speaker located at the entrance for playing audio messages to a visitor and enabling two-way audio communication.
• Control Unit: Gilley discloses a "main control box" connected to the camera and sensor. Revolutionary Concepts also describes a central controller. A PHOSITA would routinely adapt such a control unit to interface with a doorbell, video camera, external microphone, and external speaker for processing and relaying A/V and audio data, as these are standard components of communication and security systems.
• Cellular Telephone Disposed Remotely, Capturing/Transmitting Cellular Audio, Rendering Entry Point Communications: Gilley anticipates remote communication via an automatic dialer. Microstrategy directly teaches connecting security systems to a "cellular phone" for remote monitoring and control. Revolutionary Concepts further specifies that a "remotely located person" can receive "visual and auditory information" and communicate "two-way audio information with the visitor" using a "mobile telephone." The capability of cellular phones to capture and transmit audio, and to render received audio and visual data (images/video), was well-known in the art by 2006, especially with advancements in 2G and 3G cellular networks as described in the '191 patent itself.

Motivation to Combine for Claim 1:
A PHOSITA, aiming to improve the remote monitoring capabilities of Gilley's door security system, would be motivated to integrate the two-way audio and one-way video communication features described in Revolutionary Concepts. The limitation of Gilley's system to a simple auto-dialer would be overcome by the more interactive communication offered by Revolutionary Concepts. Furthermore, applying Microstrategy's teaching to use a cellular phone as the remote device for this improved communication would be a natural and desirable step, given the widespread adoption and increasing capabilities of cellular technology for data and voice communication by 2006. This combination would provide a more robust and interactive remote monitoring solution, allowing a homeowner to engage with visitors from anywhere, a clear and desirable enhancement.

Claim 8: Method for Providing Doorbell Monitoring (Method Claim)

Claim 8 outlines a method for doorbell monitoring, including ringing a doorbell, capturing A/V communications responsive to the ringing, relaying/rendering A/V at a cellular phone, and capturing/relaying/rendering audio from the cellular phone back to the entry point.

The method steps are directly supported by the functionalities of the combined systems described for Claim 1. The ringing of a doorbell (common practice) triggering A/V capture (Gilley for video, Revolutionary Concepts for audio/video), relaying this data to a cellular phone (Microstrategy for cellular connection), rendering it there (inherent in cellular phone capabilities as noted in Revolutionary Concepts), and enabling two-way audio from the cellular phone to the entry point (Revolutionary Concepts) would be obvious.

Motivation to Combine for Claim 8:
The motivation remains the same: to enhance remote interaction and communication with visitors at an entry point by leveraging existing doorbell mechanisms with known audio/video capture, cellular communication, and remote rendering/transmission technologies.

Claim 14: Doorbell Monitoring System (Means-Plus-Function Claim)

Claim 14 presents a doorbell monitoring system using "means for" clauses that correspond to the functionalities in Claim 8. The analysis for obviousness would map these "means for" clauses to the structures and functionalities found in the combined prior art references. For example, "means, responsive to the ringing of the doorbell, for capturing visual and audio communications" would be met by the doorbell, video camera, and external microphone (as detailed above for Claim 1) connected to a control unit, as disclosed by Gilley and Revolutionary Concepts. The same combination and rationale would apply, as means-plus-function claims are interpreted to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.

Motivation to Combine for Claim 14:
The motivation for combining prior art references for Claim 14 is identical to that for Claims 1 and 8, focusing on achieving the described functional improvements through known and readily combinable structures and methods.

Claim 19: Doorbell Monitoring System with Proximity Detector (System Claim)

Claim 19 is similar to Claim 1 but explicitly adds a "proximity detector disposed in the doorway, the proximity detector for actuating the video camera and the external microphone in response to an individual approaching the doorway."

• Proximity Detector for Actuating Camera and Microphone: Gilley explicitly discloses a "PIR sensor" that detects activity in front of the door and, when triggered, actuates the system (e.g., dials a number). A PIR sensor is a type of proximity detector. The function of this sensor in Gilley is precisely to actuate the monitoring system, which includes the video camera. Extending this actuation to an external microphone (as supplied by Revolutionary Concepts) would be a straightforward engineering decision for a PHOSITA to ensure complete A/V capture upon detection of an approaching individual. Having both a doorbell trigger and a proximity detector trigger for the same A/V capture system is a common design choice for comprehensive monitoring.

Motivation to Combine for Claim 19:
The motivation to combine Gilley, Revolutionary Concepts, and Microstrategy to address Claim 19 remains robust. Gilley's inclusion of a PIR sensor directly teaches the use of a proximity detector to activate a door monitoring system. A PHOSITA would recognize the value of triggering the camera and microphone by either a doorbell ring (as per Claim 1) or a proximity detection (as per Gilley) to provide comprehensive surveillance coverage at an entry point. This combination simply integrates known triggering mechanisms with known remote A/V communication capabilities via cellular networks for enhanced security and convenience.

In conclusion, a PHOSITA, motivated to enhance existing door security and monitoring systems with advanced remote communication capabilities, would find it obvious to combine the teachings of Gilley, Revolutionary Concepts, and Microstrategy to arrive at the subject matter of claims 1, 8, 14, and 19 of US7583191. The desire for real-time remote surveillance and interactive communication via ubiquitous cellular devices represents a clear rationale for such a combination.