Smart doorbells are being developed that can spot suspected parcel thieves and report them to police.
The Amazon Ring system allows CCTV and motion sensors to learn about unusual situations outside the home, so it can tell the difference between children playing, a dog frolicking and a wrongdoer lurking.
An infrared camera would trigger floodlights and play a message warning: “You are being recorded. The police have been summoned. You should flee immediately.” Video would be beamed to the homeowner’s phone.
According to a patent application the system is “behaviourally aware”, evaluating what is happening in front of it using artificial intelligence.
Amazon gives the example that “if a person approaches a front door and then runs away, they may be stealing a previously delivered package”.
Amazon’s invention works by tracking everyday events to build up a searchable database of activity of what is considered normal or abnormal at certain times of day, and a visitor’s threat level.
Security devices could be linked across a district to check for burglars, thieves, vandals and trespassers.
Algorithms will learn “behaviour patterns” by using facial, object and vehicle recognition, Amazon says.
Videos could be collected over time so the owner can search a clip library for “unusual or suspicious” activity.
The software would be trained to recognise the sound of breaking glass or when a person is wearing sunglasses at night, or a hoodie or scarf on a warm day, which could be being used to cover their face.
A spokeswoman for Amazon subsidiary Ring, which makes its smart doorbells, said: “We are always innovating to make our neighbourhoods better places to live, and this patent is one of many ideas to enhance the services we offer.”
