Apple Buys Patent Portfolio From Failed Home Security Camera Company Lighthouse AI

[MacRumors]

Apple recently acquired the patent portfolio of Lighthouse AI, a home security company that went out of business at the end of last year, reports London-based site IAM.

Lighthouse AI created in-home security cameras with people, pet, and facial recognition that used advanced AI techniques to distinguish adults from kids and to customize alerts. It also supported voice-based natural commands like "let me know if the kids aren't home by 4pm on weekdays" and "what did the kids do while I was out yesterday?"

Lighthouse had several patents that have been snapped up by Apple. Most include standard security camera features, but there are a couple that are related to the depth sensing technology that Lighthouse used. A list of granted and pending patents that Apple purchased (via AppleInsider) are below:

[*]9,396,400: Computer-vision based security system using a depth camera
[*]9,965,612: Method and system for visual authentication
[*]10,009,554: Method and system for using light emission by a depth-sensing camera to capture video images under low-light conditions
[*]20170032192: Computer-Vision Based Security System Using a Depth Camera
[*]20180367962: Two-Way Communication Interface for Vision-Based Monitoring System
[*]20180246964: Speech Interface for Vision-Based Monitoring System
[*]20180374325: Method and System for Incident Sharing in a Monitoring System

Lighthouse ultimately went out of business because it was unable to compete in a crowded home security camera market where it was pitted against higher-profile companies like Ring, Nest, Logitech, and Arlo.

There have never been rumors suggesting Apple has an interest in creating a home security camera product, but some of the technology used by Lighthouse could be applied to other hardware. Apple already uses facial recognition technology in iPhones and iPads with the launch of Face ID, and it is rumored to be including 3D camera tech in 2020 iPhones and iPads.

Article Link: Apple Buys Patent Portfolio From Failed Home Security Camera Company Lighthouse AI

 

[mcfrazieriv]

Built into every Apple TV: "Siri, let me know when the children are watching skin-amax (Cinemax)".....

 

[cmaier]

Looks like many but not all claims are specifically directed to monitoring or security systems. Depending on how construed, might not be very useful in faceid type situations. Maybe homepods get security features.

 

[Naraxus]

Maybe homepods get security features.

How about Homepod gets a Siri that's actually useful first before we start talking about security....

 

[cmaier]

How about Homepod gets a Siri that's actually useful first before we start talking about security....

What do these patents have to do about Siri?

 

[blacktape242]

whatever happened to the liquid metal they bought? im sure it will be the same as this... not too much...

 

[mtneer]

Just because Apple bought these patents from a failed security monitoring company does not mean that Apple will only utilize them in its own security gadget. Most of the patents have very broad names and Apple can use them on other gadgets or use cases too.

 

[cmaier]

Just because Apple bought these patents from a failed security monitoring company does not mean that Apple will only utilize them in its own security gadget. Most of the patents have very broad names and Apple can use them on other gadgets or use cases too.

The names of the patents don’t matter. The claims in the patents are what matter.

 

[now i see it]

Perhaps  is getting into the business the patent troll companies are in: Buying up patents. If they were more on the ball, they could have purchased the very patents that the patent troll companies bought up and used to sue them. It's cheaper to buy patents than to get sued by them.

 

[cashville2400]

Amazing.....4 years ago

 

[AngerDanger]

That smart cam is a couple of legs away from being on of Aperture Science’s turrets.

 

[jamezr]

soon Apple will be in East Texas filing patent claims.....

 

[cmaier]

soon Apple will be in East Texas filing patent claims.....

Doubtful. They haven’t done that with any of the rest of their patents.

 

[jamezr]

Doubtful. They haven’t done that with any of the rest of their patents.

I agree with you...just having a little fun at Apple's expense so to speak. They have been protesting patent trolls in East Texas and have plans to close the Apple stores in that area in protest.

 

[cmaier]

I agree with you...just having a little fun at Apple's expense so to speak. They have been protesting patent trolls in East Texas and have plans to close the Apple stores in that area in protest.

Not in protest. They are closing them so they can’t be sued there. A protest is merely a complaint. What they’re doing is far more useful.

 

[Alan Wynn]

Apple is not interested in home security cameras and has no plans for such a product, but some of the technology used by Lighthouse could be applied to other hardware.

To the author of the article: Based on what do you make this statement? Did Apple state this some where or is this just speculation on your part? You state this as a fact but provide no reference as to how you know.

 

[bladerunner2000]

Pretty sad how Apple is subjected to buying out failed projects instead of innovation. Did they run out of ideas? Perhaps they could remove some more much needed ports on their devices?

 

[Bonte]

Didn't know Lighthouse AI was dead already.

 

[Arctic Moose]

To the author of the article: Based on what do you make this statement? Did Apple state this some where or is this just speculation on your part?

This is my question also, especially considering Tim Cook is "planting seeds" and "rolling the dice" on future products that will "blow you away."

 

[Naraxus]

Doubtful. They haven’t done that with any of the rest of their patents.

No they just set up shell companies to do it for them

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockstar_Consortium

 

[Porco]

Sounds like sensible protective/defensive purchases to have some more patents related to cameras and depth sensors. I mean relatively sensible in the context of the crazy world of patents of course.

 

[nathan_reilly]

To the author of the article: Based on what do you make this statement? Did Apple state this some where or is this just speculation on your part? You state this as a fact but provide no reference as to how you know.

I logged in to say this. Ridiculous assertation snuck in there at the end of an otherwise fact-based piece... everything is so precise right until the last paragraph.

 

[biziclop]

Monkey loves you!

 

[apolloa]

Patent trolls.....

 

[Cosmosent]

The Samsung Galaxy S10+ has an 8 Mpx Depth Data Map image sensor FRONT camera.

I suspect AAPL will do the same as a BACK camera enhancement.

Specifically, probably a 16-bit linear output 8 Mpx Depth Data Map-ONLY image sensor that captures @ 30 fps.

NOT Rocket Science, a 10yo kid Skilled in the Art could (easily) figure out what AAPL's iPhones & iPads need most, besides 10-bit color capture & display support, which is clearly #1.