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Nell Barreto

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Aug 4, 2024, 5:04:16 AM8/4/24

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Apple Buys Patents from Lighthouse AI, a Failed Home Security Camera Company

Apple has quietly purchased a number of patents and patent applications from Lighthouse AI, a home security camera company that went out of business in December 2018. The patents relate to 3D sensing, artificial intelligence, and video monitoring technologies that could be used for future home security products or features.

Lighthouse AI was a small startup that aimed to create a smart home security camera that could recognize faces and objects, and alert users to important events. The camera used a depth-sensing camera and machine learning algorithms to filter out irrelevant footage and provide intelligent insights. The company also offered a mobile app that allowed users to communicate with their family members or pets through the camera.

However, Lighthouse AI failed to achieve commercial success and compete with other home security camera makers such as Nest, Ring, and Arlo. The company announced its shutdown in December 2018 and offered refunds to its customers.

According to IAM, a patent-tracking magazine, Apple acquired three Lighthouse AI patents and three patent applications related to capturing video and monitoring environments for security purposes sometime in late 2018. The transaction was not revealed until recently when the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) updated their ownership information.

The patents that Apple acquired are:

U.S. Patent No. 9,396,400: âComputer-vision based security system using a depth cameraâ (as well as two accompanying pending applications for similar technology)

U.S. Patent No. 9,965,612: âMethod and system for visual authenticationâ

U.S. Patent No. 10,009,554: âMethod and system for using light emission by a depth-sensing camera to capture video images under low-light conditions.â

The patent applications that Apple acquired are:

U.S. Patent Application: âSpeech interference for vision-based monitoring systemâ

U.S. Patent Application: âTwo-way communication interface for vision-based monitoring systemâ

U.S. Patent Application: âMethod and system for incident sharing in a monitoring systemâ

It is unclear what Apple plans to do with these patents, but it is possible that the company is interested in developing its own home security products or features. Apple already offers HomeKit, a platform that allows users to control compatible smart home devices with their iOS devices or Siri. HomeKit also supports some home security cameras from third-party manufacturers.

Apple could also use the 3D sensing and artificial intelligence technologies from Lighthouse AI to enhance its Face ID system, which is used for unlocking iPhones and iPads with facial recognition. Face ID uses a depth-sensing camera and machine learning algorithms to create a 3D map of the user's face and compare it with the stored data.

Apple has not commented on the acquisition of Lighthouse AI's patents. The company is known for making small acquisitions of companies or their assets that could be integrated into its existing or future products.