“From time to time Apple buys smaller companies and generally does not discuss its goals or plans.” This is a very traditional statement that company spokespeople give whenever an acquisition is made – something that happens quite often. What doesn’t happen so much (although there is one case here and there), however, is seeing Apple buying patents.
Lighthouse AI security cameraThe English publication AMI claimed that Apple recently acquired eight patents from an extinct home security camera company called Lighthouse AI – in a possible future effort to expand its own technology for identifying users with artificial intelligence.
Some of the patents involve standard security protocols; others, however, cover depth detection technologies, as shown 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 sensor camera to capture video images under low light conditions”.
There are still patents that are being revised and that can still be granted, which cover descriptions exactly the same as those mentioned above, as well as “Speech interface for vision-based monitoring system”, “Bidirectional communication interface for monitoring system based on vision ”and“ Method and system for sharing incidents in a monitoring system ”.
According to the AppleInsider, Lighthouse closed its doors at the end of 2018 after its $ 300 home security camera did not perform as expected in a fierce competitive market (comprised of brands like Ring, Nest, Arlo, Wyze, Logi, etc.). The Lighthouse product worked with a subscription which enabled some artificial intelligence features (3D and depth detection capability to help facial recognition of visitors, family members, etc., sending alerts to users’ smartphones only when something really important thing happened – decreasing the number of false positives).
Will Apple enter the security camera market? Difficult to drive something. While the AppleInsider bet that Apple should use patents to protect itself in court and strengthen technologies for the cameras of iPhones, iPads and Macs (there are rumors of iPhones adopting 3D cameras), Brian Roemmele believes that low light depth detection and visual authentication are technologies that would combine very well with a second generation of HomePod (equipped with camera and screen).
Boom!
Apple acquires the landmark patents of Lighthouse AI!
With depth sensing in low light plus distant visual login / authentication. Likely to form a user confirmation of HomePod II with camera and screen. A new Apple #VoiceFirst device.https: //t.co/fTYnHxVCia pic.twitter.com/4idkpeFMQf
– Brian Roemmele (@BrianRoemmele) March 4, 2019
Place your bets.
