Patent ID: 8516514

Claim:
A system comprising: a processor; and a memory, wherein the memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations including: receiving data from a set-top box device, the data relating to usage of each device of a plurality of devices within a residence and a location of a person within the residence; analyzing the data from the set-top box device to determine if an alert condition is satisfied, wherein the alert condition is satisfied in response to satisfaction of a usage threshold of a particular device of the plurality of devices and satisfaction of a location condition based on the location of the person within the residence; and in response to the alert condition being satisfied and while a video camera is inactive, sending a notification to the set-top box, wherein the notification indicates that the video camera is to be activated, the notification includes a first option that enables the person within the residence to block activation of the video camera, and the notification directs the set-top box to send the notification to a user device that is associated with the person within the residence and that is distinct from the set-top box and the video camera, and wherein the notification further includes a list of a plurality of third parties that are to receive a video stream upon activation of the video camera and a second option to block sending of the video stream to a subset of the plurality of third parties.