Because Your Doorbell Wasn't Creepy Enough
My Reolink doorbell was working perfectly - recording everything to local SD storage. But all that data was just... sitting there, unanalyzed. This POC demonstrates what's possible when you add AI intelligence to existing camera infrastructure. While Ring users send data to Amazon's cloud and Nest feeds Google's systems, I built a local proof-of-concept that shows exactly what insights can be extracted from continuous video surveillance.
YOLO v8 processes live RTSP video feed with configurable confidence threshold. When a person is detected, the system captures high-resolution images with boundary box annotations. Demonstrates continuous AI monitoring of existing camera infrastructure.
Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) extracts distinctive features from detected persons for similarity matching. Uses computer vision to identify the same person across multiple frames, creating coherent visit sessions for timeline grouping and GIF generation.
GPT-4.1 Vision API generates structured profiles from images including descriptive nicknames, physical characteristics, clothing, and behavioral context. Demonstrates how modern AI can extract meaningful data from unstructured visual content.
System maintains comprehensive logs with visit tracking, pattern recognition, and timeline visualization. Demonstrates how AI can build persistent intelligence from continuous data streams while keeping all processing local for privacy.
Demonstrating What Local AI Analysis Can Extract From Existing Camera Data
What Your Doorbell Camera Data Could Tell You (If You Asked The Right Questions)
Monitor street parking patterns and get notified when spaces open up. Track parking authority schedules and meter enforcement patterns to optimize your parking strategy.
Track delivery patterns, postal service schedules, and package carrier behavior. Know when your packages typically arrive and identify potential delivery issues before they happen.
Identify unusual patterns, track repeat visitors, and monitor foot traffic anomalies. Build a comprehensive picture of your neighborhood's normal activity baseline.
Understand pedestrian traffic flows, peak activity times, and seasonal patterns. Generate insights about your neighborhood's rhythm and social dynamics.
Detect emergency vehicles, unusual crowd formations, or rapid changes in neighborhood activity. Provide early warning for potential safety concerns.
Track maintenance crews, service visits, and contractor schedules. Monitor property-related activity and identify optimal times for home improvements or maintenance.
This POC demonstrates what local AI analysis can extract from standard doorbell camera footage. If a weekend coding project can generate this level of insight, imagine what Ring (Amazon), Nest (Google), and other cloud-based systems already know about your neighborhood.
While this project demonstrates AI surveillance capabilities, it's important to understand the legal framework surrounding privacy in public spaces and residential areas.
In most jurisdictions, there is no expectation of privacy in public spaces visible from public property. However, the use of AI for automated analysis and long-term tracking raises new legal and ethical questions.
The legal landscape around AI surveillance is rapidly evolving. Several cities and states are implementing restrictions on automated surveillance systems, facial recognition, and predictive policing technologies.