Access management system

• US 10,037,636 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2016
• Issued: 07/31/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gate Labs Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gate Labs Inc.
• Inventors: Ho, Harvey, Saeedi, Ehsan, Ehyaie, Danial
• Primary Examiner(s): Ren, Zhubing
• Application Number:
  US15/360,720
• Publication Number:
  US 20170076520A1
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0001 with electric actuators; Constructional features thereof for vehicles E05B81/04
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/172 Classification, e.g. identification
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00563 using personal physical data of the operator, e.g. finger prints, retinal images, voicepatterns
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/23 by means of a password
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/253 visually
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/38 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/00 Speaker identification or verification techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/186 Video door telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for remotely managing access to an area. An access management platform, which can be an electronic lock that is installed on e.g., a door of a house, can enable a user to establish a virtual presence at the door. In one example, a delivery person activates a doorbell button/icon of the access management platform, which sends a message to a smartphone of the owner of the platform. The owner, who is at work, uses his smartphone to initiate a video stream using a camera of the platform, and a two way audio stream. The owner sees and initiates a discussion with the delivery person. The owner uses his smartphone to unlock the door, and asks the delivery person to open the door and deliver the package inside. The owner uses his smartphone to capture his signature to acknowledge the delivery.

Claims

1. A door management platform, for remotely managing access to an area, comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor;

a wireless communication interface coupled to the processor;

a microphone coupled to the processor;

a speaker coupled to the processor;

a camera coupled to the processor;

a locking mechanism; and

a motor coupled to the processor and to the locking mechanism,

wherein the door management platform is configured to send, via the wireless communication interface, a real-time stream of video acquired by the camera to a first computing device of an administrator of the door management platform to enable the administrator to see a person requesting access to an area protected by the door management platform,

wherein the door management platform is configured to provide, via the wireless communication interface, a two-way real-time audio connection between the door management platform and the first computing device of the administrator to enable the administrator and the person requesting access to be able to verbally communicate, the two-way real-time audio connection being facilitated by the microphone and the speaker,

wherein the door management platform is configured to lock or unlock the door management platform in response to a message received from the first computing device of the administrator after the administrator verifies, based on the real-time video stream or the real-time audio connection, an identify of the person requesting access, the message indicating to lock or unlock the door management platform,

wherein a first server is configured to receive access identifying information originating at least in part from a mobile device of the person requesting access, and wherein after the receipt of the access identifying information, the first server is configured to communicate with a second server, wherein the second server is configured to transfer money between a user account and an online account, and wherein the door management platform is configured to lock or unlock in response to a message received from the second server,

wherein the door management platform is configured to communicate with the mobile device of the person requesting access,

wherein the door management platform is configured to receive, from the first computing device of the administrator, an electronic signature that is to be captured by the first computing device to acknowledge delivery of an item, and

wherein the door management platform is configured to send the electronic signature to the mobile device of the person requesting access.

2. The door management platform of claim 1, further comprising:

a doorbell button coupled to the processor,

wherein the door management platform is configured to send a notification of activation of the doorbell button to the first computing device of the administrator in response to the doorbell button being activated by being pressed by the person requesting access, and

wherein configuration of the door management platform to provide the real-time video stream and the real-time audio connection includes being configured to provide the real-time video stream and the real-time audio connection in response to said notification of activation.

3. The door management platform of claim 1,

wherein the door management platform is configured to communicate with the mobile device of the person requesting access,

wherein the door management platform is configured to receive, via the mobile device, personal data of the person requesting access, and to send the personal data to the first computing device of the administrator.

4. The door management platform of claim 3,

wherein the personal data includes a photo, of the person requesting access, that the administrator can use to identify the person requesting access, the photo being an electronic copy of a photo that is stored at a server of an employer of the person requesting access.

5. The door management platform of claim 1,

wherein the door management platform is configured to communicate with the mobile device of the person requesting access,

wherein the door management platform is configured to communicate with the mobile device of the person requesting access via any of a short distance wireless communication standard, a local area wireless network, or a cellular network.

6. The door management platform of claim 1, further comprising a motion sensor, wherein the motion sensor is configured to indicate a detection of motion to the first computing device when the motion sensor detects motion.

7. The door management platform of claim 1, further comprising a proximity sensor.

8. The door management platform of claim 1, wherein the access identifying information comprises a package tracking number.

9. The door management platform of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is configured to communicate with the door management platform to identify a package tracking number.

10. The door management platform of claim 1, wherein the second server is configured to receive a delivery acknowledgement signal from the door management platform.

11. The door management platform of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is configured to send a signal that enables the door management platform to verify that the signal is from a delivery service company.

12. The door management platform of claim 1, wherein the first server is associated with a first company and the second server is associated with a second company.

13. The door management platform of claim 12, wherein the first company is a door management platform company and the second company is a delivery company.

14. A door management platform comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor;

a communication interface coupled to the processor;

an input device coupled to the processor;

an output device coupled to the processor;

a locking mechanism; and

a motor coupled to the processor and to the locking mechanism,

wherein the door management platform is configured to send, via the communication interface, data to a first computing device of an administrator of the door management platform to enable the administrator to verify an identity of a person requesting access to an area protected by the door management platform,

wherein the door management platform is configured to enable two-way real-time communication, via the communication interface, between the door management platform and the first computing device of the administrator to enable the administrator and the person requesting access to be able to communicate, the two-way real-time communication being facilitated by the input device and the output device,

wherein the door management platform is configured to lock or unlock the door management platform in response to a message from the first computing device of the administrator that indicates to lock or unlock the door management platform,

wherein a first server is configured to receive access identifying information originating at least in part from a device of the person requesting access, and wherein after the receipt of the access identifying information, the first server is configured to communicate with a second server, wherein the second server is configured to transfer money between a user account and an online account, and wherein the door management platform is configured to lock or unlock in response to a message received from the second server,

wherein the door management platform is configured to communicate with a mobile device of the person requesting access,

wherein the door management platform is configured to receive, from the first computing device of the administrator, a signature that is to be electronically captured by the first computing device to acknowledge delivery of an item, and

wherein the door management platform is configured to send the signature to the mobile device of the person requesting access.

15. The door management platform of claim 14,

wherein the door management platform is configured to communicate with a mobile device of the person requesting access via any of a short distance wireless communication standard, a local area wireless network, or a cellular network.

16. The door management platform of claim 14,

wherein the input device and the output device are a same device, the same device being a touch screen display,

wherein the door management platform includes a doorbell function that includes a doorbell icon being displayed on the touch screen display, and

wherein the door management platform is configured to send a notification to the first computing device of the administrator in response to the touchscreen display being touched by the person requesting access while the doorbell icon is being displayed.

17. The door management platform of claim 14,

wherein the input device is a keypad,

wherein the door management platform is configured to unlock the door management platform in response to a security code being entered at the keypad.

18. The door management platform of claim 14,

wherein the input device is a touch-screen display,

wherein the touch-screen display is configured to display a virtual keypad, and

wherein the door management platform is configured to unlock the door management platform in response to a security code being entered at the touch-screen display while the virtual keypad is being displayed at the touch-screen display.

19. The door management platform of claim 14,

wherein the input device is a camera,

wherein the door management platform is configured to recognize an image, captured by the camera, of a face of a person, and

wherein the door management platform is configured to unlock the door management platform in response to the image of the face of the person being recognized as being the face of an authorized user of the door management platform.

20. The door management platform of claim 14,

wherein the input device is a microphone,

wherein the door management platform is configured to recognize a voice of a person captured by the microphone, and

wherein the door management platform is configured to unlock the door management platform in response to the voice of the person being recognized as being a voice of an authorized user of the door management platform.

21. The door management platform of claim 14,

wherein the input device is a biometric sensor, and

wherein the door management platform is configured to unlock the door management platform when biometric data that is obtained by the biometric sensor matches biometric data of an authorized user of the door management platform.

22. The door management platform of claim 14,

wherein the door management platform is configured to receive a photo taken by a mobile device of the person requesting access and to send the photo to the first computing device of the administrator to enable the administrator to identify the person requesting access, and

wherein the message from the first computing device is received after the photo is sent to the first computing device of the administrator and is based on the photo.

23. The door management platform of claim 14, further comprising a motion sensor, wherein the motion sensor is configured to indicate a detection of motion to the first computing device when the motion sensor detects motion.

24. The door management platform of claim 14, further comprising a proximity sensor.

25. The door management platform of claim 14, wherein the access identifying information comprises a package tracking number.

26. The door management platform of claim 14, wherein the device of the person requesting access is configured to communicate with the door management platform to identify a package tracking number.

27. The door management platform of claim 14, wherein the second server is configured to receive a delivery acknowledgement signal from the door management platform.

28. The door management platform of claim 14, wherein the device of the person requesting access is configured to send a signal that enables the door management platform to verify that the signal is from a delivery service company.

29. The door management platform of claim 14, wherein the first server is associated with a first company and the second server is associated with a second company.

30. The door management platform of claim 29, wherein the first company is a door management platform company and the second company is a delivery company.