Group access management for visitor control

• US 10,157,512 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2017
• Issued: 12/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otis Elevator Company (Otis Worldwide Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Otis Elevator Company (Otis Worldwide Corp.)
• Inventors: Simcik, Paul A., Baldi, Emily, Dubois, Kelly Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Flores, Leon
• Application Number:
  US15/475,618
• Publication Number:
  US 20180286157A1
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/63 Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration

Abstract

A method of controlling access to a building is provided. The method comprising: receiving a visitor access request for a visitor mobile device; determining a residential group assigned to the visitor mobile device, the residential group including at least one residential mobile device; transmitting the visitor access request to at least one of a resident mobile device within the residential group and a manager device; receiving an access grant from at least one of the resident mobile device within the residential group and the manager device; and granting a visitor mobile device access to at least one of a selected elevator car, a selected door, and a selected floor.

Claims

1. A method of controlling access to a building, the method comprising:

receiving a visitor access request for a visitor mobile device;

automatically creating a residential group in response to a location of each of the plurality of resident mobile devices, the residential group including a plurality of residential mobile devices;

transmitting the visitor access request to at least one of the plurality of resident mobile devices within the residential group and a manager device;

receiving an access grant from at least one of the plurality of resident mobile devices within the residential group and the manager device; and

granting a visitor mobile device access to at least one of a selected elevator car, a selected door, and a selected floor.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the visitor request is transmitted to the plurality of resident mobile devices; and

the access grant is received from at least one of the plurality of resident mobile devices.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising prior to granting:

transmitting the visitor access request to the manager device; and

receiving an access approval from the manager device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the residential group is limited to resident mobile devices of the plurality of resident mobile devices currently located within the building.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein:

the visitor access request is transmitted only to resident mobile devices of the plurality of resident mobile devices located in the building.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the location is a projected location at a selected time.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the location is within a selected radius of the visitor mobile device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the location is within a selected radius of a selected destination of the visitor mobile device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the visitor request is received from at least one of the plurality of resident mobile devices and the visitor mobile device.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting when the visitor mobile device is located proximate to at least one of a selected elevator car, a selected door, and a selected floor.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

transmitting the visitor access request to the plurality of resident mobile devices within the residential group when the visitor mobile device is located proximate at least one of a selected elevator car, a selected door, and a selected floor.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the granting further comprises:

unlocking the selected door when the visitor mobile device is presented to the selected door.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the granting further comprises:

opening the selected elevator car when the visitor mobile device is presented to the selected elevator car.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the granting further comprises:

moving the selected elevator car to the selected floor when the visitor mobile device is presented to the selected elevator car.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a notification to the visitor mobile device when access is granted.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the visitor access request to the manager device;

receiving an access denial from the manager device; and

denying the visitor mobile device access to at least one of a selected elevator car, a selected door, and a selected floor;

wherein denying access overrides any granting access to a selected elevator car, a selected door, and a selected floor.

17. A building access system comprising:

a processor;

a memory comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

receiving a visitor access request for a visitor mobile device;

automatically creating a residential group in response to a location of each of the plurality of resident mobile devices, the residential group including a plurality of residential mobile devices;

transmitting the visitor access request to at least one of the plurality of resident mobile devices within the residential group and a manager device;

receiving an access grant from at least one of the plurality of resident mobile devices within the residential group and the manager device; and

granting a visitor mobile device access to at least one of a selected elevator car, a selected door, and a selected floor.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium including a computer program, the computer program including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving a visitor access request for a visitor mobile device;

automatically creating a residential group in response to a location of each of the plurality of resident mobile device, the residential group including a plurality of residential mobile devices;

transmitting the visitor access request to at least one of the plurality of resident mobile devices within the residential group and a manager device;

receiving an access grant from at least one of the plurality of resident mobile devices within the residential group and the manager device; and

granting a visitor mobile device access to at least one of a selected elevator car, a selected door, and a selected floor.