Method and system for providing a visitor identification badge

• US 20030058082A1
• Filed: 09/17/2002
• Published: 03/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ABB Technology FLB AB (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: ABB Technology FLB AB (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Mallick, Vishal, Ruttimann, Bruno
• Application Number:
  US10/244,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20030058082A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.6
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/20 involving the use of a pass
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration

Abstract

In the inventive method and system for providing a visitor identification badge, a terminal device or virtual reception console (17) registers visitor information and, in accordance with an access status of the visitor, issues a visitor identification badge. The access status is determined by establishing a voice communication link with a host communication device (5) associated with a host person and by accepting confirmation information entered by the host.

Claims

1. Method for providing a visitor identification badge, where the method comprises the steps of

a terminal device (17) registering visitor information,

determining an access status associated with the visitor,

transmitting the access status to the terminal device (17), and

the terminal device (17), depending on the access status, issuing a visitor identification badge,

characterized in that the step of determining the access status associated with the visitor comprises by the steps of:

from the visitor information, determining a host communication device (5) associated with a host person,

establishing a voice communication link between the terminal device (17) and the host communication device (5),

accepting confirmation information entered by a user at the host communication device (5),

based on said confirmation information, determining the access status associated with the visitor.

2. Method of claim 1, characterized in that the host communication device (5) is a telephone.

3. Method of claim 2, characterized in that the host communication device (5) is a wire based telephone.

4. Method of claim 2, characterized in that the host communication device (5) is a mobile telephone.

5. Method of claim 1, characterized in that the host communication device (5) is a personal digital assistant (PDA).

6. Method of claim 1, characterized in that the host communication device (5) is a control device for a meeting room.

7. Method of claim 1, wherein the visitor information comprises information identifying the visitor.

8. Method of claim 7, wherein the step of determining a host communication device (5) associated with a host person comprises

searching for a database record representing a scheduled visit and matching visitor information, and

if such a database record is found, determining an associated hosting person from the database record.

9. Method of claim 8, wherein the the step of determining the access status associated with the visitor is performed by an access control system (2) that comprises a visitor management system (3) and is interfaced to a telephone system (4).

10. A system for providing a visitor identification badge, where the system comprises

means for registering visitor information at a terminal device (17),

means for determining an access status associated with the visitor,

means for transmitting the access status to the terminal device (17), and

means for the terminal device (17), depending on the access status, issuing a visitor identification badge,

characterized in that the means for determining the access status associated with the visitor comprises:

means for determining, from the visitor information, a host communication device (5) associated with a host person,

means for establishing a voice communication link between the terminal device (17) and the host communication device (5),

means for outputting a confirmation prompt at the host communication device (5),

means for accepting confirmation information entered by a user at the host communication device (5),

means for determining, based on said confirmation information, the access status associated with the visitor.