Collective housing shared entrance device, collective housing door-to-door interphone device, door-to-door container box management device, and communication system

• US 20040243812A1
• Filed: 03/29/2004
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yui, Yasuji, Yaegashi, Akira, Matsumura, Hiroyuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,183,894 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/182
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/10 together with the recording, indicating or registering of other data, e.g. of signs of identity
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/20 Checking timed patrols, e.g. of watchman
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/32 Time-recording locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00777 by induction
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/62 Comprising means for indicating the status of the lock
• 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 9/00904 for hotels, motels, office buildings or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/025 Door telephones adapted for television H04N7/186

Abstract

Disclosed herein are a shared entrance apparatus for a multiple dwelling house, a dwelling unit door phone apparatus for the multiple dwelling house, a dwelling unit storage box management apparatus, and a communication system, whereby a visit and/or calling by a door-to-door sales agent is controlled, and whereby delivery of goods addressed to any one of the dwelling units constituting the multiple dwelling house is automatically received by the dwelling unit in question regardless of its resident being at home or absent. Residents and agents granted access to the dwelling units (called registered agents) are each issued an IC card carrying identification information. The residents or registered agents each use the IC card to send resident identification information or agent identification information to a shared entrance apparatus 2. The apparatus 2 lets the card user in if the transmitted information proves the user to be a legitimate resident or a registered agent. From each dwelling unit, a resident or registered agent likewise uses the IC card to send family identification information or agent identification information to a door phone apparatus 4, unlocking the door lock of the entrance if the card user is a family member. Calling sounds of the door phone apparatus 4 may be varied or suppressed outright depending on a registered agent or someone else not registered calling from the entrance. The storage box management apparatus allows designated agents from among those registered to use a storage box attached to each dwelling unit.

Claims

1. A shared entrance apparatus for a multiple dwelling house, the apparatus being installed at a shared entrance of said multiple dwelling house to manage access of people thereto, said apparatus comprising:

agent information storing means for storing at least agent identification information about a registered agent allowed to pay a visit;

communicating means for receiving at least said agent identification information from an agent information communication apparatus which at least stores said agent identification information and which is at least capable of outputting said agent identification information; and

lock controlling means for unlocking a door lock of said shared entrance to let a visitor in upon determining that said visitor is said registered agent based on the information acquired through said communicating means and on the information stored in said agent information storing means.

2. A shared entrance apparatus for a multiple dwelling house according to claim 1, further comprising an entrance apparatus starting button;

wherein said lock controlling means determines whether or not said registered agent is paying a visit based on the information acquired through said communicating means, on the information stored in said agent information storing means, and on operation information coming from said entrance apparatus starting button.

3. A shared entrance apparatus for a multiple dwelling house according to claim 2, further comprising prompting means for prompting said visitor to initiate communication between said agent information communication apparatus and said communicating means when said entrance apparatus starting button is operated.

4. A shared entrance apparatus for a multiple dwelling house according to claim 1, wherein said agent identification information includes person-in-charge identification information whereby a specific person in charge of said visit from said registered agent is identified.

5. A shared entrance apparatus for a multiple dwelling house according to claim 4, further comprising person-in-charge designating means for designating beforehand a specific person in charge as part of said agent information stored in said agent information storing means, so that the designated person in charge is denied entry with said door lock of said shared entrance kept locked.

6. A shared entrance apparatus for a multiple dwelling house according to claim 1, wherein the information stored in said agent information storing means includes picture information about a person in charge of said visit, said shared entrance apparatus further comprising:

displaying means which, upon determining that what is received from said agent information communication means through said communicating means is identical to said agent identification information stored in said agent information storing means, reads for display said picture information about said person in charge from said agent identification information stored in said agent information storing means.

7. A shared entrance apparatus for a multiple dwelling house according to claim 1, wherein the information stored in said agent information storing means includes picture information about a person in charge of said visit, said shared entrance apparatus further comprising:

an image pickup device for taking a picture of said visitor; and

displaying means which, upon receipt of information from said agent information communication means through said communicating means, compares on display the picture information about said visitor from said image pickup device with said picture information about said person in charge of said visit from said registered agent.

8. A shared entrance apparatus for a multiple dwelling house according to claim 1, wherein said agent identification information includes business category identification information whereby a business category to which said registered agent belongs is identified.

9. A shared entrance apparatus for a multiple dwelling house according to claim 8, further comprising business category designating means for designating beforehand a specific business category as part of said agent information stored in said agent information storing means, so that any agent from the designated business category is denied entry with said door lock of said shared entrance kept locked.

10. A shared entrance apparatus for a multiple dwelling house according to claim 1, further comprising dwelling unit communicating means for communicating with a dwelling unit management apparatus which is furnished to each of dwelling units constituting said multiple dwelling house and which comprises dwelling unit-authorized agent information storing means for storing at least agent identification information about a registered agent allowed to pay a visit to the dwelling unit in question;

wherein said lock controlling means controls said door lock of said shared entrance in consideration of said agent identification information coming from said dwelling unit management apparatus of each dwelling unit connected with said dwelling unit communicating means.

11. A dwelling unit door phone apparatus for a multiple dwelling house, said dwelling unit door phone apparatus being installed at each of dwelling units constituting said multiple dwelling house and connected through a communication channel to a shared entrance apparatus of said multiple dwelling house, wherein said shared entrance apparatus is installed at a shared entrance of said multiple dwelling house and receives information input by a visitor calling at a dwelling unit of the house, said shared entrance apparatus letting said visitor in by unlocking a door of said shared entrance if said visitor is a previously registered agent, said shared entrance apparatus further informing the dwelling unit being called that there is a visitor if said visitor is not registered, said dwelling unit door phone apparatus comprising:

dwelling unit-authorized agent information storing means for storing at least agent identification information about a registered agent allowed to pay a visit to each of said dwelling units;

communicating means for receiving at least said agent identification information from an agent information communication apparatus which at least stores said agent identification information and which is at least capable of outputting said agent identification information; and

calling sound controlling means for generating different calling sounds so as to distinguish said registered agent from other visitors based on the information acquired through said communicating means and on the information stored in said dwelling unit-authorized agent information storing means.

12. A dwelling unit door phone apparatus for a multiple dwelling house according to claim 11, fturther comprising:

dwelling unit-authorized agent information receiving means for receiving dwelling unit-authorized agent information stored in said dwelling unit-authorized agent information storing means; and

information providing means for providing said shared entrance apparatus of said multiple dwelling house with the information stored in said dwelling unit-authorized agent information storing means.

13. A dwelling unit storage box management apparatus for controlling a locking mechanism of a storage box attached either to each of dwelling units constituting a multiple dwelling house or to a stand-alone house, said dwelling unit storage box management apparatus comprising:

agent information storing means for storing at least agent identification information about a registered agent allowed to use said storage box;

communicating means for receiving at least said agent identification information from an agent information communication apparatus which at least stores said agent identification information and which is at least capable of outputting said agent identification information; and

controlling means for controlling said locking mechanism of said storage box based on the information acquired through said communicating means and on the information stored in said agent information storing means.

14. A dwelling unit storage box management apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said agent identification information includes person-in-charge identification information whereby a specific person in charge of a visit from said registered agent is identified.

15. A dwelling unit storage box management apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising person-in-charge designating means for designating beforehand a specific person in charge as part of said agent information stored in said agent information storing means, so that the designated person in charge is denied the use of said storage box with said locking mechanism kept locked.

16. A dwelling unit storage box management apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said agent identification information includes business category identification information whereby a business category to which said registered agent belongs is identified.

17. A dwelling unit storage box management apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising business category designating means for designating beforehand a specific business category as part of said agent information stored in said agent information storing means, so that any agent from the designated business category is denied the use of said storage box with said locking mechanism kept locked.

18. A communication system comprising:

a management apparatus for managing agent information about an agent granted access to a multiple dwelling house under contract; and

a shared entrance apparatus for use with said multiple dwelling house and connected to said management apparatus via a communication network;

wherein said management apparatus includes;

agent information registering means which receives registration of said agent granted access to the house and which stores at least agent identification information about the registered agent into a storage unit;

first communicating means for communicating with said shared entrance apparatus for said multiple dwelling house via said communication network; and

first controlling means for causing said communicating means to transmit at least said agent information about said registered agent to said shared entrance apparatus for said multiple dwelling house; and

wherein said shared entrance apparatus for use with said multiple dwelling house includes;

second communicating means for communicating with said management apparatus via said communication network;

agent information storing means for storing at least said agent identification information about said registered agent, following receipt of said agent identification information through said second communicating means;

third communicating means for receiving information from an agent information communication apparatus which at least stores said agent identification information and which is at least capable of outputting said agent identification information; and

lock controlling means for unlocking a door lock of said shared entrance to let a visitor in upon determining that said visitor is said registered agent based on the information acquired through the communicating means and on the information stored in said agent information storing means.

19. A communication system according to claim 18, wherein said management apparatus comprises information providing means for providing said agent information communication apparatus with said agent identification information for at least storage therein, following retrieval of said agent identification information from said storage unit of said storage information registering means.