Virtual Entry Assistant Using Automated Greeter

• US 20080130956A1
• Filed: 09/21/2007
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Patential Holdings, Inc., Typenex Co-Investment, LLC
• Original Assignee: Ubiquity Holdings
• Inventors: Bailey, Kenneth S, Jordan, Connie
• Granted Patent: US 8,040,216 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/115
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/22 in combination with an identity check of the pass holder
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/32 in combination with an identity check
• 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

Abstract

A virtual security guard or receptionist automatically allows entry to an area by determining a user'"'"'s identity and comparing that to an access list. If the user is authorized, then the user is allowed entry to the area. The receptionist can be implemented by either a sign, or by using a virtual receptionist to shows a picture selected from a media server that has many different pictures. Computer intelligence can be used to allow the receptionist to carry out almost any operation that is carried out by a real receptionist.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

using an automated machine to prompt a user to identify themselves;

receiving a response from the user and verifying, using at least two different kinds of verifications, the user'"'"'s identification; and

comparing information about the user identified by said receiving, to a list of approved users; and

based on both said verifying and said comparing, electronically operating an entry door latch to allow user entry to a facility.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein one of said identifications is a biometric identification.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein one of said identifications is an identification based on caller ID.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein one of said identification is by speaker recognition.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein said using comprises providing a displayed to a user and providing instructions to the user.

6. A method as in claim 5, wherein said display includes a face of a simulated receptionist.

7. A method as in claim 6, further comprising a media server storing information indicative of a plurality of faces and a plurality of voices of plural different virtual receptionists.

8. A method as in claim 1, comprising allowing a user to enroll at a time of making the appointment, and wherein said comparing and verifying comprise comparing a user'"'"'s name to a name enrolled its said time of making the appointment.

9. A method as in claim 1, further comprising allowing a user to select a language with which to communicate with the automated machine and said using comprises communicating in a selected language.

10. A system, comprising:

an operating computer, which includes information indicative of plural different faces and voices and also includes structure which allows said faces and voices to provide information to a user indicative of entry to a facility, wherein said information provided to the user includes at least a request for first information that includes identifying information from the user, and wherein said computer also has a capability of receiving information from a user, comparing the information to stored information, and taking an action to allow entry of a user to a stored facility based on said comparing.

11. A system as in claim 10, wherein said taking an action comprises automatically opening an electrically-operable lock.

12. A system as in claim 10, wherein said operating computer changes said faces and voices at specified times while communicating with a user.

13. A method, comprising:

using an automated computer to communicate with a visitor by allowing the visitor to communicate with the computer in any of a plurality of different languages;

receiving information indicative of a visitors name and at least one verifying information about the visitor;

comparing the name with a prestored list of names on an entry device that has a list of authorized entrants;

responsive to said comparing indicating that the person'"'"'s name exists on said list, and also that said verifying information verifies that the visitor is the person on said list, automatically opening an entry device to allow the visitor access to the secured area.

14. A method as in claim 13, wherein said verifying information is biometric information.

15. A method as in claim 13, wherein said verifying information as caller ID information.

16. A method as in claim 13, wherein said verifying information is voiceprint recognition.

17. A method as in claim 13, wherein said using comprises providing a face of a simulated receptionist, during a time of speaking from the computer to the user.

18. A method as in claim 17, further comprising providing faces of different simulated receptionists, and changing said faces.

19. A method as in claim 18, wherein said faces are changed during a time of talking to the visitor.