VISITOR MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS
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Accused Products
Abstract
Various apparatus, methods, techniques and systems are disclosed for admitting, tracking, monitoring and processing data about visitors and vehicles that visit an access-controlled environment. A network having one or more greeting stations and a number of linked answering stations collects and manages data concerning visitors and/or vehicles in the access-controlled environment, and can manage or assist individuals in managing granting access to the access-controlled environment, monitoring visitors and vehicles present in the access-controlled environment, limiting movement and access to certain areas in the access-controlled environment and generating records and other data about each visit. Some embodiments of the network are also adaptable for use in providing traveler assistance and consular services for various types of individuals.
69 Citations
42 Claims
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1-22. -22. (canceled)
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23. A visitor management system for an access-controlled environment, the system comprising:
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a network comprising one or more server devices and a memory device; a greeting station connected to the network and adjacent an entryway in an access area of the environment, the greeting station comprising; a video screen, a camera, a speaker and a microphone; a visitor detection system configured to detect when a visitor has entered the access area; a visitor proximity system configured to detect when a visitor has approached the greeting station; wherein the greeting station is configured to collect visitor data via at least one of the following; one or more peripheral input devices; one or more peripheral biometric data capture devices; one or more visitor option selection devices; data stored in the network memory device; and a plurality of answering stations, each answering station comprising; a video screen, a speaker and a microphone; wherein the answering station is configured to present an answering station operator with a plurality of options for dealing with a visitor calling from the greeting station, the plurality of options comprising at least one of the following; conferencing with a visitor at the greeting station; opening the entryway to grant a visitor access to the environment; printing a visitor badge; wherein the network is configured to prioritize available answering stations in the plurality of answering stations based on collected visitor data. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 42)
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37. A consular services system comprising:
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a network comprising one or more server devices and a memory device, the network being coupled to a governmental agency controlling passport, visa and other travel-related matters; a traveler assistance station comprising; communication apparatus connected to the network; a user proximity system configured to detect when a user has approached the traveler assistance station; wherein the traveler assistance station is configured to collect user data via at least one of the following; a passport reading device; one or more peripheral input devices; one or more peripheral biometric data capture devices; one or more user option selection devices; data stored in the network memory device; and a plurality of answering stations, each answering station comprising; communication apparatus connected to the network for communicating with a user at a traveler assistance station; wherein the answering station is configured to present an answering station operator with a plurality of options for interacting with a user calling from the traveler assistance station, the plurality of options comprising at least one of the following; conferencing with a user at the traveler assistance station; printing a document or authorization at the traveler assistance station; notifying governmental authorities of the location of the traveler assistance station; wherein the network is configured to prioritize available answering stations in the plurality of answering stations based on collected user data. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
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40. A method for visitor and vehicle flow management inside an access-controlled environment, the method comprising:
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establishing the status of each visitor entering the access-controlled environment using a scanner-detectable responder connected to each visitor, wherein the pairing of a visitor and a visitor responder generates a visitor identity link; establishing the status of each vehicle entering the access-controlled environment using a scanner-detectable responder connected to each vehicle, wherein the pairing of a vehicle and a vehicle responder generates a vehicle identity link; generating visitor/vehicle movement data comprising; scanning the access-controlled environment to detect all visitor-connected and vehicle-connected responders connected to visitors and vehicles in the access-controlled environment; mapping and timestamping all visitor-connected and vehicle-connected responder positions in the access-controlled environment; and providing instructions to visitors and vehicles in the access-controlled environment using a plurality of digital signs coupled to a network comprising one or more server devices and a memory device. - View Dependent Claims (41)
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Specification