REMOTE ACCESS CONTROL TO RESIDENTIAL OR OFFICE BUILDINGS

• US 20130017812A1
• Filed: 07/13/2012
• Published: 01/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Colin Foster
• Original Assignee: Colin Foster
• Inventors: Foster, Colin
• Granted Patent: US 9,425,981 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/417
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2825 Reporting to a device located outside the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with telemetering systems H04M11/002
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/025 Door telephones adapted for television H04N7/186
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/186 Video door telephones

Abstract

Disclosed are computer-implemented methods and systems for providing remote access control to residential or office buildings. The disclosed methods allow employing virtual doorman functions in non-doorman buildings. An example method may comprise: receiving a call signal of an intercom station, the call signal comprising a resident identifier which indicates a resident with whom a visitor is trying to communicate, receiving a video stream generated by at least one camera, the video stream comprising one or more images of the visitor, retrieving visitor data associated with the resident identifier, the visitor data comprising one or more visitor profiles, and providing access to the building for the visitor based upon one or more predetermined criteria.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for providing remote access control to a building, the method comprising:

receiving a call signal of an intercom station, the call signal comprising a resident identifier (ID) which indicates a resident with whom a visitor is trying to communicate;

receiving a video stream generated by at least one camera, the video stream comprising one or more images of the visitor;

retrieving visitor data associated with the resident ID, the visitor data comprising one or more visitor profiles; and

providing access to the building for the visitor based upon one or more predetermined criteria.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising forwarding the call signal from the intercom station to a mobile device of the resident.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the call signal of the intercom station is received when a predetermined period of time is elapsed after a corresponding call signal is initiated by the visitor at the intercom station.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving a resident profile associated with the resident ID, the resident profile comprising one or more of the following:

a resident address, a resident location, a resident name, resident contact information, and a resident photo.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the visitor profile comprising one or more of the following:

a visitor name, a visitor title, a visitor profile, a visitor security code, a secret question and a corresponding answer associated with the visitor, visitor contact information, information regarding time when the visitor may access the building, information about one or more reasons why the visitor may access the building, and visitor biometric data.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising establishing a call to a mobile device of the visitor.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising establishing a call to a mobile device of the resident.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising enabling an operator to search information about the visitor among the one or more visitor profiles.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more predetermined criteria comprising successful identification of the visitor.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more predetermined criteria comprising successful identification that the at least one camera provides real-time streaming video of the visitor at his or her current location.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more predetermined criteria comprising successful identification that the resident is outside of the building.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more predetermined criteria comprising successful authentication of the visitor based upon visitor biometric data.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising triggering one or more actuators to lock/unlock or open/close one or more doors of the building, which doors are within the vision of the at least one video camera.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising triggering a first actuator to lock/unlock or open/close a first door and a second actuator to lock/unlock or open/close a second door, wherein when the first actuator is triggered to open the first door, the second actuator keeps the second door closed, and wherein when the second actuator is triggered to open the second door, the first actuator keeps the first door closed.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising forwarding the video stream generated by the at least one camera to the mobile device of the resident.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising enabling the resident to provide access to the building for the visitor via the mobile device.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising enabling the resident to trigger, via the mobile device, one or more actuators to lock/unlock or open/close one or more doors of the building.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the visitor data from the mobile device of the resident and storing the visitor data at one or more storages.

19. A system for providing remote access control to a building, the method comprising:

a communication module configured to;

receive a call signal of an intercom station, the call signal comprising a resident ID which indicates a resident with whom a visitor is trying to communicate;

receive a video stream generated by at least one camera, the video stream comprising one or more images of the visitor;

a processing module configured to retrieving visitor data associated with the resident ID, the visitor data comprising one or more visitor profiles; and

a control module configured to provide access to the building for the visitor based upon one or more predetermined criteria.

20. A non-transitory processor-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

receive a call signal of an intercom station, the call signal comprising a resident ID which indicates a resident with whom a visitor is trying to communicate;

receive a video stream generated by at least one camera, the video stream comprising one or more images of the visitor;

retrieve visitor data associated with the resident ID, the visitor data comprising one or more visitor profiles; and

provide access to the building for the visitor based upon one or more predetermined criteria.