Remote Guest Access to a Secured Premises

• US 20150221147A1
• Filed: 04/14/2015
• Published: 08/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Chamberlain Group LLC
• Original Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Inventors: Daniel-Wayman, Robert, Murray, James Scott, Sorice, Cory Jon
• Granted Patent: US 10,229,548 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/62 Comprising means for indicating the status of the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/63 Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/21 having a variable access code
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/23 by means of a password
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration

Abstract

Generally speaking, and pursuant to these various embodiments, a method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium is provided that allows a guest to contact an owner or operator of a secured premises or area to gain access to the secured premises. An access control device initiates contact with a guest device and provides a resource to contact an owner device. If the owner decides to grant access to the guest, the owner selects a suitable input on the owner device so that the owner device sends an authorized signal to the guest device. The guest device acts as a gateway and forwards the authorized signal to the access control device. The access control device operates in response to reception of the authorized signal to grant the guest access to the secured premises.

Claims

1. A method for gaining access to a secured premises, the method comprising:

receiving a transmission at a guest device from an access control device;

presenting a user interface on a display of the guest device in response to receiving the transmission, the user interface comprising one or more entries identifying owners within the secured premises;

receiving a selection of an entry identifying one of the owners at a user input of the guest device;

contacting an owner device in response to selection of the entry.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving an authorized control signal from the owner device at the guest device; and

sending the authorized control signal with the guest device to the access control device to gain entry to the secured premises.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein sending the authorized control signal to the access control device comprises forwarding a control signal to the access control device to move a barrier.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the authorized control signal comprises an owner access code, and forwarding the control signal comprises forwarding the owner access code.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a selection of an identifier for the access control device via the user input of the guest device;

and wherein receiving the transmission comprises receiving the transmission in response to the selection of the identifier.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein contacting the owner device comprises calling the owner device.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the user interface comprises a resource identified by a uniform resource indicator;

and presenting the user interface comprises;

receiving the uniform resource indicator at the guest device, and receiving a selection of the uniform resource indicator via a user input of the guest device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the resource is hosted by a network device.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the resource is hosted by the access control device.

10. A method for granting access to a secured premises, the method comprising:

receiving a contacting signal from a guest device at an owner device, the signal generated via a resource operating on the guest device;

receiving a selection of a user input of the owner device indicating an approval to grant access to the guest device to the secured premises; and

sending an authorized control signal to the guest device for forwarding to an access control device by the guest device to operate the access control device.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein receiving the selection of the user input comprises receiving an access code via the user input.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein receiving the contacting signal comprises receiving a call from the guest device.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein sending the authorized control signal to the guest device comprises sending the authorized control signal to the guest device via a server device.

14. A method for granting access to a secured premises, the method comprising:

broadcasting a transmission to a guest device with an access control device to provide the guest device an ability to contact an owner device;

receiving an authorized signal from the owner device via the guest device acting as a gateway at the access control device; and

operating to grant access to the secured premises with the access control device.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein broadcasting the transmission comprises broadcasting a uniform resource indicator configured to direct the guest device to a resource.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein broadcasting the transmission comprises broadcasting a user interface to the guest device to display a list of entries of owners associated with the secured premises.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein receiving the authorized signal comprises receiving an owner access code.