Communication system for accessing shared entrance of multiple dwelling house

• US 7,183,894 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2003
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yui, Yasuji, Yaegashi, Akira, Matsumura, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Garber; Wendy P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BANGACHON, WILLIAM L
• Application Number:
  US10/491,311
• Publication Number:
  US 20040243812A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,307 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.7, 340/2, 340/5.61, 340/5.27, 340/5.28, 340/5.26, 340/83, 340/539.25, 340/545.1, 348/156, 379/102.06, 709/224, 707/200, 726/20, 713/186, 713/155, 713/161, 382/118, 382/181, 235/382
• US Class Current: 340/5.7
• 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

Apparatus for sharing entrance of a multiple dwelling house. The apparatus controls the visit and/or calling of a door-to-door sales agent. The apparatus automatically receives delivery of goods addressed to one of the dwelling units regardless of the presence or absence of a resident. Registered agents, such as residents and agents granted access, use an IC card that carries identification information to gain access of a shared entrance. For each dwelling unit, a registered agent likewise uses the IC card to send family identification information or agent identification information to a door phone apparatus, thereby unlocking the door lock of the entrance for a family member.

Claims

1. A communication system for controlling access to a shared entrance of a multiple dwelling house, the communication system comprising:

a communication network;

a management apparatus for managing agent information of an agent granted access to the multiple dwelling house; and

a shared entrance apparatus for use with the multiple dwelling house, the shared entrance apparatus being connected to the management apparatus via the communication network;

wherein the management apparatus includes;

a storage unit;

agent information registering means, the agent information registering means being configured to receive registration of the agent granted access to the multiple dwelling house and to store at least agent identification information of the agent into the storage unit;

first communicating means for communicating with the shared entrance apparatus via the communication network; and

first controlling means for causing the first communicating means to transmit at least the agent information of the registered agent to the shared entrance apparatus; and

wherein the shared entrance apparatus includes;

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

agent information storing means for storing at least the agent identification information of the registered agent, after receiving the agent identification information through the second communicating means;

third communicating means for receiving information from an agent information communication apparatus, the agent information communication apparatus storing at least the agent identification information and at least being capable of outputting the agent identification information; and

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

2. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein the management apparatus further comprises information providing means for providing the agent identification information to the agent information communication apparatus for storing the agent identification information therein, after,retrieval of the agent identification information from the storage unit of the storage information registering means.