Interactive visitor announcement/access control system

• US 7,377,426 B1
• Filed: 09/01/2005
• Issued: 05/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Todd Makeever
• Original Assignee: Todd Makeever
• Inventors: Makeever, Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): FRANKLIN, JAMARA ALZAIDA
• Application Number:
  US11/217,620
• Time in Patent Office: 999 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/382, 705/5
• US Class Current: 235/382
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/62 Comprising means for indicating the status of the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration

Abstract

An interactive visitor announcement/access control system for residents of limited access and gated communities. The system includes a computer database and a community staff-operated personal computer (p.c.) located at each visitor access point to the community, the staff p.c. being connected to the database by direct link and/or via the Internet. Each resident having a personal computer is provided with limited Internet access to the database to enter scheduling information and a description of each expected visitor, including the visit date and time, the name of each visitor, and a printed bar-coded pass authorization and mode of delivery thereof for each visitor.

Claims

1. An interactive visitor announcement/access control system for residents of limited access and gated communities, consisting of:

a computer database accessible via the Internet;

each resident having a personal computer (p.c.) and Internet access is provided with limited access to said database to enter into said database visitor scheduling information and a description of each visitor including the visit date and time, the name of each visitor, printed pass authorization and mode of delivery thereof for each visitor;

a community staff-operated personal computer (p.c.) located at each visitor access point to a community and connected to said database by direct link or via the Internet;

each said staff-operated p.c. monitoring upcoming visitor scheduling information and visitor descriptions entered into said database by each resident;

a staff member using said staff-operated p.c. to check in each visitor at time of arrival by comparing the visitor'"'"'s actual identification information to that previously entered into said database and, thereafter, authenticating or issuing a bar-coded printed pass to the visitor before admitting the visitor, the staff member also notifying the resident of the visitor'"'"'s arrival.

2. An interactive visitor announcement/access control system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

each visitor having a personal computer (p.c.) and access to the Internet being provided limited access to said database to print said printed pass prior to visiting the resident that authorized issuance of said printed pass.

3. An interactive visitor announcement/access control system as set forth in claim 1 wherein each resident may also enter into said database further visitor information, including:

a mode of visitor arrival notice, if any;

a method of authorizing the printed pass, whether by the staff or by visitor p.c. access to said database;

a revision of visitor scheduling;

an authorization for unlimited visitor access into the community; and

a scheduling of an open house or a garage sale wherein all visitors of the resident are provided unrestricted access to the resident'"'"'s location during a particular time period.

4. An interactive visitor announcement/access control system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

each staff member at each staff-operated p.c. may also schedule into said database a previous visitor of a resident for another resident visit upon telephone request of the visitor.

5. An interactive visitor announcement/access control system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

each said staff-operated p.c. is supported at the visitor access point by a printer, a bar code reader for printed pass authentication, a drivers license scanner, and resident communication access for announcing the arrival of each visitor schedule, all information of which is entered into said database.

6. An interactive visitor announcement/access control method for residents of limited access gated communities, consisting of:

providing a computer database accessible via the Internet;

providing limited access to said database to each resident having a personal computer (p.c.) and Internet access to enter into said database visitor scheduling information and a description of each visitor including the visit date and time, the name of each visitor, printed pass authorization and mode of delivery thereof for each visitor,

providing a community staff-operated personal computer (p.c.) at each visitor access point to a community and connecting each said staff-operated p.c. to said database by direct link or via the Internet;

using said staff-operated p.c., monitoring upcoming visitor scheduling information and visitor descriptions entered into said database by each resident;

using said staff-operated p.c., checking in each visitor at time of arrival by comparing the visitors actual identification information to that previously entered into said database;

authenticating or issuing a bar-coded printed pass to the visitor before admitting the visitor;

notifying the resident by the staff member of the visitors arrival;

providing each visitor having a personal computer (p.c.) and access to the Internet with limited access to said database to print said printed pass prior to visiting the resident that authorized issuance of said printed pass;

allowing each resident to enter into said database further visitor information including a mode of visitor arrival notice, if any, a method of authorizing the printed pass, whether by the staff or by visitor p.c. access to said database, a revision of visitor scheduling, an authorization for unlimited visitor access into the community, and a scheduling of an open house or a garage sale wherein all visitors of the resident are provided unrestricted access to the resident'"'"'s location during a particular time period;

allowing each staff member at each staff-operated p.c. to schedule into said database a previous visitor of a resident for another resident visit upon telephone request of the visitor;

supporting each said staff-operated p.c. at the visitor access point by providing a printer, a bar code reader for printed pass authentication, a driver'"'"'s license scanner, and resident communication access for announcing the arrival of each visitor schedule, all information of which is entered into said database by staff.

7. An interactive visitor announcement/access control system for residents of limited access and gated communities, consisting of:

a computer database accessible via the Internet;

each resident having a personal computer (p.c.) and Internet access is provided with limited access to said database to enter into said database visitor scheduling information and a description of each visitor including the visit date and time, the name of each visitor, printed pass authorization and mode of delivery thereof for each visitor;

a community staff-operated personal computer (p.c.) located at each visitor access point to a community and connected to said database by direct link or via the Internet;

each said staff-operated p.c. monitoring upcoming visitor scheduling information and visitor descriptions entered into said database by each resident;

a staff member using said staff-operated p.c. to check in each visitor at time of arrival by comparing the visitors actual identification information to that previously entered into said database and, thereafter, authenticating or issuing a bar-coded printed pass to the visitor before admitting the visitor, the staff member also notifying the resident of the visitor'"'"'s arrival;

each visitor having a personal computer (p.c.) and access to the Internet being provided limited access to said database to print said printed pass prior to visiting the resident that authorized issuance of said printed pass;

said database programmed to receive from each resident further visitor information including;

a mode of visitor arrival notice, if any;

a method of authorizing the printed pass, whether by the staff or by visitor p.c. access to said database;

a revision of visitor scheduling;

an authorization for unlimited visitor access into the community; and

a scheduling of an open house or a garage sale wherein all visitors of the resident are provided unrestricted access to the resident'"'"'s location during a particular time period;

each staff-operated p.c. configured for scheduling into said database a previous visitor of a resident for another resident visit upon telephone request of the visitor.