Access authentication system and method using smart communicator

• US 8,120,459 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2006
• Issued: 02/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kwak, Se Jin
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): POINT, RUFUS C
• Application Number:
  US11/638,848
• Publication Number:
  US 20070216764A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,895 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.16, 340/825, 340/709, 340/506, 340/286.01, 340/286.02, 340/286.03, 340/286.06, 340/5.2, 340/539.11, 340/539.14, 379/167.05, 379/167.12
• US Class Current: 340/5.2
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/64 Hybrid switching systems

Abstract

Disclosed is an intelligent access authentication system and method. The intelligent access authentication system includes a door lock that can be locked and released in a predetermined manner, a door phone for communicating with the visitor; a smart communicator which configures access approval levels of expected visitors and access authentication information for each access approval level, communicates with the visitor, and controls the door lock, and a home network server which stores the access approval levels of expected visitors and access authentication information for each access approval level received from the smart communicator, checks the access approval level of the visitor attempting to release the door lock by referring to previously stored information, and transmits a door lock operating command to the door lock according to the access approval level of the visitor. In the present invention, the resident can check the visitor and control the door lock to be released according to the access approval level of the visitor, even at a remote location.

Claims

1. An access authentication system for a home, comprising:

a door phone;

a door lock for detecting a visitor outside the door and releasing a lock when a door lock release command is received;

a video phone for communicating with the visitor and for controlling the door lock, wherein the video phone is located inside the home;

a smart communicator for configuring access approval levels of expected visitors and access authentication information for each access approval level, communicating with the visitor, and controlling the door lock; and

a home network server for storing the access approval levels of expected visitors and access authentication information for each access approval level received from the smart communicator, checking the access approval level of the visitor attempting to release the door lock by comparing access authentication information of the visitor with previously stored access authentication information, and transmitting a door lock relief command to the door lock according to the access approval level of the visitor, determining whether a resident is located in the home when the door lock relief is approved, and monitoring the visitor when it is determined that the resident is not located in the home,

wherein the home network server remotely communicates with the smart communicator, and transmits information on door lock release attempts to the smart communicator when the door lock release is attempted by the visitor and the smart communicator remotely establishes a communication channel with the door phone connected to the home network server.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the home network server transmits the information on the visitor to the smart communicator when the visitor is an access denied person, and establishes a communication with the visitor through the door phone and releases the door lock under control of the smart communicator.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the smart communicator establishes a communication channel with the home network server and supports video communication with the visitor.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the access approval levels includes at least one of an always approved level, a reserved visitor level which is for the persons registered before the visit, and a sporadic visitor level which is for the persons expected to visit regularly or irregularly.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the smart communicator comprises:

a display for displaying operation status information of the smart communicator and information received from the home network server;

an RFID (radio frequency identification) communication part for transmitting authentication information for releasing the door lock;

a WiBro (Wireless Broadband) communication part for performing a remote communication with the home network server through a predetermined communication network so as to remotely control the home network server to release the door lock;

a keypad for inputting the access approval levels and access authentication information for each access approval level and commands required for the home network server to release the door lock;

an audio processor for processing audio signals generated during a communication with the visitor through the door phone;

a storage for storing the access approval levels and the access authentication information for each access approval level; and

a controller for transmitting the door lock relief command to the home network server through the WiBro communication part.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the smart communicator further comprises a storage means for storing at least one of the access approval levels and the access authentication information for each access approval level, the information received from the home network server, and the information generated during the communication with the visitor.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the door phone comprises:

a camera for capturing an image of the visitor and transmitting the image to the home network server;

a microphone for receiving an audible input corresponding to the visitor and transmitting the audible input to the home network server; and

a speaker for reproducing transmitted from the smart communicator via the home network server.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the door lock comprises:

an authentication sensor for detecting a door lock relief attempt from the visitor and receiving the authentication information for releasing the door lock from the smart communicator; and

a lock controller for controlling a release the door lock according to whether the home network server approves the door lock relief on the basis of the authentication information received from the authentication sensor.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a sensor for sensing status information created by the visitor in the home; and

a camera for capturing one or more images on the basis of the status information and transmitting the one or more images to the home network server,

wherein the home network server stores the information collected through at least one of the sensor and the camera and transmits the information to the smart communicator.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the home network server comprises:

a display for displaying information corresponding to on the operational status of the home network server and the visitor;

a local communication part for communicating with the door phone and the door lock and receiving the access approval levels, access authentication information for each access approval level, and the command for whether to approve the door lock relief by the visitor;

a remote communication part for receiving the access approval levels, the access authentication information for each access approval level, and commands for whether to approve a door lock relief through a WiBro (Wireless Broadband) communication with the smart communicator;

an audio processor for processing audio signals generated during the communication with the visitor through the door phone; and

a controller for determining whether to approve an access authentication of the visitor on the basis of the access approval levels and the access authentication information for each access approval level and releasing the door lock according to a command received from the smart communicator.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the home network server further comprising a storage means for storing the access approval levels and the access authentication information for each access approval level, the information collected from the visitor, and the information generated during the communication with the visitor.

12. An access authentication method comprising:

a) determining, by a home network server, whether to approve an entry of a visitor to a home, when an attempt to release a door lock is detected;

b) establishing a remote communication channel with a smart communicator which is remotely located from the home network server, when the attempt to release the door lock is denied by the home network server;

c) transmitting information on the visitor to the smart communicator;

d) releasing the door lock if a door lock relief command is received from the smart communicator;

e) determining whether a resident is located in the home, after the door lock relief is approved; and

f) monitoring the visitor, when it is determined that the resident is not located in the home,

wherein the home network server checks the access approval level of the visitor by comparing access authentication information of the visitor with previously stored access authentication information to determine whether to approve entry of the visitor.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

transmitting a communication request message to the visitor through the door phone when the communication request message is received from the smart communicator;

establishing a WiBro (Wireless Broadband) communication channel for bidirectional communication between the resident using the smart communicator and the visitor through the door phone and the smart communicator, when a communication response message is input by the visitor through the door phone; and

determining whether the door lock relief command is received from the smart communicator after communication between the resident and the visitor through the WiBro communication channel.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

registering access approval levels of visitors and authentication information for each of the levels; and

determining whether to approve the entry of the visitor of the plurality of visitors using the access approval levels of the visitors and the authentication information.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the access approval levels includes at least one of an always approved level, a reserved visitor level corresponding to persons registered prior to a visit, and a sporadic visitor level corresponding to persons expected to visit regularly or irregularly.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising checking the authentication information for each access approval level and determining whether to release the door lock for the visitor according to the checking result, if a door lock relief attempt is detected by the visitor.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising approving the door lock relief if the access approval level of the visitor corresponds with the always approved level.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein monitoring the visitor comprises:

detecting movement of the visitor and sound created by the visitor;

recording the movement and the sound; and

transmitting the recorded movement and sound to the smart communicator.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising approving relief of the door lock according to whether the resident is in the home, if the access approval level of the visitor corresponds with one of the reserved visitor level or the sporadic visitor level.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein monitoring the visitor further comprises storing information generated by the visitor and a content of a bidirectional communication.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising transmitting the stored information to the smart communicator.