Virtual receptionist method and system

• US 8,446,281 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2007
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brandon Reid Birtcher Family Trust
• Original Assignee: Brandon Reid Birtcher Family Trust
• Inventors: Birtcher, Brandon R., Shelansky, Andrew R., Stuut, Brandon B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lau, Hoi
• Application Number:
  US11/959,393
• Publication Number:
  US 20090153325A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,981 Days
• Field of Search: 340/541, 340/537.1, 340/573.4, 340/565, 340/5.1, 340/5.2, 340/5.52, 340/5.8, 348/155, 348/156
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 11/00 Arrangements, systems or apparatus for checking, e.g. the occurrence of a condition, not provided for elsewhere
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

A method of reception includes detecting that an object has entered a first region of a space at a first time. A time period is measured around the first time. A determination is made whether any object has entered a second region of the space within the time period. Thereafter, a determination is made that the object needs attention when no object is detected entering the second region within the time period.

Claims

1. A method of distinguishing a guest from a non-guest in a receiving area for guests using a virtual receptionist system, comprising:

directly detecting that a new object has entered a first region of the receiving area, the first region of the receiving area being an area accessible to non-guests and guests, the new object being an entering person;

directly detecting whether the object has entered a second region of the receiving area, the second region of the receiving area being an area generally restricted to non-guests, the first and second regions of the receiving area being physically separate from one another;

establishing a time period within which a typical non-guest would travel a distance between the first and second regions;

identifying the object as a guest that needs attention when the object is not detected to have entered the second region within the time period or as a non-guest that does not need attention when the object is detected to have entered the second region within the time period;

delivering a greeting to the object if the object is identified as a guest; and

delivering a notification to one or more persons at a location outside of the receiving area if the object is identified as a guest, the notification informing the one or more persons that a guest has entered the receiving area,

wherein the acts of directly detecting the entry of the object into the first and second regions comprise directly detecting movement of the entering person in the first and second regions.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first region comprises an entryway to the receiving area.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first region comprises a plurality of entryways to the receiving area.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting an object comprises:

detecting that the object is moving in a direction towards the second region from the first region.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second region comprises at least one interior region in the receiving area.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a means for grabbing the attention of the object after the object is detected in the first region.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the greeting comprises a welcome video message.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification that the object needs attention is provided without any active participation from the object.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

tracking a number of objects in the receiving area needing attention; and

tracking a number of objects in the receiving area not needing attention.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the acts of passively detecting the entry of the object into the first and second regions comprises directly detecting a physical presence of the entering person using one or more detectors configured to detect movement of the object.

10. A method of reception, comprising:

providing at least two detecting means within a receiving area for receiving guests, the at least two detecting means being spaced apart from one another and including a first detecting device configured to detect the presence of an object in a guest area of the receiving area and a second detecting device configured to detect the presence of the object in a non-guest area of the reception area;

determining whether a guest needing attention has entered the receiving area based on passive interactions of the object with the at least two detecting means within a predetermined amount of time, the at least two detecting means being configured to detect a physical presence of the object; and

providing a notification that the guest needs attention,

wherein the receiving area is a lobby of a business.

11. The method of reception of claim 10, wherein the determining when a guest needing attention has entered the receiving area comprises:

detecting that the object has entered a first region within the receiving area;

determining if the object has entered a second region of the receiving area within the predetermined amount of time; and

determining that the object is the guest when no object is detected entering the second region within the predetermined amount of time.

12. The method of reception of claim 10, wherein the determining when a guest needing attention has entered the receiving area comprises:

detecting that the object has entered a first region within the receiving area;

determining if the object has entered a second region of the receiving area within the predetermined amount of time; and

determining that the object is the guest when any object is detected entering the second region within the predetermined amount of time.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

providing a means for aborting the method of reception.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

detecting a plurality of guests entering the receiving area; and

limiting the number of greetings for the plurality of guests.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

prompting the guest for information.

16. A system for reception, comprising:

at least two spaced-apart detectors for directly detecting the arrival of an unidentified person within a receiving area for guests based on a physical presence of the person within the receiving area, the at least two spaced-apart detectors including a first detector positioned at an area accessible to guests and non-guests, and a second detector positioned at an area generally restricted to guests;

a guest determinator coupled to the at least two detectors for determining when the person arriving in the receiving area is a guest needing attention based on interactions of the person with less than all of the at least two detectors which provide information about whether the person has moved between the at least two detectors; and

a notification delivery system configured to deliver notifications of the arrival of the person within the receiving area to one or more other persons located outside of the receiving area when the guest determinator determines that the person requires attention.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

a data logging device coupled to the guest determinator for tracking the number of persons in the receiving area needing attention and for tracking the number of persons in the receiving area not needing attention.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the at least two spaced-apart detectors comprise motion sensors.