Remote identity verification of lodging guests

• US 9,235,943 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2014
• Issued: 01/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Skybell Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Joseph Frank Scalisi
• Inventors: Scalisi, Joseph Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): TORRENTE, RICHARD T
• Application Number:
  US14/512,277
• Publication Number:
  US 20150363989A1
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 348/143
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/172 Classification, e.g. identification
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/08 With time considerations, e.g. temporary activation, valid time window or time limitations
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00904 for hotels, motels, office buildings or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/23 by means of a password
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/186 Video door telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253

Abstract

A doorbell can be used to detect a visitor and take a picture of the visitor. The doorbell can then send the picture to a remote computing device to enable a property owner to verify the identity of the visitor before remotely giving the visitor an electronic key to the property. The electronic key can expire after a rental period to preclude unauthorized future access to the property.

Claims

1. A method for using a doorbell to identify a visitor, the method comprising:

obtaining the doorbell that comprises a speaker, a microphone, a camera, and a button, wherein the button is configurable to enable the visitor to sound a chime;

recording a first image of the visitor in a remote database prior to the visitor approaching the doorbell;

using the doorbell to detect the visitor after the visitor has approached the doorbell while the visitor is located outside of a building to which the doorbell is attached, wherein the building comprises a door having a lock, wherein the lock is configured to fasten the door to inhibit unauthorized entry into the building;

using the doorbell to take a second image of the visitor after the visitor has approached the doorbell;

sending an alert to a remote computing device in response to the doorbell detecting the visitor, wherein the alert is configured to notify a user of the remote computing device regarding a presence of the visitor outside of the building;

sending the first image of the visitor from the remote database to the remote computing device and sending the second image of the visitor from the doorbell to the remote computing device;

displaying the first image and the second image of the visitor simultaneously on the remote computing device and then recording whether the visitor is shown in both the first image and the second image;

prompting the user of the remote computing device to determine that the visitor is shown in both the first image and the second image;

using the remote computing device to record that the user determined that the visitor is shown in both the first image and the second image; and

sending an electronic key to an electronic device in possession of the visitor in response to using the remote computing device to record that the user determined that the visitor is shown in both the first image and the second image, wherein the electronic key is configured to enable unlocking the lock.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using the remote computing device to verify that the visitor is shown in both the first image and the second image;

validating that the visitor visited the building by saving a third image that comprises the first image and the second image;

sending the third image to the remote database; and

associating a timestamp with the third image such that the timestamp is correlated with the third image in the remote database, wherein the timestamp represents an occasion when the visitor requested access to the building.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising automatically saving the third image in response to verifying that the visitor is shown in both the first image and the second image.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising automatically saving the third image to validate that the visitor actually visited the building in response to sending an electronic key to an electronic device in possession of the visitor, wherein the electronic key is configured to enable unlocking the lock.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein enabling the visitor to control the lock comprises sending an electronic key to an electronic device in possession of the visitor, wherein the electronic key is configured to enable unlocking the lock.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein enabling the visitor to control the lock comprises the remote computing device sending data to the remote database, wherein the remote database sends the electronic key to the electronic device in possession of the visitor in response to the data from the remote computing device.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the building comprises a hotel, and the electronic key is configured to unlock a hotel room, and the electronic device comprises a cellular telephone, the method further comprising the visitor unlocking the hotel room using the cellular telephone and the electronic key.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising sending the electronic key via a text message or via an email.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising placing the electronic device within ten feet of the lock and wirelessly transferring an identification code from the electronic device to the lock in order to unlock the lock.

10. The method of claim 5, further comprising disabling the electronic key within ten hours after a rental period ends, wherein the rental period is a time in which the visitor is authorized to enter the building.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising taking at least one additional image of the visitor on each occasion the visitor unlocks the lock;

associating a time and a date with each additional image;

recording the additional images, the times, and the dates in the remote database; and

enabling the remote computing device to display the additional images, the times, and the dates.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting a first expected person profile in response to a time at which the doorbell detects the visitor, wherein the first expected person profile includes the first image and a name of the visitor;

sending the first expected person profile to the remote computing device; and

displaying the name on the remote computing device.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote database and the remote computing device are located in different locations.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising using computer-based facial recognition to determine whether the visitor is shown in both the first image and the second image.

13. A method for using a doorbell to identify a visitor, the method comprising:

obtaining the doorbell that comprises a speaker, a microphone, a camera, and a button, wherein the button is configurable to enable the visitor to sound a chime;

recording a first image of the visitor in a remote database prior to the visitor approaching the doorbell;

using the doorbell to detect the visitor after the visitor has approached the doorbell while the visitor is located outside of a building to which the doorbell is attached, wherein the building comprises a door having a lock, wherein the lock is configured to fasten the door to inhibit unauthorized entry into the building;

using the doorbell to take a second image of the visitor after the visitor has approached the doorbell;

sending an alert to a remote computing device in response to the doorbell detecting the visitor, wherein the alert is configured to notify a user of the remote computing device regarding a presence of the visitor outside of the building;

sending the first image of the visitor from the remote database to the remote computing device and sending the second image of the visitor from the doorbell to the remote computing device;

wherein the remote database and the remote computing device are located in different locations;

displaying the first image and the second image of the visitor simultaneously on the remote computing device and then recording whether the visitor is shown in both the first image and the second image;

prompting the user of the remote computing device to determine that the visitor is shown in both the first image and the second image;

selecting a first expected person profile in response to a time at which the doorbell detects the visitor, wherein the first expected person profile includes the first image and a name of the visitor;

sending the first expected person profile to the remote computing device;

displaying the name on the remote computing device;

using the remote computing device to record that the user determined that the visitor is shown in both the first image and the second image;

wherein the remote database comprises the first expected person profile having a first rental period and a second expected person profile having a second rental period, wherein the remote database sends the first expected person profile to the remote computing device if the time at which the doorbell detects the visitor is within the first rental period and the remote database sends the second expected person profile to the remote computing device if the time at which the doorbell detects the visitor is within the second rental period; and

sending an electronic key to an electronic device in possession of the visitor in response to using the remote computing device to record that the user determined that the visitor is shown in both the first image and the second image, wherein the electronic key is configured to enable unlocking the lock.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein enabling the visitor to control the lock comprises sending an electronic key to an electronic device in possession of the visitor, wherein the electronic key is configured to enable unlocking the lock.

17. The method according to claim 13, further comprising sending the electronic key via at least one of a text message, a push notification, and an email.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising disabling the electronic key within three hours after an end of the second rental period in which the visitor is authorized to enter the building.