Remote access control to residential or office buildings

• US 9,425,981 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2012
• Issued: 08/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Colin Foster
• Original Assignee: Colin Foster
• Inventors: Foster, Colin
• Primary Examiner(s): Brandt, Christopher M
• Application Number:
  US13/548,279
• Publication Number:
  US 20130017812A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,502 Days
• Field of Search: 455/417, 455/422.1, 340/5.4, 379/167.01, 379/167.02, 379/167.03, 379/167.04, 379/167.05, 379/167.06, 379/167.07, 379/167.08, 379/167.11, 379/167.12, 379/167.13, 379/167.14, 379/167.15, 379/168, 379/169, 379/170, 379/171, 379/172, 379/173
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2825 Reporting to a device located outside the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with telemetering systems H04M11/002
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/025 Door telephones adapted for television H04N7/186
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/186 Video door telephones

Abstract

Disclosed are computer-implemented methods and systems for providing remote access control to residential or office buildings. The disclosed methods allow employing virtual doorman functions in non-doorman buildings. An example method may comprise: receiving a call signal of an intercom station, the call signal comprising a resident identifier which indicates a resident with whom a visitor is trying to communicate, receiving a video stream generated by at least one camera, the video stream comprising one or more images of the visitor, retrieving visitor data associated with the resident identifier, the visitor data comprising one or more visitor profiles, and providing access to the building for the visitor based upon one or more predetermined criteria.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for providing remote access control to a building, wherein the building includes a first door associated with a first room and a second door associated with a second room, the method comprising:

maintaining a database with one or more visitor profiles and one or more resident profiles, wherein each visitor profile comprises a visitor name, information regarding time when the visitor is allowed to access the building, a secret question and a corresponding answer to the secret question, and information about one or more reasons why the visitor shall be granted access to the building;

causing to display a graphical user interface on a mobile communication device of a resident of the building, wherein the graphical user interface enables the resident to add the one or more visitor profiles to the database, edit the one or more visitor profiles stored in the database, view data logs associated with past events of visitors entrance to the building, view data logs associated with mail delivery, and edit settings associated with a control system for providing remote access to the building;

receiving a call signal from an intercom station, wherein the call signal is initiated by a visitor, the call signal comprises a resident identifier (ID) which indicates a resident with whom a visitor is attempting to communicate;

receiving a first video stream generated by a first camera, wherein the first camera is associated with the first door or the intercom station;

retrieving visitor data associated with the resident ID, the visitor data comprising one or more visitor profiles;

directing the call signal to a communication device of the resident for establishing a communication session between the visitor and the resident, wherein the communication device is located inside the building;

determining that the communication session between the visitor and the resident is not established within at least 20 seconds;

based on the determination, establishing a communication session between the intercom and the mobile communication device of the resident;

enabling the visitor to establish a communication session, via the intercom, between the visitor and an operator of the control system, when the resident is not available to speak with the visitor via the communication device or the mobile communication device; and

providing access to the building for the visitor based upon one or more predetermined criteria, the visitor profile, and the resident profile.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving a resident profile associated with the resident ID, the resident profile comprising a resident address, a resident name, resident contact information, a resident photo, and resident instructions regarding what visitors shall be granted with access to the building.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising establishing a call to a mobile device of the visitor to ensure that the visitor is the same person as provided in the visitor profile.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising causing to display a graphical user interface on a computer device of the operator of the control system, wherein the graphical user interface of the operator enables the operator to search information about the visitor among the one or more visitor profiles, view the one or more resident profiles, establish a communication session between the operator and the mobile communication device of the resident, view the first video stream generated by the first camera, view a second video stream generated by a second camera associated with the second door, and establish a communication session between the operator and the mobile communication device of the visitor, and remotely lock or unlock the first door.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more predetermined criteria comprising successful identification of the visitor.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more predetermined criteria comprising successful identification that the first camera provides real-time streaming video of the visitor at his or her current location.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more predetermined criteria comprising successful identification that the resident is outside of the building, and further comprising establishing a call to a mobile communication device of the resident.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more predetermined criteria comprising successful authentication of the visitor based upon visitor biometric data.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising triggering the first actuator to lock/unlock or open/close the first door only when it is determined that the visitor is within the vision of the first video camera.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising triggering the second actuator to lock/unlock or open/close the second door when it is determined that the visitor is within the vision of the second video camera.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising forwarding the video stream generated by the first camera and the second camera to the mobile communication device of the resident.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising enabling the resident to provide access to the building for the visitor via the mobile communication device.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising enabling the resident to trigger, via the mobile communication device, one or more actuators to lock/unlock or open/close the first door and the second door.

14. A system for providing remote access control to a building, the system comprising:

a computing device including at least one processor and a memory storing processor-executable codes, which, when implemented by the at least one processor, cause to perform the steps of;

maintaining a database with one or more visitor profiles and one or more resident profiles, wherein each visitor profile comprises a visitor name, information regarding time when the visitor is allowed to access the building, a secret question and a corresponding answer to the secret question, and information about one or more reasons why the visitor shall be granted access to the building;

causing to display a graphical user interface on a mobile communication device of a resident of the building, wherein the graphical user interface enables the resident to add the one or more visitor profiles to the database, edit the one or more visitor profiles stored in the database, view data logs associated with past events of visitors entrance to the building, view data logs associated with mail delivery, and edit settings associated with a control system for providing remote access to the building;

receiving a call signal from an intercom station, wherein the call signal is initiated by a visitor, the call signal comprises a resident identifier (ID) which indicates a resident with whom a visitor is attempting to communicate;

receiving a first video stream generated by a first camera, wherein the first camera is associated with the first door or the intercom station;

retrieving visitor data associated with the resident ID, the visitor data comprising one or more visitor profiles;

directing the call signal to a communication device of the resident for establishing a communication session between the visitor and the resident, wherein the communication device is located inside the building;

determining that the communication session between the visitor and the resident is not established within at least 20 seconds;

based on the determination, establishing a communication session between the intercom and the mobile communication device of the resident;

enabling the visitor to establish a communication session, via the intercom, between the visitor and an operator of the control system, when the resident is not available to speak with the visitor via the communication device or the mobile communication device; and

providing access to the building for the visitor based upon one or more predetermined criteria, the visitor profile, and the resident profile.

15. A non-transitory processor-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to implement a method for providing remote access control to a building, wherein the building includes a first door associated with a first room and a second door associated with a second room, the method comprising:

maintaining a database with one or more visitor profiles and one or more resident profiles, wherein each visitor profile comprises a visitor name, information regarding time when the visitor is allowed to access the building, a secret question and a corresponding answer to the secret question, and information about one or more reasons why the visitor shall be granted access to the building;

causing to display a graphical user interface on a mobile communication device of a resident of the building, wherein the graphical user interface enables the resident to add the one or more visitor profiles to the database, edit the one or more visitor profiles stored in the database, view data logs associated with past events of visitors entrance to the building, view data logs associated with mail delivery, and edit settings associated with a control system for providing remote access to the building;

receiving a call signal from an intercom station, wherein the call signal is initiated by a visitor, the call signal comprises a resident identifier (ID) which indicates a resident with whom a visitor is attempting to communicate;

receiving a first video stream generated by a first camera, wherein the first camera is associated with the first door or the intercom station;

retrieving visitor data associated with the resident ID, the visitor data comprising one or more visitor profiles;

directing the call signal to a communication device of the resident for establishing a communication session between the visitor and the resident, wherein the communication device is located inside the building;

determining that the communication session between the visitor and the resident is not established within at least 20 seconds;

based on the determination, establishing a communication session between the intercom and the mobile communication device of the resident;

enabling the visitor to establish a communication session, via the intercom, between the visitor and an operator of the control system, when the resident is not available to speak with the visitor via the communication device or the mobile communication device; and

providing access to the building for the visitor based upon one or more predetermined criteria, the visitor profile, and the resident profile.