System and method for managing services and facilities in a multi-unit building

• US 20060017547A1
• Filed: 11/30/2004
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David G. Oliver, Duane W. Buckingham, Gregory F. Scheurer, Philipp A. Roosli, Richard N. Quirino
• Original Assignee: David G. Oliver, Duane W. Buckingham, Gregory F. Scheurer, Philipp A. Roosli, Richard N. Quirino
• Inventors: Roosli, Philipp A., Quirino, Richard N., Buckingham, Duane W., Scheurer, Gregory F., Oliver, David G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,142,112 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/328
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2816 Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators

Abstract

The application discloses various methods and systems that utilize infrared communication to enhance and manage the security and convenience of occupants and the operation and efficiency of the staff of a multi-unit building.

Claims

1. A method for affecting a state of a door lock device associated with a room of a multi-unit building, comprising:

generating digital commands in response to a determination to affect the state of the door lock device;

converting the digital commands at a gateway device located inside of the room into infrared commands;

transmitting the infrared commands from the gateway device;

receiving the infrared commands at the door lock device; and

converting the infrared commands into electronic commands which are processed by the door lock device to affect the state of the door lock device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the state of the door lock device comprises at least one of lock, unlock, and set at least one lock access code.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the gateway device is associated with at least one of a light switch, a thermostat, mini-bar, a telephone, and a television set top box.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the gateway device is connected to a network of the multi-unit building and the digital commands are provided by the network.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the infrared commands are diffused infrared dispersion.

6. A system for affecting a state of a door lock device associated with building, comprising:

a gateway device located inside of the room for converting digital commands into infrared commands and transmitting the infrared commands within the room, the digital commands generated in response to a determination to affect the state of the door lock device; and

the door lock device including means for receiving the infrared commands and converting the infrared commands into electronic commands which are processed to affect the state of the door lock device.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein state of the door lock device comprises at least one of lock, unlock, and set lock code.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the gateway device is associated with at least one of a light switch, a thermostat, a mini-bar, a telephone and a television set top box.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein the gateway device is connected to a network of the multi-unit building and the digital commands are provided by the network.

10. The system of claim 6 wherein the infrared commands are diffused infrared dispersion.