Security kiosk and system and method of controlling access using thereof

A security kiosk for controlling access to an area, includes a housing, a visitor identification reader, a data storage device, a controller, and a visitor interface device. The visitor identification reader is configured to read a visitor identifier and produce a visitor identification signal indicative of a visitor's identity. The data storage device is configured to store approved visitor data including approved visitors and corresponding date and time gate entry periods, and update the approved visitor data from a remote security database at periodic intervals. The controller is configured to generate an access signal as a function of comparing the visitor's identity with the approved visitor data, and transmit the access signal to a barrier actuation system. The visitor interface device is configured to produce and transmit a visitor signal inputted on a user interface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to security kiosks, systems, and methods to control access to an area.

Gated communities, condominiums, office buildings and parks, and other multi-unit and occupant areas may desire a security system to allow access only to occupants and their desired visitors. For example, a gated community or office part may have a guardhouse at a gate, and hire a security officer to only admit occupants or approved visitors. A condominium or office building may have a check-in desk and secure lobby with an attendant or security officer. Occupants may communicate to the security officer or attendant all approved visitors, along with the dates and times they are approved for access to the area.

Hiring a security officer or attendant may be expensive. Some systems have been developed utilizing virtual security officers who are located in a central location and monitor a gate and communicate with visitors through a camera, microphone, and speaker remotely. Although these may be less expensive than a security officer on-site, they may still be costly and communication may be slower, especially when the communication networks which are relied on have heavy traffic.

As can be seen, there may be an ongoing need to minimize the cost of systems to control access to an area while providing fast and accurate service to occupants and their visitors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a security kiosk for controlling access to an area comprises a housing; a visitor identification reader including a visitor identification placement area located on or near the housing, the reader configured to read a visitor identifier and produce an visitor identification signal indicative of a visitor's identity; a data storage device located at least partially in the housing and configured to store approved visitor data, and update the approved visitor data from a remote security database at periodic intervals, the approved visitor data including visitor identity and corresponding approved date and time gate entry periods; a controller communicatively connected to the visitor identification reader and the data storage device, and configured to generate an access signal as a function of comparing the visitor's identity with the approved visitor data, the controller located at least partially in the housing and configured to communicatively connect to a barrier actuation system to transmit the access signal to the barrier actuation system; and a visitor interface device including a user interface located on the housing exterior, the visitor interface device configured to produce and transmit a visitor signal inputted on the user interface.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method of controlling access to an area, comprises entering approved visitor data on an entry manager user interface, the approved visitor data including approved visitor identities and corresponding approved date and time barrier entry periods; periodically updating and storing in a storage device located in a security kiosk the approved visitor data; playing at least one of an audio and video welcome message on a visitor communication device in the security kiosk; scanning a visitor identifier with a visitor identification reader located in a security kiosk and generating a visitor identification signal indicative of a visitor's identity; comparing the visitor's identity with the approved visitor identities in the approved visitor data stored in the storage device and the present time and date with the corresponding approved date and time gate entry periods; generating an open barrier signal when the visitor identity and present time and date match data in the approved visitor data; and playing at least one of an audio and video entry status message on the visitor communication device.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, a security system for controlling access to an area, comprises an entry manager user interface configured to allow entry and updates of approved visitor data, the approved visitor data including approved visitor identities and corresponding approved time and date entry periods; an approved visitor data main database communicatively connected with the entry manager user interface and configured to store and update approved visitor data; an entrance barrier to allow or bar access through an entrance, the entrance barrier including an entrance barrier actuator, the entrance barrier actuator configured to open and close the entrance barrier to selectively allow or bar access through the entrance in response to an access signal; a security kiosk communicatively connected to the main database and the entrance barrier actuator, and including a housing including an exterior with a recess, a visitor identification reader located in the recess and configured to read a visitor identifier and produce an visitor identification signal indicative of a visitor's identity, a data storage device located at least partially in the housing and configured to store approved visitor data, and update the approved visitor data from the main database at periodic intervals, a controller communicatively connected to the visitor identification reader and the data storage device, and configured to generate an access signal as a function of comparing the visitor's identity with the approved visitor data, the controller located at least partially in the housing, and a visitor interface device including a user interface located on the housing exterior, the visitor interface device configured to produce and transmit a visitor signal inputted on the user interface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally provides a security kiosk for controlling access to an area, and a system with the kiosk for controlling access to an area, and a method utilizing the security kiosk for controlling access to an area. In general, multiple owners or occupants of units in an area may desire to limit access to the area to the owners or occupants and their approved visitors. The kiosk may be used without the cost of a security officer at an entrance barrier such as a gate or condominium building entrance.

Referring now toFIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, and 1E, a first exemplary embodiment of a security kiosk100is illustrated. The kiosk100may include a housing102with a user interface146. The housing102may include a front104, two sides106(only one shown inFIG. 1B), a back108, a top110, and a bottom112. The housing102may include a bottom portion103and a top portion105. The top portion105may be removable from the bottom portion103for interior access. The top portion105may be secured to the bottom portion103with a lock118. The back108may include an access cover116to provide access to the interior of the housing102. The bottom112may include a plate welded to the rest of the housing102with a weld124. The bottom112may include bolt holes122for bolting the housing102to a desired location, and communication line apertures126for cable lines connecting portions of the kiosk100to remote locations. A rod120may extend from side106to side106to provide rigidity and reinforcement of the housing102.

The housing102may include a recess114which may be located on the front104. A display screen134and a visitor ID placement area136may be accessible in the recess114which may provide protection from direct light and may allow a user to see the display screen134more clearly. A light156may provide light in the recess114when needed. A visitor interface128may be located on the front of the housing and include a visitor interface device130and a speaker/microphone unit132configured to be communicatively connected to a remote location such as a gatehouse or security desk.

A reader138, a controller140, a data storage device142and a transmitter and receiver unit144may be at least partially enclosed by the housing102. Elements which are at least partially enclosed by the housing102are shown with a dashed outline. These elements are shown schematically and not necessarily in the position in which they would be mounted. These elements may be mounted in any location within the housing102as would be known in the art. A visitor approach sensor148and a camera150may be mounted on the top110of the housing102. In alternative embodiments the visitor approach sensor148and the camera150may be mounted elsewhere on or in the housing102, or alternatively they may be located remotely of the housing and communicatively linked to the controller140in the housing102.

The controller140may include a processor and memory (not shown) as is known in the art. The processor may execute code stored in the memory or received from another device to perform functions which may include controlling access to an area. The controller140may be communicatively connected to the visitor interface128, the display134, the reader138, the data storage device142, and the transmitter and receiver unit144.

The data storage device142may be any memory component which would be known in the art. It may be a separate unit from the controller140, or it may be integral to the controller140. The data storage device142may contain data on owners and/or occupants of the area and approved visitor data. The approved visitor data may include identities of visitors who are approved for entrance to the area and the dates and times in which these visitors are approved for entry. The data storage device142may be configured to be connected to a main data storage unit406(shown in relation toFIG. 4) and periodically update the approved visitor data. The data storage device142may be communicatively connected to the transmitter and receiver unit144.

The transmitter and receiver unit144may be any transmitter unit and receiver unit for data as would be known in the art. The unit144may be a single unit, may be integral to the controller140, may be a separate transmitter unit and a separate receiver unit, or may be any other configuration as would be known in the art. The unit144may be configured to send and receive visitor data, voice data from and to the speaker/microphone unit, and/or any other data as would be known in the art. The unit144may be configured to be communicatively connected to receive periodic visitor data updates from a main visitor database for updating the data storage device142, and voice transmission from a main security center408(shown in relation toFIG. 4) for amplification and playing on the speaker/microphone unit132. The unit144may be configured to transmit voice data from the speaker/microphone unit132to the main security area. The unit144may be a separate physical unit or integral to the controller140.

The reader138may be configured to scan a visitor ID placed in the visitor ID placement area136. The visitor ID may, for example, include a printed out bar code or other symbol; a bar code, QR code, or other symbol on a phone or other portable electronic device; a near field communication (NFC) capable phone or other portable electronic device; a Driver's License; a card or other identifier with radio-frequency identification (RFID); and/or any other visitor ID which would correspond to the visitor data as would be known in the art. In another example, the reader138may scan a visitor's through a fingerprint, eye, or other identifying body feature. The reader138may be communicatively connected to the controller140to send the scanned data. The controller140may interpret the scanned data, or the reader138may have an integral processing unit (not shown) which would interpret the data.

The display screen134may display information and images for a visitor. The information and images may be communicated from the controller140, or the display screen134may have its' own processing unit.

The housing102may have a height from the bottom112to the top110represented by “H”, which may be in an exemplary range of 48-60 inches. The housing may have a distance represented by “C” from the bottom112to the recess114which may be in an exemplary range of 34-40 inches. The recess114may have a height represented by “B” which may be in an exemplary range of 7-9 inches, and a width represented by “A” which may be in an exemplary range of 4-7 inches. The bottom108may have a width represented by “D” which may be in an exemplary range of 10-14 inches. The distance between the sides106represented by “E” may be in an exemplary range of 6-10 inches. The distance between the front104and the back108represented by “F” may be in an exemplary range of 6-10 inches. The access door116may have a height represented by “G” which may be in an exemplary range of 12-18 inches.

Referring now toFIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, and 2F, a second exemplary embodiment of a security kiosk200is illustrated. The second embodiment of the security kiosk200may have many of the same features and elements as the first embodiment of the security kiosk100. These features or elements (which are numbered similarly) will not be described again. Rather only differences and additional elements will be described. In some geographic areas, vandalism of a security kiosk200may be a concern. The second embodiment of the security kiosk200may assist in preventing loss or damage due to vandalism.

The front104of the second embodiment of the security kiosk200may not have a recess114or a display screen134. Instead a protrusion252may extend from the front104defining the visitor ID placement area136. The protrusion252may include a snout254. The snout254may include a protruding front side258which may angle out from the kiosk front104, a mounting side260which mounts to the kiosk front104, a bottom266, and two sides268. The mounting side260may include a base264for mounting and an aperture262through which the reader138may read a visitor ID placed in the visitor ID placement area136. The bottom266may be open and the visitor ID placement area136may be right below the bottom266. The second embodiment of the kiosk200may not have an access cover116on the back108.

The housing102may have a height from the bottom112to the top110represented by “J”, which may be in an exemplary range of 42-54 inches. The housing may have a distance represented by “K” from the bottom112to the bottom266of the snout254which may be in an exemplary range of 33-43 inches. The distance from the bottom266of the snout254to the rod120may be represented by “M” and may be in an exemplary range of 10-14 inches.

Referring now toFIGS. 3A and 3B, a third exemplary embodiment of a security kiosk300is illustrated. The third embodiment of the security kiosk300may have many of the same features and elements as the first embodiment of the security kiosk100. These features or elements (which are numbered similarly) will not be described again. Rather only differences and additional elements will be described. In some embodiments, the area to which access is being controlled may be a building with multiple tenants/occupants/owners, such as, for example, a condominium, apartment building, or office building. In this type of embodiment, the security kiosk300may be located in a recess in a wall370in a lobby or other public access area.

In comparison with the first kiosk100embodiment, the third kiosk300embodiment may not have a recess114, but may have the protrusion252which may include the snout254. Instead of being self-standing, the kiosk300may be designed to fit into the wall370recess and be supported by the wall370recess.

The housing102may have a height from the bottom112to the top110represented by “P”, which may be in an exemplary range of 10-15 inches. The housing102may have a width from one side106to the other side106represented by “N” which may be in an exemplary range of 13-20 inches. The housing102may have a depth from the front104to the back108represented by “R” which may be in an exemplary range of 3-6 inches.

Referring now toFIG. 4, a schematic of an exemplary system401for and method500of controlling access to an area is illustrated. The system401may include a kiosk400. The kiosk400and exemplary elements thereof are numbered similarly to the embodiments of the kiosk100,200,300illustrated in the preceding Figures. Exemplary elements which may be included in the system401are numbered in the 400 series and shown in a box with a single line border. Exemplary steps which may be included in the method500are numbered in the 500 series and are shown in a box with a double line border.

In addition to the kiosk400, the system401may include a unit402, a main security center408, and an entrance barrier410. In the exemplary system401illustrated, the visitor approach sensor148and camera150are shown separate from the kiosk400. For example, the visitor approach sensor148may be a pressure sensor in a drive leading to a gate of a gated community utilizing the kiosk400. When the visitor's car pulls up to the kiosk400, the pressure sensor may send a signal to the controller140that a visitor may be approaching. In other embodiments, the visitor approach sensor148may be mounted on the kiosk400and/or may be a motion detection sensor. An owner/tenant/occupant412of a unit, a security officer414, and a visitor418are also illustrated in the schematic.

The unit402may be an individual unit in a multi-unit area for which controlling access is desired. In non-limiting examples, the unit402may include a home in a gated community, a condominium unit in a condominium building, and/or an office in an office building or park. The unit402may include an entry manager user interface404(for example a personal computer) through which an owner/tenant/occupant412may enter approved visitors418and date and time periods when the visitors418are approved for access. The entry manager user interface404may be communicatively connected to and configured to send visitor approved data to an approved visitor main database406. The entry manager user interface404may be configured to send a visitor identifier, such as for example, a bar code, a password, or another symbol to an approved visitor418. In other embodiments the entry manager user interface404may include other electronic devices such as tablets or phones, a phone access system, or any other entry manager user interface404which would be known in the art for entering visitor data.

The main security center408may be a gatehouse or an office from which access to an area may be controlled. In non-limiting examples, the main security center408may include the gatehouse for a gated community or office park, the security office of a condominium building or office building, or a remote site through which security is controlled for an area. The main security center418may include the approved visitor main database406which may store and update approved visitor data. In some embodiments the main database406may be located in a different location than the security center408. The security center408may be configured to transmit and receive voice signals from the kiosk400such that a security officer414may verbally communicate with a visitor418at the kiosk400. The main database406may be communicatively connected to the data storage device142.

The entrance barrier410, may be a gate, a door, or other device(s) which may selectively bar entry to an area. In non-limiting examples, the entrance barrier410may include a main or secondary gate to a gated community or office park, a main or secondary door to a condominium building or an office building, or an elevator to select floors of a condominium or office building. If the barrier410is a door, the door may include a swing type door, a turn stile door, a sliding door (side to side or up and down), or any other type door. The entrance barrier410may include a barrier actuation system416which may selectively open and close the entrance barrier410in response to an access signal. For example, the barrier actuation system416may lift and then let down, or swing open and shut, a gate to allow visitors418in and out of a gated community. In another non-limiting example the barrier actuation system416may unlock and lock a door, or open and close a door in a condominium building.

The method500of controlling access to an area may start with the owner/tenant/occupant412of the unit402entering approved visitor data on the entry manager user interface404, the approved visitor data including approved visitor identities and corresponding approved date and time barrier entry periods (step502). When new visitor data is entered, the entry manager user interface404may send a visitor418an identifier which the visitor418may use to gain entry to the controlled area through the entrance barrier410. The identifier may, for example include a bar code or other symbol which may be printed by the visitor418or displayed on an electronic device such as a phone (step504). The entry manager user interface404may send the visitor data entered to the approved visitor main database406where it may be stored and/or previous approved visitor data updated (step506). Approved visitor data in the data storage device142of the kiosk400may be periodically updated from the approved visitor main database406, such that new approved visitor data entered in the entry manager user interface404, may be stored in the data storage device142. The approved visitor data may, for example, be updated every fifteen (15) minutes (step508).

When a visitor418approaches the kiosk400to gain entry into the controlled area through the entrance barrier410, a visitor signal is sent from the visitor approach sensor148to the controller140(step510). The controller140may send instructions and data to the speaker132to play a first audio message greeting the visitor418and/or instructing the visitor418to place their visitor identifier in the visitor id placement area136(step512). Concurrently or alternatively the controller140may send instructions and data to the display screen134to play a first video message (step514). For example, a digital assistant may appear on the screen while the first audio message is playing. The camera150may take a photograph of the visitor418and may send the photograph to the controller140, and/or the main security center408(step516). The controller140may store the photograph in the data storage device142or may transmit it elsewhere.

The visitor418may place their visitor identifier in the visitor id placement area136(step518) and the reader138may read the identifier (step520) and send a signal indicative of the identity of the visitor418to the controller140. The visitor identifier may be a bar code or other symbol, or could be a driver's license or other known personal ID.

The controller140may compare the identity of the visitor to the approved visitor data (step522), and if the visitor418is an approved visitor at the current time on the current date, the controller may send an access signal (step524) to the barrier actuation system416and the barrier actuation system416may open the entrance barrier410(step530) to allow the visitor418into the controlled area.

The controller140may also send instructions and data to the speaker132to play a second audio message (step526) as a function of the comparison of the identity of the visitor418with the approved visitor data. If the visitor418is approved for entry the second audio message may indicate this. If the visitor418is not approved for entry, the second audio message may indicate this and inform the visitor418that they can reach the main security center408through use of the visitor interface128.

Concurrently to or alternatively to the second audio message, the controller140may also send instructions and data to the display screen134to play a second video message (step528) as a function of the comparison of the identity of the visitor418with the approved visitor data. If the visitor418is approved for entry the second video message may indicate this. If the visitor418is not approved for entry, the second video message may indicate this and inform the visitor418that they can reach the main security center408through use of the visitor interface128. The second audio message and the second video message may play simultaneously, for example, in an audio/visual representation of a digital assistant.

If the visitor418is denied entry, they may use the visitor interface128to contact the main security center for help (step532). The visitor interface128may include a visitor interface device130, such as a button, or a touch area on a touchscreen which the visitor418may use to activate the speaker/microphone unit132to talk to the security officer414or other person in the main security center408. The visitor interface128may also send a signal to the main security center408such that the security officer414or other person is aware that a visitor418requires their assistance. The security officer414, may for example, direct the visitor418to a main gate or entrance where an attendant may assist them.