Patent Publication Number: US-2018053363-A1

Title: Secured integrated building access

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of provisional application 62/377903, filed on Aug. 22, 2016. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to security systems and building access systems. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Securing both commercial and residential buildings is high priority for the owners and tenants of these types of properties. The ability to do so remotely is even more desirable given that many people are either not present or indisposed when a visitor arrives. The ability to grant or deny access at the point of entry is desirable but not always possible and the inability to do so can create a number of problems and/or general nuisance for the owner or tenant. 
     There currently exist a range of approaches to help secure properties. However, a problem with the known methods is that they require someone present on the property to grant or deny access. Further, the known methods are constrained to outdated communication methods. Additionally, known methods for securing a property and known methods for granting or denying access are not combined into a single system. Therefore, there exists a need for a single system both to secure and to permit or deny access that is not restricted by outdated technology and allows a remote user to control the system. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     These and other objects are achieved by the instant invention. The present invention is an integrated building access system that has a communication device component at the building entry point in communication with the tenant or owner&#39;s PC/tablet/mobile device by means of the internet or cellular network. 
     It is an object of the invention for a system to provide the tenant or owner (access controller) with an audiovisual access request and callback number of the visitor at the building entry point. 
     It is an object of the invention for a system to communicate the access request to the access controller instantaneously by means of a cloud service. 
     It is an object of the invention for a system including the cloud service that the service receives the access request and processes and sends the request to the access controller by SMS/text message, SMTP/e-mail message, push notification, or other communicable means via the internet or cellular network. 
     It is an object of the invention that the access controller be prompted to permit or deny building access. 
     It is an object of the invention that the access request expires in a predetermined amount of time, between 60-300 seconds. 
     It is an object of the invention that the access controller has the option to contact the visitor with a callback number. 
     It is an object of the invention that if the access controller chooses to permit access, an approval message is transmitted back to the building entry point via the cloud service. 
     It is an object of the invention that granting approved access will transmit an “access granted” message to the visitor. 
     It is an object of the invention that granting approved access will activate a door actuator module to provide the visitor with immediate physical access to the building. 
     It is an object of the invention that if the access controller chooses to deny access, an “access denied” message is transmitted back to the building entry point via the cloud service. 
     It is an object of the invention that an access request may be tried again immediately. 
     It is an object of the invention that to prevent nuisance attempts a property administrator may set a timeout setting limiting the number of consecutive access requests upon multiple access denials. 
     It is an object of the invention that the transmission of the access request reach the access controller immediately. 
     Other advantages and novel features of the present invention are more apparent in the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a high-level function diagram of the integrated secure building access system; and 
         FIG. 2  is a close-up diagram of the building entry point device. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     Detailed Description of the Figures 
     The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. 
     Referring now to the figures, the integrated secured building access system  50  comprises a building entry point device  10  to interface with a building visitor  20  that incorporates a user interface  16  (such as a display, touchscreen, keypad or other comparable interface, optionally having memory for storage of video, for example) a camera  12 , a microphone, an RFID reader  22 , a wired or wireless connection to the internet or cellular network, and a door actuator module  26  which communicates with a door securing mechanism when directed by a system generated signal; an associated cloud service  40 ; an associated remote device  35  (such as a tablet, smartphone, personal computer, or similar device); and a door securing mechanism connected to the door actuator module. In the depicted embodiment of the building entry point device  10  shown in  FIG. 2 , there is also a “camera active” notification light  11  to alert the visitor  20  when the camera  12  is recording and an auto focus IR lens  13  to ensure optimal video recording. This embodiment of the building entry point device  10  is also shown in a protective case  24 , which is preferable to protect the building entry point device  10  from damage and the elements. The RFID reader  22  is in connection with the building entry point device  10  through a USB or similar type of connection or can be in communication with the building entry point device  10  through any means known to one skilled in the art. 
     The integrated secured building access system  50  is activated by a visitor  20  at the entry point  5  of the building  1 . The visitor  20  selects a type of access, either direct access or remote access from a building entry point device  10 . For the direct access option, the visitor  20  preferably should have a PIN or RFID badge and by the use of the RFID badge with the RFID reader  22  or by the use of the PIN with the user interface  16  may gain immediate access to the building  1 . For the remote access option, the visitor  20  may select an access controller  30  (i.e. one of many tenants) from a directory on the building entry point device  10 . The directory may be stored in memory on the building entry point device  10  or may be remotely stored on the cloud service  40 . In this embodiment of the building entry point device  10 , nothing is written to local storage on the device, meaning that the directory is remotely stored on the cloud service  40 . When the building entry point device  10  starts up, the building entry point device  10  connects to the cloud service  40  and provides its hardware serial number. Upon validation of the serial number and an active service account, the configuration for the building entry point device  10  service is downloaded from the cloud service  40 . The configuration will remain in active RAM, and is therefore never written to local storage, as long as the building entry point device  10  is operating. Further, if the building entry point device  10  is lost or stolen, the account can be deactivated resulting in no data loss or compromise to the directory or sensitive information. 
     After selecting an access controller  30  from the directory, an audiovisual message is generated of the visitor  20  at the entry point  5  of the building  1  utilizing the camera  12  and the microphone of the building entry point device  10 . Preferably, the audiovisual message along with a callback number supplied by the visitor  20  using the building entry point device  10  comprises the access request. A transmission  52  of access request is uploaded by the building entry point device  10  to a cloud service  40  via a wired or wireless internet or cellular network. A transmission  54  of the access request is sent by the cloud service  40  to the access controller  30 . While transmission of the access request is occurring, a message is displayed to the visitor  20  via the user interface  16  on the building entry point device  10  to the effect that “the message is being sent” or “your message is being sent”. The transmission  52  of the access request is processed by the cloud service  40  and relayed to the access controller  30  by a transmission  54  of at least one of the following methods: SMS/Text message, SMTP/E-mail message, push notification, or other communicable means via the internet or cellular network. Upon receiving the access request, the access controller  30  is prompted by the remote device  35  to permit or deny the visitor  20  access to the building  1 . 
     If access is denied by the access controller  30 , an “access denied” message will be generated by the access controller  30  using the remote device  35 . A transmission  56  of the “access denied” message is sent to the cloud service  40 , then the message is relayed to the visitor  20  by a transmission  58  from the cloud service  40  to the building entry point device  10 . The visitor  20  receives the message on the user interface  16  notifying them that access has been denied by displaying a message on the building entry point device  10 , to wit, “access denied.” 
     If access is granted by the access controller  30 , an “access granted” message will be generated by the access controller  30  using the remote device  35 . A transmission  56  of the “access granted” message is sent to the cloud service  40 , then the message is relayed to the visitor  20  by a transmission  58  from the cloud service  40  to the building entry point device  10 . The visitor  20  receives the message on the user interface  16  notifying them that access has been granted by displaying a message on the building entry point device  10 , to wit, “access granted.” Simultaneously, the door actuator module  26  will be activated. Normally, the door  5  is locked by a door securing mechanism when the door actuator module  26  is not activated. The door actuator module  26  receives a signal from the building entry point device  10 , through a wired or wireless connection, to actuate the door latching (and unlatching) mechanisms, converts the signal to preferably a 5-volt analog signal which, by the use of the relay, is converted to the voltage matching the voltage required by any one of a number of available door latching (and unlatching) mechanisms. The door actuator module  26  comprises a digital to analog converter, a wire connection with the building entry point device  10  and a relay. When activated, the door actuator module  26  sends an appropriate voltage signal to the door latching mechanism which unlocks the locked door  5 , thereby allowing the visitor  20  to enter the building  1 . 
     The access controller  30  also has the option to call the visitor  20  using the callback number provided in the access request. If the access controller  30  does not permit or deny access, the access request will expire after a predetermined or preselected amount of time. Preferably, the access request will expire at a preselected time ranging from between about 60 and about 300 seconds. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive nor to limit the invention to precise forms disclosed and, obviously, many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in art to best utilize the invention and its various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.