Patent ID: 7263182

Claim:
A method for controlling access to an occupant premises, the method comprising: receiving a request from a first communications device to establish a connection to a second communications device, the first communications device associated with an access control device for the occupant premises, the second communications device being located at the occupant premises; establishing a first communication path between the first communications device and a remote communications system; providing a first notification from the remote communications system to the second communications device, the first notification signifying that a visitor is present and requesting a second communications path between the remote communications system and the second communications device; establishing the second communications connection between the remote communications system and the second communications device so as to enable an occupant to determine whether or not to grant access to the visitor; providing at least one message to the first communications device, the message indicative of progress of establishment of the second communications path; receiving a second notification from the second communications device over the second communications path, the second notification indicating that access is to be provided to the visitor; and transmitting the second notification to the first communication device over the first communications path.