GB2408841A

GB2408841A - Automatic entrance station answering apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2408841A
Application number: GB0418571A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Oren Petrank
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-08-19
Filing date: 2004-08-18
Publication date: 2005-06-08
Also published as: GB0418571D0

Abstract

Apparatus at an entrance station comprises caller input means having buttons, and means for repeatedly carrying out the following functions: (a) recognizing input made using the input means; and (b) responding by playing a pre-recorded message which may be different at each repetition. Responding messages from the caller may be recorded, and there may be means for offering the caller a choice of languages. There may be a database of expected callers so that information from a caller can be compared with data in the database to verify the identity of the caller to either approve or hinder entry to the called party's premises.

Description

240884 1 - 1

AUTOMATIC ENTRANCE STATION

ANSWERING APPARATUS AND METHOD

}IACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION With the need to increase the efficiency of automatic communication systems, the introduction of automatic conversations through Intercom/ Entrance station systems h's become an urgently needed new technology. This patent application addresses this lo d.

SI T\IMARY OF THE INVENTION I his invention discloses the inventive concept of automatic conversation with a visitor through an Entrance Station by the use of pre-recorded messages. This application consolidates the various features perviously &closed in priority documents GB0416755.7, GB0416450.5, GB0410368.7, GB0319437.0, GB0320758.6, GB0322537.2, (rl 0400507.0 and GB0211708.3. According to the invention thereby provided an Apparatus and Method comprising an Entrance Station having Catter's input means with or VViDlOUt a Monitor or Display that facilitates an automatic conversation, multi level response fr, m the Caller by employing repeatedly the following functions in the following sequence (a) Recognize each input that is produced when the Catter operates the input means on the Entrance Station; (b) Play a pre-recorded message. These documents disclose the same incentive concept but also other features such as the facility to connect the visitor to a parson within the called party's premises by means of internal telephone system and the facility for the visitor to choose the language in which the automatic conversation is to take place. Another feature is the facility to permit the caster automatic access to the carted paty's premises at the successful completion of the automatic conversation. Another feature is the retention of information gathered about each caster, and automatically conpanng information before entry or exit to improve security. Another feature is the use of display or monitor to permit a silent conversation with the caster by means of displayed n,essages in response to the caster pressing the caster's operated input means on the E ntrance Station. The display can also be used to afford the caster to input information in response to the played pre-recorded messages or displayed messages. This invention opens now doors to future uses of Entrance based/Intercom systems in domestic,industrial, business or institutional settings.

IllRODUCTION TO THE DRAWINGS };ig,are 1/3 Illustrates possible permutations of equipment that can be used to allow different level of control, interface and interaction between the Catter and the Entrance Station.

E inure 2/3 Ittustrates Entrance Station at the Called Par's address to be used by tlc Catter for Entry and or Exit.

lo it are 3/3 Illustrates Entrance Station at the Called Party's address to be used by the Caller for Entry and or Exit.

IJXAMPLES

(I)The called party, a private householder, wish to welcome all visitors with a pre recorded message when they press the Bell or Call button (or other suitable input Mans) on the Entrance Station at the entrance of to the residence, or by means of an invitation on the Entrance Station/Intercom Mounting display.

1 he visitor is asked to respond to a pre-recorded message by operating the input means on the Entrance Station to confirm the choice language: Press (touch) 1 if you speak English, Press (touch) 2 if you speak Welsh.

l 'he visitor is asked to respond to a pre-recorded message by confining the purpose of the visit: Press (touch)! if you personally know who you are calling on press (touch) 2 if you do not personally know who you are calling on If Press (touch) 1: Please state the name of the person you are calling on (allow time for recording) or type the name of the person you wish to see.

}'ress (touch) 1 if your wish to see this person for a business reason lass (touch)2 if you wish to see this person for a family reason },ress (touch) 3 if you wish to see this person for a social reason }'ress (touch) 4 if you wish to see this person for any other reason If no voice was recorded repeat the pre-recorded message before aborting.

If lured 1: Please state your name and the business you represent It press 2: Please state your name and the purpose of your visit If press 3: Please state your name and the social arrangement you have in mind If press 4: Please state your name and the purpose of your visit on type your name / telephone number/ address / the purpose of your visit (by means of the provided key board on the Intercom Mounting) Ale householder is able to screen all visitors before establishing direct contact or allowing access to the properly.

If press 2, follow up with options: }tress (touch)1 if your call is for business purpose Pr ess (touch) 2 if your call is for any other purpose All options: Please state your name and the name of the company or organization you represent (allow time for voice recording).

I'hanlc you for your call. If you wish your call to be returned please insert your phone number (allow for response). Please type your phone number again to confirm.(allow for response) I'lcase type you first name (allow for response) Please type your surname. (allow for response) hank you for your call.

(?) The called party is a business complex that houses a few dozen tenants and has a central security and access system in place.

All callers can avail themselves to a 'private reception cubical' that allows them to interact with the required tenants via the Entrance Station answering apparatus.

I 'he caller can after triggering the first pre-recorded message, respond to a number of options that navigates him or her through a chain of questions (and can ask for voice recording of the caller), before connecting the caller to the relevant tenant that the caller has identified by means of 'press buttons' responses (or other suitable input Scans) to the pre-recorded messages(s). Once the caller has been connected to the relevant tenant, the caller can speak directly and for the tenant to allow him or her access by means of remote control that annul the access control barrier that prevents entry the premises.

(3) The called party is a government building that houses many departments.

The caller is directed to a 'reception cubical' in which he or she is required to interact with an Entrance Station apparatus and respond to pre-recorded message/s to ascertain which department the caller wish to visit, direct the caller by means of a pre-recorded message to the required floor and room number.

(4) The called party is a hospital that requires to monitor and control all visitors and to prevent any unauthorized person from leaving the hospital premisses until they were personally examined by a security guard.

All visitors are required to pass an 'automatic interview' with an Entrance Station answering apparatuses that are located in 10 reception cubical in the hospital entrance.

I 'he caller is required to identify himself or herself by means of voice recording and r.-londing to the questions in the played pre-recorded message in the language of his or her choice. The message(s) also appear on Entrance Station's display. The caller is squired to type the name of the person the caller wishes to visit. The hospital computerized record can be employed to ascertain if the request is genuine and permit access only after successful completion of the automatic' reception interview' to include the obtaining and the storage of a copy of the caller's finger printls or the scanning of the. callers' eye retina and the storage of the results of the scanning.

I bore departure the visitor is required to respond to another automatic conversation by naiads of pre-recorded messages before automatically allowed exit from the premises.

If' flee caller failed to pass the 'exit test' he can only be allowed to leave after being assisted by a security guard.

AUTOMATIC ENTRANCE STATION ANSWERING APPARATUS OR METHOD

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

I he apparatus and method can operated through the use of the following FEATURES or ( ONTROLS that facilitate the required operation as contained in the description and examples previously sited. The following are the NAMES of the features or controls that make up the automatic Entrance StationfIntercom answering apparatus and method.

1-9,0, Caller's operated input means on the Entrance Station of numbers, letters and to Z or symbols. These controls on the Entrance Station can be used by the Symbols caller to respond to the pre-recorded message/s and or displayed message/s.

11.mory Contains all instructions, programs to facilitate automatic conversations and other features of the automatic communication systems, memory cells, stored p, c-recorded message/s, temporary storage of signals and responses to facilitate the link to the follow up pre- recorded and or displayed message, storage of information that the pressed button options represent, that resulted from the caller's 'press button' choices, and all other information gathered Pi, am the caller by the use of the Entry and or Exit Entrance Station(s).

1 I tephone Allows for the integration of the apparatus and method into an internal System telephone exchange.

1,anguage Permit the caller to select a language of his or her choosing in which the pre-recorded messages are to be played and in which the information on the Entrance Station's monitor is to be displayed. That can be done by means of press button' responseks) or by the use of a keyboard or by any other means.

Computer Allows for the integration of the apparatus and method into a Computer System system or Microprocessor system that facilitates automatic conversations o, i nulti level response *tom the caller by means of pre-recorded messages or displayed messages on the Entrance Station's or Entrance station's display or monitor. Also a computer system that make it possible to p' ocess, analyze and store the information gathered by means of the a''romatic Entrance Station system described in this patent application.

Access This option allows automatic or manual annulment of the access control Control barrier that will otherwise prevent the caller from entering and or leaving the called party's premises.

Skin This option allows the recognition and absorption of the image/e of the Recognition skin patterns of the caller by means of skin contact with the designated I Jnit surface on the Entrance Station, and the storage of these skin imagefs.

Eye Retina Scanner Allows the scanning of the caller's eye retina and storage of the result.

(mers/s Auto photography or recording of the caller's body or face (can be digital) Options The called parry can select any of the following possible methods: (1)Permit the caller to select a language of his or her choosing in which the pre-recorded messages are to be played and in which the information on the } ntrance Station's monitor is to be displayed.

(A Play a pre-recorded message,and or display a message on the Entrance Station's monitor, and allow the caller to respond by means of recording his or her own voice message, and or type a message by using tle caller's operated input means on the Entrance Station.

(a) Play a pre-recorded message, and or display a message on the Entrance Station's monitor, and allow the caller to respond by means of a single operation of input means in each response cycle.

(1) Play a pre-recorded message, and or display a message on the Entrance Station's monitor, and allow the caller to respond by means of pressing more than one button in each response cycle.

(5) Play a pre-recorded message, and or display a message on the Entrance Station's monitor, and allow the caller to respond by operating input means options of a single or multiple operation(s) of the input means in each response cycle of only input means marked as 'number'.

(6) Play a pre-recorded message, and or display a message on the Entrance Station's monitor, and allow the caller to respond by operating input means orations, of a single or multiple operation(s) of the input means in each response cycle of only input means marked as 'number'.

(replay a pre-recorded message, and or display a message on the Entrance Si,iion's monitor, and allow the caller to respond by operating input means orations, of a single or multiple operation(s) of the input means in each response cycle of only input means marked as 'symbols'.

(a) Play a pre-recorded message, and or display a message on the Entrance Station's monitor, and allow the caller to respond by operating input means of any combination or sequence of 'number', letter' and 'symbols' of either two or three types in any individual cycle.

(9jl,1ay a pre-recorded message, and or display a message on the Entrance Station's monitor, and allow the caller to respond by operating input means of a single operation in each response cycle to facilitate repetition of the pre-recorded message for the benefit of the caller.

(I O) Play a pre-recorded message, and or display a message on the Entrance Station's monitor, and allow the caller to respond in any other way, such as skin contact or to allow for the scanning of the caller's eye retina and photograph or scan or record in order to produce and store the results sk in contact or eye retina scanner or the photography or the imageis that b; long to the caller and can be used to unmistakably identify him or her. / -

-C

(1 l) Play a pre-recorded message, and or display a message on the Entrance Station's monitor, to allow the caller to respond in any of the above mentioned manners and allow the response from the caller to t' igger a further pre-recorded message, and or the display of a message on the Entrance Station's monitor, and a further response/s in repeated cycles until the last cycle as determined by the called party.

ntrance This instrument panel having caller's operated input means made up of any Station combination of numbers and or letters and or symbols, speaker/s, microphone display or monitor, skin recognition unit or camerals or any other ca1ler's operated input means. It can facilitate automatic or manual communication, between the caller and the called party, and also between the called party and the caller, by means of automatic pre-recorded messagets, arid or the display of a message or messages on the Entrance Station's nit Janitor, that facilitates automatic conversation or a multi level response from lLc caller as he or she operates the caller's operated input means, prior to entrance of the caller from the the called party's premises. It can be placed at the Entrance to or Exit from the called party's premises or in a location near or in the vicinity of the Entrance and or Exit called parry premises or at both ] Entrance and Exit.

Automatic This method facilitates automatic trigger to the playing of the first Message pre-recorded or a displayed message in response to the presence of a caller al rigger that can be detected by means of an electronic movement sensor, electronic eye or electric Matt, or by written invitation to operate the Input means on the Trance Station.

Automatic The 'press button' choices made by the caller, in response to the pre-recorded I ramc message/s can trigger automatic communication channel with the relevant (controller person on the called party's premises that is suitable to deal with the concern/s, requirements or needs of the caller.

Claims

AUTOMATIC ENTRANCE STATION ANSWERING APPARATUS AND METHOD

1. Apparatus and Method comprising an Entrance Station having Caller's input means with or without a Monitor or Display that facilitates an automatic conversation, multi level response from the Caller by employing repeatedly the following functions in the following sequence (a) Recognize each input that is produced when the Caller operates the input means on the Entrance Station; (c) Play a pre-recorded message; 2. An apparatus and method as claimed in claim 1 that includes the facility of a silent automatic conversation by means of displayed messages on the Entrance Station's Monitor or Display by employing repeatedly the following functions in the following sequence (a) Recognize each input that is produced when the Caller operates the input means on the Entrance Station's; (c) Display a message on the Entrance Station's Monitor or Display; 3 An apparatus and method as claimed in claim 1 or 2 that includes the facility of recording and storage of the Caller's voice.

4. An apparatus and method as claimed in any of the preceding claims that is able to automatically connect the Caller, by means of an Internal telephone system, to a telephone instrument, to facilitate a normal conversation.

5. An apparatus and method as claimed in any of the preceding claims that facilitates the storage of the information that said inputs represent.

6. An apparatus and method as claimed in any of the preceding claims that has Caller' operated input means made up of symbols.

7. An apparatus and method as claimed in any of the preceding claims that permits the Caller to choose the Language of the pre-recorded messages and or displayed messages.

8. An apparatus and method as claimed in any of the preceding claims that is located ir, the vicinity of the Entrance of the Called Party's premises.

9. An apparatus and method as claimed in any of the preceding claims that is located in the vicinity of the Exit from the Called Party's premises. t

I () An apparatus and method as claimed in any of the preceding claims that has the means to automatically disable an access control barrier.

1 1 An apparatus and method as claimed in any of the preceding claims that is able to automatically trigger the playing of a pre-recorded message and or a displayed message in response to the presence of a Caller, by means of and electronic Matt, elk ctronic Eye or a Movement sensor.

1 ? An apparatus and method as claimed in any of the preceding claims that is able to Rip cognize any combination of inputs from the Caller.

1.. An apparatus and method as claimed in any of the preceding claims that is able to Recognize and Store any combination of inputs from the Caller.

14. An apparatus and method as claimed in any of the preceding claims that is able to Recognize and Store the information represented by any combination of inputs from the Caller.

1 An apparatus and method as claimed in any of the preceding claims that is able to recognize, absorb and store image/e of the Caller's skin patterns.

] 6. An apparatus and method as claimed in any of the preceding claims that is able t plotograph and store the images of the Caller's body or face.

17 An apparatus and method as claimed in arty of the preceding claims that is able to photograph and store the images of the Callers' eye retina 1 X. An apparatus ar d method as claimed in any of the preceding claims that is equipped with a computer system that contain the Database of all previous or expected Callers arid is able to compare the data and information obtained from the Caller to verify the identity of the Caller in order to either approve or hinder automatic Entry or Exit of the (taller to and from the Called Party's premises.

19 An apparatus and method as claimed in any of the preceding claims that is equipped with an Entrance Station at the Entry or Exit of the Called Party's premises that has Callcr's input means that are marked as Numbers and or I,etters and or Symbols o' any combination of them in displayed message or the Entrance Station's display.

21 An apparatus and method substantially the same as what is described in this patent application.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows:

AOTIC MACE STATION SAG SPEWS MOOD

1. An Apparatus comprising an Entrance Station, having input means, Caller's operated buttons, with the means to recognize each signal, that is produced by pressing each button, that automatically play a prerecorded message and facilitates a multi leve; response Dom 'tale Caller by employing repeatedly the following functions in the following sequence: (a) Recognize each signal, that is produced when the Caller presses each of the buttons on the Entrance station; (b) Use the said signal to provide the link to a pre-recorded message to be played; (c) Play the said pre-recorded message.

2. An Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising an Entrance Station, having input means, Caller's operated buttons, with the means to recognize each signal, that is produced by pressing each button, that automatically play a pre-recorded message and facilitates a multi level response from the Caller by employing repeatedly the following functions in the following sequence: (a) Recognize each signal, that is produced when the Caller presses each of the buttons on the Entrance station; (b) Use the said signal to provide the link to a pre-recorded message to be played; (c) Play the said pre-recorded message; (d) Record and Store the voice of the Caller.

3. An Apparatus as claimed in claims 1 or 2 that permits the Caller to choose the language in which pre-recorded message/s isiare to be played.

4. An Apparatus as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3 that is able to automatically trigger the playing of a pre-recorded message in response to the presence of a Caller, by means of an electronic Matt, electronic Eye, Movement sensor.

5. An Apparatus, as clanned in any of the preceding claims, comprising an Entrance Station, having input means, Caller's operated buttons and an Entrance Station's Monitor, with the means to recognize each signal, that is produced by pressing each button, that automatically display a message on the Entrance Station's Monitor and facilitates a multi level response from the Caller by employing repeatedly the following functions in the following sequence: (a) Recognize each signal that is produced when the Caller presses each of the buttons on the Entrance station; (b) Use the said signal to provide the link to a message to be displayed, (c) Ksplay the said message on the Entrance Station's Monitor.

An Apparatus, as claimed in claim 5, comprising an Entrance Station, having input means, Caller's operated buttons and an Entrance Station's Monitor, with the means to recognize each signal, that is produced by pressing each button, and facilitates a multi level response from the Caller by employing repeatedly the following functions in the following sequence: (a) Recognize any combinationfsequence of signal that is produced when the Caller presses any combination/sequence of buttons on the Entrance station, (b) Use the said signals to provide the link to a message to be displayed; (c) Display the said message on the Entrance Station's Monitor.

7. An Apparatus as claimed in claims 5 or 6 Cat permits the Caller to choose the language in which message/s is/are to be displayed.

8. An Apparatus as claimed in claims 5, 6 or 7 that is able to automatically trigger the displaying of a message, on the Entrance Station's Monitor, in response to the presence of a Caller, by means of an electronic Matt, electronic Eye, Movement sensor.

9. An Apparatus, as claimed in any of the preceding claims, that is located in the vicinity of the Entrance to the Called Party's premises.

10. An Apparatus, as claimed in any of the preceding claims, that is located in the vicinity of the Exit from the Called Party's premises.

1 1. An Apparatus, as claimed in any of the preceding claims, that is located in the vicinity of the Entrance to, and the Ex* from, the Called Party's premises.

t2. An Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims that is equipped with the means to enable/disable an access control barrier to permitlprevent the entry/exit of the Caller to/from the Called Party's premises.

13. An Apparatus as claimed in any ofthe preceding claims, having Caller's operated buttons, with the means to recognize eac!1 signal that is produced by pressing each button, and the means to store the result of the signal, the information that each signal represents.

14. An Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, having Caller's operated buttons, with the means to recognize any combination/sequence of signals that is produced by pressing any combination/sequence of buttons, and the means to store the resultls of the signals, the information that each combination/sequence of signals represents.

15. An Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims with the means to recognize, absorb and store inage/s of the Caller's skin patterns, photograph, absorb and store images of the Caller's body, the Caller's face, the Caller's eye Retina.

16. An Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims that is able to automatically connect the Caller, by means of an Internal telephone system, to a telephone instrument, to allow normal conversation with a person on the Called Party's premises.

l 7. An apparatus or method as claimed in any of the preceding claims that has Caller's operated buttons marked with symbols.

18. An Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims that is equipped with a computer/microprocessor system, that contains the Database of current, previous, expected Callers that is able to compare the data and information obtained from the Caller to the information in the said Data Base in order to verify the identity of the Caller and automatically enable/disable an access control barrier, to permit/prevent the Caller's entry/exit to/from the Called Party's premises.

19. An apparatus that is substantially the same as what is described in this patent application.

20. A method that is substantially the same as what is described in this patent application.