Secure off-premises audio or video communication device, system, and method thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to a novel audio and / or video calling device, the system to which the device is connected, and a corresponding method, enabling a person who is not part of a given residential site to reach a resident who is not at home via an external communication device (30) positioned outside the premises. The invention is particularly applicable to multi-unit residential complexes (10), apartment buildings, residential sites, or similar collective living environments, where such communication is needed for security purposes. For instance, when a visitor calls the apartment number of a particular unit through the external communication device (30), which is connected to the intercom system, and no one is present at the time to respond via the in-home household communication device (20), the same system enables a connection to be established with a mobile phone previously registered by the resident on the household communication device (20), using a modem (80) connected to said device.

Description

[0001] SECURE OFF-PREMISES AUDIO OR VIDEO COMMUNICATION DEVICE, SYSTEM, AND METHOD THEREOF

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The invention relates to a communication device that enables audio or video communication with a resident who is not at home through an external communication device positioned outside the premises for security purposes in multi-residential complexes such as apartment complexes where individuals share communal living spaces; and to a system to which this device is connected and a method related thereto.

[0004] More specifically, the present invention relates to a communication system and method that enables secure audio or video communication with a personal device connected to the internet, such as a mobile device or any internet-connected personal device of the person residing in the relevant flat, by accessing the communication information previously defined on the home communication device by the resident. This is achieved via a modem connected to the home communication device in cases where the intended person cannot be reached via the home communication device at that moment.

[0005] State of the Art

[0006] In multi-residential complexes such as apartment buildings and residential estates, one of the most economical and widely used access control systems is the use of door phones or intercom devices positioned at entrance doors for security purposes. These systems allow communication between an external visitor or delivery personnel and a resident, enabling the resident to unlock the door via a device located inside the home. Door phones are basic low-voltage electrical systems that operate on a push-to-talk principle with one-way audio transmission and unlock the entrance door by energizing a coil when a button is pressed inside the residence. Intercom systems, on the other hand, are more advanced than door phones and, with the advancement of technology, allow two-way audio communication and enhance security by enabling the resident to view the person outside the building on a screen inside the home.

[0007] With the integration of intercom systems into smart home systems, their capabilities have significantly improved, and it has become possible to control and communicate entirely over the internet. However, in today’s complex and crowded residential structures where a large number of people are required to share common spaces, the unregulated internet connection of intercom devices tied to building security presents a major security vulnerability. Ensuring the security of the communication switches to which the household devices are connected in order to overcome this issue significantly increases the cost of the system, and in some cases renders it infeasible. In this context, there is a need for a reliable and cost-effective solution that allows a delivery person or an important visitor — who does not personally know the household — to communicate with the household members via audio or video when no one is at home.

[0008] US11089165B2 discloses a solution for converting an existing intercom device in a wired building access system into a remote access system capable of unlocking doors and gates connected to the internet. The communication device described in the disclosed solution can be powered by a low- level power source sufficient to energize a coil in the existing wired building access system to unlock the locks. The communication device is designed to send and receive doorbell calls over the internet. However, the solution provides only the details regarding the internet connectivity of the existing intercom infrastructure for the purpose of remotely unlocking doors or gates. It does not offer any approach enabling audio or video communication from the external intercom device located outside the building to a mobile device of a household resident who is not present at home. The infrastructure disclosed in the said patent document falls short of addressing the internet security vulnerabilities, capacity limitations, and cost-related problems targeted by the present invention.

[0009] US11619971 B1 discloses a communication system comprising a processor system to enable data, audio, and video communication. The system provides details of a wireless personal computer device in the form of a SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) phone, which enables comprehensive internet-based voice calling. The device may also be connected to the building intercom system of the residence in which it is installed, thereby enabling door unlocking, communication with a person ringing the doorbell from outside, and similar functionalities via the device. However, the solution disclosed in the patent document is significantly more costly compared to simple in-home communication devices, as it is essentially a personal computer functioning as a telephone station. In contrast, the present invention does not concern a complex or costly device; rather, it proposes enabling secure audio or video communication between a visitor located outside the building and a household resident who is not currently at home via a simple communication device installed in the residence and connected to the building intercom infrastructure through an internet connection.

[0010] As a result, the need for a device and system that enables secure audio or video communication with a household resident who is not at home, via an intercom device located outside the building, and the inadequacies of existing solutions have necessitated the development of the present invention. Object and Brief Description of the Invention

[0011] The object of the present invention is to provide a household communication device comprising a touchscreen and / or buttons, a speaker, a microphone, network and power connections, which enables audio or video communication for security purposes with a household resident who is not at home, via an external communication device positioned outside the premises in multi-residential complexes such as apartment buildings or housing sites where people share common living spaces.

[0012] Another object of the invention is to provide a communication device comprising a first network connection ETHO through which the household communication device is connected to a local network within a residential complex, and a second network connection ETH1 through which the device is connected to a modem in order to establish an internet connection to transmit audio and / or video data received from the local network to a user device via a SIP server over the internet.

[0013] A further object of the invention is to provide a communication device that comprises a first network connection ETHO and is connected via a switching device to a local network, wherein an external communication device positioned at the outer entrance of the residential complex is also connected to the local network, and which enables audio or video communication to be established between a visitor located outside the complex and a household resident by routing the communication from the external communication device to the household communication device via the network.

[0014] Another object of the invention is to provide an audio and / or video communication method, wherein communication information regarding a device to be reached in the event that no one is present in the household is previously defined by a household resident on the household communication device and stored in a memory unit of the device, a connection is established to the household communication device of the intended person to be contacted via an intercom network by an external visitor (external user) using an external communication device positioned at the entrance of a multi- residential complex, the household communication device provides an audio and video warning within the household indicating that a visitor has arrived, and in case no resident is present in the household or no interaction occurs via the household communication device, the household communication device connected to a modem via an ETH1 second network connection and then to the internet, establishes a connection to a SIP server via the previously stored communication information, and from there accesses the user device, wherein the audio and / or video data received from the user device via the SIP server is received through the ETH1 second network connection by the household communication device via the modem, converted to be transmitted over the intercom network, the converted data is transmitted to the external communication device through the ETHO first network connection via a switching device, and the external communication device outputs the audio and / or video data to the visitor via its speaker and screen.

[0015] A household communication device that enables a non-resident person, located outside of a residential complex such as an apartment or a residential site where people share common living spaces, to communicate via audio or video with a household resident who is not at home through an external communication device that comprises a touch screen and / or buttons, a speaker, a microphone, network and power connections, and positioned outside the area for security purposes, and it comprises:

[0016] • an ETHO first network connection, through which a connection is established to a local network within the residential complex; and

[0017] • an ETH1 second network connection, through which an internet connection is established by connecting to a modem, in order to transmit audio and / or video data received from the local network to a user device via a SIP server.

[0018] A method of audio and / or video communication in a communication system for multi-unit residential complexes such as apartment buildings or housing sites where people share common living spaces, enabling, a person who is not part of the residential complex to communicate with a household resident who is not at home via an external communication device positioned outside the boundaries of the residential complex for security purposes, comprising a household communication device that comprises a touch screen and / or buttons, a speaker, a microphone, and network and power connections, and the method comprises the following steps:

[0019] • a household resident defining a contact information of at least one external device intended to be reached when no person is present in the household, via the household communication device, and storing the contact information in a memory unit of the household communication device;

[0020] • a visitor (external user) using an external communication device positioned at the entrance of the residential complex to connect, via the intercom network, to the household communication device associated with the person they wish to contact;

[0021] • the household communication device issuing an audible and visual alert inside house to inform the residents of the visitor; in event that no one is present in the house or no one interacts with the household communication device, the household communication device connecting via the ETH1 second network connection to the modem and thereby to the internet, and accessing a SIP server via the previously stored contact information in the memory, and from there reaching the user device;

[0022] • audio and / or video data received from the user device via the SIP server being obtained over the internet by the household communication device via the modem and the ETH1 second network connection, and being subjected to data conversion for transmission over the intercom network;

[0023] • the converted data being transmitted to the external communication device via the ETHO first network connection and the switching device;

[0024] • the external communication device outputting the audio and / or video data to the visitor via its speaker and screen.

[0025] Brief Description of the Figures

[0026] Figure 1 The elements of the communication system according to the invention and the interactions therebetween are illustrated.

[0027] Figure 2 The elements of a conventional (prior art) intercom system and the interactions therebetween are illustrated.

[0028] Reference Numerals

[0029] 10 Residential complex

[0030] 11 Floor

[0031] 12 Flat

[0032] 13 Building entrance

[0033] 20 Household communication device

[0034] 21 First network connection

[0035] 22 Second network connection

[0036] 30 External communication device

[0037] 40 Switching device

[0038] 50 SIP server

[0039] 60 User device

[0040] 70 Accessible devices

[0041] 80 Modem

[0042] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0043] The invention relates to a voice or video call establishing device, to a system to which the device is connected, and to a method thereof, enabling a person who is not part of a residential complex (10) — such as an apartment building, housing estate or similar multi-unit dwelling shared by multiple individuals — to reach a resident when the resident cannot be contacted through a household communication device (20) located in the flat (12), by means of an external communication device (30) positioned outside the premises for security purposes. The invention allows reaching a user device (60), such as a phone, which was previously defined on the household communication device (20) by the resident, via a modem (80) connected to the household communication device (20), using the same system.

[0044] In the schematic representation of a conventional intercom system shown in Figure 2, a multi-storey apartment building is illustrated as a multi-unit residential complex (10). An external communication device (30) is positioned near a building entrance (13) by way of example, and a household communication device (20) is installed in each flat (12) located on the floors (11) of the building. In conventional intercom systems, the household communication devices (20) are capable of communicating with one another via a communication connection through a switching device (40). The same switching device (40) may also allow the entire intercom system to connect to the internet, thereby enabling connection to a remote network server or to a cloud-based SIP server (50). In the conventional method, it is possible for a household communication device (20) to connect to the internet via the switching device (40), and from there to a mobile device (60) or to accessible devices (70) over the internet. However, as already discussed under the section on prior art, this approach leads to the following fundamental problems:

[0045] • Security: For example, when the household communication device (20) connects to the internet via the switching device (40), it means that the entire building network connected to the switching device (40) becomes exposed to external threats over the internet. Ensuring internet security in such switching devices (40) is considerably more costly compared to that of a typical household internet connection. Communication originating from the household with internet access may be intercepted by unauthorized parties, and devices in other households, as well as the equipment to which they are connected (e.g., smart home systems), may be subjected to unauthorized access.

[0046] • Capacity: With this method, only a single household communication device (20) may be connected to the internet at a time, meaning that other devices must wait for the current connection to be terminated before they can establish their own connection and communicate.

[0047] The present invention aims to eliminate all of the aforementioned problems and, in addition, enables a visitor arriving at a multi-unit residential complex (10) to reach a resident — who is not currently at home — via a user device (60) such as a mobile phone, or via other accessible devices (70) such as tablets or computers capable of audio and / or video communication. This communication is initiated through an external communication device (30) located near the building entrance (13) and uses predefined contact information stored in the household communication device (20). To achieve this functionality, as shown in Figure 1 , the household communication device (20) is equipped with two network connection ports (Ethernet sockets). Through a first network connection (21), referred to as ETHO, the household communication device (20) is connected to the intercom network of the multiunit residential complex (10) via a switching device (40). Through a second network connection (22), referred to as ETH1 , the household communication device (20) is connected to the internet via a modem (80). In this way, when a visitor attempts to contact a resident by pressing the call button on the external communication device (30), it becomes possible to reach the resident’s mobile phone if they are not at home, enabling remote audio and / or video communication.

[0048] The device of the invention is a household communication device (20) connected to an intercom system. In addition to basic hardware components such as a display, buttons, a microphone, and a speaker, the household communication device (20) comprises a first network connection (21), referred to as ETHO, through which the device is connected to the intercom network, and a second network connection (22), referred to as ETH1 , through which the device is connected to the internet via a modem (80). The household communication device (20) performs data conversion between the first network connection (21) ETHO and the second network connection (22) ETH1. Audio and video data received via the second network connection (22) ETH1 from a SIP server (50) over the internet through the modem (80) are converted into a suitable format to be transmitted within the local intercom network to the external communication device (30) and are forwarded to the first network connection (21) ETHO. Similarly, data received via the first network connection (21) ETHO from the external communication device (30) through the local intercom network are converted into audio and video data and forwarded to the second network connection (22) ETH1 to be transmitted to the SIP server (50).

[0049] The system of the invention comprises, in addition to an intercom network connection that connects the household communication devices (20) installed in the residential units and the external communication device (30) located at the building entrance (13) of the residential complex (10) via the switching device (40), a second network connection (22) for connection to the internet via a modem (80). This configuration enables secure communication within the intercom network and allows connection to user devices (60), such as mobile phones previously registered in the household communication device (20), particularly in cases where the resident is not present at home.

[0050] The communication method of the invention essentially comprises the following interactions: • Defining, in advance by a resident, the contact information of a target device to be reached in case no one is present in the residence, such information being entered via a keyboard or a touch panel of the household communication device (20), such as mobile phone numbers, email addresses, or any other access code, and saving such information to a memory unit of the device;

[0051] • Initiating a connection by an external visitor (external user) to the household communication device (20) of a particular residence via the intercom network, by using the external communication device (30) located at the entrance of the multi-unit residential complex (10), for instance, by entering the apartment or unit number using a keypad provided on said external communication device (30);

[0052] • Providing an audiovisual alert inside the residence via the household communication device (20) to notify that a visitor has arrived, for example, by generating a ringing sound and displaying the image captured by a camera integrated into the external communication device (30);

[0053] • In the event that no resident is present in the household or no interaction is initiated via the household communication device (20), the household communication device (20), which is connected to the internet via the ETH1 second network connection (22) and a modem (80), connects to a SIP server (50) using the previously stored contact information in its memory, and accesses the associated user device (60), for example by triggering a GSM call to the user's mobile device if a mobile phone number is registered;

[0054] • Receiving, via the ETH1 second network connection (22) and the modem (80), the audio and / or video data transmitted from the user device (60) through the SIP server (50), converting the data for transmission over the intercom network, transmitting the converted data via the ETHO first network connection (21) to the external communication device (30) through the switching device (40), and outputting said data to the visitor through the speaker and display of the external communication device (30).

Claims

CLAIMS1. A household communication device (20) which enables a non-resident person, located outside of a residential complex (10) such as an apartment or a residential site where people share common living spaces, to communicate via audio or video with a household resident who is not at home, through an external communication device (30) which comprises a touch screen and / or buttons, a speaker, a microphone, network and power connections, and positioned outside the area for security purposes, characterized in that it comprises:• an ETHO first network connection (21), through which a connection is established to a local network within the residential complex (10); and• an ETH1 second network connection (22), through which an internet connection is established by connecting to a modem (80), in order to transmit audio and / or video data received from the local network to a user device (60) via a SIP server (50).

2. A communication system according to Claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises an external communication device (30) positioned at an outer entrance of the residential complex (10), that is connected to the local network via the household communication device (20), the ETHO first network connection (21), and a switching device (40); and communication being established, via the external communication device (30), between a visitor located outside the residential complex (10) and the household communication device (20) of the person whom the visitor wishes to contact, through the local network, by means of audio or video.

3. The communication system according to Claim 2, characterized in that an internet connection is established via the ETH1 second network connection (22) and a modem (80), and that the household communication device (20) connects to a cloud-based SIP server (50) to provide access to a remote user device (60).

4. The communication system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the household communication device (20) performs data conversion between the ETHO first network connection (21) and the ETH1 second network connection (22), enabling transmission of audio and / or video between the local network to which the SIP server (50) and the switching device (40) are connected.

5. A method of audio and / or video communication in a communication system for multi-unit residential complexes (10) such as apartment buildings or housing sites where people share common living spaces, enabling, a person who is not part of the residential complex (10) tocommunicate with a household resident who is not at home via an external communication device (30) positioned outside the boundaries of the residential complex (10) for security purposes, comprising a household communication device (20), which comprises a touch screen and / or buttons, a speaker, a microphone, and network and power connections, characterized in that the method comprises the following steps:• a household resident defining a contact information of at least one external device intended to be reached when no person is present in the household, via the household communication device (20), and storing the contact information in a memory unit of the household communication device (20);• a visitor (external user) using an external communication device (30) positioned at the entrance of the residential complex (10) to connect, via the intercom network, to the household communication device (20) associated with the person they wish to contact;• the household communication device (20) issuing an audible and visual alert inside house to inform the residents of the visitor;• in event that no one is present in the house or no one interacts with the household communication device (20), the household communication device (20) connecting via the ETH1 second network connection (22) to the modem (80) and thereby to the internet, and accessing a SIP server (50) via the previously stored contact information in the memory, and from there reaching the user device (60);• audio and / or video data received from the user device (60) via the SIP server (50) being obtained over the internet by the household communication device (20) via the modem (80) and the ETH1 second network connection (22), and being subjected to data conversion for transmission over the intercom network;• the converted data being transmitted to the external communication device (30) via the ETHO first network connection (21) and the switching device (40);• the external communication device (30) outputting the audio and / or video data to the visitor via its speaker and screen.

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