Smart Doorbell Identity Verification for Lodging Access

Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for a method to verify the identity of lodging guests remotely and provide temporary access to lodging facilities without the presence of an attendant, while ensuring that long-term access is not inadvertently granted.

Innovation Solution

A doorbell system equipped with a camera, microphone, and button is used to detect and identify visitors, capture images, and send them to a remote computing device for verification, allowing secure temporary access through electronic keys that can be sent via SMS, email, or software applications, with features like facial recognition and automatic key disabling after the rental period.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a key is provided to enable guest access to lodging, then access convenience is improved, but security risk increases due to potential unauthorized or long-term access

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess convenienceVSAvoidsecurity risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic access control through biometric authentication systems that verify guest identity in real-time. The system transitions from static key-based access to dynamic biometric verification, allowing the access control mechanism to adapt its security level based on the authentication status of the individual attempting entry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a biometric copy or template of the guest's biological characteristics (fingerprint, facial recognition, iris pattern) and stores it securely in a database. This biometric copy is then used for rapid authentication without requiring physical contact with traditional keys, enabling contactless and secure access while maintaining verification accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If an attendant is present to distribute keys, then access control reliability is improved, but operational cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess control reliabilityVSAvoidoperational complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables self-service access control where guests independently complete the registration and authentication process without attendant assistance. The system automatically captures biometric data, verifies identity against reservation information, and provisions access credentials, eliminating the need for manual key distribution by staff members.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of physical key distribution and manual verification with an automated electronic biometric authentication system. The mechanical interaction of handing over physical keys is substituted with electronic biometric verification, reducing human involvement and operational complexity while maintaining or improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If traditional key distribution is used, then ease of access is improved, but identity verification capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of accessVSAvoididentity verification capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a biometric copy or template of the guest's biological characteristics (fingerprint, facial recognition, iris pattern) and stores it securely in a database. This biometric copy is then used for rapid authentication without requiring physical contact with traditional keys, enabling contactless and secure access while maintaining verification accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of physical key distribution and manual verification with an automated electronic biometric authentication system. The mechanical interaction of handing over physical keys is substituted with electronic biometric verification, reducing human involvement and operational complexity while maintaining or improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS9426432B2Remote interactive identity verification of lodging guests

Publication Date: 2016.08.23 SKYBELL TECHNOLOGIES INC

AI summary

A method for using a doorbell to remotely identify a visitor, comprising the use of a doorbell apparatus that comprises a speaker, a microphone, a camera, and a button with an audible response to a visitors input, further using the doorbell to detect the visitor while the visitor is located outside of a secured lodging, and within a detectable range of the doorbell, further using the doorbell to take a video of the visitor while the visitor accepts lodging terms, recording the video to validate that the visitor accepted the lodging terms and sending the video of the visitor from the doorbell to a remote computing device for displaying images of the visitor on the remote computing device for the purposes of verifying the identity of the visitor and then enabling the visitor to control the lock in response to the identity verification.