Virtual Intercom Access Using Proximity-Based Visitor Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional intercom systems are expensive, require difficult installation, and are not adaptable to the changing landscape of communication technologies, particularly as PSTN phones become less common.
Innovation Solution
A virtual intercom system utilizing a mobile app, computer program, or website for communication between facility occupants and visitors, ensuring privacy and safety by limiting visitor access to occupant information and requiring proximity to the facility before communication is established, with options for secure communication methods and remote access control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a traditional intercom system is implemented, then communication between occupants and visitors is enabled, but installation cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical intercom systems with a software-based virtual intercom application that runs on mobile devices. This substitution eliminates the need for physical installation of intercom hardware while maintaining communication functionality through smartphone apps and web interfaces, directly resolving the contradiction between installation ease and communication reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual intercom system leverages the universality of smartphones and existing communication infrastructure to provide intercom functionality without dedicated hardware. The system can operate across multiple devices and platforms (iOS, Android, web), enabling broad compatibility and eliminating the need for facility-specific installation while ensuring reliable communication through established mobile networks.
2Adaptability or versatility
If PSTN telephone infrastructure is used, then intercom communication is supported, but system cost and upgrade difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual intercom system is designed to be dynamic and adaptable to changing communication technologies. It supports multiple communication methods (voice calls, text messages, push notifications) and can integrate with various access control systems, allowing the system to evolve with technological advances without requiring complete replacement of infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses an intermediary server that mediates between visitors and occupants, managing communication requests and coordinating with access control systems. This intermediary layer simplifies the overall system architecture by centralizing control logic and reducing direct complexity between end devices and access control infrastructure.
3Ease of operation
If visitor access to occupant information is enabled, then communication is facilitated, but occupant privacy and safety are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs an intermediary server that acts as a privacy-protecting mediator between visitors and occupants. The server handles all communication routing and information exchange without exposing occupants' personal information to visitors. Visitors can initiate contact and receive responses without ever seeing or accessing the occupant's private data, thus facilitating communication while protecting privacy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates anonymous representations of communication participants. Visitors interact with an anonymized interface that does not reveal occupant identities, while occupants receive notifications without exposing their personal information. This copying approach allows communication to proceed while maintaining privacy boundaries through virtual representations rather than direct exposure of personal data.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for a virtual intercom. In some implementations, a request from a visitor device to communicate with an occupant of a particular unit of the facility is received. A location of the visitor device is received. Based on the received location, it is determined that the visitor device is within a predetermined bounded area. An occupant profile is identified based on the received request. Information associated with the occupant profile is obtained. Based on the obtained information, it is determined the occupant has registered a profile. Based on the obtained information, a communication path to an occupant device is identified. The request from the visitor device is sent, using the communication path, to an occupant device belonging to the occupant. A response from the occupant device is received. Based on the response, an action is performed.