# US 11,122,241 B2 · Method and system of controlling access to access points > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,122,241 B2 - Document ID: US11122241B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/107,551 - Filed: 2014-12-08 - Published: 2016-10-27 - Granted: 2021-09-14 - Earliest claimed: 2013-12-24 - Assignees: My Door View, LLC - Applicants: Daren Hoeffner; Jeff Santeramo; Robert McDaniel - Inventors: Daren Hoeffner; Jeff Santeramo; Robert McDaniel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11122241B2 ## CPC - H04N 7/186: {Video door telephones} - G07C 9/37: using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition - H04N 7/183: {for receiving images from a single remote source} - H04N 21/237: Communication with additional data server - H04N 21/4126: {The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones} - H04N 21/64322: {IP} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE ## Abstract A method and system for controlling access to access points of an establishments are described. A call may be initiated from an access box to a smart device thereby activating the smart device to stream video via the Internet from an IP camera located at the access point. An end user of the smart device may communicate with and control access to the access point using the smart device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A communication network-based method of controlling access to access points at a multi-family structure, comprising: credentialing, by an application executed on a smart device, a specific end user from a plurality of end users based on authentication information specific to the end user and the multi-family structure; synchronizing the application on the smart device and a directory that is linked to the access points and includes identifying information based on a code entered into the smart device, the code incorporating credentialing information that connects a first access point and the smart device; initiating a call by a guest through a first access box at a first access point at the multi-family structure, wherein the first access box can open and close the access point, and wherein the first access box connects to a specific end user at a first position among the plurality of end users; receiving, from a guest and by the first access box, identifying information associated with the specific end user to identify the specific end user from the plurality of end users; responsive to the call initiation, activating the smart device associated with the specific end user that previously authenticated; streaming video from an IP camera at the first access point to the smart device via the Internet; and allowing the specific end user at the first position to verify or communicate with the guest using the smart device; wherein the call has the identifying information previously credentialed to the smart device, and wherein the application on the smart device activates upon the smart device receiving the identifying information, and wherein the application is activated by caller identification information specific to the first access box having a phone number that identifies the first access box to the smart device; and providing access to the guest by the specific end user and the first access box via the first access point. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of controlling access to access points at a multi-family structure of claim 1, wherein the first access box calls the smart device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of controlling access to access points at a multi-family structure of claim 1, wherein the first access box routes calls to the smart device through a third-party communication line. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of controlling access to access points at a multi-family structure of claim 1, wherein the application on the smart device is activated by caller identification information specific to the first access box. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of controlling access to access points at a multi-family structure of claim 1, wherein an identifier affiliated with the call that is recognized by the smart device to cause an application on the smart device to be activated, and whereby the application allows the smart device to communicate with the first access box. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of controlling access to access points at a multi-family structure of claim 5, further comprising: allowing the end user to download a tele-entry application compatible with the smart device based on the authentication information. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The of controlling access to access points at a multi-family structure of claim 6, wherein the smart device is connected to the IP camera via an accessed IP address via the Internet. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of controlling access to access points at a multi-family structure of claim 1, wherein the smart device is one of a smartphone, a computer, a tablet, or a set-top box. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of controlling access to access points at a multi-family structure of claim 1, further comprising the step of: assigning the IP camera to the first access box. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The method of controlling access to access points at a multi-family structure of claim 5, further comprising the step of: placing a second access box at a second access point. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of controlling access to access points at a multi-family structure of claim 1, wherein the first access point is at a border of a building, the building being one of an office, a house, an apartment, a loft, a condominium, or a townhouse. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of controlling access to access points at a multi-family structure of claim 11, wherein the first access point is at a border of a building, the border being one of an elevator, a gate, or a door. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of controlling access to access points at a multi-family structure of claim 1, wherein an application on the smart device identifies the first access box from the phone number. ### Claim 14 A communication network-based method of controlling access to access points at a multi-family structure, comprising: credentialing, by an application executed on a smart device, a specific end user from a plurality of end users based on authentication information specific to the end user and the multi-family structure; synchronizing the application on the smart device and a directory that is linked to the access points and includes identifying information based on a code entered into the smart device, the code incorporating credentialing information that connects a first access point and the smart device; initiating a call by a guest through a first access box at the first access point, wherein the first access box can connect to the specific end user among the plurality of end users using identifying information, wherein the guest enters the identifying information into the first access box to identify the specific end user from the plurality of end users; activating a smart device associated with the specific end user based on the guest entering the identifying information, wherein the smart device is incapable of establishing communication with the first access box prior to receiving the call; streaming video from an internet protocol (IP) camera at the first access point to the smart device via the Internet; and launching an application on the smart device in response to the call from the first access box and displaying the streamed video on the smart device, wherein the call can be answered by the specific end user after viewing the video and the specific end user allows access to the first access point. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of controlling access to access points at a multi-family structure of claim 11, wherein the first access box identifies the first access point by a telephone number connected to the first access point. ### Claim 16 A communication network-based system for controlling access to access points to a multi-family structure, comprising: a first access box capable of (a) allowing a call to be placed by a guest to a specific end user from a plurality of end users using identifying information, (b) allowing a guest to enter the identifying information into the first access box, (c) identifying the specific end user from the plurality of end users by matching the identifying information with stored identifying information associated with the specific end user, and (d) controlling access to the multi-family structure, wherein the first access box is at a first access point at a first location; an internet protocol (IP) camera is in communication with the first access box; an Internet access port from the IP camera to a smart device, wherein the smart device is associated with a specific end user; the smart device configured to acquire video data from the IP camera and to allow communication between the smart device and the first access box, and wherein the smart device is configured to receive credentials, by an application executed on the smart device, for the specific end user from the plurality of end users based on authentication information specific to the end user and the multi-family structure; the smart device configured to synchronize the application on the smart device and a directory that is linked to the access points and includes identifying information based on a code entered into the smart device, the code incorporating credentialing information that connects the first access point and the smart device; a plurality of access boxes; the application on the smart device that enables the smart device to acquire video data from the IP camera upon receiving the call from the first access box; and the IP camera comprises a camera and encoder; and the smart device is configured to identify the first location upon receipt of the call from the first access box. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system according to claim 16, wherein the Internet access port comprises a wireless transceiver. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, further comprising: a plurality of IP cameras.