Entranceway or foyer-based, communication apparatus and system

A kiosk-like communication system, comprising:

• a housing comprising an interior and a front face, the interior being configured to hold electronic circuits associated with operational algorithms for functionalities involving a building;
• attachment hardware for mounting the housing to a support structure located at an entranceway comprising a foyer or a publically accessible area of the building;
• a display mounted at the front face of the housing, the display being configured to display information to tenants, owners of and visitors to the building, the display incorporating a touch sensitive interface to allow tenants and visitors to enter information for the operational algorithms;
• a camera system for providing visual information of at least the entranceway;
• door closing and opening hardware coupled to the electronic circuits for closing and opening an entrance door of the building;
• a CPU associated with the electronic circuits for executing software algorithms to effect at least the following functions:
• a) validating the tenants prior to permitting the tenants entry into the building;
• b) unlocking the entrance door into the building;
• c) preparing reports and communicating said reports to management personnel located offsite the building, regarding activities associated with the building;
• and
• d) visually identifying the tenants who request entry into the building;
• and
• the system including a facility for communicating with a mobile communication device that has been previously associated with a person authorized to enter the building and for allowing entry into the building based on the system being able to sense that the mobile electronic device is located at the entranceway of the building.