NL2039320B1

NL2039320B1 - Method and system for managing traffic at a door

Info

Publication number: NL2039320B1
Application number: NL2039320A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Kooijmans Tijn
Original assignee: Zipp Labs B V
Priority date: 2022-11-07
Filing date: 2022-11-07
Publication date: 2025-10-03
Also published as: NL1044453A; NL1044453B1; NL2039320A

Abstract

A method for managing traffic at a door, wherein a doorbell signal is generated by a Visitor. This doorbell signal is transmitted to a computer system, Where the Visitor's mobile phone is linked to the computer system. A message is then sent to at least one person associated With the door. To establish the connection with the computer system, the Visitor scans a code at or near the door. This code is unique to the door and/or a mobile phone of the at least one person associated With the door and is communicated to the computer system Via the Visitor's mobile phone.

Description

P138571NL00

Title: Method and system for managing traffic at a door

The invention relates to a method and system for managing traffic at a door.

Traditionally a visitor at a door would ring a doorbell, after which the visitor had to wait until a person associated to the doorbell would come to the door to open it. If the said person was not at home, the door would not be answered and the visitor would turn away. For the person associated to the doorbell it was unknown who was at the door until he or she looked through a peephole in the door or through a window, or opened the door.

The latter problem has been resolved by adding a camera to the doorbell, such that if the doorbell was rung, the person could look at a monitor showing the image of the visitor. To that end the said person had to be at the premises where the doorbell was provided for.

Such visitor can for example be a delivery person, for whom it is highly inconvenient to arrive with a delivery at a door, which is not answered because the person associated with the door, for whom the delivery is to be made, is not at the premises or does not hear the doorbell ring or is unable to answer the door for other reasons.

More recently doorbell systems have become available with which a camera mounted near a door is used, which images the surroundings of the door or doorbell. These images are relayed to a mobile phone of at least one person associated to said doorbell, basically irrespective of where said person is at that moment. These doorbell systems allow such person to communicate with the visitor at the door by using a microphone/speaker mounted near the camera and doorbell, preferably integrated with both, connected to the said mobile phone through a WiFi network to which the doorbell system is connected. Examples of such doorbell systems are Nest® and Ring®. Such doorbell systems allow a person associated with the doorbell to communicate with a visitor, such as a delivery person, even when not at the premises or otherwise prohibited from opening the door after the doorbell has been rung. This allows for better management of the traffic at the door, for example by requesting a visitor to return at a later time or to deliver a delivery at a different time or at a different location.

These known doorbell systems have the disadvantage that they image the surroundings of the door or the doorbell continuously, invading privacy of the persons at or passing by the door or the doorbell. Even persons who are not necessarily interested in said door or in said person associated with said door or doorbell. Moreover, such doorbell systems are relatively costly, for example due to the necessity of a camera and microphone. Furthermore installing such doorbell systems is complicated, time consuming and costly.

An aim of the present disclosure is to provide for a method for managing traffic at a door, at least partly resolving at least one of the problems of the known systems. An aim is to provide a method for managing traffic at a door as an alternative for the known existing methods. An aim of the present disclosure is to provide for a doorbell system with which at least one of the problems of known systems can at least partly be avoided or overcome. An aim of the present disclosure is to provide for a doorbell system which is an alternative to the known systems. An aim of the present disclosure is to provide for a doorbell system and method for managing traffic at a door, which are easy to install and use, and can be implemented at relatively low cost and time.

At least one of these and other goals is at least in part achieved by a method or doorbell system according to the present disclosure.

In a first aspect a method according to the disclosure can be characterized by a method for managing traffic at a door as defined in claim 1. In such embodiments a doorbell signal can be generated on a residents phone by scanning the code with the visitors mobile phone, said code provided at the door. The code is provided at least electronically, preferably at least by a NFC chip readable by the visitors mobile phone.

In embodiments, a doorbell signal is provided by activating a doorbell by a visitor, which doorbell signal is relayed to a computer system.

A timer is then set in said computer system, timing a predefined time interval. A mobile phone of the visitor can be coupled to the computer system, wherein: - if the mobile phone of the visitor is coupled to the computer system within said predetermined time interval after operating the doorbell a message is presented to at least one person designated to the doorbell, through said computer network; and - if the mobile phone of the visitor is not coupled to the computer system within said predetermined time interval after operating the doorbell no such message is presented to said at least one person designated to the doorbell, through said computer network.

The doorbell signal is also relayed to the mobile phone or such communication means of the resident or multiple residents associated with the relevant door, such that the resident or residents is or are informed of the fact that the visitor is ringing the doorbell.

In a method according to the disclosure a visitor mobile phone can be used for initiating sending a message to a person designated to the doorbell, for example after the visitor has rung the doorbell at least once. In order to allow such message to be sent to the said person associated to the doorbell the mobile phone of the visitor has to be connected to the computer network within said predetermined time interval after ringing the doorbell.

Thus if a visitor does not allow his or her telephone to connect to the computer network within said time interval after ringing the doorbell, no such message will or even can be sent to the said person by the computer network, initiated by the visitor telephone. Whereas if the visitor is not at the door in order to ring the doorbell, no such message can or will be sent either.

The message preferably is or comprises a contact request from the visitor to the person designated to the doorbell. In embodiments the computer system can directly sent a predefined message to the at least one person associated to the door. In embodiments the visitor can use his or her mobile phone to actively compose at least part of the message to be sent to the at least one person associated with the door or doorbell, for example by sending identification information of the visitor to the said person, informing the said person of the identity of the visitor at the door.

Alternatively or additionally a visitor can predefine information in said computer system, to be sent to the said person after connecting the visitor mobile phone to the computer network within said time interval after ringing the doorbell.

In an aspect a method according to the disclosure can comprise the step of after the message has been presented to the person designated to the doorbell, said person can deny said request or accept said request or send a response message to the visitor or have such response message sent to the visitor by the computer system, wherein if the request is accepted by said person designated to the doorbell a two way communication is set up between the mobile phone of the visitor and a mobile phone of the person designated to said doorbell. In this manner the mobile phone of the visitor can function as camera and/or microphone/speaker for the visitor.

In an aspect a method according to the disclosure can comprise the step of, in order to be coupled to the computer system, scanning a code at or near said door, by the visitor, which code is a unique code linked to the door and is transmitted to the computer system through the mobile telephone of the visitor. The visitor can scan said code using the visitor phone. The code is at least presented as an electronically readable or transferable code presented at or near the door or doorbell. The code can for example be a code transmitted by a Near Field Communication (NFC) chip or by an active beacon, such as a Bluetooth beacon or by a WiF1 signal. The code can alternatively or additionally be presented as a bar code or QR code.

In embodiments the method can comprise a step wherein after 5 scanning said code the visitor is requested to identify himself or herself through his or her mobile phone.

In embodiments the visitor and the at least one person designated to said door are both provided with a mobile phone. At least the mobile phone of the at least one person designated to the doorbell is provided with an app for receiving said message. The mobile phone of the visitor is provided with an app for coupling to the computer system and/or is coupled to the computer system after scanning the code presented at or near the door.

In embodiments of the disclosure the method can comprise the step of relaying the signal to a mobile phone of the at least one person designated to said door. This enables the said person or persons associated to the doorbell or door to recognize that the visitor is present at the door, even if the said person is not at the relevant premises or can otherwise not hear the actual chime connected to the doorbell chime when the doorbell is rung.

A doorbell assembly used with a method of the disclosure or in a doorbell system according to the disclosure can for example be a system as described in Dutch patent application NL2016620. A doorbell for use in a method according to the disclosure or 1n a doorbell system according to the disclosure can be wired to or in wireless connection with a computer network, such as the Internet, at least for connecting to the computer system and relaying the doorbell signal to the computer system according to the present disclosure, for example for initiating or setting the timer.

In embodiments a method can further be characterized by the steps of establishing with the computer system a location of the telephone of the visitor, and comparing this location with a known position of the door. A comparison is then made between the location of the telephone of the visitor and the door, and if the telephone of the visitor is in a predetermined distance from the location of the door the computer system is allowed to send said message to the at least one person designated to the doorbell. If the telephone of the visitor is on the other hand not in said predetermined distance from the location of the doorbell the computer system is not allowed to send said message to the at least one person designated to the doorbell.

In an aspect a doorbell system of the disclosure is characterized by the features of claim 11. In such system after scanning of the code a doorbell signal can be presented on the residents mobile phone.

In embodiments a system of the disclosure comprises a doorbell coupled to a doorbell operating system, a first mobile phone and a second mobile phone and a computer system. The first mobile phone is a mobile phone designated to a person designated to or in other words associated with the doorbell system and the second mobile phone is a visitor mobile phone. The doorbell operating system is designed for sending a doorbell signal to the computer system. Preferably the computer system is designed for starting a timer for timing a predetermined time interval after receiving the doorbell signal. In such embodiments the computer system is programmed to: - present a message to at least the first mobile phone if the visitor mobile phone is coupled to the computer system within said predetermined time interval after operating the doorbell; and - not present such message to the first mobile phone if the visitor mobile phone is coupled to the computer system outside said predetermined time interval after operating said doorbell or is not coupled to said computer system.

With such system a visitor can only connect to the computer system to send or have sent or relay a message to the at least one person associated with the doorbell within a predetermined time interval after ringing the doorbell, preferably a relatively short time frame, for example a time frame of several minutes.

A doorbell system of the disclosure in embodiments can preferably comprises a carrier, comprising at least a readable code, which readable code comprises at least an electronically readable code, especially provided by a NFC chip, or by a Bluetooth beacon or WiFi signal. The code can additionally be presented as optically readable code, especially a bar code or

QR code. The readable code preferably is uniquely coupled to the doorbell system.

In embodiments a doorbell system of the disclosure can further comprise a computer system, wherein the doorbell system is coupled to the computer system, such that during use, after reading the readable code by a visitor mobile phone, the visitor mobile phone 1s coupled to the computer system.

The disclosure is further directed to a computer readable computer product comprising computer readable instructions for performing a method according to the present disclosure, and to a computer system, comprising at least a computer program designed for receipt of a doorbell signal and setting a timer for a predetermined time interval upon receipt of said doorbell signal, and for time stamping receipt of a coupling request from a mobile phone, wherein the computer program is designed for comparing said time stamping with the timer, and taking action based on whether the coupling request is received within the time interval or not.

The invention will be further elucidated on the basis of the exemplary embodiments that are represented in the drawing. In the drawing shows:

Fig. 1 a schematic a door with a doorbell, two mobile phones and a computer system according to the disclosure, for performing a method of the disclosure;

Fig. 2 a doorbell and a carrier with a schematic representation of a code for use in a system of method of the disclosure;

Fig. 3 and 3A schematically steps in performing a method according to the disclosure;

Fig. 4 schematically part of an embodiment of a method and system according to the disclosure, showing schematic screen images used;

Fig. 5 schematically an alternative embodiment of a doorbell and carrier; and

Fig. 6 schematically a flow chart of a procedure for managing traffic at a door.

The figures are only schematic representations of preferred embodiments of the invention. These embodiments are only shown as example for a better understanding of the claimed invention and should not be considered as limiting the disclosure to these embodiments. In the figures, like or corresponding parts are indicated with the same reference numerals.

A method according to the disclosure, for managing traffic at a door, 1s designed generally to allow contact to be established between a visitor at a door and a person associated or designated to said door, or at least to the premises provided with said door, further also to be referred to as a resident. Such person associated with the door or resident can for example be a home owner or tenant, lodger, family member of a home owner, tenant or lodger, or an employee or the like of a business in said premises or the like, all for the sake of brevity referred to as resident. A visitor can be a person known or unknown to the resident, and can for example be but not limited to a delivery person, a client, friend or family, or any other person at the door, ringing the doorbell. By further also relaying the doorbell signal to a resident mobile phone the resident is or are informed of the fact that a visitor is at the door, even if the resident is not near the door or for example not competent to hear the chime.

Managing traffic at the door should be understood in its common meaning and includes at least providing for a possibility to establish the above described contact, for example in order to provide for the possibility of a dialogue between resident and visitor, providing guidance for the visitor by the resident, even if the resident is not able to open the door to the visitor, or for example allowing a message to be relayed to the visitor at the door.

In a method according to the disclosure a doorbell signal is provided by activating a doorbell by the visitor, which doorbell signal is relayed to a computer system and preferably also to the or a resident associated to the said doorbell. A timer is set in said computer system, when receiving the doorbell signal, timing a predefined time interval. A mobile phone of the visitor can be coupled to the computer system after having rung the doorbell. Such coupling of the visitor mobile phone to the computer system can be provided for through a connection to the Internet. If in a method of the disclosure the mobile phone of the visitor is coupled to the computer system within said predetermined time interval after operating the doorbell a message 1s presented to at least one person designated to the doorbell, a resident as described. However, if the mobile phone of the visitor 1s not coupled to the computer system within said predetermined time interval after operating the doorbell no such message is presented to said at least one person designated to the doorbell.

In embodiments of a method according to the disclosure a visitor can couple his or her mobile phone, the visitor phone, to the computer system by reading a code presented at or near the door. Such code can for example be an optically readable code, such as a bar code or QR code, or an electronically readable code, such as a code transmitted through or using a

Near Field Communication (NFC) chip which can be scanned in a known manner by a visitor mobile phone. The code is preferably unique for the door cq doorbell cq premises at which the code is presented. The code is for example representative for an URI or URL, such that by reading the code into the visitor mobile phone for example an Internet address is entered into the computer system through a wireless connection of the visitor mobile phone. This couples the wireless connection of the visitor mobile phone to a web page or address of the resident on which the said timer has been set and if said coupling is made within the predetermined time interval the computer system will send a message to the resident or at least one resident if multiple residents have been registered, associated or designated to the relevant doorbell or door or premises.

By checking whether the visitor mobile phone has been coupled to the computer system within said predetermined time interval after ringing the doorbell by the visitor, it can be established that the visitor is actually at the door when trying to establish contact with the at least one person designated to the doorbell, i.e. the or at least a resident. This prevents persons to try to establish such contact when not actually at the door. Even if the codes of one or more premises are read and stored in for example a data base, they cannot be used for establishing a contact between a person using such database and the or a resident, unless the said person does actually ring the doorbell, for which he or she will have to be present at the door.

The present disclosure also relates to a system for performing a method of the present disclosure. In general such system comprises a doorbell located or for location at or near premises, such as at or near a door of a house or office. In this respect door should be understood as including but not limited to front or rear doors, gates, windows such as but not limited to shop windows and the like points of entry or contact between a resident and a visitor. The system further comprises at least a visitor mobile phone, further also referred to as second mobile phone or visitor phone, and a resident mobile phone or computer or such device connected to or connectable to a computer network such as the Internet, further to be referred to as first mobile phone or resident mobile phone. The mobile phones can be connected to the said computer network, especially to the

Internet by wireless connection and/or by wired connection. The system further comprises a computer system for communicating with said mobile phones, and comprising at least a computer program for setting a timer upon receipt of a signal from the doorbell and for receiving a signal from the visitor mobile phone, and establishing whether said signal from the visitor mobile phone was received within a time interval set for the timer. The program is further designed to send a message to the resident mobile phone if the signal from the visitor mobile phone was indeed received within said time interval. Such message can for example inform the resident of the fact that someone is at the door, who said someone is, if this information is made available by the visitor, and can comprise a contact request from the visitor.

The resident can then either accept or deny said contact request. If the contact request is accepted, in embodiments the resident can chose one of different options for such contact, such as for example contact via VOIP, via a chat medium, by sending a message to the visitor or via a video connection, or any other means available.

A system according to the present disclosure furthermore can comprise a carrier presenting a code, preferably a code uniquely coupled, i.e. associated to the resident or residents of the relevant premises. The carrier can for example be a button or shield or sticker which can be presented at an appropriate location near the door, and can comprise the code for example as an optically readable code, an electronically readable code or a combination thereof.

A computer system according to the disclosure can comprise at least a computer program designed for receipt of a doorbell signal and setting a timer for a predetermined time interval upon receipt of said doorbell signal, and for time stamping receipt of a coupling request from a mobile phone, wherein the computer program is designed for comparing said time stamping with the timer, and taking action based on whether the coupling request is received within the time interval or not. Said action can for example be presenting a web page or part thereof, such as but not limited to a landing page on the mobile phone requesting said coupling, thus performing the coupling between the computer system and the mobile phone, if the request is received within said time interval, whereas if said request 1s received, but not within said time interval, no such coupling may be established. In embodiments said action may be sending a message to the mobile phone requesting to be coupled if the request is received outside the time interval, for example asking for another doorbell signal or sending a new coupling request, or said action may be no action towards the mobile phone.

In this disclosure coupling of a visitor mobile phone to the computer system should be understood as at least establishing contact between the visitor mobile phone and the computer system, for example via a data network, Internet, GSM network or such wireless communication network, enabling at least the computer system to present or have presented information on the visitor mobile phone, such as but not limited to a web page, landing page, contact form or the like, and/or enabling the visitor mobile phone to relay information to the computer network and/or a resident mobile phone or such communication device, connected to the computer network and/or relevant data communication network.

In embodiments of this disclosure the resident phone and/or the visitor phone may be provided with an app for performing steps of a method according to the disclosure, and/or may use web based computer program(s) for performing steps of a method according to the disclosure.

A doorbell according to the disclosure or for use in a system according to the disclosure can be any type of doorbell, such as for example a regular doorbell with a push button or the like for sounding a chime, but it can also be a more sophisticated doorbell, such as a video doorbell, intercom doorbell or the like, as long as it can provide a doorbell signal as described.

Fig. 1 schematically shows a system 1 of the disclosure. Fig. 1 shows a door 2 of a premises 3, here represented as a front door of a house.

Near the door 2 a doorbell 4 is shown, connected to a chime 5 by wire or wireless. The chime 5 can be mounted inside the premises 3 and can be connected to the doorbell 4 by wire or wireless. Multiple chimes 5 could be connected to the doorbell 4. A computer system 6 is further provided, here represented by a computer, but it will be clear to the skilled person that the computer system can also be a different system, such as for example cloud based, Internet based or the like. The doorbell 4 in this embodiment is provided with a wireless communication device 8, such as a Bluetooth or

WiFi transmitter, as known in the art, for communication with and especially relaying a doorbell signal 7 to the computer system 6. It will be clear that such communication device 8 could also be provided in the doorbell 4, or outside the doorbell 4 and chime 5. For example a device 8 could be used which receives the auditive signal of the chime 5 ringing, and relay this as a Bluetooth or Wireless signal to the computer system. Such system 1s for example known from International application

WO2017/018880 and available under the brand BellAlertTM in The

Netherlands. In stead of or additional to the wireless connection the device 8 could also be wired to the computer system 6.

The system 1 as shown in fig. 1 further comprises a first mobile phone 9 and a second mobile phone 10. The first mobile phone 9 is a mobile phone of a permanent or temporary resident of the premises 3. If there are multiple such residents multiple first mobile phones 9 could be provided in the system 1. The second mobile phone 10 is a mobile phone of a visitor to the premises 3, or at least to the door 2. Any mobile phone can in principle be a visitor mobile phone 10. The visitor mobile phone 10 preferably is or can be connected to the Internet and is enabled to transmit and receive information through at least a wireless connection, such as a data connection.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 1 furthermore a carrier 11 is provided, in the vicinity of the door 2. The carrier 11 can be mounted for example by means of screws, adhesive, magnetism or the like. In the embodiment shown the carrier is a circular button or plate, but it can have any suitable shape, form and dimension. The carrier is provided with a code 14. In the embodiment shown on a front side of the carrier 11 a visual, optically readable representation 12 of the code 14 is provided, in the embodiment shown by a QR (“quick response”) code. The code 12 however could also be provided as a different type of optically readable code, such as but not limited to a bar code, an alfa-numerical code, an URL or URI, a pictogram or the like. Additionally or alternatively the carrier 11 can be provided with the same code as an electronically readable code 13, as 1s known in the art. In the embodiment shown the electronically readable code 1s provided by an Near Field Communication (NFC) chip, which can communicate with devices such as mobile phones 9, 10 provided with an

NFC reader. In the embodiment shown the carrier 11 comprises the code 14 in both optical form 12 and electronic form 13.

In the embodiments disclosed the code 14 is or comprises or can be electronically related to a URL (uniform resource locator).

A resident will register with the computer system 6, for example by opening a personal web page in the computer system 6. A unique URL 1s established for said web page. The code as discussed is uniquely related to said URL for said resident. Hence in the computer system a series of web pages 1s configured, each related to a specific resident or at least door.

Multiple residents at the same address, i.e. the same door 2 and/or using the same doorbell 4 can be associated to the same web page and hence to the same URL. The resident connects his or her doorbell 4 to the computer system 6, especially to the resident’s web page, such that if the doorbell 4 is rung, the doorbell signal 7 is relayed to the computer system 6 for starting a timer 15, as will be discussed. The timer is preferably uniquely associated with the web page of the relevant resident. As discussed the connection between the doorbell 4 and the computer system 6 can be made in any suitable manner, such as by wire or wireless, for example through a local

WiFi network of the resident and an Internet connection, or via a GSM or such telephone or data connection.

Fig. 2 shows schematically the doorbell 4 and the carrier 11 comprising the visually, optically readable QR code 12 and the electronically readable code 13 by means of an NFC chip. The carrier 11 can in principle be position anywhere at or near the door, as long as the code 14 can be read by a visitor using his or her mobile phone 10.

Fig. 3 and 3A show schematically steps in a method according to the disclosure, using a system 1, for example as shown in fig. 1 and 2, with the resident having registered to the computer system 6 and able to communicate with the computer system via communication signals 9B. The visitor phone 10 can communicate directly or indirectly with the computer system 6 through communication signals 10B, for example via a telephone and/or data network and/or through the Internet.

In a first step 100 a visitor V comes up to the door 2 and rings the doorbell 4. The doorbell signal 7 is relayed to the computer system 6, in which a timer 15 is started, timing a predefined time interval T. The doorbell signal 7 1s also relayed to the or at least a resident phone 9 (step 100A), informing the or at least a resident R that a visitor V is at the door 2.

The time interval can for example be between several seconds and several minutes, for example between 1/2 and 15 minutes, such as for example between 1 and 10 minutes. In embodiments the resident R is provided with the possibility to set said time interval T.

If the resident R is at the premises 3 and is able to answer the door 2, he or she may open the door 2. If the resident R opens the door (step 101)

then the resident R and the visitor V can have live contact (step 101A). If the resident R is not at the premises 3 or for other reasons does not or cannot open the door 2 (step 102) then the visitor V can scan the code 14, for example by reading the optical code 12 using a camera of the visitor phone and/or by electronically reading the code 13 using a NFC reader of the visitor mobile phone 10, for example by swiping the phone 10 along the carrier 11, receiving the code 14 from the NFC chip or such electronic system. In embodiments the visitor V can also or alternatively type the code 12, 14 into the visitor phone 10. 10 If the visitor V does not scan the representation 12, 13 of the code or does not actually send the code 14 to the computer system 6 (step 103) the visitor may leave (step 103A). If on the other hand the visitor V does scan the representation 12, 13 of the code 14 (step 104) then the visitor mobile phone 10 will send the code 14 to the computer system 6 (step 105).

The computer system 6 will, by means of a suitable algorithm, register when the code 14 is received by the computer system 6.

If the code 14 is received outside the time interval T set, the computer system 6 will not allow the visitor to contact the resident. In the embodiment shown this will mean that the computer system 6 will not send a message to the resident phone 9 (step 106). In this step the computer system could for example further ignore the code 14 received late, i.e. outside the set time interval T, or inform the resident R that a code 14 was received, but outside the time interval T, or similar information, for example logging the received code 14 on the computer system 6.

If the code 14 is received within the time interval T set, the computer system will inform the resident of receipt of said code 14 (step 107) which is generally referred to as sending the resident a message 108.

This should be understood as any means used by the computer system 6 to inform the resident V of the fact that a visitor is at the door 2 and that the visitor has read the code 14 and relayed this to the computer system 6.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 3 and 3A, which is shown as a continuation of fig. 3, the message 108 sent to the resident mobile phone 9 is or contains a contact request 109, sent by or on behalf of the visitor. In embodiments the message 109 can be generated by the computer system 6 and can be a standard message, preprogrammed, or can be a message predefined by the visitor on his or her webpage in the computer system 6. In alternative embodiments the message can be configured by the visitor on the visitor mobile phone 10 after having relayed the code to 14 to the computer system within the time interval T. In embodiments the visitor

V can feed information into the computer system 6 through the visitor mobile phone 10 after sending the code 14 to the computer system within said time interval T to be sent on to the resident R, as the message 108 or as part of the message 108. Such information can for example contain personal information of the visitor, such as the visitor's name, occupation, reason for ringing the doorbell or the like.

If the message 109 sent to the resident is or contains a contact request 109, the resident can deny the contact request (step 110). If the resident denies the contact request a response can be sent (step 111) to the visitor V by the computer system 6, for example informing the visitor V through the visitor mobile phone 10 that the resident R is unable to answer, or allow the computer system 6 to send a prerecorded message.

If the resident R accepts the contact request (step 113) then a contact can be established between the visitor mobile phone 10 and the resident mobile phone 9, preferably through the computer system 6. The contact between the resident R and the visitor V can then be established for example through VOIP (step 114), Chat (step 115), Messaging (Step 116) or via a video connection (Step 117). Preferably in a method and system of the disclosure the resident R is provided a choice between at least two of these options 114 — 117, for example presented on the screen of the resident phone 9.

If the resident chooses the option of a video connection 117 the camera 10A on the visitor phone 10 and the camera 9A on the resident phone can be used for the video communication. The communication preferably is relayed through the computer system, such that no mobile phone numbers need to be exchanged between the visitor V and the resident

R. This improves privacy of both the visitor and the resident. Moreover, by using the camera 10A of the visitor phone 10 for a video connection, the visitor can allow or deny such use, whereas the camera 10A will only be used In such video connection. No camera needs to be positioned at the door 2, preventing imaging of the environment of the door, improving privacy of third persons passing by the door 2.

Fig. 4 shows schematically different steps in a method according to the disclosure, and examples of screen shots which can be used in such system, by way of example only.

When a visitor rings the doorbell 4 and subsequently scans the code 4 by reading the a representation 12, 13 on the carrier 11 within the time limit T, a notification 120 is presented on the screen 10C of the visitor phone 10, which invites the visitor to connect to the web page of the resident

R. If the visitor accepts this request by clicking on the notification 120, the web page 121, or at least a relevant part thereof, of the resident R is presented on the screen 10C. On this web page 121 for example a message 122 which has previously been entered on the web page and/or in an app by the resident R may be presented to the visitor V, for example similar to step 111 in fig. 3A. This message can for example comprise an instruction to the visitor.

On the web page 121 presented to the visitor V further a field 123 may be presented for the visitor V to for example enter the visitors name, occupation, reason for the visit or such personal information, or any message the visitor might want to present to the resident.

Furthermore on the web page 121 as presented a virtual button 124 is presented which can be used by the visitor to send a contact request, similar to step 109 in fig. 3A. By clicking this button 124 said request will be sent to the resident. On the screen 9C of the visitor phone 9 then one or more contact options 125 will be presented. In the embodiment of fig. 4 as options 125 are presented VOIP 114 and video 117, as well as the option 110 to deny the request.

If the request is denied (step 110) then the visitor may be informed accordingly. In fig. 4 it is shown that the visitor has accepted the request, by choosing the option for video 117. Then a video communication can be established between the resident phone 9 and the visitor phone 10, if the visitor allows use of the camera 10A. Otherwise the communication may be connection without imaging or limited video or may be changed to a VOIP connection or for example chat or messaging. In fig. 4 a video connection is shown, through the Internet, between the visitor V and the resident R. The connection can be terminated by either the visitor or the resident in a usual way. In embodiments the communication can also be terminated by the computer system 6, for example after a predetermined period, for avoiding for example that the connection is maintained after the actual communication has been ended by the visitor and the resident.

In embodiments multiple residents can be connected to the same web page. In such embodiments for example any one of these residents can respond to a communication request, wherein for example the first to respond will establish the said communication, blocking other residents.

Alternatively the said residents can define an order in which the request will be presented to them, such that the request is first presented to the first resident, and only if this first resident does not respond within a predefined period of time the request will be presented to at least one of the other residents. The computer system may allow the residents to change such order at will.

Fig. 6 and 6(continued), further together referred to as fig. 6, schematically show a flow chart of an embodiment of a method of the disclosure, wherein in three columns steps are disclosed which are performed by or presented to and/or otherwise require involvement by a visitor V, a computer system 6, here referred to also as server, and a resident R respectively, and the interaction therebetween. In this figure the same or similar steps have the same or similar reference signs as used here before.

In fig. 6 the left hand column C1 is dedicated to the visitor V, the middle column C2 to the server 6 and the right hand column C3 to the resident or residents R.

The procedure or method starts with a visitor V arriving at the door 2 (step 200). The visitor rings the doorbell 4 (step 100), sending the doorbell signal 7 to the server 6 by means of the receiver/transmitter, also referred to a communication device or wireless communication device 8. In this embodiment this is referred to in the flow chart, by way of example only, as BellAlertTM. The doorbell signal 7 is received by the server 6 (step 134), which server 6 then sends a push notification to the or a resident mobile phone 9 associated with the doorbell 4. The push notification is received by the resident phone 9 (step 136) and is presented as a push message 131B on the resident mobile phone 9. Such message 131B can for example read “there is someone at the door” or any suitable message, and can comprise or be formed by a sound, vibration or any other signal.

Receiving the push notification can also trigger opening an app on the resident mobile phone. The server 6 can also read a battery level of the communication device 8, for example for representation in the app.

Receipt of the doorbell signal 7 by the server 6 will also trigger starting the timer T (step 15). The server T may time stamp receipt of the doorbell signal 7.

After having rung the doorbell 4 the visitor V will wait (step 100A) for the door 2 to be opened or otherwise answered, for example through an intercom system or the like. If the door 2 is not opened (step 102) the visitor

V will notice the carrier 11 with the code 14 (for example represented as explained by a QR code 12 and/or an electronically readable code such as by an NFC chip 13) (step 130) and will scan the code 14 (step 104). A push message may be presented on the visitor phone 10 (step 131) requesting the visitor V to indicate whether the resident’s R webpage on the server 6 should be opened and shown at least in part, for example a landing page, on the visitor's mobile phone 10. Such push message or notification is for example shown in fig. 4 as message 120. The visitor V can confirm (step 132), for example by clicking the push message 131, which opens the landing page of the resident R (step 133). This will send a signal to the server, including the code 14 read by the visitor V. Then the server will establish the time of receipt of the said signal with the code 14 and will compare this (step 105A) with the time stamp of when the doorbell signal 7 was received. If the code 14 was not received with the time interval T set in the server 6, a signal 106A will be sent and the landing page will be updated accordingly (step 133A) informing the visitor V. This update can for example result in a message to the visitor V (step 131A) that the visitor V should (again) ring the doorbell 4, starting the process again, if desired.

If the server in step 105A establishes that the code 14 was received within said time interval T, a signal will be sent by the server 6 (step 107A) and the landing page will be undated and shown to the visitor V on the visitor mobile phone 10 (step 133B). This updated landing page can for example be as shown in fig. 4, second screen 121, and can for example contain a message 122 from the resident R to the visitor V, can comprise a field 123 in which the visitor can enter the visitor's name, occupation of any other relevant information, and can comprise a button 124 for sending a contact request to the resident R (step 108), by clicking said button 124.

Clicking should in the context of this disclosure be understood as at least including a common understanding in using touch screens, in which a signal can be sent by touching an indicated area on a touch screen 10C of for example a mobile phone, a laptop or a computer or such apparatus or system.

After sending the contact request 108A (step 108) the visitor V will wait for a response on the request (step 133C). The landing page may be presented to the visitor V containing an indication of waiting, such as for example a known spinner and an icon or text or the like, for example a text reading something like “waiting for the resident's response” (step 131D). A timeout can be set, for example of 1 minute or any other time period deemed appropriate (step 133D). If within such time no response from the resident is received the visitor may be informed thereof (step 131F), for example by showing a message like “resident rejected your request” (step 131F).

The contact request 108A (step 108) will be received by the server 6 (step 109) which will send a push notification to the resident phone 9 (step 138), which will be received by the designated resident(s) (step 139) and shown on the resident mobile phone as a push message (step 131G), which can for example read something like “visitor [name visitor as entered in field 123] likes to contact you” or any other suitable message. The resident R can click the push notification/message (step 140) which will trigger representation of a screen image on the resident mobile phone 9 showing one or more options from which the resident can choose (step 131H). An example of such screen image is for example shown in fig. 4 (third screen 9C), in which embodiment three options are shown: contact via speech only (VOIP) 114, contact via video 117 or deny request 110. The resident R can thus accept the request of deny the request (step 1094).

If the resident R denies the request (step 110) a signal to that effect will be received by the server 6, which will then update the landing page (step 111) presenting the updated landing page to the visitor V, for example by showing a message informing the visitor of the denying of the request (step 131F) which could for example read something like “Resident rejected your contact request”.

If the resident R accepts the request (step 113) then the relevant acceptance signal will be sent to the server 6. In the embodiment shown by way of example only in the flow chart the acceptance of the request was done by the resident by choosing the option of contact via video 117. This acceptance signal is received by the server 6 (step 117A), which sends an updated landing page to the visitor mobile phone 10 (step 117B). On the visitor mobile phone 10 then a screen is shown (step 118A), for example on the landing page or in stead of such landing page, showing an audio/video connection screen, or at least an option to accept such connection. Similarly on the resident mobile phone 9 an audio/video screen is shown (step 118B) and an audio/video connection is established between the visitor phone 10 and the resident phone 9 (step 139) This connection is established through a computer network, especially through the Internet, without the necessity for the visitor V and resident R to exchange mobile phone numbers, email addresses or such personal information.

In the server 6 information can be stored about any request sent and/or received, information entered by any visitor and/or resident and for example any connection established with the or any resident. Also the server can be set to limit the possible duration of such connections, for example in order to automatically end such connections after a predetermined time.

In these embodiments by having to ring the doorbell 4 in order to be able to have a communication link established between the visitor V and the or at least a resident R and reading the code 14 within a set time limit, it can be established that the visitor V is actually at the door 2 and not trying to contact the resident and for example spam the resident(s) after having read the code 14 or a series of such codes 14 at different premises, forming a data bank of such codes for later use.

In alternative embodiments the carrier 11 can comprise an electronic system actively transmitting the code 14, constantly or intermittently, for example using a Bluetooth signal or such electronic carrier signal 131. Such signal 131 can then be received by a visitor phone 10, for example for a delivery person when within a communication range D of said signal 131, which may be a range between about zero centimeters and several meters, for example a maximal Bluetooth 5 range of for example tens to a few hundreds of meters. In embodiments said range is settable, for example by the resident R. The visitor phone 10 in this embodiment comprises an app or such software recognizing the code 14 carried by the signal 131. A virtual doorbell 4 may be presented on the visitor phone, and/or a button 124 for sending a contact request 109 as discussed before. In this embodiment the receipt of the signal 131 by the visitor phone 10 will preferably relay a signal to the computer system 6 to set the timer 15.

Preferably the doorbell 4 and/or the button 124 will only be presented to the visitor V when the visitor has registered in the visitor phone 10 or in a computer network connected thereto that the visitor has a delivery for the relevant resident R. In further alternative embodiments the relative position of the visitor V to the door 2 can additionally or alternatively be determined by geo fencing, by for example comparing a geo location of the visitor phone 10, for example using GPS, relative to the known geo location of the door 2.

In embodiments according to the disclosure an electronic signal can be emitted by the doorbell system 8 or a device connected to said doorbell system 8, comprising or formed by said code 4, but only for said predetermined time interval T after operating the doorbell 4, generating the doorbell signal 7.

The invention is by no means limited to the embodiments as specifically disclosed and/or discussed here before. Many variants and combinations are possible within the scope of the invention.

For example, the resident or visitor can use a different type of communication device than a mobile phone, such as for example a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a dedicated wireless communication device or even a home computer system. The carrier 11 can be positioned in a different position and can be designed differently, for example integrated with a doorbell. Different steps as disclosed in the embodiments can be combined and/or can be performed in different order. For example the embodiment of fig. 3 and 3A or parts thereof can be combined with the embodiment of fig. 4. For example, the step 106 can be omitted or replaced by a step in which the visitor is informed that he has relayed the code too late and for example could try again, whereas in fig. 3 step 107 can comprise presenting a web page 121 of the resident R to the visitor, for sending the contact request and/or personal information, as shown schematically in fig. 4.

Such variants will be clear to the skilled person and are understood to fall within the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

Claims 1 Method for managing traffic at a door, wherein a doorbell signal is generated by a visitor, which doorbell signal is forwarded to a computer system, wherein the visitor's mobile telephone is connected to the computer system and a message is passed to at least one person connected to the door, wherein in order to be connected to the computer system the visitor scans a code at or near the door, which code is unique to the door and/or a mobile telephone of the at least one person connected to the door and is passed to the computer system via the visitor's mobile telephone.

Method according to claim 1, wherein the code is or comprises an electronically readable code, in particular provided by a Near Field Communication chip.

The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the message is or comprises a contact request from the visitor to the person associated with the door.

A method according to claim 3, wherein after the message is presented to the person associated with the door, said person can reject said request or accept said request or send a response message to the visitor or have it sent to the visitor by the computer system, wherein if the request is accepted by the person associated with the door a two-way communication is established between the mobile phone of the visitor and a mobile phone of the person associated with the door.

Method according to any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the code is furthermore in or comprises an optically readable code, displayed at or near the door, in particular as a barcode or QR code.

6. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the code is transmitted with a wireless signal, such as a Bluetooth signal or a WiFi signal.

Method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein after scanning the code the visitor is requested to identify himself or herself via his or her mobile phone.

A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the visitor and the at least one person associated with said door are both provided with a mobile telephone, wherein at least the mobile telephone of the at least one person associated with the door is provided with an app for receiving said message and the mobile telephone of the visitor is provided with an app and/or a website for connecting to the computer system and/or is connected to the computer system after scanning a code presented at or near the door.

Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the doorbell signal is transmitted to a mobile telephone of at least one person connected to the doorbell.

A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the computer system determines a location of the visitor’s phone and compares it to a known position of the door, whereby a comparison is made between the location of the visitor’s phone and the position of the door, and wherein if the visitor’s phone is within a predetermined distance of the position of the door, the computer system is allowed to send said message to at least one person associated with the door, but if the visitor’s phone is not within said predetermined distance of the position of the door, the computer system is not allowed to send said message to at least one person associated with the door.

11. Doorbell system for a door, comprising a first mobile phone and a second mobile phone and a computer system, wherein] the first mobile phone is a mobile phone assigned to a person linked to the door and the second mobile phone is a visitor mobile phone, the doorbell system being adapted to send a doorbell signal to the computer system, the doorbell system further comprising a carrier provided with at least one readable code, which readable code comprises at least one electronically readable code, in particular provided by an NFC chip, the code preferably also being provided as an optically readable code, in particular a barcode or a QR code.

A doorbell system according to claim 11, wherein the computer system is programmed to: - present a message on and/or through the at least one first mobile telephone when the visitor's mobile telephone is paired with the computer system, preferably within a predetermined time interval after operating a doorbell or reading the code; and - not present such a message on and/or through the at least one first mobile telephone if the visitor's mobile telephone is paired with the computer system outside said predetermined time interval after operating the doorbell or is not paired with the computer system.

13 Doorbell system according to claim 11 - 12, wherein the readable code is uniquely linked to the doorbell system.

Doorbell system according to any of claims 11 to 13, wherein the doorbell system is coupled to the computer system, such that during use, after reading the readable code with the visitor's mobile phone, the visitor's mobile phone is coupled to the computer system.

Computer program product comprising instructions for performing a method according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

16 Computer system, comprising at least a computer program configured to receive a doorbell signal and set a timer for a predetermined time interval upon receipt of the doorbell signal, and for time-stamping receipt of a pairing request from a mobile telephone, the computer program being configured to compare said time stamp with the timer and take action based on whether the pairing request is received within the time interval or not.