Claims
- 1. An entry control system for permitting authorized users to access a controlled area, comprising:
an access controller for generating an entry signal; an entry operator operatively coupled to said access controller which when actuated by an entry signal controls whether a predetermined area of the controlled area can be entered; and an authentication system operatively coupled to said access controller which determines whether a user is one of a group of authorized users, whether that user is authorized to access said predetermined area at a predetermined time, and whether prior access to said controlled area prohibits authorization for entry.
- 2. An entry control system according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined area of the controlled area comprises a security zone defined by a home security system.
- 3. An entry control system according to claim 1, An entry control system according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined area of the controlled area comprises a garage.
- 6. An entry control system according to claim 1, wherein said entry operator comprises a moveable barrier operator.
- 7. An entry control system according to claim 1, wherein said entry operator comprises an alarm interface capable of selectively disabling alarm functions.
- 8. An entry control system according to claim 1, further comprising a voice recognition system operatively coupled to said authentication system.
- 9. An entry control system according to claim 1, further comprising a biometric identification system operatively coupled to said authentication system.
- 10. An entry control system according to claim 1, further comprising a detector for reading information from an identification tag, said detector operatively coupled to said authentication system.
- 11. An entry control system according to claim 10, wherein said identification tag comprises information readable by a radio frequency reader.
- 12. An entry control system according to claim 1, wherein said entry operator comprises a garage door motor control for opening and closing a residential garage door.
- 13. An entry control system according to claim 1, wherein said entry operator comprises a door lock solenoid control for locking and unlocking an entry door.
- 14. An entry control system according to claim 1, wherein said entry operator comprises a door lock motor control for locking and unlocking an entry door.
- 15. An entry control system according to claim 1, wherein said entry operator comprises a gate opener motor control for operating a residential entry gate.
- 16. An entry control system according to claim 1, further comprising a communication link for transmitting and receiving information to a network and wherein said authentication system has a stored list of authorized users.
- 17. An entry control system according to claim 16, wherein said authentication system comprises an authentication provider system coupled to said network, said authentication system operatively coupled to said list of authorized users.
- 18. An entry control system for permitting authorized users to access a controlled area, comprising:
an access controller for generating an entry signal; an authorization system for determining from said entry signal whether a user is authorized to access a controlled area; and an authentication system operatively coupled to said access controller for determining whether a user is authorized to access said controlled area, whether that user is authorized to access said predetermined area at a predetermined time, and whether a user has used up a predetermined number of accesses granted them.
- 19. An entry control system according to claim 18, wherein said authorization system comprises an entry control system for permitting access to said controlled resource to authorized users.
- 20. An entry control system according to claim 18, wherein said authentication system further comprises a plurality of designations for the purpose of indicating the predetermined area and the predetermined time.
- 21. An entry control system according to claim 20, wherein said plurality of designations are stored in a computer database.
- 22. A garage door operating system which controls whether a garage door is open or closed at the appropriate times for granting access to the garage area to authorized individuals or service representatives, comprising:
a garage door motor control for opening and closing the garage door in response to a first signal condition and a second signal conditions; a garage door operator operative to generate the first and second signal conditions; and an access controller operatively coupled to said garage door operator for generating an authorization signal in response to the authentication of a user requesting access to the garage.
- 23. A method for managing authentication and entry authorization into a controlled resource in response to a user requesting authorization to access the controlled resource, wherein an entry operator controls whether said controlled resource can be accessed comprising:
designating a first group of entry authorization designations and a second group of entry authorization designations, said first group of entry authorizations being permanently authorization; detecting an authorization designation corresponding to a user requesting access to said controlled resource; and determining, in response to the detected authorization designation, whether a user requesting access to said controlled resource is authorized.
- 24. A method for managing authentication and entry authorization in a system having a central data base with a network communication link for storing entry authorization designations according to claim 23, further including the steps of granting access authorization to users based on a entry authorization stored in the central data base and the number of previous authorizations granted to the user.
- 25. A pickup and delivery management system with automated authentication of entry authorization for authenticating entry into an access controlled resource, comprising:
a controlled resource, said resource capable of holding articles; access control system for automatically authorizing entry to said controlled resource according to predetermined conditions; and entry control for granting access to said controlled resource in order to allow pickup or delivery of articles to said controlled resource.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a continuation-in-part of copending U.S. application Ser. No. 09/577,336, filed May 22, 2000, and claims priority from U.S. provisional application No. 60/175,749, filed Jan. 12, 2000.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60175749 |
Jan 2000 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09577336 |
May 2000 |
US |
Child |
09752955 |
Jan 2001 |
US |