Patent Application
20190156604
This application is a continuation-in-part of pending application 15816837 which is incorporated in its entirety by reference and benefits from its priority date of Nov. 17, 2017.
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The present invention relates physical access control systems such as electronic door openers.
Cipher locks, card keys, and mobile devices are used to identify authorized users at electronically controlled doors. Generally, these must be presented to a recognition panel or sensor next to the door.
As is known, a conventional system operates by manually presenting a Bluetooth configured phone to a Bluetooth panel, rotating it clockwise by 90 degrees and then anti-clockwise by 90 degrees.
As is known, another conventional system operates by manually pocketing a Bluetooth configured phone in the vicinity of a Bluetooth panel, and patting the operator's pocket containing the Bluetooth configured phone. Within this application, Applicant uses Bluetooth as a reference to IEEE standard for personal range wireless communication 802.15 and its derivatives. As is known, Wi-Fi is a trademark for a facility allowing computers, smartphones, or other devices to connect to the Internet or communicate with one another wirelessly allowing computers, smartphones, or other devices to connect to the Internet or communicate with one another wirelessly within a particular area. Within this application, Applicant uses this term for certain types of wireless local area networks (WLAN) that use specifications in the 802.11 family.
What is needed is a physical access control system which supports a simpler user model, fewer wired components, and less unintuitive manual manipulation.
A mobile door knocker causes a portal to open for an authenticated user. A door opens for an authenticated user upon being viewed or tapped by a communication device. A physical access control system actuates upon receiving a wireless request triggered by a pattern of impacts upon a surface of a portal. A hand-held communication device transmits a portal access control signal when it recognizes a pattern of physical measurements or optical images.
A mobile device has a sensor package, communication circuits, and a processor. Upon determining proximity to a controlled portal, the sensor package enables a pattern recognition circuit. Upon receiving a success indicia from the pattern recognition circuit, the communication circuits authenticate with the controlled portal, ie., opening a door.
A sensor package may be enabled by light energy; sound energy; kinetic energy; accelerations from squeezing the device; shaking the device; waving the device; tapping the device against a door, wall, or table; or forcefully pointing/elevating the device. A pattern may be related to a number, or a sequence, or combination of slows, pauses, and quicks, or a curvilinear acceleration.
To further clarify the above and other advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof that are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
A system uses sensors such as a camera, a microphone, and an accelerometer in a mobile phone to initiate a physical access control process wirelessly.
Modules of the system include:
Communications device with sensors such as:
GPS receiver,
Accelerometer,
Wi-Fi radio,
Microphone,
Photo optical sensor (e.g. camera).
In an embodiment, a Fixed receiver (reader): A fixed reader consisting of communications circuits and a processor.
Portal Controller: A communications and computing device that may also include electromechanical relays.
Portal locking mechanism consisting of at least one of: electromechanical door strike, wireless door lock, electromechanical gate, electromechanical turnstile, electromechanical garage door opener, elevator control system, electromechanical cabinet lock.
Provisioning server consisting of a computing system with one or more processors, RAM, and non-volatile storage plus application software to configure and manage the at least one communications device, and at least one portal controller.
Credentialing server consisting of a computing system with one or more processors, RAM, and non-volatile storage plus application software to create, manage, and deliver at least one valid credential to at least one communications devices (1) and at least one portal controller.
One aspect of the invention is a mobile device for physical access control by positional impulses comprising: a processor and computer-readable instruction store; coupled to all of, a sensor package; a pattern recognition circuit; and a communication circuit.
In an embodiment, said sensor package comprises at least one photo sensor (camera); and wherein said pattern recognition circuit triggers on a QR code, a motion vector of a QR code, plurality of non-visible spectrum light impulses or sequence of impulses separated by at least one interval of time.
In an embodiment, said sensor package comprises at least one microphone; and wherein said pattern recognition circuit triggers on a plurality of tones, sounds, words, bursts of amplitude, or sequence of audio energy measurements separated by at least one interval of time.
In an embodiment, said sensor package comprises at least one accelerometer; and wherein said pattern recognition circuit triggers on a plurality of impulses or sequence of impulses separated by at least one interval of time.
In an embodiment, said communication circuit provides the processor with an indicia of proximity by receiving and transforming strengths of radio signals to determine a location and transmits an access request for said portal upon successful pattern recognition.
In an embodiment, said sensor package comprises at least one geolocation circuit; and wherein said circuit provides a geographic location signal that selects among multiple credentials as required to match available credentials stored in the communications device to the portal at which the user is attempting to gain access.
In an embodiment, said sensor package comprises at least one Wi-Fi radio circuit; and wherein said circuit provides a location signal based on Wi-Fi SSID that selects among multiple credentials as required to match available credentials stored in the communications device to the portal at which the user is attempting to gain access.
In an embodiment, said sensor package comprises at least one Bluetooth radio circuit; and wherein said circuit provides a location signal based on Bluetooth beacons that selects among multiple credentials as required to match available credentials stored in the communications device to the portal at which the user is attempting to gain access.
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In an embodiment, at a communications device with sensors, the processes include performing in parallel or overlap, storing a credential associated with an authenticated user; determining operation by the authenticated user; receiving geolocation signals; determining propinquity to a controlled portal; receiving photo-optical measurements corresponding to images, QR codes, or non-visible spectrum light energy impulses; determining a match with a stored images or pattern of light energy impulses; and upon verification of user, location, and patterns, exchanging credentials and transmitting a physical access request. In an embodiment the physical access request is transformed by each unique QR code.
In an embodiment, at a communications device with sensors, the processes include performing in parallel or overlap, storing a credential associated with an authenticated user; determining operation by the authenticated user; receiving geolocation signals; determining propinquity to a controlled portal; receiving sound energy measurement corresponding to tones, whistles, words, bursts of noise impulses; determining a match with a stored pattern of sound energy impulses; and upon verification of user, location, and pattern of impulses, exchanging credentials and transmitting a physical access request.
In an embodiment, at a communications device with sensors, the processes include performing in parallel or overlap, storing a credential associated with an authenticated user 931; determining operation by the authenticated user 939; receiving geolocation signals 941; determining propinquity to a controlled portal 949; receiving accelerometer measurement vectors corresponding to force impulses 951; determining a match with a stored pattern of force impulses 959; and upon verification of user, location, and pattern of impulses 961, exchanging credentials 965 and transmitting a physical access request 969. In an embodiment a fixed receiver is intermediary to geolocation signals, and physical access request.
In an embodiment, the process includes receiving an authenticated physical access request 974 from a communication device in vicinity of a controlled portal; and transmitting the request to a portal controller 976. In an embodiment, transmitting location infrastructure signals by short range radio 972.
At a credential server, the process includes creating, managing, and delivering at least one valid credential to at least one communication device and to at least one portal controller 910.
At a provisioning server, the process includes providing to a portal controller, configurations of portal controllers, fixed receivers, and communication devices 920 which conditionally support physical access control at time and place.
At a portal controller, the process includes receiving an authentication credential from a credential server 981; determining from a provisioning server a condition when a portal is accessible to an authenticated user 983; receiving a request to access a portal 985 by a configured communication device; and, enabling operative power to a portal locking mechanism 987.
At a portal locking mechanism, the process includes receiving electro-magnetic power 991 to actuate an electro-mechanical device; and enabling access through a portal 995. In an embodiment, a mobile device for physical access control senses positional indicia by having a processor and computer-readable instruction store; coupled to all of, a sensor package; a pattern recognition circuit; and a communication circuit. In an embodiment a sensor package has at least one accelerometer. The method includes a triggering by a pattern recognition circuit on an irregular sequence of impulses separated by at least one interval of time.
In an embodiment the device includes a communication circuit coupled with the processor. The method includes receiving and transforming a location signal for a portal and transmitting an access request for said portal upon successful pattern recognition upon a threshold indicia of proximity to said portal.
In an embodiment, the device includes at least one geolocation circuit. The method includes selecting among multiple credentials and matching available credentials stored in the communications device to the portal at which the user is attempting to gain access upon receiving a geographic location signal within a range of a portal.
In an embodiment, the device has at least one Wi-Fi radio circuit. The method includes receiving a location signal based on Wi-Fi SSID and selecting among multiple credentials as required to match available credentials stored in the communications device to the portal at which the user is attempting to gain access.
In an embodiment, the device includes at least one Bluetooth radio circuit. The method includes determining a location signal based on Bluetooth beacons and selecting among multiple credentials as required to match available credentials stored in the communications device to the portal at which the user is attempting to gain access.
In an embodiment, a method for operation of a mobile device for physical access control includes: determining proximity to a controlled portal; enabling a pattern recognition circuit; receiving a success indicia from the pattern recognition circuit; and authenticating with the controlled portal.
In an embodiment, receiving a success indicia from the pattern recognition circuit includes: matching a stored number of impulses measured by an accelerometer.
In an embodiment, receiving a success indicia from the pattern recognition circuit includes: matching a stored sequence of impulses measured by an accelerometer.
In an embodiment, receiving a success indicia from the pattern recognition circuit includes: matching a stored combination of impulses separated by slow and quick intervals measured by an accelerometer.
In an embodiment, receiving a success indicia from the pattern recognition circuit includes: matching a stored sequence of vectors measured by an accelerometer from bumping the device.
In an embodiment, receiving a success indicia from the pattern recognition circuit includes: matching a stored sequence of vectors measured by an accelerometer in shaking the device.
In an embodiment, receiving a success indicia from the pattern recognition circuit includes: matching a stored sequence of vectors measured by an accelerometer in waving the device.
In an embodiment, receiving a success indicia from the pattern recognition circuit includes: matching a stored sequence of vectors measured by an accelerometer when tapping the device against a door, wall, or table.
In an embodiment, receiving a success indicia from the pattern recognition circuit includes: matching a stored sequence of vectors measured by an accelerometer when translating the device through 6 dimensions.
The aspects of the invention are clearly distinguishable from conventional solutions that depend on mobile Bluetooth transmitters and receivers.
The aspects of the invention are clearly distinguishable from conventional solutions that depend on a fixed Bluetooth appliance for each door.
In an embodiment, the sensor package comprises at least one accelerometer; and the pattern recognition circuit triggers on an irregular sequence of impulses separated by at least one interval of time. In an embodiment, the pattern recognition circuit triggers on a curvilinear sequence of acceleration vectors.
The present invention improves the ease of use of physical access control system by allowing intuitive operation of a phone as a door knocker on or in the vicinity of a controlled portal. In an embodiment, a communication device is a wearable “hands-free” device, and a sensor is a microphone to transform sound energy.
A pattern recognition circuit recognizes DTMF tones, voice, whistling, humming, spoken words, and knocks on a door, wall, or table in the geolocation vicinity of the controlled portal.
In an embodiment, a communication device is a wearable “hands-free” device, and a sensor is a camera to transform images.
A pattern recognition circuit recognizes infrared light pulses, a QR code attached to the door, masking and unmasking the sensor to light, a particular combination of e-m frequencies (colors or invisible spectra).
In an embodiment, geolocation is obtained by triangulation of signal strengths from a plurality of femto cell transmitters and/or Wi-Fi access points.
The techniques described herein can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or in computer hardware, firmware, software, or in combinations of them. The techniques can be implemented as a computer program product, i.e., a computer program tangibly embodied in a non-transitory information carrier, e.g., in a machine-readable storage device, for execution by, or to control the operation of, data processing apparatus, e.g., a programmable processor, a computer, or multiple computers. A computer program can be written in any form of programming language, including compiled or interpreted languages, and it can be deployed in any form, including as a stand-alone program or as a module, component, subroutine, or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment. A computer program can be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiple computers at one site or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communication network.
Method steps of the techniques described herein can be performed by one or more programmable processors executing a computer program to perform functions of the invention by operating on input data and generating output. Method steps can also be performed by, and apparatus of the invention can be implemented as, special purpose logic circuitry, e.g., an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit). Modules can refer to portions of the computer program and/or the processor/special circuitry that implements that functionality.
Processors suitable for the execution of a computer program include, by way of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors, and any one or more processors of any kind of digital computer. Generally, a processor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory or a random-access memory or both. The essential elements of a computer are a processor for executing instructions and one or more memory devices for storing instructions and data. Generally, a computer will also include, or be operatively coupled to receive data from or transfer data to, or both, one or more mass storage devices for storing data, e.g., magnetic, magneto-optical disks, or optical disks. Information carriers suitable for embodying computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, e.g., EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; internal hard disks or removable disks. The processor and the memory can be supplemented by, or incorporated in special purpose logic circuitry.
Processor 100 further comprises a random-access memory (RAM), or other dynamic storage device 104 (referred to as main memory) coupled to bus 111 for storing information and instructions to be executed by processor 112. Main memory 104 also may be used for storing temporary variables or other intermediate information during execution of instructions by processor core 112.
Processor 100 also comprises a read only memory (ROM) and/or other static storage device 106 coupled to bus 111 for storing static information and instructions for processor core 112, and a non-transitory data storage device 107, such as a magnetic storage device or flash memory and its associated control circuits. Data storage device 107 is coupled to bus 111 for storing information and instructions.
Processor 100 may further be coupled to a display device 121 such a flat panel display, coupled to bus 111 for displaying information to a computer user. Voice recognition, optical sensor, motion sensor, microphone, keyboard, touch screen input, and pointing devices 123 may be attached to bus 111 or a network interface (wired or wireless) 125 for communicating selections and command and data input to processor core 112.
It is understood that the processor may be embedded within other circuits of the system as an embodiment of an ARM core or equivalent or as a virtual machine within a multi-core server.
A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, other network topologies may be used. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 15816837 | Nov 2017 | US |
| Child | 16167296 | US |
