Patent Application
20100265034
This invention relates to an automatic access system which does not require any initiation by the person or vehicle approaching a portal such as a door or barrier.
Most portal/access opening systems for vehicles or persons require the user to:
RFID (Radio Frequency Identification Device) tags and devices can provide information about the identity of the RFID carrier. For example: RFID Tags and RFID Contact-less Smart Cards.
Automatic door opening systems are usually indiscriminate and open when a person or vehicle enters near the range of the proximity sensor. RFID (Radio Frequency Identification Device) tags can provide information about the identity of the RFID carrier but there is no means for determining the intent of the user. U.S. Pat. No. 5,990,828A discloses a garage door opener transmitter system that includes a sensor for determining the relative direction of the garage door opener receiver. The direction of the receiver may be determined based upon a compass and the direction of travel of the vehicle at the time the signal is transmitted. The garage door opener transmitter system transmits a focused wireless signal in a calculated relative direction of the garage door opener receiver. The garage door opener transmitter system includes a sensor for determining a relative direction between the transmitter and the receiver and a beam steerer for directing the signal from the transmitter in the relative direction.
In road toll collection systems RFID transponders are used to identify vehicles. U.S. Pat. No. 6,219,613 discloses a vehicle position determination system for determining the position of a moving vehicle having a transponder includes a first and second antennas operable to receive periodic radio frequency data signals from the transponder when the transponder is moving through a first or second predetermined coverage zone, respectively. The first and second coverage zones partially overlap and each have a width that is orthogonal to the travel path of the moving vehicle and a length that is parallel to the travel path of the moving vehicle. A processor counts the number of periodic data signals received by each of the antennas from the transponder during a time period and determines based on the count a probable location of the vehicle.
There is a need for a hands free, active, Radio frequency (Rf) location-evaluating device, that will allow secure entry through a portal.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,476,732 discloses an automatic garage door operating system using GPS system in the vehicle to indicate to the door control system the proximity of the vehicle.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,071,813 uses barrier control which transmits status signals and a mobile remote controller that uses the status signal to determine the distance between the barrier and the remote control for use in generating barrier opening and closing decisions.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,205,908 discloses proximity control for a barrier in which a mobile transmitter is used with a stationary receiver, associated with a barrier controller, having a limited reception range and the transmitter is programmed to send identification data.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,226,9416 discloses an activation signal which includes a radio frequency (Rf) carrier signal modulated with a code word in a event initiated rolling code format for door/boom gate activation use. A vehicle mounted controller stores the received radio frequency (Rf) carrier signals and receives user input identifying an activation scheme having a rolling codeword format. The controller selects a variable codeword based on the identified activation scheme, selects one of the stored carrier signals and controls the transmitter to transmit an activation signal having the selected carrier signal modulated with the generated rolling code in response to the user input.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,310,043 discloses a controller associated with at least one access barrier and a transceiver associated with the controller for transmitting and receiving operational signals. The system includes at least one proximity device capable of communicating operational signals with the transceiver based upon a position of the proximity device with respect to the barrier and/or the operational status of a vehicle carrying the proximity device.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,170,426 uses a directional antenna and signal strength to determine if a vehicle is entering or leaving and actuates the door appropriately. The proximity of the remote antenna is determined by the signal strength that it ‘sees’ coming from the base antenna. This system is unable to distinguish objects in a queue, because all signals will be summed. This system is unable to determine the position of cars or persons in a queue and is limited to handshaking with one remote unit per portal pass. Further this system is unable to operate within a building because of the serious reflections produced by:
It is an object of this invention to provide a hands free, active, Radio frequency (Rf) location-evaluating device, that will allow secure entry through a portal.
To this end the present invention provides a method of automatically operating a portal and access thereto by determining the intention of an approaching or receding carrier by providing a portable communication device for said carrier and a base unit associated with the control system for said portal in which the power levels between transmission and reception events are varied to determine change in proximity between the base unit and the carrier as an indication of intent to open or close the portal.
Preferably the vehicle carries the portable communication device (condition unit). Preferably the operator of the carrier (if applicable) carries a cluster identification unit to identify the carrier and operator and/or operators/persons associated with the carrier. Communication between the control unit and the condition unit is encrypted to provide a secure system.
The cluster unit (embodied as a portable communication device) is asynchronously in encrypted communication with the said carrier communication device (the condition unit). The said communication between the two devices is prerequisite and essential for successful encrypted communication to occur between the carrier communication device (condition unit) and the control unit.
The Cluster Unit carried by the operator offers a novel system of cluster identification. Enhancing and simplifying security, by enabling the addressing of: Carrier ID together with a group of operators and their ID, as an associated cluster. The system of this invention does not suffer from any of the problems produced by reflections because the signal strength in this invention is kept to a minimum (eg indoors the range will be max @ ˜1.5 meters), negating reflections. The system of this invention is a micro processor controlled field ranging and attenuation system well suited for building interiors (ie a surgeon with sterilized hands walking into a secure room will not have to touch the door and yet pass with security). Through a series of events occurring between a control (base) unit and a carrier, the system of this invention places restraints on the specific variance, either synchronously or independently, of the antenna transmission and reception areas of the said control (base) unit and carrier, so that the simple occurrence of successful communication will indicate the position of the carrier.
The system of this invention easily distinguishes order in a queue so that it can intuitively open boom gates. The system is keyless and requires no actuation by the vehicle operator or person approaching the door.
Preferably the invention incorporates automatic ranging of both transmit and receive signals of a fixed position transceiver and at least one moving (carried) transceiver. The carried transceiver can be electrically/bio-metrically connected/linked to the said carrier and have access to the running state/CPU/alarm/immobilization system and ID of the said carrier. The operator of the carrier (if existing) also carries a transceiver unit which has stored in its memory the ID of the operator.
In the vehicle field of use the operator transceiver (cluster unit) must communicate securely with the carrier transceiver (condition unit) for successful communication to occur with the fixed position transceiver (control unit). Note that the cluster unit and condition unit are configured differently in other fields of use.
This fundamental system design has the capacity for across the board secure access control with practical ‘user friendly’ installation and operation in many diverse fields of use.
This self-sufficient system can be viewed as contained wholly within an inertial frame and equally functional if it were installed wholly on (or within) a transporter to enable access control within said transporter. For example access control on (or within) a transport vehicle such a bus, train or ship. The system of this invention, is a self-contained, secure and self-regulating functional access system that can be also be nested within an identical but larger system.
Auto ranging the reception and transmission areas of an antenna, synchronized/controlled by a micro Processor (uP), creates a novel avenue of application not only in the area of personal, logistic and carrier access, but in larger defined access perimeters of the normalized capability of the Rf irradiated area of a single control unit, or in combination(s)/array(s) of a plurality of control units.
The Condition (or Remote) Unit is carried by a carrier. The stationary Control Unit transmits a short range radio frequency (Rf) signal query which, when within range, is received by the Condition (or Remote) Unit.
Applied digital variance of the interactive antenna transmissive (Tx) and receptive (Rx) areas, dynamically alters the workable communication area between two transceivers. By minimizing the communication area, the proximity and therefore position of the condition unit relative to the control unit can be deduced, outwardly appearing as a decoding of the intent of the carrier/operator. This system can be implemented as a Rf ranging ID entry system, for commercial, non-commercial and personal use.
In the vehicle entry field of use: A more secure system is realized if the Condition Unit is paired with a Cluster Unit (embodied within a key fob attached to the vehicle entry key) and then, set up such that on the loss of encrypted communication with the Cluster Unit, the function of the Condition Unit will be disabled. In this arrangement, both units in paired proximity and in verified encrypted communication are needed to access the Control Unit which in turn controls the portal.
In another aspect this invention provides an automatic actuation system which includes at least one base unit with the ability to be wirelessly paired with a plurality of remote movable units, each unit including
By using the appropriate antenna type combination (ie omni directional, directional etc), together with intelligent digital controlling of the broadcast radiation field pattern of the paired antenna(s), the intent of the user can be further refined.
This system can also be easily implemented in other fields of use such as a contact-less RFID entry system, for commercial, non-commercial and personal use.
The system has been designed to operate in the ISM 2.4 GHz band, however similar techniques based on the said system can be applied to any bandwidth. The base unit preferably incorporates with a keypad and LCD Screen for data input and device set up and has
The remote unit preferably has a separate uni-directional or more preferably a separate omni-directional antenna that can be attenuated via a digital switch and also has
The remote unit may be optionally paired with a hidden (within the same vehicle) proximity unit and on loss of encrypted communication with this unit, will auto delete its entire memory. This is to prevent a stolen remote unit being used to illegally access a portal.
This invention is particularly useful in the secure active RFID access and control with optional tracking and physical and or electronic mobilization/immobilization of:
As part of the initial communication handshaking between devices, every device on initiation receives a system wide activation key, for initial access of the device to the system, after the first interaction with the system the activation key is replaced with a device specific TDES key and that is recorded by the Control Unit in a table, as temporally associated with the Device ID. The IDES Key is updated on every communication event with the device. The activation key is only used to initiate the system, if more devices need to be added to the system a new activation key for just those devices will be implemented and that key will also be superseded (updated) on the first device communication event by a TDES Key update.
The constant update of keys is imperative to the security of the system, any lingering keys could be possible access points.
The Control Unit has a database of paired device ID's and a running history of sufficient recent TDES Key updates for operational purposes.
Defined as a single and/or double portal set up as a combined entry/exit portal (or a portal for each single entry and exit). Examples are: garages, corridors, cool rooms, store rooms, passageways or tunnels.
Defined as a person, robot, machine, vehicle, animal, body or object that either transports from one place to another or carries and has attached either or both of the Condition or Cluster Unit;
Defined as the ID of the carrier associated with the ID of each authorized operator. All these associated ID's are then concatenated into one Cluster ID, saving large database access times. For example: A Cluster ID of a passenger laden vehicle engaged in a border crossing, would be the Compliance plate ID of the vehicle, associated (concatenated) with the ID of all the passengers of that vehicle authorized for the border crossing. This together with a biometric/visual ID of the passengers and the vehicle, would constitute verification of the passenger and vehicle as a group.
Defined as the specific area within the bounds of the designated Cluster Unit's Rf transmission and reception area.
Defined as an acronym (when applied to queues): First In First Out. Meaning that the first in the queue will be processed first and be first out of the queue.
Defined as an acronym (when applied to queues): First In Last Out. Meaning that the first in the queue will stay in the queue and the oldest will be discarded from the queue.
In the Mass Transit field of use, a Global Key is used to securely identify all of the Cluster Units embedded within the turnstiles to the Condition Unit (carried by the carrier [person] as a ticketing device), to enable secure access to any turnstile chosen by the carrier.
The Control unit will asynchronously trigger a Global Key update based on a set period and an communication event after, but near the expiry of the said period (that way it will be difficult to predict when an update will exactly occur).
The Control Unit incorporates a database of device ID's and a running history of sufficient recent standard TDES and Global TDES Key updates for operational purposes.
Defined as one or more Condition Units paired to a group of (ie: one or more) Cluster Units.
Defined as the process of digital signal interchange by which two digital devices or systems jointly establish communications.
Defined as restricting the operation of a carrier via electronic means. This may be through an existing carrier, onboard alarm and immobilization system and/or through immobilization of the carrier CPU or any other electronic controller.
ISM 2.4 GHz band:
Defined as the 13 cm frequency band of width 2.4-2.45 GHz, specified for Industrial Scientific and Medical use.
Key verification and update is triggered (by the initial handshaking) on every inter unit communication event.
It is defined as the process where:
The newly generated TDES Key is encrypted with the old TDES Key and sent by the Principal Unit to the Responding Unit which, responds by decrypting the new TDES Key via the old TDES Key and encrypts the old TDES Key with the new TDES Key and sends the old TDES Key encrypted with the New TDES Key back to the Principal Unit as a verification.
Defined as a disproportionate attenuation of the Tx and Rx field radiation pattern of two transceivers where one transceiver is set up with an attenuated Tx field and unattenuated Rx field and the other is set up with an attenuated Rx field and unattenuated Tx field, such that communication can occur between the two devices.
Defined as the process of setting up a standard entry procedure by configuring the entry parameters.
Defined as the driver/controller (if existing) of the carrier.
Defined as any device that controls movement or physical access, via entry or exit from a specific entrance or the perimeter of a specific area.
Physical examples are single: doors, roll up and tilt up doors, horizontal and vertically articulated doors, swing, flap, folding and vertical rising doors or gates, radial or sliding gates, moveable barriers, articulated barriers, articulated boom and boom gates, etc.
For increased security a series of double (or multiple) portals can be used, with a requirement that:
Only one of the portals is allowed to be opened during movement or physical access through the (Double/Multiple Portal) system.
Non physical examples use the entry or exit of:
Defined as the specific area within the bounds of the designated portal perimeter;
Defined as the Unit initiating the request for paired encrypted communication which includes an encryption key update, as well as: ID data, carrier ID status, Carrier Data, Biometric Data, etc.
Defined as the process of digital radio frequency signal interchange, by which two digital radio frequency devices or systems jointly establish communications.
Defined as Radio Frequency IDentification
Defined as the Reception field.
Defined as one or more Cluster Units paired to a singular Condition Unit
The Control unit is a state of the art transceiver and preferably incorporates:
Defined as a state of the art transceiver carried by the carrier (see definition) and preferably incorporates:
In the vehicle field of use: The antenna could be placed freestanding on the dash board or fixed to or embedded within the windscreen or embedded in the visor, rear vision mirror, dashboard or other suitable locations on the body of the vehicle. In other fields of use the condition unit may be incorporated in a mobile phone, enabling the said mobile phone as an access device. The said condition unit may also incorporate a USB receptacle for data exchange and/or battery charging.
Defined as a state of the art transceiver carried also by the carrier or operator. In the vehicle entry field of use:
The Cluster unit is embodied within a key fob attached to/or as part of the vehicle entry key carried by the carrier. Preferably the battery of the said cluster unit as part of the entry key will be automatically charged on/while the said entry key is engaged in the ignition.
One of the several benefits of adding the cluster unit to the system, is its capability to prevent a stolen condition unit functioning after removal from the vehicle. Other beneficial attributes are:
Defined as an acronym of the Triple Data Encryption Standard (TDES) system. The triple-DES system uses a well documented process using two 56-bit DES keys (totaling 192-bits of encryption) at different times during separate encrypt, decrypt and re-encrypt operations.
Defined as the transmission field.
Defined as a disproportionate attenuation of the Tx and Rx field radiation pattern of a transceiver so that the Tx field is attenuated disproportionally more than the Rx field of the transceiver.
Defined as a disproportionate attenuation of the Tx and Rx field radiation pattern of a transceiver so that the Rx field is attenuated disproportionally more than the Tx field of the transceiver.
uP:
Defined as the micro-processor
Defined as the long range detection area of the Control Unit (outside zone 2) for detection of both the Condition Unit and the Cluster Unit (see
Defined as the short range detection area of the Control Unit for detection of both the Condition Unit and the Cluster Unit. In the vehicle entry field of use: The case of garaged vehicular access zone 2 would be the garaging (vehicle parking) area (see
A number of embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings in which:
The major components of the system of this invention are the control unit and the condition units.
The Control unit includes:
The Condition Unit includes:
If one of the antennas is stationary and the other moving and:
An accurate position/location of the moving antenna can be established to be somewhere within the overlapping transmission fields of both antennas. Reducing the transmission range of either antenna will increase the accuracy of this position/locating system.
In the garage entry field of use:
The Control Unit will be housed in the garage (often called the Garage Unit) and
The Condition Unit will be carried by a vehicle (often called the Remote/Car Unit).
The Cluster Unit will be carried by the operator of the vehicle (often called the Proximity/Key fob Unit).
As part of the initial communication handshaking between devices, every device on initiation receives a system wide activation key, for initial access of the device to the system, after the first interaction with the system the activation key is replaced with a device specific TDES key and that is recorded by the Control Unit in a table, as temporally associated with the Device ID. The TDES Key is updated on every communication event with the device.
The Control Unit has in its database a table of the paired carriers/operators with ID's and a running history of sufficient TDES Key updates for operational and contingency purposes. Each Responding Unit (ie: all units) also incorporate a running history table (database) of sufficient TDES Key updates. The TDES Keys are placed in a communication TDES Key stack (the number of registers depending on the required security). When a new TDES Key is generated it is placed on top of the stack forcing the older TDES Keys down a level in the stack, discarding the displaced bottom TDES Key (FILO system).
The Control Unit (as the Principal Unit) generates the 192 bit encryption key and checks:
If the new key passes the above tests, the Control Unit encrypts this new key with the old key and sends the encrypted message to the responding unit (either Condition or Cluster). The responding unit decrypts the new key with the old key and sends the old key encrypted with the new key as a validation of the key update procedure (
Key update events occur:
For the vehicle/garage entry field of use: The Control Unit will need to be normalized so as transmission will occur in zone 1 (
Note that: The Condition Unit will mimic the field setup of the Control Unit on entry into zone 1 (
The installer (or user) will set up the garage unit by:
The activation of the auto ranging function, will, in normalization mode auto range the Control Unit's antenna field strength in increasing digital steps until handshaking is attained with the Condition Unit.
This process will:
For the vehicle/garage entry field of use:
The Rf antenna used with the Control Unit (0605) is a directional antenna preferably a Patch Antenna, but other directional antennas can be used for example: a Yagi or Periodic Antenna.
The Control Unit (0605) antenna has been set up (normalized) for a user defined optimal Tx (0601) (
The radiation patterns are offset for illustration purposes only and in reality are co-aligned along their major axes sourcing at the control unit (0605).
The Rf radiation patterns Tx (0603) and Rx (0607) fields of the Condition Unit (0609) in the vehicle (0606) are both unattenuated.
The fields Tx (0603) (
In the case of an approaching vehicle (0606) carrying a Condition Unit (0609) as in
The Control Unit (
When the Condition Unit (0609) is in transmission range (within zone 1 as illustrated in
Note: The software flow diagrams (
In
In
In
In
Those skilled in the art will realize that other fields of use will require specific modifications to these flow diagrams as indicated in their respective descriptions.
Control Unit Encryption Key Generation
After establishing the handshake protocol, the Control unit then generates a new encryption key. The Control Unit then tests the new key for strength (some keys are easily hacked) and uniqueness (checking if the generated key has been used before) see
The operational software has been designed to be universal and will operate on almost all physical portals, each Control Unit will be initialized with a code for the portal type that it operates. Checkpoint 1606 (
For the vehicle/garage entry field of use, Boom Gate Option: Both of the Rf antenna fields of the Control and Condition Units are attenuated (
Note: Alarm systems may include other options like vehicle alarm activation or in the extreme case: vehicle immobilization (
Note also: In the field of use of: Mass Transit, secure access control, the obstruction sensors are deactivated as obstructions will be people without authorized ticketing and are directed away from the portal (
Double sequential Portals are a more secure option and use the same principles as multiple sequential gates (see Multiple Single Gate Sequential Entry System).
If the checkpoint (
For a Force Close Command, again authorization has occurred, the Garage Portal area directly under the Garage Portal itself, is continually scanned for the presence of obstructions (ie: including the passing of the vehicle) and will remain open until the obstruction(s) are cleared. The Garage Portal is also only allowed to close for a fixed time period (
If checkpoint (
This checkpoint outcome coupled with the status of two other checkpoints:
If checkpoint (
If checkpoint (
To deduce which of the above options the operator of the vehicle has chosen, the system requires the operator when setting up the Control Unit (see Control Unit Initialization for details), to enter a preferred delay period ranging from 0 to 60 Seconds, into the operating preferences of the Control Unit Software. The operator may choose the zero second option and have instant response to entering the portal within zone 1, in this case, the operator may always need immediate entry to the garage on arrival into zone 1.
If this is not always the case and the operator requires to sometimes park the vehicle in front of the garage, without opening the portal. The system has been set up, so that, on entering zone 1, the operator will have a preset time to turn off the ignition of the vehicle, park the vehicle and remain in front of the portal without it being opened. On arrival into zone 1, a count down timer will activate (FIGS. 16,1613), and a continuous monitoring cycle of the ignition status will begin (
The first is where the ignition is turned off (
Note: The force open command will require a re-establishment of vehicle authorization.
The second is to wait for the count down timer to expire. When this happens the portal is opened and vehicle is authorized to enter the garage.
After the garage portal is opened, there is a fixed time delay (
After entering the garage, the system will check if sentry mode has been set up as a preference (
On exiting the cycle the sentry flags are reset to low. Sentry mode is designed to put an electronic leash between the Control Unit and the Condition Unit, and specifically is an anti theft initiative. If the vehicle is physically moved out of the Sentry Tx and Rx range warning alarms are automatically engaged by the system (
Note: Alarm systems (
Vehicle Garaged without Sentry Mode
If sentry mode has not been chosen as a preference, then the system will go to checkpoint:
If the Vehicle is parked within the garage, ignition turn on will restart the Control Unit Procedure, regardless if the vehicle was or was not in sentry mode. As the Cluster Unit is within range (see Cluster Unit Details), authorization of the Vehicle, Control Unit type and the various flags (
After installation and power up of the Control Unit, the operating system will request the setting up of preferences by the user. The table below summarizes the preference type, setting and setting method.
In the garage entry field of use:
The Condition Unit will be carried in the vehicle (often called the Car Unit). This unit will have at least one variable input line connected to the electrical system of the vehicle, specifically to monitor the state of the ignition, other vehicle system variables can also be implemented and monitored if required.
In the garage entry field of use:
The encryption key update procedure is specific to each set of paired units and therefore each pair of units has its own unique key.
For the Control and Condition Unit pair communication, the Control Unit (as the principal unit) generates the 192 bit encryption key, updates and verifies the key and sends the key to the Condition Unit (
For the Condition and Cluster Unit pair communication, the Condition Unit (as the principal unit) generates the 192 bit encryption key, updates and verifies the key and sends the key to the Cluster Unit (
The Condition Unit will listen for a query from the Control Unit. Once handshaking with the Control Unit has been established and the ID verified through encrypted communication between the two units, the Condition Unit checks if there is a command from the Control Unit to discontinue the polling of the Cluster Unit (
Cluster Unit Polling from the Condition Unit
If there is no command to stop the polling, the system initiates a count down timer (
If there is a command to stop the polling then the system stops the countdown process (as it is not needed any more) and moves to checkpoint
Checkpoint
For Multiple paired Cluster Units, the checkpoints
The Condition Unit at this checkpoint (
Checkpoint
Checkpoints
Checkpoint
Checkpoints
In the garage entry field of use:
The Cluster Unit will be attached to the vehicle key fob (often called the Key Fob Unit). This unit will have the capability to force close or open the garage portal, by sending encrypted command(s) to the Control Unit.
The Cluster Unit is the only unit that requests a secure encryption key update to be sent to it from the paired Control Unit.
In the mass transit field of use:
Since there is a plurality of Condition Units, the Cluster Unit requests the encryption key of the paired Condition Unit and returns the new key and its physical and electronic ID to the Condition Unit encrypted with its old key. The Condition Unit re-transmits this communication to the Control Unit.
The Cluster Unit has a very simple operating procedure, either it is executing a force command to the Control Unit (
To conserve the battery life of the unit all possible intensive calculations have been delegated to the other units.
In the case of a force command issued to the Control Unit, The Cluster Unit will establish handshaking with the Control Unit. The Control Unit via the physical ID of the said Cluster Unit will identify its type and proceed to send a new key update (
All force commands have priority over all other processes and must be executed immediately when authorized.
In the case no force command, the Cluster Unit waits for a key update request from the Condition Unit. A successful update (
The Group Mode deployment of the Cluster Unit is mainly directed to the secure access control of mass transit of people for example: Ticketing, Border Crossing international Airport traffic.
Group Mode entails a secure multi tasking program kernel that runs the Control Unit, Condition Unit and Cluster Unit software with a plurality of Condition Units and a fixed number of Cluster Units embedded into turnstiles (
The difference between the singular procedure and the group procedure is in the encryption key update transfer to the Cluster Units.
The multi tasking program kernel will have access to secure online databases of the carriers of the Condition Units, for ID authentication and verification. The said program kernel will also have access to a database of all of the embedded Cluster Unit ID and currently assigned TDES and Global TDES encryption keys.
The Control Unit as a base station transceiver with its mains power connection and the capability of linking to other Control Units has the capacity to define secure areas and their perimeters. This is achieved by the physical positioning of single Control Units for small areas or many Control Units for large areas and the union of their collective antenna directivities.
The Control Unit has its own memory, it can pair to other Control Units, it has access to external databases and is able to securely communicate with the Condition Unit.
The Condition Unit is a transceiver powered from the carrier and/or on board power supply, it can pair to other Control Units, it also has its own memory and has the capacity of electronic interactivity with the carrier. This allows the monitoring and control of specific carrier systems. With a biological/biometric/electrical interface the monitoring could apply to all bio-species as well as any electronic/robotic device.
The Cluster Unit has an onboard rechargeable battery system and/or mains power. It has limited memory reserved for its: ID Code, Carrier ID, Paired ID etc., as well as a secure proximity capability with the Condition Unit.
The Cluster Unit can pair to the Control Unit as well as the Condition Unit, which when in proximity, enables secure communication between the Control and the Condition Unit. The Cluster Unit also has the capability to force command the Control Unit.
Academically the Cluster Unit is considered to not be needed in single portal (blind) corridors (eg:
The area controlled by Control Unit 2307, has four exits of which two are specified (
When the Control Unit is within proximity of the specifically paired Cluster Unit, the process of authentication and identification identifies the portal and the entry process is initiated.
Another aspect of multiple portal control is illustrated by
In this field of use we have the Cluster Units embedded in the turnstiles and in communication with the Control unit on a controlled attenuation basis, where the turnstiles are situated near the perimeter of the portal area of the Control Unit. The main function of the embedded Cluster Unit, is to securely detect and inform the Control Unit of the presence of the Condition Unit(s) in proximity of the Cluster Area.
The TDES Key updates of the turnstiles (embedded Cluster Units) are transit event based and occur during the ID and fiscal verification of the Condition Unit (note: The global updates occur separately).
The Condition Unit is embedded within a form factor similar to the commonly used (swipe) entry card that is in general use at present (but a little thicker) and carried by the carrier, in this case a person.
On immediate entry of the Condition Unit to the portal area (
More Specifically the Control Unit:
Note also: This process will need access to a specifically designed transit database and depending on the size and speed of the system, access times may take a few seconds.
The purpose of the disproportionate fields is:
The Control Unit will:
All Cluster Units will have disproportionally attenuated Tx and Rx fields in normal communication with the Condition Units.
This is illustrated in
Unattenuated communication with the Control Unit will only be used during:
The Condition Unit when in proximity to the Cluster Unit will communicate with the said Cluster Unit via the disproportionate fields and after ID validation and fiscal verification with the Control Unit via the Cluster Unit, the carrier will be allowed passage through the portal.
More Specifically the Cluster Unit will:
If the passage to/from the actual transit system requires further portal (Cluster Unit) access/thoroughfare, the disproportionate field mode of the Condition Unit will remain enabled.
The attenuated disproportionate field mode of the Condition Unit will be reset when the carrier passes through the specific transit exit turnstile.
For a larger transit volume through put, the length of the foyer can be constructed such that the walking time across the foyer is longer than the database query/encrypted communication/access time of the system.
An illustration of a foyer (portal area) and turnstile (cluster) area (
By the time the carrier has entered the turnstile cluster area through the initial gate (
This system can be generally applied to any application requiring secure access control of a plurality of carriers through a multi gate portal perimeter (
The Condition Unit in the Mass Transit field of use can also incorporate the on board function of the Cluster Unit in the Car Entry Field of use. Diversifying the versatility, applications and practicality of two systems into a marriage between transit and personal access. Amalgamations with other fields of use are also possible. Commercial Boom/Sliding/Swing Gate Application
If we define:
These combined settings are defined as mode 2 settings.
and
These combined settings are defined as mode 3 settings.
The Control Units (
As a vehicle (
Note: Boom and garage systems are singular mode systems and do not require the Cluster Unit Operation once secure authentication has been established. The Control Unit issues a discontinue polling command to the Condition Unit (
In the case of a carrier approaching a boom gate on both sides of the road traveling in opposing directions as illustrated in
Each of the four gates are physically identical in physical set up, except for the ground loops (1212) in gates 1, 2 and 3, which gate four does not have. The dotted lines between the Control Units indicate other blind gates controlled by Cluster Units.
In the application of a in building car park for example, one Control Unit would be assigned to each floor and the Cluster units would be assigned for secure access control of the assigned individual client parking areas.
Gate 1 (1216) is different from the other gates, in that it is the only gate with the client database access. This includes: The ID of the client, Condition Unit ID, and the specific gate path to the said client's reserved parking area.
Note: All this information is entered into the Control Unit of gate 1, via its keyboard or securely through an external computer.
On set up (and subsequent updates) of the system the Control Unit of Gate 1, will update the databases of the other Control Units in the system together with a systemic (global) encryption key update.
On detection and subsequent authentication/verification of a Condition Unit, the Control Unit of Gate 1, passes on the necessary encrypted ID parameters to the other synchronized units (wired in series), together with the global encryption key update.
Gate 2 (1213) has the typical capabilities and/or components (as all other gates: from
If all paired Control Units have the ID and access codes of all authorized Condition Units they can act independently without breaching the security.
The operation of the multiple gate system is similar to the mass transit system, except that the implementation is at a much smaller scale.
After authentication and verification of the incoming Condition Unit, the Control Unit will securely (globally) download onto the other inline Control Units and transmit to the said Condition Unit the updated keys and ID of the Control Units and Cluster Units along the path up to and including the final portal (at the designated parking area of the client). As the carrier proceeds to the designated parking area, the Condition Unit carried by the carrier remains in encrypted communication with the closest Control Unit by updating/validating on every communication event, with all of the Cluster Units (when within communication range) located on the designated path through to and including the final Portal. Once entering the gate system, the antenna attenuation is not reset and mode 3 (
Exit from the complex can be either automatic or secure, the gates are opened by ground loop sensors or with by visual ID through the tenants' permission. The available depth of security (ie security level), is be determined by the Complex Management Committee.
Summary of the advantages of this Invention
From the above, those skilled in the art will realize that this invention differs from previous attempts in:
From the above, those skilled in the art will realise that this invention differs from previous attempts in:
The incorporation of the additional outcome(s) of:
The invention becomes a practical, active, intuitive, multi-field, secure portal access control system, with a plethora of applications, where entry is controlled by the intent of the user;
The system can be overridden (if needed) via push button selection;
Those skilled in the art will realise that the present invention may be implemented in embodiments other than those described without departing from the core teachings of the invention. The system may be adapted for use in a wide range of applications and can be designed and shaped to fit the requirements of the desired application(s).
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007901807 | Apr 2007 | AU | national |
| 2008900930 | Feb 2008 | AU | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/AU08/00473 | 4/4/2008 | WO | 00 | 6/10/2010 |
