Facility and resource access system

• US 10,185,921 B1
• Filed: 12/27/2016
• Issued: 01/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Good2Go, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Good2Go, Inc.
• Inventors: Heller, Frances, Bonnet, Nicolas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Mirza
• Application Number:
  US15/391,242
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0095 Mechanical aspects of locks controlled by telephone signals, e.g. by mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/0035 for privacy rooms, e.g. bathrooms
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2011/04 related to queuing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00904 for hotels, motels, office buildings or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/21 having a variable access code
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/38 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A system that allows an end-user to locate and gain access to a private facility, such as a restroom or other resource, without requiring that the end-user interact with any facility personnel. A mobile application allows a user to identify and proceed to a location where a private facility is available. When a user arrives at the location, the mobile application communicates with access control devices at the location to notify facility personnel of the user'"'"'s presence and unlock doors or otherwise remove safeguards preventing general public access to the private facility.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

(a) an access control device configured to provide selective access to a resource, wherein the resource is a private facility;

(b) a server configured to store a resource queue, wherein the server is communicatively coupled with the access control device; and

(c) a user interface operable to provide a set of instructions that is executable by a processor, wherein the user interface is configured to be installed on a user device;

wherein the server is configured to;

(i) receive a user selection from the user device indicating a user'"'"'s intent to access the resource,

(ii) add the user to the resource queue,

(iii) cause the user interface to display an indicator of the user'"'"'s position in the resource queue, and

(iv) cause the user interface to display an indicator that the user is at the front of the resource queue; and

wherein the access control device is configured to;

(i) receive an electronic signal indicating that the user is attempting to access the resource,

(ii) determine whether the user is physically present at the resource based upon the electronic signal, and

(iii) if the user is at the front of the resource queue and physically present at the resource, provide an indication to the user that the resource is accessible.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an automatic opener in communication with the access control device and a barrier preventing access to the resource, wherein the automatic opener is configured to move the barrier from a closed position that prevents access to the resource to an open position that allows access to the resource when the access control device provides the indication to the user that the resource is accessible.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the access control device is further configured to receive an electronic signal indicating that the user is currently accessing the resource and, in response, cause the automatic opener to move the barrier to the closed position that prevents access to the resource.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the server is in communication with a plurality of user devices, and wherein the server is further configured to:

(i) receive a priority access request from a requesting user, wherein the requesting user is present at a first position in the resource queue,

(ii) provide a request to allow priority access to a set of queued users, wherein the set of queued users are also present in the resource queue,

(iii) receive from a granting user, at a second position in the resource queue, via a granting user device, a priority access allowed notification,

(iv) move the requesting user to the second position and the granting user to the first position, and

(v) notify the requesting user and the granting user of the change in the resource queue;

wherein the second position is closer to the front of the resource queue than the first position.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user device is in a fixed location, wherein the fixed location is associated with a seat, wherein the electronic signal indicating that the user is attempting to access the resource comprises a seat identifier, and wherein the server is further configured to:

(i) when the user selection is received, identify the seat associated with the user device that the user selection originates from; and

(ii) provide the indication to the user that the resource is accessible only when the seat identifier matches the seat.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the access control device comprises an access input device located proximate to the resource, and wherein the seat identifier is determined based upon a user input to the access input device.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the user device comprises a seat-back display, and wherein the fixed location is a seat-back facing the seat.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the resource is a restroom on an airplane.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the access control device comprises a touch input and a display, wherein the touch input is configured to receive the electronic signal indicating that the user is attempting to access the resource, wherein the display is configured to provide the indication to the user that the resource is accessible, and wherein the access control device is located proximate to the resource.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein each user in the resource queue is associated with a seat identifier, wherein the touch input is configured to receive the seat identifier.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the server is configured to:

(i) receive an access control signal indicating that the resource should not be accessible, wherein the access control signal is associated with an event,

(ii) in response to the access signal, cause the user interface to display an indicator that the resource is not accessible due to the event, and

(iii) cause the access control device to not provide the indication to the user that the resource is accessible.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a sensor located proximate to the user device, wherein the sensor is configured to determine if the user is proximate to the user device, and wherein the server is further configured to:

(i) receive an indication from the sensor that the user is proximate to the user device, and

(ii) in response, remove the user from the front of the resource queue and cause the user interface to display an indicator that the user is no longer at the front of the resource queue.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a sensor located proximate to the resource, wherein the sensor is configured to determine if the user is proximate to the resource, and wherein the server is further configured to:

(i) receive an indication from the sensor that the user is proximate to the resource;

(ii) flag the resource as being in use;

(iii) receive an indication from the sensor that the user is no longer proximate to the resource; and

(iv) in response, remove the user from the front of the resource queue.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the access control device and resource are positioned within a portable structure, and wherein the portable structure is adapted to be temporarily placed at a location.

14. A method comprising the steps:

(a) receiving, at a server, a user selection from a user device indicating a user'"'"'s intent to access a resource, wherein the resource is a private facility, wherein the server is communicatively coupled with an access control device, and wherein the access control device is configured to provide selective access to the resource;

(b) adding the user to a resource queue, wherein the server is configured to store the resource queue;

(c) causing a user interface of a user device to display an indicator of the user'"'"'s position in the resource queue, wherein the user interface is operable to provide a set of instructions that is executable by a processor, and wherein the user interface is configured to be installed on the user device;

(d) causing the user interface to display an indicator that the user is at the front of the resource queue;

(e) receiving an electronic signal, at the access control device, indicating that the user is attempting to access the resource;

(f) determining whether the user is physically present at the resource based upon the electronic signal; and

(g) in response to the electronic signal, when the user is at the front of the resource queue and physically present at the resource, providing an indication to the user that the resource is accessible.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the user device is in a fixed location, wherein the fixed location is associated with a seat, wherein the electronic signal indicating that the user is attempting to access the resource comprises a seat identifier, the method further comprising the steps:

(a) after receiving the user selection, identifying the seat associated with the user device that the user selection originates from; and

(b) providing the indication to the user that the resource is accessible only when the seat identifier matches the seat.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the user device comprises a seat-back display, and wherein the fixed location is a seat-back facing the seat.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps:

(a) receiving an access control signal indicating that the resource should not be accessible, wherein the access control signal is associated with an event; and

(b) in response to receiving the access control signal, causing the user interface to display an indicator that the resource is not accessible due to the event.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps, after adding the user to the resource queue:

(a) receiving a manual access selection from a staff member via a staff device indicating a second user'"'"'s intent to access the resource;

(b) adding the second user to the resource queue behind the user;

(c) displaying, on a public display, a virtual queue visualization, the virtual queue visualization indicating a first user queue location for the user and a second user queue location for the second user;

(d) receiving a signal indicating that the user is no longer using the resource;

(e) updating the virtual queue visualization to indicate that the second user is at the front of the resource queue;

(f) receiving a manual access signal indicating that the second user is attempting to access the resource with a temporary access indicator; and

(g) in response to the manual access signal, providing an indication to the second user that the resource is accessible.

19. An apparatus comprising:

(a) an access control device located proximate to a resource within a structure, the access control device comprising a touch input and a display;

(b) a server located within the structure and configured to store a resource queue, wherein the server is communicatively coupled with the access control device, and the resource queue is configured to store the position of a plurality of users within the resource queue; and

(c) a user interface operable to provide a set of instructions that is executable by a processor, wherein the user interface is configured to be installed on a seat-back user device comprising a seat display that is positioned to face a seat in the structure;

wherein the structure is an airplane, wherein the resource is a private facility, and wherein the server is configured to;

(i) receive a user selection from the seat-back user device indicating a user'"'"'s intent to access the resource,

(ii) identify the seat associated with the seat-back user device that the user selection originates from,

(iii) add the user to the resource queue,

(iv) cause the user interface to display an indicator of the user'"'"'s position in the resource queue, and

(v) cause the user interface to display an indicator that the user is at the front of the resource queue; and

wherein the access control device is configured to;

(i) receive via the touch input an electronic signal indicating that the user is attempting to access the resource, wherein the electronic signal comprises a seat identifier,

(ii) determine whether the user is physically present at the resource based upon the electronic signal, and

(iii) when the user is physically present at the resource, when the user is at the front of the resource queue, and when the seat identifier matches the seat, provide via the display an indication to the user that the resource is accessible.