Associating a user identity to a wireless signal based on information received at a physical access point

• US 10,382,959 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2017
• Issued: 08/13/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated (Kyndryl Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Anderson, Eric M., Davis, Robert A., Dawson, Christopher J., Lococo, Salvatore T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Iqbal, Khawar
• Application Number:
  US15/807,948
• Publication Number:
  US 20180077575A1
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/22 in combination with an identity check of the pass holder
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security

Abstract

Embodiments described herein provide approaches for associating a user identity to a wireless signal based on information received at an access point. Specifically, when a first user presents a set of user credentials to a physical access point, his/her profile is accessed to authenticate the first user. A set of wireless signals emanating from one or more wireless devices operated by the first user is also received at the physical access point and associated with the first user. Information about the first user may then be broadcast and accessed by a second user (e.g., via his/her mobile device) in proximity to the first user and in receipt of the set of wireless signals associated with the first user.

Claims

1. A method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

providing a secured physical area with an access control point, wherein the access control point comprises a wireless reader and a physical access control device;

receiving a set of user credentials from an authentication device at the access control point of the secured physical area;

authenticating an identity of a user by verifying the set of user credentials;

receiving a set of wireless signals;

comparing a relative strength of each wireless signal simultaneously with the receiving the set of user credentials;

associating one or more of the set of wireless signals with the user based on the set of user credentials and the strength of the one or more of the set of wireless signals being stronger than others of the set of wireless signals when the set of user credentials are received;

broadcasting the one or more of the set of wireless signals along with information about the user;

enabling the information about the user to be accessed by another device in proximity to the one or more of the set of wireless signals;

receiving another wireless signal; and

allowing the user access to the secured physical area when it is determined that the received another wireless signal is a match to a machine access control (MAC) address of the one or more of the set of wireless signals associated with the user.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

accessing a profile associated with the user; and

determining whether the one or more of the set of wireless signals is currently recognized, within the profile, as being associated with the user.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the computer-implemented step of adding the one or more of the set of wireless signals to the profile in the case that the one or more of the set of wireless signals is not currently recognized as being associated with the user.

4. The method according to claim 1, the information about the user comprising a work order request.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

scanning an environment surrounding the access control point for wireless signals.

6. A system for associating a user identity to a wireless signal based on information received at an access point, the system comprising:

a memory medium comprising instructions;

a bus coupled to the memory medium; and

a processor coupled to a wireless signal identifier via the bus that when executing the instructions causes the system to;

provide a secured physical area with an access control point, wherein the access control point comprises a wireless reader and a physical access control device;

receive a set of user credentials from an authentication device at the access control point of the secured physical area;

authenticate an identity of a user by verifying the set of user credentials;

receive a set of wireless signals;

compare a relative strength of each wireless signal simultaneously with the receiving the set of user credentials;

associate one or more of the set of wireless signals with the user based on the set of user credentials and the strength of the one or more of the set of wireless signals being stronger than others of the set of wireless signals when the set of user credentials are received;

broadcast the one or more of the set of wireless signals along with information about the user;

enable the information about the user to be accessed by another device in proximity to the one or more of the set of wireless signals;

receive another wireless signal; and

allow the user access to the secured physical area when it is determined that the received another wireless signal is a match to a machine access control (MAC) address of the one or more of the set of wireless signals associated with the user.

7. The system according to claim 6, further comprising instructions causing the system to:

access a profile associated with the user; and

determine whether the one or more of the set of wireless signals is currently recognized, within the profile, as being associated with the user.

8. The system according to claim 7, further comprising instructions causing the system to add the one or more of the set of wireless signals to the profile in the case that the one or more of the set of wireless signals is not currently recognized as being associated with the user.

9. The system according to claim 6, the information about the user comprising a work order request.

10. The system according to claim 6, further comprising instructions to scan an environment surrounding the access control point for wireless signals.

11. A computer-readable hardware storage device storing computer instructions, which when executed, enables a computer system to associate a user identity to a wireless signal based on information received at an access point, the computer instructions comprising:

providing a secured physical area with an access control point, wherein the access control point comprises a wireless reader and a physical access control device;

receiving a set of user credentials from an authentication device at the access control point of the secured physical area;

authenticating an identity of a user by verifying the set of user credentials;

receiving a set of wireless signals;

comparing a relative strength of each wireless signal simultaneously with the receiving the set of user credentials;

associating one or more of the set of wireless signals with the user based on the set of user credentials and the strength of the one or more of the set of wireless signals being stronger than others of the set of wireless signals when the set of user credentials are received;

broadcasting the one or more of the set of wireless signals along with information about the user;

enabling the information about the user to be accessed by another device in proximity to the one or more of the set of wireless signals;

receiving another wireless signal; and

allowing the user access to the secured physical area when it is determined that the received another wireless signal is a match to a machine access control (MAC) address of the one or more of the set of wireless signals associated with the user.

12. The computer-readable hardware storage device according to claim 11 further comprising computer instructions for:

accessing a profile associated with the user; and

determining whether the one or more of the set of wireless signals is currently recognized, within the profile, as being associated with the user.

13. The computer-readable hardware storage device according to claim 12 further comprising computer instructions for adding the one or more of the set of wireless signals to the profile in the case that the one or more of the set of wireless signals is not currently recognized as being associated with the user.

14. The computer-readable hardware storage device according to claim 11, further comprising instructions for scanning the environment surrounding the access control point for wireless signals.