Access control method and apparatus for members and guests

• US 20030034876A1
• Filed: 10/01/2002
• Published: 02/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NGID Acquisition Corporation
• Original Assignee: Biokey Incorporated
• Inventors: Puchek, Daniel R., Xu, Tianning, Tumey, David M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,794,986 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.53
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36542 Cryptography, encrypt, access, authorize with key, code, password
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/94 Hardware or software architectures specially adapted for image or video understanding
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/23 by means of a password
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/38 with central registration

Abstract

An automated access control apparatus and method. Identification data is compared with stored data to determine if a person should be granted access to an area. If granted access, the person is prompted to indicate a number of guests desiring access. As the person and the guests pass through entrance, the persons are counted and proper personnel is notified if an unauthorized number of persons enters the area. Unauthorized entries are recorded as image data that can be played in real time or at a later time for review. Guest entry is logged for billing purposes.

Claims

1. A module operative to be used on connection with an access control apparatus of the type including a processor, a data collection device, and an access control device, said module comprising:

means for comparing entrance data collected by the data collection device with stored data;

means for operating the access control device in accordance with the result of said means for comparing to grant access in a controlled manner;

means for determining a number of people gaining access; and

means for taking predetermined action when the number of people gaining access does not correspond to the entrance data.