Remote actuation system, device and method

• US 20030189480A1
• Filed: 04/04/2002
• Published: 10/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Activcard Ireland, Limited
• Original Assignee: Activcard Ireland, Limited
• Inventors: Hamid, Laurence
• Application Number:
  US10/115,232
• Publication Number:
  US 20030189480A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.52
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00261 the keyless data carrier having more than one function
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00563 using personal physical data of the operator, e.g. finger prints, retinal images, voicepatterns
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/61 Password, biometric

Abstract

In a remote keyless system, a fob is disclosed, which provides the user with selective control of elements in a property in concert with a controller at the property, while the fob is nearby the property. In one example the fob is a wireless portable terminal, which accepts a biometric information having been presented by a user. A transducer generates a digital data based on the biometric information. A data store receives and stores the digital data generated by the transducer. A transmitter is responsive to the digital data having been stored in the data store for broadcasting a signal, at a predetermined frequency and modulated by the stored digital data for reception by the controller, after an interval of time corresponding to a time for the user carrying the wireless portable terminal to have traveled a distance, such that the user may present a predetermined biometric characteristic at a convenient place and time prior to the time of a consequent effect thereof at said property.

Claims

1. A wireless portable terminal for operation in concert with a controller within a property, the terminal comprising:

a biometric transducer for accepting a biometric information sample provided by a user and for generating digital data based on at least a characteristic of the biometric information sample;

a data store for storing the digital data generated by the biometric transducer; and

,

a transmitter being responsive to the digital data having been stored in the data store for transmitting a signal, at a predetermined frequency and modulated based on the stored digital data for reception by the controller, after an interval of time corresponding to a time for the user carrying the wireless portable terminal to have traveled a distance, such that the user may present a predetermined biometric characteristic at a convenient place and time prior to the time of a consequent effect thereof at said property.

2. A wireless portable terminal as defined in claim 1 wherein said biometric information sample is that of a fingerprint of the user and wherein the transmitter is a portable device for being ported by the user.

3. A wireless portable terminal as defined in claim 2 comprising a timer and wherein the interval of time is predetermined interval of time.

4. A wireless portable terminal as defined in claim 3 wherein the transmitter is for repeatedly transmitting the signal for the predetermined interval of time.

5. A wireless portable terminal as defined in claim 3 wherein the transmitter is for transmitting the signal once at an expiry of the predetermined interval of time.

6. A wireless portable terminal as defined in claim 2 comprising an actuator and wherein the signal is for being transmitted in response to actuation of the actuator after the interval of time.

7. A wireless portable terminal as defined in claim 6 wherein the actuator is for receiving actuation input data other than the biometric information provided to the device and wherein the data within the data store is transmitted upon receiving the actuation input data.

8. A wireless portable terminal as defined in claim 6 comprising a data deletion circuit for erasing the digital data within the data store after transmission thereof.

9. A wireless portable terminal as defined in claim 1 comprising a data deletion circuit for erasing the digital data within the data store after transmission thereof is completed.

10. A wireless portable terminal as defined in claim 2 comprising a receiver wherein the interval of time is ended based on receiving a signal from the property, the signal for being received within a known proximity to the property of the wireless portable terminal.

11. A wireless portable terminal as defined in claim 10 wherein the signal is modulated in dependence upon the received signal.

12. A wireless portable terminal as defined in claim 1 comprising a receiver wherein the interval of time is ended based on receiving a signal from the property, the signal for being received within a known proximity to the property of the wireless portable terminal.

13. A wireless portable terminal as defined in claim 12 wherein the signal is modulated in dependence upon the received signal.

14. A wireless portable terminal as defined in claim 1 wherein the signal is modulated by the stored digital data.

15. A wireless portable terminal as defined in claim 1 comprising

a processor for processing the stored digital data and for comparing the stored digital data and stored template data relating to at least an authorized user;

and wherein upon the user being one of the at least an authorized user, the transmitted signal is modulated with user authorization data stored within the terminal.

16. A wireless portable terminal as defined in claim 15 wherein the data is an access code.

17. A method of operating a wireless portable terminal for communicating with a controller within a property, upon a presentation of a user'"'"'s biometric characteristic thereto, comprising the steps of:

accepting a biometric information having been presented by a user;

generating a digital data representative of the biometric information;

storing the digital data having been generated; and

,

responsive to the digital data having been stored and after an interval of time corresponding to a time for the user of the entry terminal to have traveled a distance, broadcasting a signal, at a predetermined frequency being modulated based on the stored digital data for reception by the controller, such that the user may present a predetermined biometric characteristic at a convenient place and time prior to the time of a consequent effect thereof at said property.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein the interval of time is predetermined by a timer.

19. A method according to claim 18 wherein the signal based on the stored digital data is transmitted at expiry of the predetermined interval of time.

20. A method according to claim 18 wherein the signal based on the stored digital data is transmitted for the interval of time predetermined by the timer.

21. A method according to claim 17 comprises the step of deleting the stored digital data representative of the biometric information presented by the user.

22. A method according to claim 17 wherein the step of broadcasting the signal comprises the step of providing an actuation signal to an actuator, the actuating signal being other than the stored digital data representative of the biometric information.

23. A method according to claim 22 comprises the step of deleting the stored digital data representative of the biometric information upon actuation of the actuator.

24. A method according to claim 22 comprises the step of deleting the stored digital data representative of the biometric information upon transmission of the signal.

25. A method according to claim 22 wherein the actuation signal is transmitted to a receiver.

26. A method according to claim 17 wherein the generated digital data representative of the biometric information is an access code.

27. A method according to claim 17 wherein the generated digital data representative of the biometric information is a digital representation of the biometric information.

28. A wireless portable terminal for operation in concert with a controller within a property, the terminal comprising:

a transducer for accepting input data provided by a user and for generating digital data based on the input data;

a data store for storing the digital data generated by the biometric transducer; and

,

a transmitter being responsive to the digital data having been stored in the data store for transmitting a signal, at a predetermined frequency and modulated based on the stored digital data for reception by the controller, after an interval of time corresponding to a time for the user carrying the wireless portable terminal to have traveled a distance, such that the user may present a predetermined biometric characteristic at a convenient place and time prior to the time of a consequent effect thereof at said property.