Mobile key using read/write RFID tag

• US 20050242921A1
• Filed: 01/10/2005
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Mullen, Timothy Shane Downs, Seely, James, Zimmerman, Timothy M., Roush, Jeffrey Scott
• Granted Patent: US 7,471,199 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.200
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2011/02 related to amusement parks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00857 where the code of the data carrier can be programmed
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/22 in combination with an identity check of the pass holder

Abstract

A mobile key includes an RFID tag associated with a memory. The memory holds a secure access code. An authorization status for a person or item associated with the mobile key is determined by interrogating the mobile key using an RFID interrogation field. Security information, such as a secure identifier or access code, physical measurement data, or biometric data may be provided by the mobile key. The key may also comprise a wireless communication device, such as a cellular telephone. Security information, such as an access code, may be provided to the key using the wireless communication device or other communications network.

Claims

1. A method for securing access to a resource, comprising:

providing an RFID interrogation field;

selecting at least one mobile key in the interrogation field, the mobile key comprising an RFID device connected to a memory, the memory holding an access code;

communicating with the RFID device of the mobile key to receive at least the access code; and

determining an authorization status of the mobile key based on the access code.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the access code to the mobile key for holding in the memory.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the transmitting step further comprises transmitting the access code to a wireless communications device connected to the memory, the wireless communication device separate from the RFID device of the mobile key.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the transmitting step further comprises using a cellular telephone network to transmit the access code, and wherein the wireless communications device comprises a cellular telephone.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the transmitting step further comprises wirelessly transmitting the access code using the RFID device of the mobile key.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising encrypting the access code before the transmitting step.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising decrypting the access code after the communicating step.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the access code comprises a secure identification code assigned to the mobile key.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the communicating step further comprises receiving physical measurement data pertaining to an item associated with the mobile key from the memory.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the determining step further comprises determining the authorization status by comparing the physical measurement data from the memory to second physical measurement data for the item from a measuring device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the communicating step further comprises receiving biometric data pertaining to a person bearing the mobile key from the memory.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the determining step further comprises determining the authorization status by comparing the biometric data from the memory to second biometric data for the person from a biometric data input device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the communicating step further comprises receiving an account balance from the memory, and the determining step further comprises determining the authorization status based on the account balance.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising debiting the account balance, and transmitting the debited account balance to the mobile key for holding in the memory.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step further comprises determining the authorization status based on a time that the access code is received from the mobile key.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step further comprises determining the authorization status based on a comparison of the access code to information received from a secure database.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating a signaling device on the mobile key based on the authorization status.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising admitting a bearer of the mobile key to a secured area based on the authorization status, and communicating a second time with the RFID device after the admitting step to confirm the authorization status of the mobile key.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising communicating a second time with the RFID device after the admitting step to revise the authorization status of the mobile key.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step further comprises determining a location of the mobile key by proximity to a nearest antenna for the RFID interrogating field.

21. A mobile key apparatus, comprising:

a wireless communication device configured for communicating using a communication network;

a memory incorporated with the wireless communication device; and

an RFID device operably associated with the memory and incorporated with the wireless communication device.

22. The mobile key of claim 21, wherein the wireless communication device comprises a cellular telephone.

23. The mobile key of claim 21, wherein the RFID device is attached to hardware of the wireless communication device.

24. The mobile key of claim 21, wherein the RFID device is mounted on a circuit board of the wireless communication device.

25. The mobile key of claim 21, further comprising at least two separate antennas, a first antenna connected to the wireless communication device, and a second antenna connected to the RFID device.

26. The mobile key of claim 25, wherein the second antenna comprises a portion of a circuit board of the RFID device.

27. The mobile key of claim 21, further comprising a memory interface interposed between the wireless communication device and the memory.

28. An apparatus for controlling access to a resource, comprising:

an RFID base station disposed to provide an RFID interrogation field;

access control hardware configured to control access to a resource depending on an authorization status of a user; and

a controller operably associated with the access control hardware and with the RFID base station, the controller operably associated with a memory holding program instructions for;

selecting at least one mobile key in the interrogation field, the mobile key comprising an RFID device and holding an access code;

communicating with the RFID device of the mobile key to receive at least the access code; and

determining an authorization status of the mobile key based on the access code.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the memory further comprises program instructions for decrypting the access code.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the memory further comprises program instructions for receiving physical measurement data pertaining to an item associated with the mobile key.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the memory further comprises program instructions for determining the authorization status by comparing the physical measurement data from the mobile key to second physical measurement data for the item from a measuring device.

32. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the memory further comprises program instructions for receiving biometric data pertaining to a bearer of the mobile key from the mobile key.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the memory further comprises program instructions for determining the authorization status by comparing the biometric data from the mobile key to second biometric data for the item from a measuring device.

34. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the memory further comprises program instructions for receiving an account balance from the mobile key, and further determining the authorization status based on the account balance.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the memory further comprises program instructions for debiting the account balance, and transmitting the debited account balance to the mobile key.

36. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the memory further comprises program instructions for further determining the authorization status based on a time that the access code is received from the mobile key.

37. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the memory further comprises program instructions for determining the authorization status based on a comparison of the access code to information received from a secure database.

38. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the memory further comprises program instructions for activating a signaling device on the mobile key based on the authorization status.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the memory further comprises program instructions for communicating a second time with the RFID device to confirm the authorization status of the mobile key.

40. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the memory further comprises program instructions for determining a location of the mobile key by proximity to a nearest antenna for the RFID interrogating field.