BIOMETRIC ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEM INCORPORATING A TOUCHSCREEN ACCESSIBLE AND KIOSK BASED ID STATION OPERATING IN COMBINATION WITH MULTIPLE CRITICAL ASSET RETAINING RACKS AND LOCERS FOR PERMITTING SELECTIVE BIOMETRIC INPUT AND PROCESSOR DRIVEN/WIRELESS RELEASE AUTHORIZATION, MAINTENANCE AND INVENTORY CONTROL OF ANY PLURALITY OF CRITICAL ASSETS AND INCLUDING AN ASSOCIATED COMPUTER WRITEABLE MEDIUM OPERATING WITH THE ID STATION FOR ENABLING ASSET RELEASE, REENTRY AND ASSOCIATED INVENTORY CONTROL

• US 20080252414A1
• Filed: 04/08/2008
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Law Enforcement Intelligent Devices LLC
• Original Assignee: Law Enforcement Intelligent Devices LLC
• Inventors: Crigger, Rick, Foster, Dave, Hoff, Sam
• Granted Patent: US 8,207,816 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.52
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 81/005 Devices for storing or displaying rifles, guns, pistols or elongated objects such as fishing rods storing fishing rods or the like in vehicles B60R7/08; storing guns in vehicles B60R7/14; cases for carrying guns F41C33/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/00 Devices for locking portable objects against unauthorised removal; Miscellaneous locking devices motorcycle helmets A42B3/0413; supporting arrangements specially adapted for fastening helmets B62J11/24; gun racks A47B81/005; showcases with theft protection A47F3/002; anti-theft means for peg-boards, grids or rods for hanging merchandise A47F5/0861; show stands, hangers, shelves with provision against unauthorised removal A47F7/024; for self-service hand-carts A47F10/04; locking skis A63C11/004; locking bolts, nuts or pins F16B41/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/12 Fingerprints or palmprints
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/253 visually
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7441 Key

Abstract

A biometric access control system for tracking critical assets and including an ID station incorporating a biometric input reader, an RFID antenna and reader and a wired or wireless (Bluetooth) communication device. A remotely positioned structure includes either or both of a rack or a locker for holding a plurality of the critical assets in individually locked fashion. A processor control built into the ID station operatively actuates each of a plurality of individual locking mechanisms incorporated into the rack structure or locker, in response to successive biometric and weapon selection inputs communicating with the processor, and for determining at least one of user identification and weapon release authorization prior to the processor actuating the locking mechanism to release the weapon. An associated computer writeable medium operates with the processor and establishes a series of subroutines for establishing user identification, weapons rating, selective weapon release/reentry and associated maintenance and record keeping log reports.

Claims

1. A biometric access control system for authorizing acquisition and return of critical assets in a secure and automatically verifiable fashion, comprising:

a user operated ID station incorporating a software based processor, said ID station further including at least one of biometric input, a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, and at least one of a wired or wireless (Bluetooth) device in communication with said processor;

at least one remotely positioned structure for holding a selective plurality of assets in individualized locked fashion, said structure being in communicating fashion with said ID station and, upon receipt of an authorization signal from said ID station, releasing a locking sub-assembly for permitting removal of asset; and

an RFID identifying tag incorporated into a location associated with the asset such that, upon presentation of the asset to said RFID reader, said processor logs the asset into an appropriate user identified field associated with said system.

2. The system as described in claim 1, said ID station exhibiting a specified shape and size and further comprising an upwardly extending and pedestal support kiosk with a touch screen display in operative communication with a built-in processor control.

3. The system as described in claim 1, said ID station further comprising a power supply for operating said processor and associated electronic components including said biometric input, RFID reader, and said at least one of a wired or wireless (Bluetooth) connection to said remotely positioned structure.

4. The system as described in claim 1, said remotely positioned structure further comprising at least one rack supporting structure exhibiting a plurality of individual clamping locations for receiving each of a plurality of longer barreled weapons.

5. The system as described in claim 4, further comprising the long barreled weapons being arranged upon said rack in visual and spaced apart fashion, corresponding with the placement of a stock supporting pockets defined within base of said rack, a like plurality of clamp-style grips for securing each individual weapon, said clamp assemblies include such as a solenoid operated and electronically powered magnetic lock individually actuated by said processor for release or reentry of a selected weapon.

6. The system as described in claim 5, further comprising a plurality of photo-electric sensors in operative slaved/wireless communication with said ID station and being provided in aligned fashion with each powered clamp assembly in order to instruct the presence or absence of an asset assigned to a given locking location.

7. The system as described in claim 6, further comprising additional pluralities of LED'"'"'s associated with each of said weapon receiving location and including a first plurality for indicating a “

lock open”

condition for an assigned clamp assembly, and a second plurality indicating individual LED lights for power/communication and error indication.

8. The system as described in claim 5, said rack further comprising a vertically adjustable security bar for engaging a weapon stock and which is mounted to planar shaped end members associated with said rack.

9. The system as described in claim 4, further comprising a primary master rack in at least one of a wired and a wireless communication with said ID station, said master rack further comprising a communication device for remotely operating an additional plurality of identically constructed racks each holding additional pluralities of long barreled weapons.

10. The system as described in claim 1, said remotely positioned structure further comprising at least one locker having a power supply and including a plurality of individual cabinet receiving and locking enclosures for holding additional critical assets.

11. The system as described in claim 10, each of said individual receiving and locking enclosures further comprising an internal power receptacle for providing low current device recharging.

12. The system as described in claim 11, further comprising a plurality of photo sensors located internally within each locking enclosure and for sensing the presence of a critical asset, and which may include at least one of a stun gun, night vision goggle, breathalyzer device, radio, AED, and handgun.

13. The system as described in claim 10, further comprising a master primary locker in at least one of a wired and a wireless communication with said ID station, said master locker further comprising wired only communication for remotely operating an additional plurality of identically constructed master locker each holding additional pluralities of long barreled weapons.

14. The system as described in claim 1, said remotely positioned structure further comprising at least one of a rack supporting structure and a locker structure in a master wired or wireless relationship with said ID station, a further plurality of rack structures or locker structures being in wired only communication with said master structure.

15. The system as described in claim 1, said biometric input further comprising a fingerprint input module.

16. The system as described in claim 1, further comprising a bypass key for accessing each of said assets in said remotely positioned structure.

17. A computer writeable medium in use with an associated processor incorporated into a biometric access control system for authorizing acquisition and return of critical assets in a secure and automatically verifiable fashion, said computer writeable medium further comprising:

a first subroutine for establishing an identity of an individual through at least one biometric input parameter;

a second subroutine for accessing an existing user field;

a third subroutine for selecting a specified weapon through a processor readable entry;

a fourth subroutine for determining an individual weapon access rating based upon previously data entered criteria;

a fifth subroutine for actuating a selected locking mechanism to an open position to release an authorized weapon to the individual; and

a sixth subroutine for reentering a previously acquired asset and returning to said selected locking mechanism.

18. The computer writeable medium as described in claim 17, further comprising a succeeding subroutine for reengaging the selected locking mechanism to a locked position upon said reentry of a previously released weapon.

19. The computer writeable medium as described in claim 17, further comprising a succeeding subroutine for requesting maintenance of a selected asset.

20. The computer writeable medium as described in claim 19, further comprising a succeeding subroutine for providing a key override access to the weapons to at least one biometrically identified individual.

21. The computer writeable medium as described in claim 17, further comprising a succeeding subroutine for creating a report log of weapon removal and required weapon maintenance.

22. The computer writeable medium as described in claim 21, further comprising at least one of an administrative user subroutine and a remote access user subroutine for adding, removing and editing selected user qualification fields and maintenance fields.