Systems and Methods for RFID-Based Access Management of Electronic Devices

• US 20080273684A1
• Filed: 10/10/2007
• Published: 11/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John D. Profanchik, SR.
• Original Assignee: 3V Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Profanchik, John D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,953,216 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/207.02
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2281 Call monitoring, e.g. for law enforcement purposes; Call tracing; Detection or prevention of malicious calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/387 using subscriber identification cards

Abstract

Disclosed are systems and methods for preventing unauthorized persons from using an electronic device within a facility. In such an embodiment, the system may include a plurality of RFID tags each having unique identification information associated with a wearer of one of the RFID tags. This system may also include an RFID reader associated with the electronic device and having an RFID coverage zone for detecting RFID tags within the coverage zone. A device management system may be connected to the reader and configured to determine whether wearers in the coverage zone are authorized to use the electronic device based at least in part on detected RFID tags'"'"' unique identification information. In such an embodiment, the device management system is configured to activate the electronic device if it determines only authorized wearers are detected in the coverage zone, and to deactivate the electronic device if it determines an unauthorized wearer is detected in the coverage zone.

Claims

1. An access management system for preventing unauthorized persons from influencing the use of a telephonic device in a custodial facility, the system comprising:

a first RFID tag having first unique identification information associated with a first wearer of the RFID tag;

a second RFID tag having second unique identification information associated with a second wearer of the RFID tag;

a reader associated with the telephonic device and having an RFID coverage zone for detecting RFID tags within the coverage zone;

a call management system connected to the reader and configured to determine whether a wearer is authorized to use the telephonic device based at least in part on an RFID tag'"'"'s detected unique identification information;

wherein the reader is configured to initially detect when one of the first or second RFID tags is within the coverage zone, the call management system activating the telephonic device if it determines the wearer of the initially detected RFID tag is authorized to use the telephonic device while the initially detected RFID tag is in the coverage zone; and

wherein the reader is further configured to subsequently detect when the other of the first or second RFID tags is within the coverage zone while the initially detected RFID tag is within the coverage zone, the call management system deactivating the telephonic device if it determines the wearer of the subsequently detected RFID tag is not authorized to use the telephonic device while the initially detected RFID tag is in the coverage zone and authorized to use the telephonic device.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the custodial facility is a prison, jail, detention facility or correctional facility, and wherein the first and second wearers are inmates in the prison, jail, detention facility or correctional facility.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the first or second unique identification information is permanently associated with the corresponding first and second wearer at the time the first or second wearer arrives at the custodial facility.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the first or second unique identification information associated with the first or second RFID tag is reprogrammable.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the call management system is further configured to issue a notification when an RFID tag associated with an unauthorized wearer is detected in the coverage zone.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second RFID tags are comprised in bracelets.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the bracelets comprise a semi-rigid, hardened plastic material.

8. A system according to claim 6, wherein the bracelets comprise break or tamper detection circuitry.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein an RFID tag in the bracelets ceases to function if the detection circuitry is triggered.

10. A method of preventing unauthorized persons from influencing the use of a telephonic device in a custodial facility, the method comprising:

providing a first RFID tag having first unique identification information associated with a first wearer of the RFID tag;

providing a second RFID tag having second unique identification information associated with a second wearer of the RFID tag;

creating an RFID coverage zone around the telephonic device;

initially detecting when one of the first or second RFID tags within the coverage zone;

determining whether the wearer of the initially detected RFID tag is authorized to use the telephonic device based at least in part on the initially detected unique identification information;

activating the telephonic device for use by the wearer of the initially detected RFID tag if is determined that the wearer of the initially detected RFID tag is authorized to use the telephonic device while the initially detected RFID tag is in the coverage zone; and

subsequently detecting when the other of the first or second RFID tags is within the coverage zone while the initially detected RFID tag is in the coverage zone;

determining whether the wearer of the subsequently detected RFID tag is authorized to use the telephonic device based at least in part on the subsequently detected unique identification information; and

deactivating the telephonic device if it is determined that the wearer of the subsequently detected RFID tag is not authorized to use the telephonic device while the initially detected RFID tag is in the coverage zone and authorized to use the telephonic device.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the custodial facility is a prison, jail, detention facility or correctional facility, and wherein the first and second wearers are inmates in the prison, jail, detention facility or correctional facility.

12. A method according to claim 10, further comprising permanently associating the first or second unique identification information with the corresponding first and second wearer at the time the first or second wearer arrives at the custodial facility.

13. A method according to claim 10, further comprising issuing a notification when an RFID tag associated with an unauthorized wearer is detected in the coverage zone.

14. A method according to claim 10, further comprising providing first and second bracelets carrying the corresponding first and second RFID tags for the first and second wearer to wear.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the bracelets comprise a semi-rigid, hardened plastic material.

16. A method according to claim 14, further comprising providing break or tamper detection circuitry in the bracelets.

17. A method according to claim 16, further comprising detecting if a bracelet is broken or tampered with, and deactivating an RFID tag in the bracelet upon such detection.

18. An access management system for preventing unauthorized persons from using an electronic device within a facility, the system comprising:

a plurality of RFID tags each having unique identification information associated with a wearer of one of the RFID tags;

a reader associated with the electronic device and having an RFID coverage zone for detecting RFID tags within the coverage zone;

a device management system connected to the reader and configured to determine whether wearers in the coverage zone are authorized to use the electronic device based at least in part on detected RFID tags'"'"' unique identification information;

wherein the device management system is configured to activate the electronic device while one or more authorized wearers are detected in the coverage zone, and to deactivate the electronic device if it determines an unauthorized wearer is detected in the coverage zone while an authorized wearer is detected in the coverage zone and authorized to use the telephonic device.

19. A system according to claim 18, wherein the electronic device is selected from the group consisting of a computer, a television, and a radio.

20. A system according to claim 18, wherein the unique identification information associated with the plurality of RFID tags is reprogrammable depending on a wearer of an RFID tag.

21. A system according to claim 18, wherein the device management system is further configured to issue a notification when an RFID tag associated with an unauthorized wearer is detected in the coverage zone.

22. A system according to claim 18, wherein the RFID tags are comprised in an non-removable item worn by the wearers.

23. A system according to claim 22, wherein the non-removable item comprises a bracelet.

24. A system according to claim 22, wherein the non-removable item comprises break or tamper detection circuitry.

25. A system according to claim 24, wherein an RFID tag in the non-removable item ceases to function if the detection circuitry is triggered.