Facility Access Integrated With Other Security Systems

• US 20100156591A1
• Filed: 12/19/2008
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Original Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Inventors: Ghosh, Debashis, Joa, David, Bendel, Timothy J., O'Hagan, Michael James, Newman, Kurt D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,207,815 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.200
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2491 Intrusion detection systems, i.e. where the body of an intruder causes the interference with the electromagnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system

Abstract

Systems and methods for integrating facility access with other security systems are described. An individual seeking access authorization to a facility may be identified with a biometric parameter such as an iris scan. If authorized, the system may allow entry by disabling the alarm system, and a time period for access may be determined based on one or more characteristics associated with the individual. These characteristics may include the functional role of the individual at the facility and/or the location of the facility itself. Moreover, this facility access authorization system may be integrated with a network access authorization system associated with the facility so that when an individual gains access to the facility for a specific time period, the system is also able to determine how long the individual may access its network resources.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying an individual seeking access to a restricted area;

determining whether the identified individual is authorized to access the restricted area;

if authorized, permitting entry of the identified individual into the restricted area;

determining a time period of a plurality of time periods to disable an alarm system of the restricted area based on at least one characteristic associated with the identified individual; and

disabling the alarm system for the time period.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of whether the identified individual is authorized to access the restricted area is done with a fallback authentication method if the primary method is malfunctioning.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating the alarm system.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether the individual is attempting to access the restricted area.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying of the individual seeking access is based on a biometric parameter of the individual.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether expiration of the time period is within a first threshold.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising if determining expiration of the time period is within the first threshold, providing a warning to the identified individual.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the warning is an audible announcement.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the warning is an optical cue.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the warning is a text message.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising if within a second threshold, providing a second warning to the identified individual.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether the identified individual is in the restricted area after expiration of said time period.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising if said identified individual is in the restricted area after expiration of the time period, activating an alarm of the alarm system.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising resetting the alarm system.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one characteristic of the identified individual is a functional role of the identified individual.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one characteristic of the identified individual includes the restricted area for which access is sought.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one characteristic of the identified individual is a day of week or time of day for which entry is sought.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one characteristic is a weighted average of multiple characteristics.

19. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a memory having stored therein computer executable instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to perform a method of;

identifying an individual seeking access to a restricted area;

determining whether the identified individual is authorized to access the restricted area;

if authorized, permitting entry of the identified individual into the restricted area;

determining a time period of a plurality of time periods to disable an alarm system of the restricted area based on at least one characteristic associated with the identified individual; and

disabling the alarm system for the time period.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the identifying of the individual seeking access is based on a biometric parameter of the individual.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the method further performs determining whether the individual is attempting to access the restricted area.

22. A method comprising:

identifying an individual seeking access to a restricted area;

determining whether the identified individual is authorized to access the restricted area;

if authorized, permitting entry of the identified individual into the restricted area;

allowing access to network resources associated with the restricted area;

determining a time period of a plurality of time periods to disable an alarm system of the restricted area and to allow use of network facilities within the restricted area based on at least one characteristic associated with the identified individual; and

disabling the alarm system for the time period.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the identified individual is permitted entry into the restricted area but not allowed access to the network resources if the at least one characteristic is not valid for the individual.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the identifying the individual seeking access is based on a biometric parameter of the individual.

25. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a memory having stored therein computer executable instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to perform a method of;

identifying an individual seeking access to a restricted area;

determining whether the identified individual is authorized to access the restricted area;

if authorized, permitting entry of the identified individual into the restricted area;

allowing access to network resources associated with the restricted area;

determining a time period of a plurality of time periods to disable an alarm system of the restricted area and to allow use of network facilities within the restricted area based on at least one characteristic associated with the identified individual; and

disabling the alarm system for the time period.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the identifying the individual seeking access is based on a biometric parameter of the individual.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the method further performs activating the alarm system.

28. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the method further performs determining whether the individual is attempting to access the restricted area.

29. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the method further performs determining whether expiration of the time period is within a first threshold.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the method further performs if determining that the expiration of the time period is within the first threshold, providing a warning to the identified individual.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the warning is an audible announcement.

32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the warning is an optical cue.

33. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein warning is a text message.

34. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the apparatus further performs if within a second threshold, providing a second warning to the identified individual.

35. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the apparatus further performs determining whether the identified individual is in the restricted area after expiration of said time period.

36. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the at least one characteristic used by the apparatus is a weighted average of multiple characteristics.

37. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the determining of whether the identified individual is authorized to access the restricted area includes utilizing a secondary authentication system upon determining a primary system is not functioning properly.