ASSOCIATING A USER IDENTITY TO A WIRELESS SIGNAL

• US 20150003320A1
• Filed: 06/27/2013
• Published: 01/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated (Kyndryl Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Anderson, Eric M., Davis, Robert A., Dawson, Christopher J., Lococo, Salvatore T.
• Granted Patent: US 9,888,378 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/22 in combination with an identity check of the pass holder
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security

Abstract

Embodiments described herein provide approaches for associating a user identity to a wireless signal based on information received at an access point. Specifically, when a first user presents a set of user credentials to a physical access point, his/her profile is accessed to authenticate the first user. A set of wireless signals emanating from one or more wireless devices operated by the first user is also received at the physical access point and associated with the first user. Information about the first user may then be broadcast and accessed by a second user (e.g., via his/her mobile device) in proximity to the first user and in receipt of the set of wireless signals associated with the first user.

Claims

1. A method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

receiving a set of user credentials at an access control point of a secured area;

authenticating an identity of a user by verifying the user credentials;

receiving a set of wireless signals from one or more mobile devices at the access control point; and

associating one or more of the set of wireless signals with the user.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

accessing a profile associated with the user; and

determining whether the one or more of the set of wireless signals is currently recognized, within the profile, as being associated with the user.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the computer-implemented step of adding the one or more of the set of wireless signals to the profile in the case that the one or more of the set of wireless signals is not currently recognized as being associated with the user.

4. The method according to claim 1, the receiving the user credentials comprising receiving the user credentials from an authentication device at the access control point, wherein the access control point comprises a wireless reader and a physical access control device.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

receiving multiple instances of the one or more of the set of wireless signals associated with the user;

broadcasting the one or more of the set of wireless signals along with information about the user;

enabling the information about the user to be accessed by another device in proximity to the one or more of the set of wireless signals.

6. The method according to claim 5, the information about the user comprising a work order request.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

scanning the environment surrounding the access control point for wireless signals;

recognizing a set of background wireless signals from the wireless signals; and

comparing the set of wireless signals from one or more mobile devices of the user received at the access control point to the set of wireless background wireless signals to determine if one or more of the set of wireless signals is being received for the first time.

8. A system for associating a user identity to a wireless signal based on information received at an access point, the system comprising:

a memory medium comprising instructions;

a bus coupled to the memory medium; and

a processor coupled to a wireless signal identifier via the bus that when executing the instructions causes the system to;

receive a set of user credentials at an access control point of a secured area;

authenticate an identity of a user by verifying the user credentials;

receive a set of wireless signals from one or more mobile devices at the access control point; and

associate one or more of the set of wireless signals with the user.

9. The system according to claim 8, further comprising instructions causing the system to:

access a profile associated with the user; and

determine whether the one or more of the set of wireless signals is currently recognized, within the profile, as being associated with the user.

10. The system according to claim 8, further comprising instructions causing the system to add the one or more of the set of wireless signals to the profile in the case that the one or more of the set of wireless signals is not currently recognized as being associated with the user.

11. The system according to claim 8, the instructions causing the system to receive the user credentials further comprising instructions to receive the user credentials from an authentication device at the access control point, wherein the access control point comprises a wireless reader and a physical access control device.

12. The system according to claim 11, further comprising instructions to:

receive multiple instances of the one or more of the set of wireless signals associated with the user;

broadcast the one or more of the set of wireless signals along with information about the user;

enable the information about the user to be accessed by another device in proximity to the one or more of the set of wireless signals.

13. The system according to claim 12, the information about the user comprising a work order request.

14. The system according to claim 8, further comprising instructions to:

scan the environment surrounding the access control point for wireless signals;

recognize a set of background wireless signals from the wireless signals; and

compare the set of wireless signals from one or more mobile devices of the user received at the access control point to the set of wireless background wireless signals to determine if one or more of the set of wireless signals is being received for the first time.

15. A computer-readable storage medium storing computer instructions, which when executed, enables a computer system to associate a user identity to a wireless signal based on information received at an access point, the computer instructions comprising:

receiving a set of user credentials at an access control point of a secured area;

authenticating an identity of a user by verifying the user credentials;

receiving a set of wireless signals from one or more mobile devices at the access control point; and

associating one or more of the set of wireless signals with the user.

16. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 15 further comprising computer instructions for:

accessing a profile associated with the user; and

determining whether the one or more of the set of wireless signals is currently recognized, within the profile, as being associated with the user.

17. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 15 further comprising computer instructions for adding the one or more of the set of wireless signals to the profile in the case that the one or more of the set of wireless signals is not currently recognized as being associated with the user.

18. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 15, wherein the computer instructions for receiving the user credentials comprises receiving the user credentials from an authentication device at the access control point, wherein the access control point comprises a wireless reader and a physical access control device.

19. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 18, further comprising instructions for:

receiving multiple instances of the one or more of the set of wireless signals associated with the user;

broadcasting the one or more of the set of wireless signals along with information about the user;

enabling the information about the user to be accessed by another device in proximity to the one or more of the set of wireless signals, wherein the information about the user comprises a work order request.

20. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 15, further comprising instructions for:

scanning the environment surrounding the access control point for wireless signals;

recognizing a set of background wireless signals from the wireless signals; and

comparing the set of wireless signals from one or more mobile devices of the user received at the access control point to the set of wireless background wireless signals to determine if one or more of the set of wireless signals is being received for the first time.