Systems and methods for security and asset management

• US 8,078,146 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2007
• Issued: 12/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Jayappa, Mahesh N., Drive, Marine, Salgar, Mayur, Subbian, Deepakumar
• Primary Examiner(s): AJIBADE AKONAI, OLUMIDE
• Application Number:
  US11/756,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20080299946A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,656 Days
• Field of Search: 455/410, 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/411, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 340/506, 340/541, 340/542, 340/545.2, 340/5.2, 340/5.21, 340/5.31, 340/5.8, 340/10.52, 340/12.51, 340/12.52, 340/13.22, 340/13.24, 340/13.26, 340/572.1
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

This invention relates to using consumer devices, such as mobile telephones, to identify, authenticate, locate and contact users of security and asset management systems. Such consumer devices can be used not only with the security systems but also for other uses. A device is initially registered with the security system. As needed, the device is presented to the system for authentication, enabling a person access to a secure area. In addition, the system can determine the person'"'"'s location in the secure area and can send information messages to the person as well as notifying the person in case of emergency.

Claims

1. A security and asset management system (100) that controls access to a secure area (240) having a device (110) operable for mobile communication, said device (110) having an id code (112) and a device communication interface (116) operable to initiate transmission of the id code (112) and to respond to a request for transmission of the id code (112), said system (100) comprising:

a plurality of readers (140) each having a reader communication interface (144) operable to obtain the id code (112) from the device via a predetermined frequency band wherein mobile frequencies or cellular networks are not used for secure communications and wherein each of the plurality of readers (140) is operable to determine a direction and distance of the device (110) from the reader (140);

a control panel (170) operable to communicate with said at least one reader (140); and

a memory (180) for storing location data (184) and ID data (182) separate from the control panel (170), the memory (180) including at least one or more id codes (112), said memory (180) accessible by said control panel (170), wherein the control panel (170) validates the id code (112) received from said reader (140), and the control panel (170) determines a device location (119) within a room or floor or the secure area by coordinating the location data (184) from the memory (180) with the determined direction and distance of the device (110) from the reader (140) wherein said control panel (170) permits entry by a user of the device (110) into the secure area (240) via any of the plurality of readers (140) based upon the validated id code (112) and determined location and sends messages to a user of the device (110) through one of the plurality of readers based upon a determined location of the device (110) within the secure area (240).

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the reader transmits a message to said device.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the reader requests said id code from said device.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the device initiates transmission of said id code without receiving a request from the reader.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the device is a mobile telephone.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the device has a security module (114) for encrypting the id code.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the reader has a security module (142) for decrypting the id code.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the device communication interface includes one of IR (Infrared), Bluetooth®

telecommunication services, 2.4 GHz Frequency (Unlicensed Frequency Band), and RFID/Stuart Card/Proximity Card Frequencies.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the reader communication interface includes one of IR (Infrared), Bluetooth®

telecommunication services, 2.4 GHz Frequency (Unlicensed Frequency Band), and RFID/Smart Card/Proximity Card Frequencies.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein if the id code is valid, the control panel performs an activity.

11. A security and asset management system (100) that controls access to a secure area (240) comprising:

a mobile telephone (110) having an id code (112), and a device communication interface (116) operable to initiate transmission of the id code (114) and to respond to a request for transmission of the id code (114);

a plurality of readers (140), each having a reader communication interface (144) operable to obtain the id code (112) from the mobile telephone (110) via a predetermined frequency band wherein mobile frequencies or cellular networks are not used for secure communications and wherein each of the plurality of readers is operable to determine a distance and direction of the mobile telephone (110) from the reader (140);

a control panel (170) operable to communicate with said at least one reader (140); and

a memory (180) for storing location data (184) and ID data (182) separate from the control panel (170), the memory (180) including at least one or more id codes (112), said memory (180) accessible by said control panel (170), wherein the control panel (170) validates the id code (112) received from said reader (140), and the control panel (170) determines a device location (119) within a room or floor of the secured by coordinating the determined direction and distance of the mobile telephone (110) from the reader (140) with the location data (184) from the memory (180) wherein the control panel (170) permits entry by a user of the device (110) into the secure area (240) via any of the plurality of readers (140) based upon the validated id code (112) and determined location and sends messages to a user of the mobile telephone (110) during emergencies through one of the plurality of readers (140) based upon a determined location of the mobile telephone (110) within the secure area (240).

12. A method for identifying a device in a security and asset management system (100) of a secure area (240), comprising:

providing a plurality of readers (140) associated with the secure area;

transmitting an id code (112) from a device (110) via a predetermined frequency band wherein mobile frequencies or cellular networks are not used for secure communications;

receiving the id code (112) at a reader (140) of the plurality of readers (140) ;

the reader (140) determining a distance and direction of the device (110) from the reader (140) using a signal transmitted from the device (110) to the reader (140);

transmitting the id code (112) from the reader (140) to a control panel (170);

locating the device (110) within a room or floor of secure area (240) by coordinating the determined distance and direction of the device (110) from the reader (140) with location data (184) accessible by but separate from the control panel (170), wherein the control panel (170) validates the id code (112) using ID data (182), and if the id code (112) is valid, a user of the device (110) is authorized to enter the secure area; and

transmitting messages to a user of the device (100) through one of the plurality of readers (140) based upon a determined location of the device (100) within the secure area (240).

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the reader transmits a message to the device.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the id code is transmitted in response to a request from the reader.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the reader requests said id code.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein the device is a mobile telephone.

17. The method according to claim 12, wherein the device has a security module (114) for encrypting the id code.

18. The method according to claim 12, wherein the reader has a security module (142) for decrypting the id code.

19. The method according to claim 12, wherein the device includes a communication interface selected from the group consisting of IR (Infrared), Bluetooth®

telecommunication services, 2.4 GHz Frequency (Unlicensed Frequency Band), and RFID/Smart Card/Proximity Card Frequencies.

20. The method according to claim 12, wherein the reader includes comprises a reader communication interface selected from the group consisting of IR (Infrared), Bluetooth®

telecommunication services, 2.4 GHz Frequency (Unlicensed Frequency Band), and RFID/Smart Card/Proximity Card Frequencies.

21. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the control panel performing an activity when the device is authorized.