Security system providing temporary personnel access based upon near-field communication and related methods

• US 8,912,879 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2010
• Issued: 12/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Fyke, Steven Henry, Griffin, Jason Tyler
• Primary Examiner(s): GIRMA, FEKADESELASS
• Application Number:
  US12/888,599
• Publication Number:
  US 20120075059A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,545 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.1
• US Class Current: 340/5.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00476 dynamically
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00777 by induction
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00865 remotely by wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/08 With time considerations, e.g. temporary activation, valid time window or time limitations
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00857 where the code of the data carrier can be programmed
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/21 having a variable access code
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0492 by using a location-limited connection, e.g. near-field communication or limited proximity of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6081 Service authorization mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/084 using delegated authorisation, e.g. open authorisation [OAuth] protocol
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/375 Dead bolt
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/383 Latching bolt
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5155 Door

Abstract

A security system may include a plurality of electronic devices, each having a unique identification (ID) associated therewith and configured to generate a temporary security code based upon the unique ID. The system may further include at least one mobile wireless communications device including a first Near-Field Communication (NFC) circuit, and a mobile controller configured to receive the temporary security code from a given electronic device from among the plurality of electronic devices. The system may also include an access control device associated with a personnel access position and including a second NFC sensor and a security controller. The security controller may be configured to receive the temporary security code from the first NFC sensor via NFC communications, selectively grant personnel access based upon the received temporary security code, and determine the unique ID associated with the given electronic device.

Claims

1. An access control device associated with a personnel access position for use with a plurality of electronic devices each having a unique identification (ID) associated therewith and configured to generate a temporary security code based upon the unique ID, and at least one mobile wireless communications device comprising a first Near-Field Communication (NFC) sensor and a first controller configured to receive the temporary security code from a given electronic device from among said plurality of electronic devices, the access control device comprising:

a second NFC sensor configured to receive the temporary security code from said first NFC sensor via NFC communications; and

a second controller coupled to said second NFC sensor and configured to

selectively grant personnel access based upon the received temporary security code, and

determine the unique ID associated with the given electronic device;

wherein each of the plurality of electronic devices is further configured to generate an event notification, and to communicate the temporary security code to the at least one mobile wireless communications device along with the event notification;

wherein the event notification has a scheduled event time associated therewith, and said second controller is configured to selectively grant personnel access further based upon the scheduled event time.

2. The access control device of claim 1 wherein said second controller is configured to further selectively grant personnel access also based upon the determined unique ID.

3. The access control device of claim 1 wherein said second controller is configured to update a log of the determined unique ID.

4. The access control device of claim 1 wherein the temporary security code comprises a single-use security code.

5. The access control device of claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of electronic devices also comprises a mobile wireless communications device.

6. The access control device of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of electronic devices further comprises a third NFC sensor;

and wherein said first controller is configured to receive the temporary security code via the third NFC sensor.

7. The access control device of claim 1 wherein said at least one mobile wireless communications device further comprises a wireless receiver coupled to said first controller and configured to receive the temporary security code from said given electronic device.

8. The access control device of claim 7 wherein said wireless receiver comprises a cellular receiver.

9. The access control device of claim 7 wherein said wireless receiver comprises a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) transceiver.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for an access control device associated with a personnel access position and for use with a plurality of electronic devices, each having a unique identification (ID) associated therewith and configured to generate a temporary security code based upon the unique ID, and at least one mobile wireless communications device comprising a first Near-Field Communication (NFC) circuit and a first controller configured to receive the temporary security code from a given electronic device from among said plurality of electronic devices, to perform steps comprising:

receiving the temporary security code from the first NFC sensor via NFC communications;

selectively granting personnel access based upon the received temporary security code; and

determining the unique ID associated with the given electronic device;

wherein each of the plurality of electronic devices is further configured to generate an event notification, and communicate the temporary security code from the given electronic device to the at least one mobile wireless communications device along with the event notification;

wherein the event notification has a scheduled event time associated therewith, and wherein selectively granting further comprises selectively granting personnel access based upon the scheduled event time.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 wherein selectively granting further comprises selectively granting personnel access also based upon the determined unique ID.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 further having computer-executable instructions for performing a step of updating a log of the determined unique ID.

13. A method for using an access control device associated with a personnel access position and for use with a plurality of electronic devices each having a unique identification (ID) associated therewith and configured to generate a temporary security code based upon the unique ID, and at least one mobile wireless communications device comprising a Near-Field Communication (NFC) circuit and a controller configured to receive the temporary security code from a given electronic device from among said plurality of electronic devices, the method comprising:

receiving the temporary security code from the first NFC sensor via NFC communications;

selectively granting personnel access based upon the received temporary security code; and

determining the unique ID associated with the given electronic device;

wherein each of the plurality of electronic devices is further configured to generate an event notification, and communicate the temporary security code from the given electronic device to the at least one mobile wireless communications device along with the event notification;

wherein the event notification has a scheduled event time associated therewith, and wherein selectively granting further comprises selectively granting personnel access based upon the scheduled event time.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein selectively granting further comprises selectively granting personnel access also based upon the determined unique ID.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising updating a log of the determined unique ID.