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

• US 9,269,207 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2014
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• 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, Rose, Scott Douglas, Bender, Christopher Lyle
• Primary Examiner(s): GONZALES, APRIL GUZMAN
• Application Number:
  US14/223,626
• Publication Number:
  US 20140203904A1
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 455/411, 455/41.1, 455/41.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 9/20 involving the use of a pass
• 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 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/04 including near field communication means, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• 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: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A security system may include an access control device associated with a personnel access position. The access control device may include a first Near-Field Communication (NFC) sensor, and a first controller configured to selectively grant personnel access based upon receiving a valid security code from the first NFC sensor, and to deny personnel access and generate an access denial electronic message(s) based upon receiving an invalid security code from the first NFC sensor. The system may also include a mobile wireless communications device(s) including a second NFC sensor and a second controller, which may be configured to communicate a security code via the second NFC sensor to the first NFC sensor based upon proximity therewith, and to receive a corresponding access denial electronic message from the first controller based upon the security code being invalid.

Claims

1. A mobile wireless communications device comprising:

a Near-Field Communication (NFC) sensor configured to communicate with an access control device;

a wireless transceiver also configured to communicate with the access control device, the access control device being configured to grant access based upon receiving a valid code via said NFC sensor and valid additional authentication data via said wireless transceiver, and to deny access and generate an access denial message based upon receiving an invalid code or invalid additional authentication data; and

a controller configured to communicate an access request including a code via said NFC sensor to the access control device based upon proximity therewith, to communicate additional authentication data to the access control device via said wireless transceiver, and to receive a corresponding access denial message from the access control device based upon the code or additional authentication information being invalid.

2. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein the code comprises a single-use code.

3. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein the additional authentication data comprises at least one of biometric data, password data, and personal identification number (PIN) data.

4. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein said controller is configured to receive the code via said NFC sensor.

5. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein said controller is configured to receive the code via said wireless transceiver.

6. An access control method using a mobile wireless communications device comprising a controller, a Near-Field Communication (NFC) sensor, and a wireless transceiver both coupled to the controller and configured to communicate with an access control device, the access control device configured to grant access based upon receiving a valid code via the NFC sensor and valid additional authentication data via the wireless transceiver, and to deny access and generate an access denial message based upon receiving an invalid code or invalid additional authentication data, the method comprising:

operating the controller to communicate an access request including a code via the NFC sensor to the access control device based upon proximity therewith, to communicate additional authentication data via the wireless transceiver to the access control device, and to receive a corresponding access denial message from the access control device based upon the code or additional authentication information being invalid.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the code comprises a single-use code.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the additional authentication data comprises at least one of biometric data, password data, and personal identification number (PIN) data.