Access level management techniques

• US 9,299,203 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2013
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: Borucki, Robert Thomas, Miller, Jared Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): Savusdiphol, Paultep
• Application Number:
  US13/753,733
• Publication Number:
  US 20140209674A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,154 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/380, 235/382, 235/382.5, 235/454, 235/462.01, 235/470
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2113 Multi-level security, e.g. mandatory access control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/00 Methods or arrangements for marking the record carrier in digital fashion
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10544 by scanning of the records by radiation in the optical part of the electromagnetic spectrum
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0807 using tickets, e.g. Kerberos cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using tickets or tokens H04L9/3213
• 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 63/105 Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/72 Subscriber identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/77 Graphical identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences

Abstract

Access level management techniques which require less manual intervention. In one example, a registration system registers an individual for an access level and receives a mobile device identifier from the individual. The registration system generates an electronic pass, which may include a mobile barcode, granting the individual access at the requested access level, and provides the electronic pass to a mobile communication device of the individual using the mobile device identifier. In one application, an individual with a mobile barcode associated with priority access level privileges may be allowed to bypass a queue by using a priority lane.

Claims

1. A processor-implemented access level management method programmed in memory and/or a non-transitory computer-readable medium and to execute on one or more processors configured to execute the method, comprising:

registering an individual for an access level including receiving a mobile device identifier from the individual, wherein the access level is relevant to access privileges for the individual available from different levels of access and including with the access level one of;

a specific queue, entrance, or aisle for directing the individual for service when the service is requested by the individual;

generating an electronic pass granting the individual access at the access level, wherein generating further includes generating the electronic pass as a mobile barcode encrypted to prevent fraudulent use of the mobile bar code without a mobile communication device of the individual; and

providing the electronic pass to the mobile communication device of the individual using the mobile device identifier for presenting to a network scanner for subsequent validation of the electronic pass, the network scanner further verifying the electronic pass by processing business rules that defined permitted time windows for the electronic pass and valid scanning locations for the electronic pass and wherein providing further includes providing message information to the mobile communication device that causes the mobile communication device to display a message directing the individual to the specific queue, the entrance, or the aisle for the access level when the electronic pass is successfully scanned by the network scanner.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein registering comprises receiving a request from the individual for the access level entered by the individual in a registration web page.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein registering further comprises receiving an individual identifier entered by the individual in the registration web page.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein registering further comprises creating a record associated with mobile device identifier and the electronic pass.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein registering further comprises receiving a user name and a password for logging into the registration web site entered by the individual in the registration web page.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device identifier comprises a phone number.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device identifier comprises an email address.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein generating comprises creating the mobile barcode based at least in part on the access level.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein providing comprises sending a second message to the mobile communication device containing a link to the electronic pass using the mobile device identifier.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein providing further comprises receiving information about display capabilities of the mobile communication device upon selection of the link, optimizing the electronic pass for display by the mobile communication device using the display capabilities, and sending an optimized electronic pass to the mobile communication device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein providing comprises receiving a request for the electronic pass and information about display capabilities of the mobile communication device from the mobile communication device via a mobile software application executed by the mobile communication device, optimizing the electronic pass for display by the mobile communication device using the display capabilities, and sending an optimized electronic pass to the mobile communication device via the mobile software application.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving payment from the individual for the access level.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving payment from the individual for a service associated with the access level.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the access level comprises an access level granting the individual priority over other individuals.

15. An access level management system comprising:

a registration system for registering an individual for an access level including receiving a mobile device identifier from the individual, for generating an electronic pass granting the individual access at a location at the access level, the electronic pass generated as a mobile bar code for a mobile communication device of the individual to prevent fraudulent use of the mobile barcode with the mobile communication device of the individual, and providing the electronic pass to the mobile communication device of the individual using the mobile device identifier for presenting to a network scanner for subsequent validation of the electronic pass, the network scanner further verifying the electronic pass by processing business rules that defined permitted time windows for the electronic pass and valid scanning locations for the electronic pass, and wherein the access level is relevant to access privileges for the individual available from different levels of access and include with the access level one of;

a specific queue, entrance, or aisle to direct the individual for service when the service is requested by the individual, and wherein the registration system is configured to provide message information to the mobile device that causes the mobile device to display a message directing the individual to the specific queue, the entrance, or the aisle for the access level when the electronic pass is successfully scanned by the network scanner.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the electronic pass comprises displaying on a display of the mobile communication device the mobile barcode.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the registration system is also for receiving barcode information from a barcode reader at the location and for verifying that the barcode information is associated with a registered individual.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising a reader at the location for reading the electronic pass to determine the access level and for contacting the registration system to verify that the electronic pass is valid.

19. The system of claim 15, further comprising a check-in computer and a reader at the location for reading the electronic pass to determine the access level and for contacting the registration system to verify that the electronic pass is valid.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising a gate system at the location for controlling access based upon the access level.