Electronic access control and location tracking system

• US 9,424,699 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2015
• Issued: 08/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Collateral Opportunities, LLC
• Original Assignee: Collateral Opportunities, LLC
• Inventors: Kusens, Bruce Howard, Kusens, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): BLOUIN, MARK S
• Application Number:
  US14/827,222
• Publication Number:
  US 20160049028A1
• Time in Patent Office: 375 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.61
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/20 involving the use of a pass

Abstract

A method and system that allows authorized individuals access into controlled access locations and the ability to grant temporary and limited access to guests into these locations. The method and system allows for navigational services to be provided to members and guests, and real-time tracking and confirmation to members and administrators that guests have arrived at their destination and did not enter any unauthorized areas. The method preferably can work through a system of wireless radio, sound and/or light-based beacons communicating with member and guest'"'"'s electronic devices. Members and administrators can send one or more temporary electronic access keys to a guest'"'"'s smartphone or other electronic device. Wireless radio, sound and/or light-based beacons provide an access control and location tracking system with real-time data about the member and guest whereabouts, allowing for the confirmation and tracking.

Claims

1. An electronic method for granting access from a remote location to an individual located at an access point of a controlled access area when the individual is located at a closed entrance for the controlled access area, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) electronically receiving one or more digital keys from an access control computer system by a portable electronic device of a first party, each of said one or more digital keys providing access for the first party to an associated access point of a controlled access area;

(b) electronically storing the digital key to an electronic keychain database contained within the portable electronic device;

(c) electronically determining by the portable electronic device which digital key from one or more digital keys stored in the electronic keychain database is needed by the first party for accessing to a specific access point of a controlled access area;

(d) wirelessly transmitting the digital key determined in step (c) by the portable electronic device to one or more beacons located in an immediate proximity to a closed entrance for the controlled access area for sending of the digital key by the one or more beacons to the access control computer system in order for granting of access by the access control computer system.

2. The electronic method for granting access of claim 1 further comprising the step of electronically retrieving the determined digital key from the electronic keychain database by the portable electronic device prior to step (d).

3. The electronic method for granting access of claim 1 further comprising the step of automatically determining or sensing which beacons are in proximity to the entrance for the controlled access area prior to step (c).

4. The electronic method for granting access of claim 1 further comprising the step of wirelessly receiving a signal by the portable electronic device from a beacon in range with the portable electronic device informing the portable electronic device to wirelessly transmit the digital key prior to step (c);

wherein in step (c) the portable electronic device uses information from the received signal sent by the beacon to determine which digital key from the one or more digital keys to wirelessly transmit in step (d).

5. The electronic method for granting access of claim 1 wherein the digital key wirelessly transmitted to the one or more beacons in step (d) is electronically received by the access control computer system for processing and determining whether the first party has permission to access the controlled access area.

6. The electronic method for granting access of claim 1 further comprising the step of wirelessly transmitting the digital key determined in step (c) at continuous intervals after access permission has been granted by the access computer system and while the first party remains in the controlled access area in order to provide for real time information on access permissions granted including where an individual associated with the portable electronic device remain in the controlled access area after an authorized designated time period.

7. The electronic method for granting access of claim 1 further comprising the step of wirelessly transmitting the digital key determined in step (c) at continuous intervals after access permission has been granted by the access computer system and while the first party remains in the controlled access area for receipt by at least one beacon from a plurality of beacons positioned throughout the controlled access area in order to provide for real time information on access permissions granted including where an individual associated with the portable electronic device remain in the controlled access area after an authorized designated time period.

8. The electronic method for granting access of claim 7 further comprising the step of electronically receiving one or more possible routes information by the portable electronic device that are sent from the access control computer system to direct the first party to a final authorized location for the first party from a current location of the first party, wherein the one or more possible routes are determined by the access control computer system based on authorizations granted to the individual by the access control computer system.

9. The electronic method for granting access of claim 8, wherein the one or more possible routes information are calculated by the access control computer system after the access control computer system determines that the first party has not reached the final authorized location from information received from the at least one beacon.

10. The electronic method for granting access of claim 1 further comprising the step of electronically updating the electronic keychain database to indicate that the digital key was used to gain access to the controlled access area by the first party.

11. An electronic system for controlling access by an individual located at an access point of a controlled access area for a location, said system comprising:

an access control computer specifically programmed to monitor, grant and deny access authorizations for one or more access points of a controlled access area for a location;

an access control electronic database storing access permissions for one or more individuals, said access control electronic database in electronic communication with the access control computer;

at least one beacon located in the proximity of a controlled access area;

said at least one beacon in electronic communication with the access control computer; and

a portable electronic device specifically programmed with a software application for processing or retaining access permissions for a particular individual from the one or more individuals, said access permissions in the form of one or more digital keys and said portable electronic device specifically programmed to determine which specific digital key to select from the one or more digital keys based on information received from the at least one beacon associated with a specific access point that the particular individual seeks entry at, said portable electronic device carried by or on the person of the particular individual when the particular individual seeks access to an access point of the controlled access area;

wherein when the particular individual is in range of the at least one beacon, said portable electronic device is programmed to receive a signal from the a particular beacon of said at least one beacon associated with a particular access point for the controlled access area and in response said portable electronic device is programmed to determine which specific digital key from the one or more digital keys is associated with the particular beacon and the portable electronic device is programmed to transmit the specific digital key to the particular beacon and said particular beacon is programmed to transmit the specific digital key to the access control computer which based on information stored in the access control electronic database is programmed to determine whether or not to grant access to the particular individual for the controlled access area.

12. The electronic system of claim 11 further comprising am access control electronic keychain database contained within the portable electronic device for storing the one or more digital keys;

wherein upon receipt of a signal from the particular beacon the software application stored in the portable electronic device selects and retrieves the digital key associated from the specific access point from the one or more digital keys from the electronic keychain database for transmitting the retrieved digital key to the at least one beacon.

13. The electronic system of claim 11 wherein each beacon of said at least one beacon is a wireless radio, sound or light-based beacon.

14. The electronic system of claim 11 wherein the access control computer is programmed to send an electronic signal to open an access barrier for the controlled access area where the access control computer determines from the retrieved digital key received from the particular beacon that the particular individual has permission to access the controlled access area.

15. The electronic system of claim 14, wherein the access control computer is programmed to update the access control electronic database with information concerning granting access to the particular individual for the controlled access area.

16. The electronic system of claim 11, wherein the at least one beacon are a plurality of beacons disposed throughout a controlled access area such that when the particular individual enters the controlled access area after being granted permission, the portable electronic device of the particular individual is in constant range of at least one of the plurality of beacons at all times while the particular individual is in the controlled access area.

17. The electronic system of claim 16, wherein the access control computer is programmed to continuously or periodically update the access control electronic database with current location information for the particular individual.

18. The electronic system of claim 16, wherein the access control computer is programmed to continuously or periodically update the access control electronic database with current location information for the particular individual within the controlled access area.

19. An electronic method for determining whether an individual has arrived at an authorized location within a controlled access area within a certain time period after being granted access into the controlled access area, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) electronically receiving a digital key wirelessly transmitted from a portable electronic device of a particular individual who has been granted access into controlled access area by an access control computer system, the access control computer system is in electronic communication with one or more beacons placed throughout the controlled access area;

(b) wirelessly transmitting the digital key by the one or more beacons to the access control computer system;

(c) obtaining by the access control computer system from an access control electronic database location information of each beacon who transmits the digital key which is stored in the access control electronic database;

(d) reviewing information stored in the access control electronic database for the digital key by the access control computer system to identify a final authorized location for the particular individual within the controlled access area; and

(e) determining by the access control computer system whether the particular individual has reached the final authorized location within a preconfigured period of time based on a programmed locations of the beacons which transmit the digital key to the access control computer system.

20. The electronic method for determining of claim 19 further comprising the step of updating the access control electronic database to indicate that the particular individual arrived at the final authorized location.

21. The electronic method for determining of claim 19, further comprising the step of notifying a system administrator or security staff for the controlled access area by the access control computer system where the particular individual does not arrive to the final authorized location within the predetermined period of time.

22. The electronic method for determining of claim 21 further comprising the step of updating the access control electronic database to indicate a current location within the controlled access area for the particular individual.

23. An electronic method for providing access to a controlled access area with the use of a digital access key, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) electronically receiving an electronic request by an access control computer system from an electronic device of a first party for a digital access key to be generated for allowing access to a controlled access area;

(b) electronically reviewing access permissions or privileges information for the first party previously stored in an access control electronic database by the access control computer system;

(c) if proper access permissions or privileges for the first party are determined by the access control computer system from the review in step (b), electronically creating a digital access key by the access control computer system for providing access to a controlled access area; and

(d) electronically forwarding the digital access key to the electronic device of the first party or an electronic device of a second party.

24. The electronic method for providing access of claim 23 wherein the first party is a member of a business or organization associated with the controlled access area and the second party is a guest of the member.

25. The electronic method for providing access of claim 23 further comprising the step of granting access permissions or privileges on the digital access key created in step (c) by the access control computer system that do not exceed the access permissions or privileges previously stored in the access control electronic database.

26. The electronic method for providing access of claim 23 further comprising the step of saving the digital access key in an access control electronic database by the access control computer system.

27. The electronic method for providing access of claim 26 further comprising the step of saving the digital access key with access permissions or privileges in the access control electronic database by the access control computer system.