Systems and methods for RFID-based access management of electronic devices

• US 9,443,361 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2012
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John D. Profanchik, SR.
• Original Assignee: 3V Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Profanchik, John D.
• Primary Examiner(s): KIM, PAUL
• Application Number:
  US13/679,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20150317854A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,397 Days
• Field of Search: 379/207.02
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2281 Call monitoring, e.g. for law enforcement purposes; Call tracing; Detection or prevention of malicious calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/387 using subscriber identification cards

Abstract

Disclosed are systems and methods for preventing unauthorized persons from using an electronic device within a facility. In such an embodiment, the system may include a RFID tag having unique identification information associated with a wearer of the RFID tag. The RFID tag may be comprised in a non-removable item worn by the wearer, such as a bracelet. This system may also include an RFID reader associated with the electronic device and having an RFID coverage zone for detecting RFID tags within the coverage zone. A device management system may be connected to the reader and configured to determine whether a wearer in the coverage zone is authorized to use the electronic device based at least in part on detected RFID tag'"'"'s unique identification information. In such an embodiment, the device management system is configured to activate the electronic device if it determines the authorized wearer is detected in the coverage zone.

Claims

1. An access management system for preventing unauthorized persons from using an electronic device in a custodial facility, the system comprising:

a first RFID tag configurable to have unique identification information that can be associated with a first wearer of the first RFID tag;

a second RFID tag configurable to have unique identification information that can be associated with a second wearer of the second RFID tag;

a reader configurable to be associated with the electronic device, the reader configurable to have a RFID coverage zone for detecting RFID tags within the RFID coverage zone; and

a device management system configurable to be connected to the reader and configurable to determine whether a wearer is authorized to use the electronic device based at least in part on an RFID tag'"'"'s detected unique identification information;

wherein the reader is configurable to detect when the first RFID tag is within the RFID coverage zone, the device management system permitting use of the electronic device if it determines the first wearer is authorized to use the electronic device;

wherein the device management system is configurable to perform a continuous check for the second RFID tag within the RFID coverage zone and to terminate use of the electronic device when the reader detects the presence of the second RFID tag within the RFID coverage zone.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the custodial facility is a prison, jail, detention facility or correctional facility, and wherein the wearer is an inmate in the prison, jail, detention facility or correctional facility.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the unique identification information is permanently associated with the corresponding wearer at the time the wearer arrives the custodial facility.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the unique identification information associated with the RFID tag is reprogrammable depending on a wearer of the RFID tag.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the device management system is further configurable to issue a notification when an RFID tag associated with an unauthorized wearer is detected in the RFID coverage zone.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is an audiovisual device.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises an access point, wherein the access point is configurable to restrict access to a specified location to only an expressly authorized wearer.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein the RFID tag is configurable to be comprised in a no-removable item worn by the wearer.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the non-removable item comprises a semi-rigid, hardened plastic material.

10. A system according to claim 8, wherein the non-removable item comprises break or tamper detection circuitry.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein the RFID tag in the non-removable item ceases to function if the tamper detention circuitry is triggered.

12. A system according to claim 1, wherein the data management system is configurable to maintain a record of the unique identification information for each RFID tag detected by the reader within the RFID coverage zone and satisfying certain conditions.

13. A system according to claim 1, wherein the RFID coverage zone has a defined radius of less than a coverage range of the reader.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein the defined radius is 1.5 meters.

15. A system according to claim 1, wherein the device management system is configured to activate the electronic device when the device management system determines only authorized wearers are detected in the RFID coverage zone.

16. A system according to claim 1, wherein the device management system is configured to deactivate the electronic device when the device management system determines an unauthorized wearer is detected in the RFID coverage zone.

17. A system according to claim 1, wherein terminating use of the electronic device comprises terminating a telephone call.

18. A system according to claim 1, wherein the device management system is further configurable to control use of the electronic device and record unique identification information associated with RFID tags detected within the RFID coverage zone.

19. A system according to claim 1, wherein the reader and the electronic device draw power from a common source.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the common source comprises an existing two-wire telephone cable.

21. A system according to claim 1, wherein the device management system permits use of the electronic device when only one authorized wearer of an RFID tag is detected within the RFID coverage zone and no unauthorized wearer of an RFID tag is detected within the RFID coverage zone.

22. A system according to claim 1, wherein the device management system terminates use of the electronic device when more than one wearer of an RFID tag is detected within the RFID coverage zone.

23. A system according to claim 1, wherein the device management system terminates use of the electronic device when more than one authorized wearer of an RFID tag is detected within the RFID coverage zone.

24. A system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a computer terminal.

25. A system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a telephone.

26. A method of preventing unauthorized persons from using an electronic device in a custodial facility, the method comprising:

providing a first RFID tag configurable to have unique identification information that can be associated with a first wearer of the first RFID tag;

providing a second RFID tag configurable to have unique identification information that can be associated with a second wearer of the second RFID tag;

creating an RFID coverage zone around the electronic communication device;

detecting when the first RFID tag is within the RFID coverage zone;

determining whether the wearer of the first RFID tag is authorized to use the electronic device based at least in part on the detected unique identification information;

permitting use of the electronic device by the first wearer of the first RFID tag if it is determined that the first wearer of the first RFID tag is authorized to use the electronic device while the first RFID tag is in the RFID coverage zone;

performing a continuous check for the second RFID tag within the RFID coverage zone;

detecting when the second RFID tag is within the RFID coverage zone; and

terminating use of the electronic device when the presence of the second RFID tag is detected within the RFID coverage zone.

27. A method according to claim 26, wherein the custodial facility is a prison, jail, detention facility or correctional facility, and wherein wearer is an inmate in the prison, jail, detention facility or correctional facility.

28. A method according to claim 26, further comprising permanently associating the unique identification information with the corresponding wearer at the time wearer arrives at the custodial facility.

29. A method according to claim 26, wherein the unique identification information associated with the RFID tag is reprogrammable depending on a wearer of the RFID tag.

30. A method according to claim 26, further comprising issuing a notification when an RFID tag associated with an unauthorized wearer is detected in the RFID coverage zone.

31. A method according to claim 26, wherein the electronic device is an audiovisual device.

32. A method according to claim 26, wherein the electronic device comprises an access point, wherein the access point is configurable to restrict access to a specified location to only an expressly authorized wearer.

33. A method according to claim 26, wherein the RFID tag is configurable to be comprised in a non-removable item worn by the wearer.

34. A method according to claim 33, wherein the non-removable item comprises a semi-rigid, hardened plastic material.

35. A method according to claim 33, wherein the non-removable item comprises break or tamper detection circuitry.

36. A method according to claim 35, wherein the RFID tag in the non-removable item ceases to function if the tamper detection circuitry is triggered.

37. A method according to claim 26, further comprising maintaining a record of the unique identification information for each RFID tag detected by the reader within the RFID coverage zone and satisfying certain conditions.

38. A method according to claim 26, wherein the RFID coverage zone has a defined radius of less than a coverage range of the reader.

39. A method according to claim 38, wherein the defined radius is 1.5 meters.

40. A method according to claim 26, wherein the electronic device is activated when it is determined only authorized wearers are detected in the RFID coverage zone.

41. A method according to claim 26, wherein the electronic device is deactivated when it is determined an unauthorized wearer is detected in the RFID coverage zone.

42. A method according to claim 26, wherein terminating use of the electronic device comprises terminating a telephone call.

43. A method according to claim 26, further comprising:

controlling use of the electronic device; and

recording unique identification information associated with RFID tags detected within the RFID coverage zone.

44. A method according to claim 26, wherein the electronic device draws power from an existing two-wire telephone cable.

45. A method according to claim 26, wherein use of the electronic device is permitted when only one authorized wearer of an RFID tag is detected within the RFID coverage zone and no unauthorized wearer of an RFID tag is detected within the RFID coverage zone.

46. A method according to claim 26, wherein use of the electronic device is terminated when more than one RFID tag is detected within the RFID coverage zone.

47. A method according to claim 26, wherein use of the electronic device is terminated when more than one authorized wearer of an RFID tag is detected within the RFID coverage zone.

48. A method according to claim 26, wherein the electronic device is a computer terminal.

49. A method according to claim 26, wherein the electronic device is a computer terminal.