Electronic access control and location tracking system

• US 9,691,206 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2016
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Collateral Opportunities, LLC
• Original Assignee: Collateral Opportunities, LLC
• Inventors: Kusens, Bruce, Kusens, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): BLOUIN, MARK S
• Application Number:
  US15/286,753
• Publication Number:
  US 20170076526A1
• Time in Patent Office: 264 Days
• Field of Search: 340 561
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00388 code verification carried out according to the challenge/response method
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/02 Access control comprising means for the enrolment of users
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00817 where the code of the lock can be programmed
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

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 determining whether an individual is currently located in an authorized or unauthorized location within a controlled access area, the controlled access area have a plurality of beacons placed throughout, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) electronically receiving digital key information by an access control computer system, the digital key is wirelessly transmitted from a portable electronic device of a particular individual who is currently located within the controlled access area, the access control computer system is in electronic communication with the plurality of beacons placed throughout the controlled access area;

(b) electronically reviewing information stored in an access control &

location tracking database related to the digital key by the access control computer system;

(c) determining permissions afforded to the particular individual whose portable electronic device originally transmitted the digital key by the access control computer system from the information reviewed in the access control &

location tracking database; and

(d) electronically determining whether the particular individual is an authorized location or unauthorized location within the controlled access area by the access control computer system.

2. The electronic method of claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises the steps of wirelessly transmitting the digital key information by the portable electronic device to a beacon from the plurality of beacons and then wirelessly transmitting digital key information from the beacon to the access control computer system.

3. The electronic method of claim 1 wherein the digital key information is wirelessly transmitted in continuous intervals by the portable electronic device.

4. The electronic method of claim 1 further comprising the step of suspending or terminating one or more permissions granted to the particular individual by the access control computer system when the access control computer system determines that the particular individual is located at an unauthorized location.

5. The electronic method of claim 1 further comprising the step of notifying one or more individuals by the access control computer system when the access control computer system determines that the particular individual is located at an unauthorized location.

6. The electronic method of claim 1 further comprising the step of generating one or more alerts by the access control computer system when the access control computer system determines that the particular individual is located at an unauthorized location.

7. An electronic method for determining whether an individual is currently located at a final authorized location within a controlled access area, the controlled access area have a plurality of beacons placed throughout, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) electronically receiving digital key information by an access control computer system, the digital key is wirelessly transmitted from a portable electronic device of a particular individual who is currently located within the controlled access area, the access control computer system is in electronic communication with the plurality of beacons placed throughout the controlled access area;

(b) electronically reviewing information stored in an access control &

location tracking database related to the digital key by the access control computer system;

(c) determining a final authorized location within the controlled access area for the particular individual whose portable electronic device originally transmitted the digital key by the access control computer system from the information reviewed in the access control &

location tracking database; and

(d) electronically determining whether the particular individual is currently at the final authorized location within the controlled access area by the access control computer system.

8. The electronic method of claim 7 wherein step (a) comprises the steps of wirelessly transmitting the digital key information by the portable electronic device to a beacon from the plurality of beacons and then wirelessly transmitting digital key information from the beacon to the access control computer system.

9. The electronic method of claim 7 wherein the digital key information is wirelessly transmitted in continuous intervals by the portable electronic device.

10. The electronic method of claim 7 further comprising the step of suspending or terminating one or more permissions granted to the particular individual by the access control computer system when the access control computer system determines that the particular individual is not located at the final authorized location within the controlled access area.

11. The electronic method of claim 7 further comprising the step of notifying one or more individuals by the access control computer system when the access control computer system determines that the particular individual is not located at the final authorized location within the controlled access area.

12. The electronic method of claim 7 further comprising the step of generating one or more alerts by the access control computer system when the access control computer system determines that the particular individual is not located at the final authorized location within the controlled access area.

13. The electronic method of claim 7 wherein prior to performing step (d) further comprising the steps electronically reviewing information stored in the access control &

location tracking database pertaining to any preconfigured time duration or time of day set for the particular individual to reach or be at the final authorized location, electronically determining if the time duration or time of day has been reached or exceeded and proceeding to step (d) only after the time duration or time of day has been reached or exceeded.

14. The electronic method of claim 13 further comprising the step of suspending or terminating one or more permissions granted to the particular individual by the access control computer system when the access control computer system determines that the particular individual is not located at the final authorized location within the controlled access area after the time duration or time of day has been reached or exceeded.

15. The electronic method of claim 13 further comprising the step of notifying one or more individuals by the access control computer system when the access control computer system determines that the particular individual is not located at the final authorized location within the controlled access area after the time duration or time of day has been reached or exceeded.

16. The electronic method of claim 13 further comprising the step of generating one or more alerts by the access control computer system when the access control computer system determines that the particular individual is not located at the final authorized location within the controlled access area after the time duration or time of day has been reached or exceeded.

17. The electronic method of claim 7 wherein when the access control computer system determines that the particular individual is not located at the final authorized location within the controlled access area in step (d) further comprising the step of calculating one or more routes to the final authorized location based on a current location of the particular individual within the controlled access area by the access control computer system and electronic forwarding calculated route information by the access control computer system to the portable electronic device of the particular individual.