Keyless access control with neuro and neuro-mechanical fingerprints

• US 9,836,896 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2016
• Issued: 12/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aerendir Mobile Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Proprius Technologies SARL
• Inventors: Zizi, Martin, Sharkey, Hugh
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, An T
• Application Number:
  US15/013,810
• Publication Number:
  US 20160232726A1
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/15 Biometric patterns based on physiological signals, e.g. heartbeat, blood flow
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 13/00 Voting apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/26 using a biometric sensor integrated in the pass

Abstract

In accordance with one embodiment, an access control system is disclosed. The access control system comprises an access control panel including a touchable surface, a multi-dimensional touch sensor under the touchable surface, and a processor coupled to the multi-dimensional touch sensor. The multi-dimensional touch sensor captures a multi-dimensional motion signal including a micro-motion signal component representing neuro-mechanical micro-motions of a user touching the multi-dimensional touch sensor. The processor performs signal processing of the multi-dimensional motion signal to obtain the micro-motion signal component; and extracts unique values of predetermined features from the micro-motion signal component to form a neuro-fingerprint (NFP) that uniquely identifies the user. The NFP can be used as a gatekeeper to control entry into homes, offices, buildings, or other real properly typically protected by access control.

Claims

1. An access control system comprising:

an access control panel including

a touchable surface for receiving a user touch comprising a first component and a second component,

the first component comprising a micro-motion that is involuntary for the user,

the second component consisting of a motion repertoire that is voluntary to the user;

a touch sensor under the touchable surface, the touch sensor to capture the user touch;

a processor coupled to the touch sensor, wherein the processor is configured to

identify the first component for the user by using a neurological algorithm;

distinguish the first component from the second component;

perform signal processing of the first component of the user touch to determine a first signal that is based upon the involuntary micro-motion for the user; and

in response to user calibration parameters associated with the user, extract unique values of predetermined features from the first signal to form a first identifier that uniquely identifies the user touching the touch sensor, the first identifier based upon the first component and the neurological algorithm.

2. The access control system of claim 1,

wherein the sensor is configured for sensing one or more of:

a resting tremor, an action tremor, a postural tremor, a kinetic tremor, an intention tremor, a task-specific tremor;

a tremor comprising an unintentional, rhythmic muscle movement causing an oscillation in one or more parts of a human body, the tremor having a measurable frequency;

the resting tremor when an affected body part is not active but is supported against gravity;

the action tremor due to voluntary muscle activation;

the postural tremor when a body part is active and supported against gravity;

the kinetic tremor and intention tremor associated with movement, and

the task-specific tremor during specific motions;

wherein the touch further comprises a gravitational component;

wherein the access control system further comprises an access control server coupled in secure communication with the processor of the access control panel, the access control server including a storage device storing a database of N user calibration parameters respectively associated with N authorized users of the access control system,

wherein the access control server is configured to evaluate the first identifier for the user with each of the N user calibration parameters to determine a match percentage greater than or equal to an access grant level, and

wherein the access control server is further configured to grant access to a secured structure or area in response to the match percentage being greater than or equal to the access grant level.

3. The access control system of claim 2, wherein

the secured structure or area is a building,

the access control panel is coupled to a wall of the building, and

the server momentarily unlocks a door of the building to temporarily grant access into the building through the door.

4. The access control system of claim 2, wherein

the secured structure or area is gated by a fence, and

the server momentarily unlocks a gate to temporarily grant access into the secured structure or area through the gate.

5. The access control system of claim 1, wherein the access control panel further includes

a storage device coupled to the processor, the storage device storing N user calibration parameters respectively associated with N authorized users of the access control system;

wherein the processor is further configured to evaluate the first identifier for the user with each of the N user calibration parameters to determine a match percentage greater than or equal to an access grant level, and

wherein the processor is further configured to grant access to a secured structure or area in response to the match percentage being greater than or equal to the access grant level.

6. The access control system of claim 5, wherein

the secured structure or area is a building,

the access control panel is coupled to a wall of the building, and

the processor momentarily unlocks a door to temporarily grant access to the building through the door.

7. The access control system of claim 5

wherein

the secured structure or area is gated by a fence, and

the processor momentarily unlocks a gate to temporarily grant access into the secured structure or area through the gate.

8. The access control system of claim 5, wherein

the touch sensor is a three dimensional touch sensor;

and

the first signal is a three dimensional motion signal.

9. A method of unlocking a door without a physical key, the method comprising:

sensing a multi-dimensional motion of a body part of a user at a door knob to generate a multi-dimensional motion signal, the multi-dimensional motion comprising a first component having a micro-motion that is involuntary for the user and a second component, the second component consisting of a motion repertoire;

identifying the first component by using a neurological algorithm;

distinguishing the first component of the sensed motion from the second component;

in response to the first component of the multi-dimensional motion signal, generating a first identifier that is unique to the user, the first identifier based upon the first component and the neurological algorithm;

reading, from a storage device, one or more sets of authorized user calibration parameters associated with one or more authorized users;

evaluating the first identifier of the user in response to the sets of authorized user calibration parameters to determine a maximum match percentage;

in response to the maximum match percentage, determining if the user is an authorized user by comparing the maximum match percentage to an authorized user percentage; and

unlocking a door lock for the user in response to the maximum match percentage being greater than or equal to the authorized user percentage.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

sensing one or more of;

a resting tremor, an action tremor, a postural tremor, a kinetic tremor, an intention tremor, a task-specific tremor;

a tremor comprising an unintentional, rhythmic muscle movement causing an oscillation in one or more parts of a human body, the tremor having a measurable frequency;

the resting tremor when an affected body part is not active but is supported against gravity;

the action tremor due to voluntary muscle activation;

the postural tremor when a body part is active and supported against gravity;

the kinetic tremor and intention tremor associated with movement, and

the task-specific tremor during specific motions;

the multi-dimensional motion further comprising a gravitational component,

wherein the unlocking of the door lock includes withdrawing a dead bolt into the door from an opening in the side of the doorway.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein

the unlocking of the door lock includes releasing a catch of a latch so that the user may rotate the door knob to open a door.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein

the door knob is a door handle, and

the unlocking of the door lock includes releasing a catch of a latch so that the user may lift up on the door handle to open a door.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein

the door knob is a door handle, and

the unlocking of the door lock includes releasing a catch of a latch so that the user may press in on a button to open a door.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein

the multi-dimensional motion of the body part of the user at the door knob is sensed with a multi-dimensional touch sensor.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein

at least two dimensional motions of the body part of the user are sensed at the door knob to generate an at least two dimensional motion signal.

16. A method for accessing a building, the method comprising:

receiving a touch of a user at a touchable surface, the touch comprising a first component that includes a micro-motion that is involuntary for the user and a second component, the second component consisting of a motion repertoire;

identifying the first component by using a neurological algorithm;

distinguishing the first component from the second component;

with a three dimensional motion sensor, generating a first signal in response to the first component of the touch of the user;

with an neuro-mechanical fingerprint (NFP) authentication controller, generating a first identifier in response to the first signal, the first identifier based upon the first component and the neurological algorithm;

evaluating the first identifier against a stored user calibration to determine a match percentage; and

in response to the match percentage being greater than or equal to a predetermined match percentage, authorizing access to the building.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

in response to the match percentage being less than the predetermined match percentage, denying access to the building.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

in response to authorizing the access to the building, controlling an electronic door lock to unlock a door and grant access to the building.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the touchable surface, the three dimensional sensor and the NFP authentication controller are mounted in a hand held housing of a key fob with a radio transmitter, and the method further comprises:

with a radio receiver, receiving a wireless signal from the radio transmitter of the key fob representing the first identifier.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising

sensing one or more of:

a resting tremor, an action tremor, a postural tremor, a kinetic tremor, an intention tremor, a task-specific tremor;

a tremor comprising an unintentional, rhythmic muscle movement causing an oscillation in one or more parts of a human body, the tremor having a measurable frequency;

the resting tremor when an affected body part is not active but is supported against gravity;

the action tremor due to voluntary muscle activation;

the postural tremor when a body part is active and supported against gravity;

the kinetic tremor and intention tremor associated with movement, and

the task-specific tremor during specific motions;

wherein the touch further comprises a gravitational component.