Associating a user identity to a wireless signal

• US 9,888,378 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2013
• Issued: 02/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Anderson, Eric M., Davis, Robert A., Dawson, Christopher J., Lococo, Salvatore T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Iqbal, Khawar
• Application Number:
  US13/928,509
• Publication Number:
  US 20150003320A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,685 Days
• Field of Search: 455411, 4554121, 4554122, 455413, 4554141-415, 380255, 709223, 370328
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/22 in combination with an identity check of the pass holder
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security

Abstract

Embodiments described herein provide approaches for associating a user identity to a wireless signal based on information received at an access point. Specifically, when a first user presents a set of user credentials to a physical access point, his/her profile is accessed to authenticate the first user. A set of wireless signals emanating from one or more wireless devices operated by the first user is also received at the physical access point and associated with the first user. Information about the first user may then be broadcast and accessed by a second user (e.g., via his/her mobile device) in proximity to the first user and in receipt of the set of wireless signals associated with the first user.

Claims

1. A method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

providing a secured geographic area with an access control point, wherein the access control point comprises a wireless reader and a physical access control device, wherein the physical access control device comprises an electromechanical lock;

receiving a set of user credentials from an authentication device at the access control point of the secured geographic area;

authenticating an identity of a user by verifying the user credentials;

receiving multiple instances of a set of wireless signals associated with the user;

adding one or more of the set of wireless signals to a profile associated with the user in the case that the one or more of the set of wireless signals is not currently recognized as being associated with the user;

associating the one or more of the set of wireless signals with the user;

broadcasting the one or more of the set of wireless signals along with information about the user;

enabling the information about the user to be accessed by another device in proximity to the one or more of the set of wireless signals;

receiving another wireless signal; and

allowing the user access to the secured physical area, via the electromechanical lock, when it is determined that the received another wireless signal is a match to the machine access control (MAC) address of one or more of the set of wireless signals associated with the user.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

accessing a profile associated with the user; and

determining whether the one or more of the set of wireless signals is currently recognized, within the profile, as being associated with the user.

3. The method according to claim 1, the information about the user comprising a work order request.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

scanning the environment surrounding the access control point for wireless signals;

recognizing a set of background wireless signals from the wireless signals; and

comparing the set of wireless signals from one or more mobile devices of the user received at the access control point to the set of wireless background wireless signals to determine if one or more of the set of wireless signals is being received for the first time.

5. A system for associating a user identity to a wireless signal based on information received at an access point, the system comprising:

a memory medium comprising instructions;

a bus coupled to the memory medium; and

a processor coupled to a wireless signal identifier via the bus that when executing the instructions causes the system to;

provide a secured geographic area with an access control point, wherein the access control point comprises a wireless reader and a physical access control device, wherein the physical access control device comprises an electromechanical lock;

receive a set of user credentials from an authentication device at the access control point of the secured geographic area;

authenticate an identity of a user by verifying the user credentials;

receive multiple instances of a set of wireless signals associated with the user;

add one or more of the set of wireless signals to a profile associated with the user in the case that the one or more of the set of wireless signals is not currently recognized as being associated with the user;

associate the one or more of the set of wireless signals with the user;

broadcast the one or more of the set of wireless signals along with information about the user;

enable the information about the user to be accessed by another device in proximity to the one or more of the set of wireless signals;

receive another wireless signal; and

allow the user access to the secured physical area, via the electromechanical lock, when it is determined that the received another wireless signal is a match to the machine access control (MAC) address of one or more of the set of wireless signals associated with the user.

6. The system according to claim 5, further comprising instructions causing the system to:

access a profile associated with the user; and

determine whether the one or more of the set of wireless signals is currently recognized, within the profile, as being associated with the user.

7. The system according to claim 5, the information about the user comprising a work order request.

8. The system according to claim 5, further comprising instructions to:

scan the environment surrounding the access control point for wireless signals;

recognize a set of background wireless signals from the wireless signals; and

compare the set of wireless signals from one or more mobile devices of the user received at the access control point to the set of wireless background wireless signals to determine if one or more of the set of wireless signals is being received for the first time.

9. A computer-readable hardware storage device storing computer instructions, which when executed, enables a computer system to associate a user identity to a wireless signal based on information received at an access point, the computer instructions comprising:

providing a secured geographic area with an access control point, wherein the access control point comprises a wireless reader and a physical access control device,

wherein the physical access control device comprises an electromechanical lock;

receiving a set of user credentials from an authentication device at the access control point of the secured geographic area;

authenticating an identity of a user by verifying the user credentials;

receiving multiple instances of a set of wireless signals associated with the user;

adding one or more of the set of wireless signals to a profile associated with the user in the case that the one or more of the set of wireless signals is not currently recognized as being associated with the user;

associating the one or more of the set of wireless signals with the user;

broadcasting the one or more of the set of wireless signals along with information about the user;

enabling the information about the user to be accessed by another device in proximity to the one or more of the set of wireless signals;

receiving another wireless signal; and

allowing the user access to the secured physical area, via the electromechanical lock, when it is determined that the received another wireless signal is a match to the machine access control (MAC) address of one or more of the set of wireless signals associated with the user.

10. The computer-readable hardware storage device according to claim 9 further comprising computer instructions for:

accessing a profile associated with the user; and

determining whether the one or more of the set of wireless signals is currently recognized, within the profile, as being associated with the user.

11. The computer-readable hardware storage device according to claim 9, further comprising instructions for:

scanning the environment surrounding the access control point for wireless signals;

recognizing a set of background wireless signals from the wireless signals; and

comparing the set of wireless signals from one or more mobile devices of the user received at the access control point to the set of wireless background wireless signals to determine if one or more of the set of wireless signals is being received for the first time.