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

• US 9,971,918 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2016
• Issued: 05/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John D. Profanchik, SR.
• Original Assignee: 3V Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Profanchik, Sr., John D.
• Primary Examiner(s): KIM, PAUL
• Application Number:
  US15/262,554
• Publication Number:
  US 20160379025A1
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 340 101, 340 561, 37920702
• 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 RFID tag configurable to have unique identification information that can be associated with a wearer of the RFID tag;

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

a device management system configurable to be connected to the reader and configurable to determine whether the 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 configured to detect when the RFID tag is within the coverage zone, the device management system permitting use of the electronic device if it determines the wearer is authorized to use the electronic device.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the RFID tag is configurable to be comprised in an item worn by the wearer that cannot be removed and is tamperproof.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined size of the RFID coverage zone is either about 1.5 meters or about 30 feet (9.1 meters) or longer.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the device management system is configurable to identify the wearer based on the unique identification information when determining whether the wearer is authorized to use the electronic device.

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

6. 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.

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

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

9. A system according to claim 2, wherein the non-removable item comprises a semi-rigid, hardened plastic material.

10. A system according to claim 2, wherein the non-removable item comprises break or tamper detection circuitry, and wherein the RFID tag in the non-removable item ceases to function if the tamper detection circuitry is triggered.

11. A system according to claim 1, wherein the device management system is configured to perform a continuous check for a second RFID tag within the predetermined RFID coverage zone.

12. A system according to claim 1, wherein the device management system is configured to perform a continuous check to ensure a set of rules governing the use of the electronic device is followed.

13. A system according to claim 1, wherein the access management system comprises a second RFID tag configurable to have unique identification information that can be associated with a wearer of the second RFID tag and wherein the device management system is configured to terminate use of the electronic device when the reader detects the presence of the second RFID tag within the RFID coverage area.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein the data management system is configured to maintain a record of the unique identification information for each RFID tag detected by the reader within the RFID coverage area and satisfying certain conditions.

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

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

creating an RFID coverage zone around the electronic communication device as a zone of RFID coverage with a predetermined size;

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

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

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

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the RFID tag is configurable to be comprised in an item worn by the wearer that cannot be removed and is tamperproof.

17. A method according to claim 15, wherein the predetermined size of the RFID coverage zone is either about 1.5 meters or about 30 feet (9.1 meters) or longer.

18. A method according to claim 15, wherein the device management system is configurable to identify the wearer based on the unique identification information when determining whether the wearer is authorized to use the electronic device.

19. A method according to claim 15, wherein a second RFID tag is configurable to have unique identification information that can be associated with a wearer of the second RFID tag, and further comprising terminating use of the electronic device when the reader detects the presence of the second RFID tag within the RFID coverage area.

20. A method according to claim 19, further comprising maintaining a record of the unique identification information for each RFID tag detected by the reader within the RFID coverage area and satisfying certain conditions.