System and method for obtaining a status of an authorization device over a network

• US 20060078101A1
• Filed: 11/16/2005
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Far North Patents, LLC
• Original Assignee: Robelight LLC
• Inventors: Roberts, Jon L., Light, Elliott D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,464,359 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/157
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23178 Display status of currently selected controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/00 Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points handling coins or valuable papers, e.g. banknotes, G07D; apparatus for vending or hiring articles or services activated by coins, credit cards, paper currency or the like G07F7/00, G07F17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2011/02 related to amusement parks
• 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: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/105 Financial transactions and auctions, e.g. bidding auctioneering devices in packet switching networks H04L12/1804
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2272 Subscriber line supervision circuits, e.g. call detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/387 using subscriber identification cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42093 Notifying the calling party of information on the called or connected party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42323 PBX's with CTI arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42365 Presence services providing information on the willingness to communicate or the ability to communicate in terms of media capability or network connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1235 where one of the core networks is a wireless network
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0421 : Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1307 : Call setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 : Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13152 : Callback
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13173 : Busy signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1318 : Ringing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 : PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13274 : Call rejection, call barring
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13282 : Call forward, follow-me, call diversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13374 : Paging
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13375 : Electronic mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13377 : Recorded announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet

Abstract

A system and method for determining the status of an authorization device over a network. Output signals indicative of the status of the authorization device are stored in a status file. An authorization datastore accesses the status file over the first network and obtains the status of the authorization device. A determination is made from the user identifier if the user is authorized to use the controlled device. Permission is granted to the user to use the controlled device if the user is determined to be authorized to use the controlled device.

Claims

1. A system for obtaining a status of an authorization device over a network comprising:

equipment adapted to provide output signals indicative of the status of the authorization device, wherein the status comprises a user identifier of a user determined to be within a configurable access distance of the authorization device and seeking permission to a use a controlled device;

a status file connected to the equipment for receiving the output signals from the equipment;

a first network connected to the status file;

an authorization datastore connected to the first network, the authorization datastore adapted for;

accessing the status file over the first network;

obtaining the status of the authorization device; and

determining from the user identifier if the user is authorized to use the controlled device; and

granting permission to the user to use the controlled device if the user is determined to be authorized to use the controlled device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controlled device is selected from the group consisting of a door entry system, a telephone, a refrigerator, an entertainment system, and a computing device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the authorization device is located in a facility selected from the group consisting of a hotel, a hospital, a cruise ship, a movie theater, an educational institution, an employment center, a detainment facility, a military facility, a police facility, a governmental office, and a research facility.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the controlled device comprises a receiving device, wherein the system further comprises a sending device and a second network, and wherein the sending device is adapted for:

associating a user address with the user identifier; and

routing communications addressed to the user address to an address of the receiving device via the second network.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the second network is selected from the group consisting of a wired network, a wireless network, a fiber network, hybrid fiber coax network, a switched network, a packet-based network, a cable network, a public switched telephone network, and the Internet.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the controlled device is a telephone and the user address and the controlled device address are telephone numbers.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the user identifier is associated with an RFID tag comprising and RFID tag identifier, and wherein the equipment comprises an RFID monitor adapted for:

detecting a presence of the RFID tag within the configurable distance; and

acquiring the RFID tag identifier from the RFID tag.

4. The system of claim I, wherein the first network is selected from the group consisting of a wired network, a wireless network, a fiber network, hybrid fiber coax network, a switched network, a packet-based network, a cable network, a public switched telephone network, and the Internet.

9. A method for obtaining a status of an authorization device over a network comprising:

inputting the status of the authorization device into a status file, wherein the status comprises a user identifier of a user determined to be within a configurable access distance of the authorization device and seeking permission to a use a controlled device;

accessing the status file over a first network;

obtaining the status of the authorization device;

determining from the user identifier if the user is authorized to use the controlled device; and

granting permission to the user to use the controlled device if the user is determined to be authorized to use the controlled device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the controlled device is selected from the group consisting of a door entry system, a telephone, a refrigerator, an entertainment system, and a computing device.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the authorization device is located in a facility selected from the group consisting of a hotel, a hospital, a cruise ship, a movie theater, an educational institution, an employment center, a detainment facility, a military facility, a police facility, a governmental office, and a research facility.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the first network is selected from the group consisting of a wired network, a wireless network, a fiber network, hybrid fiber coax network, a switched network, a packet-based network, a cable network, a public switched telephone network, and the Internet.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the controlled device comprises a receiving device, and wherein the method further comprises:

associating a user address with the user identifier; and

routing communications from a sending device addressed to the user address to an address of the receiving device via a second network.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the second network is selected from the group consisting of a wired network, wireless network, a fiber network, hybrid fiber coax network, a switched network, a packet-based network, a cable network, a public switched telephone network, and the Internet.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the controlled device is a telephone and the user address and the controlled device address are telephone numbers.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the user identifier is associated with an RFID tag comprising and RFID tag identifier, and wherein the method further comprises:

detecting a presence of the RFID tag within the configurable access distance;

acquiring the RFID tag identifier from the RFID tag; and

inputting the RFID tag identifier into the status file.