REMOTE ENTRY SYSTEM

• US 20120311343A1
• Filed: 08/10/2012
• Published: 12/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CPC Patent Technologies Pty., Ltd. (Charter Pacific Corporation Limited)
• Original Assignee: Securicom (Nsw) Pty. Limited
• Inventors: Burke, Christopher John
• Granted Patent: US 9,269,208 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/186
• 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: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/084 using delegated authorisation, e.g. open authorisation [OAuth] protocol
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A system is disclosed for providing secure access to a controlled item, the system comprising a database of biometric signatures, a transmitter subsystem comprising a biometric sensor for receiving a biometric signal, means for matching the biometric signal against members of the database of biometric signatures to thereby output an accessibility attribute, and means for emitting a secure access signal conveying information dependent upon said accessibility attribute, wherein the secure access signal comprises one of at least a rolling code, an encrypted Bluetooth™ protocol, and a WiFi™ protocol, and a receiver sub-system comprising means for receiving the transmitted secure access signal and means for providing conditional access to the controlled item dependent upon said information.

Claims

1. A system for providing secure access to a controlled item, the system comprising:

a database of biometric signatures;

a transmitter subsystem comprising;

a biometric sensor for receiving a biometric signal;

means for enrolling relevant signatures into the database using the biometric sensor;

wherein the means for enrolling relevant signatures into the database of biometric signatures comprises;

means for receiving a series of entries of the biometric signal, said series being characterised according to at least one of the number of said entries and a duration of each said entry;

means for mapping said series into an instruction; and

means for enrolling relevant signatures into the database according to the instruction;

means for matching the biometric signal against members of the database of biometric signatures to thereby output an accessibility attribute if the matching is authenticated; and

means for emitting a secure access signal conveying information dependent upon said accessibility attribute;

said system further comprising;

a receiver sub-system comprising;

means for receiving the transmitted secure access signal; and

means for providing conditional access to the controlled item dependent upon said information.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the biometric sensor and the transmitter are located in a remote portable key fob.

3. A system according to claim 1 further comprising:

means for providing a signal for directing input of the series of entries of the biometric signal;

means for incorporating into the secure access signal an identification field identifying the biometric signal if the signal matches a member of the database; and

means for constructing an audit trail of biometric signals provided to the biometric sensor for the purpose of accessing the controlled item.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein the database of biometric signatures comprises signatures in at least one of a system administrator class, a system user class, and a duress class.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the accessibility attribute comprises:

an access attribute if the biometric signal matches a member of the database of biometric signatures;

a duress attribute if the biometric signal matches a member of the database of biometric signatures and said member belongs to the duress class; and

an alert attribute if the biometric signal does not match a member of the database of biometric signatures.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein the controlled item is one of:

a locking mechanism of a door; and

an electronic lock on a Personal Computer (PC).

7. A system according to claim 5, wherein the database of biometric signatures is located in at least one of the transmitter sub-system and the receiver sub-system.

8. A system according to claim 5, wherein said conditional access comprises one of:

provision of access to the controlled item if the accessibility attribute comprises an access attribute;

provision of access to the controlled item and sounding of an alert if the accessibility attribute comprises a duress attribute; and

denial of access to the controlled item and sounding of an alert if the accessibility attribute comprises an alert attribute.

9. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a control panel for receiving the information and for providing the secure access requested.

10. A system according to claim 9 wherein the control panel includes a converter for receiving the secure wireless signal and for outputting the information.

11. A system according to claim 9, wherein the biometric sensor authenticates the identity of the user by comparing a biometric input from the user with a biometric signature for the user in the biometric database.

12. A system according to claim 9, wherein the secure wireless signal comprises an RF carrier and a rolling code.

13. A system according to claim 10, wherein the secure wireless signal comprises an RF carrier and a rolling code, and the converter converts the rolling code to the Wiegand protocol.

14. A transmitter sub-system for operating in a system for providing secure access to a controlled item, the system comprising:

a database of biometric signatures;

a receiver sub-system comprising means for receiving a secure access signal transmitted by the transmitter sub-system, and means for providing conditional access to the controlled item dependent upon information conveyed in the secure access signal;

wherein the transmitter subsystem comprises;

a biometric sensor for receiving a biometric signal;

means for enrolling relevant signatures into the database using the biometric sensor;

wherein the means for enrolling relevant signatures into the database of biometric signatures comprises;

means for receiving a series of entries of the biometric signal, said series being characterised according to at least one of the number of said entries and a duration of each said entry;

means for mapping said series into an instruction; and

means for enrolling relevant signatures into the database according to the instruction;

means for matching the biometric signal against members of the database of biometric signatures to thereby output an accessibility attribute if the matching is authenticated; and

means for emitting the secure access signal conveying said information dependent upon said accessibility attribute.

15. A transmitter sub-system according to claim 14, wherein the biometric sensor and the transmitter are located in a remote portable key fob.

16. A transmitter sub-system according to claim 14 further comprising:

means for providing a signal for directing input of the series of entries of the biometric signal; and

means for incorporating into the secure access signal an identification field identifying the biometric signal if the signal matches a member of the database, said identification field for use in constructing an audit trail of biometric signals provided to the biometric sensor for the purpose of accessing the controlled item.

17. A transmitter sub-system according to claim 16, wherein the database of biometric signatures comprises signatures in at least one of a system administrator class, a system user class, and a duress class.

18. A transmitter sub-system according to claim 17, wherein the accessibility attribute comprises:

an access attribute if the biometric signal matches a member of the database of biometric signatures;

a duress attribute if the biometric signal matches a member of the database of biometric signatures and said member belongs to the duress class; and

an alert attribute if the biometric signal does not match a member of the database of biometric signatures.

19. A transmitter sub-system according to claim 18, wherein the database of biometric signatures comprises signatures in at least one of a system administrator class and a system user class.

20. A transmitter sub-system according to claim 18, wherein the database of biometric signatures is located in at least one of the transmitter sub-system and the receiver sub-system.

21. A receiver sub-system for operating in a system for providing secure access to a controlled item, the system comprising:

a database of biometric signatures;

a transmitter subsystem comprising;

a biometric sensor for receiving a biometric signal;

means for enrolling relevant signatures into the database using the biometric sensor;

wherein the means for enrolling relevant signatures into the database of biometric signatures comprises;

means for receiving a series of entries of the biometric signal, said series being characterised according to at least one of the number of said entries and a duration of each said entry;

means for mapping said series into an instruction; and

means for enrolling relevant signatures into the database according to the instruction, the transmitter sub-system further comprising;

means for matching the biometric signal against members of the database of biometric signatures to thereby output an accessibility attribute if the matching is authenticated; and

means for emitting a secure access signal conveying information dependent upon said accessibility attribute;

wherein the receiver sub-system comprises;

means for receiving the transmitted secure access signal; and

means for providing conditional access to the controlled item dependent upon said information.

22. A receiver sub-system according to claim 21 wherein the biometric sensor and the transmitter are located in a remote portable key fob.

23. A receiver sub-system according to claim 21, wherein the database of biometric signatures comprises signatures in at least one of a system administrator class and a system user class.

24. A receiver sub-system according to claim 23, wherein the accessibility attribute comprises:

an access attribute if the biometric signal matches a member of the database of biometric signatures;

a duress attribute if the biometric signal matches a member of the database of biometric signatures and said member belongs to the duress class; and

an alert attribute if the biometric signal does not match a member of the database of biometric signatures.

25. A receiver sub-system according to claim 24, wherein said conditional access comprises one of:

provision of access to the controlled item if the accessibility attribute comprises an access attribute;

provision of access to the controlled item and sounding of an alert if the accessibility attribute comprises a duress attribute; and

denial of access to the controlled item and sounding of an alert if the accessibility attribute comprises an alert attribute.

26. A receiver sub-system according to claim 25, wherein the database of biometric signatures is located in at least one of the transmitter sub-system and the receiver sub-system.

27. A method for providing secure access to a controlled item, the method comprising the steps of:

enrolling, by a transmitter sub-system, relevant signatures into a database using a biometric sensor, by receiving a series of entries of the biometric signal, said series being characterised according to at least one of the number of said entries and a duration of each said entry, mapping said series into an instruction, and enrolling relevant signatures into the database according to the instruction;

receiving, by the transmitter sub-system, a biometric signal;

matching, by the transmitter sub-system, the biometric signal against members of the database of biometric signatures to thereby output an accessibility attribute if the matching is authenticated;

emitting, by the transmitter sub-system, a secure access signal conveying information dependent upon said accessibility attribute; and

providing conditional access to the controlled item dependent upon said information.

28. A method according to claim 27, wherein the transmitter sub-system and the biometric sensor are located in a remote portable key fob.

29. A method according to claim 27, wherein the database of biometric signatures comprises signatures in at least one of a system administrator class, a system user class, and a duress class.

30. A method according to claim 29, wherein the accessibility attribute comprises:

an access attribute if the biometric signal matches a member of the database of biometric signatures;

a duress attribute if the biometric signal matches a member of the database of biometric signatures and said member belongs to the duress class; and

an alert attribute if the biometric signal does not match a member of the database of biometric signatures, and wherein the step of providing said conditional access comprises the steps of;

providing access to the controlled item if the accessibility attribute comprises an access attribute;

providing access to the controlled item and sounding an alert if the accessibility attribute comprises a duress attribute; and

denying access to the controlled item and sounding an alert if the accessibility attribute comprises an alert attribute.

31. A method for enrolling, by a transmitter subsystem, relevant signatures into a database of biometric signatures in a system for providing secure access to a controlled item, the system comprising:

said database of biometric signatures;

the transmitter sub-system comprising;

a biometric sensor configured for receiving a biometric signal;

means for enrolling relevant signatures into the database using the biometric sensor;

means for matching the biometric signal against members of the database of biometric signatures to thereby output an accessibility attribute if the matching is authenticated; and

means for emitting a secure access signal conveying information dependent upon said accessibility attribute; and

a receiver sub-system comprising;

means for receiving the transmitted secure access signal; and

means for providing conditional access to the controlled item dependent upon information in said secure access signal;

said method comprising the steps of;

receiving, by the transmitter sub-system, a series of entries of the biometric signal characterised according to at least one of the number of said entries and a duration of each said entry;

determining, by the transmitter sub-system, at least one of the number of said entries and a duration of each said entry;

mapping, by the transmitter sub-system, said series into an instruction; and

enrolling, by the transmitter sub-system, said relevant signatures into the database according to the instruction.

32. A method according to claim 31, wherein the transmitter subsystem is located in a remote portable key fob.

33. A method for transmitting a secure access signal in a system for providing secure access to a controlled item, the system comprising:

a database of biometric signatures;

a receiver sub-system comprising;

means for receiving the secure access signal transmitted by a transmitter sub-system, the transmitter sub-system comprising a biometric sensor and being configured for enrolling relevant signatures into the database using the biometric sensor by receiving a series of entries of the biometric signal, said series being characterised according to at least one of the number of said entries and a duration of each said entry, mapping said series into an instruction, and enrolling relevant signatures into the database according to the instruction;

means for providing conditional access to the controlled item dependent upon information conveyed in the secure access signal;

said method comprising the steps of;

receiving, by the transmitter sub-system, a biometric signal by the biometric sensor;

matching, by the transmitter sub-system, the biometric signal against members of the database of biometric signatures to thereby output an accessibility attribute if the matching is authenticated; and

emitting, by the transmitter sub-system, the secure access signal conveying said information dependent upon said accessibility attribute.

34. A method according to claim 33, wherein the transmitter sub-system is located in a remote portable key fob.

35. A method for receiving a secure access signal in a system for providing secure access to a controlled item, the system comprising:

a database of biometric signatures;

a transmitter subsystem, comprising;

a biometric sensor for receiving a biometric signal;

means for enrolling relevant signatures into the database using the biometric sensor by receiving a series of entries of the biometric signal, said series being characterised according to at least one of the number of said entries and a duration of each said entry, mapping said series into an instruction, and enrolling relevant signatures into the database according to the instruction;

means for matching the biometric signal against members of the database of biometric signatures to thereby output an accessibility attribute if the matching is authenticated; and

means for emitting a secure access signal conveying information dependent upon said accessibility attribute, said method comprising the steps of;

receiving the transmitted secure access signal; and

providing conditional access to the controlled item dependent upon said information.

36. A method according to claim 35, wherein the transmitter sub-system is located in a remote portable key fob.

37. An apparatus for providing secure access to a controlled item, said apparatus comprising:

a transmitter sub-system comprising;

a biometric sensor for receiving a biometric signal;

means for enrolling relevant signatures into a database using the biometric sensor;

wherein the means for enrolling relevant signatures into the database of biometric signatures comprises;

means for receiving a series of entries of the biometric signal, said series being characterised according to at least one of the number of said entries and a duration of each said entry;

means for mapping said series into an instruction; and

means for enrolling relevant signatures into the database according to the instruction;

the transmitter sub-system further comprising;

means for matching the biometric signal against members of the database of biometric signatures to thereby output an accessibility attribute if the matching is authenticated; and

means for emitting a secure access signal conveying information dependent upon said accessibility attribute; and

wherein conditional access is provided to the controlled item dependent upon said information.

38. A method according to claim 37, wherein the transmitter sub-system is located in a remote portable key fob.

39. An apparatus, in a transmitter sub-system, for enrolling relevant signatures into a database of biometric signatures in a system for providing secure access to a controlled item, the system comprising:

said database of biometric signatures;

the transmitter subsystem, comprising;

a biometric sensor for receiving a biometric signal;

means for enrolling relevant signatures into the database using the biometric sensor;

means for matching the biometric signal against members of the database of biometric signatures to thereby output an accessibility attribute if the matching is authenticated; and

means for emitting a secure access signal conveying information dependent upon said accessibility attribute;

the system further comprising;

a receiver sub-system comprising;

means for receiving the transmitted secure access signal; and

means for providing conditional access to the controlled item dependent upon information in said secure access signal;

said apparatus comprising;

means for receiving a series of entries of the biometric signal;

means for determining at least one of the number of said entries and a duration of each said entry;

means for mapping said series into an instruction; and

means for enrolling relevant signatures into the database according to the instruction.

40. An apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the transmitter sub-system is located in a remote portable key fob.

41. A method of enrolling a biometric signature into a database of biometric signatures in a system for providing secure access to a controlled item, the system comprising:

said database of biometric signatures;

a transmitter subsystem for receiving a biometric signal, the transmitter sub-system comprising;

a biometric sensor;

means for enrolling relevant signatures into the database using the biometric sensor;

wherein the means for enrolling relevant signatures into the database of biometric signatures comprises;

means for receiving a series of entries of the biometric signal, said series being characterised according to at least one of the number of said entries and a duration of each said entry;

means for mapping said series into an instruction; and

means for enrolling relevant signatures into the database according to the instruction;

means for matching the biometric signal against members of the database of biometric signatures to thereby output an accessibility attribute if the matching is authenticated; and

means for emitting a secure access signal conveying information dependent upon said accessibility attribute;

the system further comprising;

a receiver sub-system comprising;

means for receiving the transmitted secure access signal; and

means for providing conditional access to the controlled item dependent upon information in said secure access signal;

said method comprising the steps of;

receiving a biometric signal; and

enrolling the relevant signatures into the database using the biometric sensor as an administrator if the database of biometric signatures is empty.

42. A method according to claim 41, wherein the transmitter sub-system is located in a remote key fob.

43. A method according to claim 41 wherein the enrolling step comprises receiving another biometric signal to confirm the enrolling of the biometric as an administrator.

44. A method according to claim 43 wherein the enrolling step is performed dependent upon generation of a feedback signal adapted to direct provision of at least one of the biometric signal and the other biometric signal.