RADIO FREQUENCY PATCH ANTENNA AND SYSTEM FOR PERMITTING SECURE ACCESS TO A RESTRICTED AREA

• US 20160300413A1
• Filed: 04/18/2016
• Published: 10/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yikes LLC
• Original Assignee: Yikes LLC
• Inventors: Robertson, William Benjamin, Lopez, Jenna
• Granted Patent: US 10,085,135 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00904 for hotels, motels, office buildings or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00944 Details of construction or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A wireless device access system employs short-range wireless communication to require the proximity of a user device to a restricted area prior to communicating an unlock request. The access system authenticates the unlock request and the proximity of the user to the restricted area prior to transmitting an unlock command to an access governor. Additionally, the access system uses an access node configured to shape the radiation pattern of short-range wireless communications to better determine the position of a user proximate to an access governor.

Claims

1. An access node comprising:

at least one antenna;

a power source communicatively coupled to said antenna; and

at least one enclosure comprising a backing plate having a peripheral edge and a cover plate, wherein said enclosure houses said antenna and said power source, wherein said cover plate is configured to couple to said backing plate and enclose said antenna and power source.

2. The access node of claim 1, wherein said antenna is configured to emit at least one type of short-range wireless radio signal for connecting to a wireless user device.

3. The access node of claim 2, wherein said backing plate is configured to shape said short-range wireless radio signal.

4. The access node of claim 2, wherein said backing plate further comprises a lip extending perpendicularly from at least a portion of the peripheral edge.

5. The access node of claim 4, wherein said lip extends perpendicularly completely around the entire peripheral edge of said backing plate.

6. The access node of claim 1, wherein said enclosure further comprises an indicator communicatively coupled to said antenna, wherein said indicator is visible from the exterior of the enclosure.

7. The access node of claim 1, wherein said indicator is a light source configured to provide a notification to a user.

8. The access node of claim 6, wherein said light source is a multi-color LED.

9. The access node of claim 1, wherein said enclosure is further comprised of a power source tray.

10. The access node of claim 9, wherein said power source is at least one battery.

11. The access node of claim 10, wherein said battery is removeably coupled to said power source tray.

12. The access node of claim 1, wherein said antenna is a printed-circuit-board patch antenna.

13. The access node of claim 1, wherein said backing plate is comprised of a non-magnetic, radio signal blocking material.

14. A system for shaping radio waves and reducing back lobe radiation emitted from an antenna comprising:

at least one backing plate having a peripheral edge, wherein said peripheral edge further comprises a lip extending perpendicularly outwards from a portion of said peripheral edge.

a cover plate configured to couple to said backing plate and enclose at least one antenna.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said lip is configured to shape emitted radio waves and reduce back lobe radiation of a first antenna away from a second antenna.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a second backing plate configured to shape emitted radio waves and reduce back lobe radiation of said second antenna away from said first antenna.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein said backing plate is comprised of a non-magnetic, radio signal blocking material.

18. An access system allowing a user to access a restricted area using a wireless user device,

the access system comprising:

a database storing access permissions identifying at least one wireless user device authorized to access said restricted area and one access node authorized to permit access to said restricted area;

an access governor including a locking device securing a restricted area, said locking device having a short-range wireless receiver suitable for receiving unlock commands and responding by allowing a user access to said restricted area;

an access node, separate from said locking device, positioned near said restricted area, comprising;

an antenna configured to emit a short-range wireless radio for connecting to the wireless user device;

a power source communicatively coupled to said antenna; and

at least one enclosure comprising a backing plate have a peripheral edge and a cover plate , wherein said enclosure houses said antenna and said power source, wherein said cover plate is configured to couple to said backing plate and enclose said antenna and power source.

a server operable to receive an unlock request associated with a wireless user device and a structure from said access node and transmit an authorized request to said access node upon authorizing said unlock request using said database,

wherein said unlock request is authorized only if received from an access node authorized to permit access to said restricted area and originated from a wireless user device authorized to access said restricted area.

19. The access system of claim 18, further comprising a pressure sensitive mat communicatively connected to the access node, wherein said pressure sensitive mat is configured to sense the presence of the user on the pressure sensitive mat and determine if the user is an authorized user based on input from the access node and server.

20. The access system according to claim 18, wherein said antenna of said access node, comprises:

a first short-range wireless radio using a wireless networking standard for receiving a wireless access request directly from a wireless user device; and

a second short-range wireless radio using a wireless networking standard to transmit an unlock command directly to said locking device to permit access to said restricted area in response to receiving an authorized request.

21. The access system according to claim 18, wherein said wireless user device is a mobile telephone.

22. The access system according to claim 21, further comprising a secondary authenticator.

23. The access system according to claim 21, wherein said access node is configured to trigger a fee to an electronic wallet that is linked to user when said server requires a fee to enter or exit said restricted area.

24. The access system according to claim 20, wherein said first short-range wireless radio uses first wireless networking standard for receiving a wireless access request directly from a wireless user device;

and

said second short-range wireless radio uses a second wireless networking standard which is different than said first wireless networking standard.

25. The access system of claim 19, wherein said access node further comprises an indicator communicatively coupled to said antenna.

26. The access system of claim 25 wherein said indicator is configured to provide a notification to said access governor, said indicator having a short-range wireless receiver suitable for receiving access commands and responding by notifying said access governor whether to allow a user access to said restricted area;

27. The access system according to claim 19, wherein said indicator has a short range wireless transmitter suitable for sending access notifications to another wireless device indicating the accessibility of user to said restricted area.

28. The access system according to claim 19, wherein said access node is configured to trigger a fee to an electronic wallet that is linked to user when said server requires a fee to enter or exit said restricted area.

29. The access system according to claim 20, wherein said first short-range wireless radio uses first wireless networking standard for receiving a wireless access request directly from a wireless user device;

and

said second short-range wireless radio uses a second wireless networking standard which is different than said first wireless networking standard.

30. The access system according to claim 18, wherein said access node and pressure sensitive mat are configured to track the location of the user, wherein said access node and pressure sensitive mat trigger a debit of an e-wallet associated with the user when the user reaches a pre-determined point on the pressure sensitive mat.