Facility access control
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An automatically controlled access barrier system for limiting ingress to and/or egress from a facility, said system comprising:
- a facility having a normally closed access gate and an access barrier controller, wherein said facility allowing access by presentation of consumer merchandise bearing identifying data, said consumer merchandise having a purpose independent of its identifying data bearing function; and
a control system configured to automatically operate the access barrier controller, the control system comprising;
a sensor configured to sense identifying data borne by consumer merchandise;
a memory device configured to store identifying data borne by said consumer merchandise acceptable for access;
a data processor programmed to compare sensed identifying data with said identifying data stored in the memory device; and
said data processor further comprising a signal generator configured to generate a control signal and to transmit the control signal to said access barrier controller upon correlation by said data processor of said sensed identifying data with said identifying data stored in the memory device and acceptable for access.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Method and apparatus for controlling access to or from a facility associated with providing services and/or sales of merchandise. The facility has an automatically operated, normally closed access gate and a scanner. Patrons may access the facility free of charge or at a discount by displaying an article of merchandise such that the scanner reads a bar code inscribed upon the merchandise. Data corresponding to the scanned bar code is compared to data entered into the memory of an automated data processing device. If that comparison results in establishing a correlation between data from the scanned merchandise and data entered into memory corresponding to merchandise for which a discount is accorded, then a control signal is generated and transmitted to the access gate. The access gate then opens and allows the patron submitting merchandise for scanning to enter or leave the facility.
16 Citations
15 Claims
-
1. An automatically controlled access barrier system for limiting ingress to and/or egress from a facility, said system comprising:
-
a facility having a normally closed access gate and an access barrier controller, wherein said facility allowing access by presentation of consumer merchandise bearing identifying data, said consumer merchandise having a purpose independent of its identifying data bearing function; and
a control system configured to automatically operate the access barrier controller, the control system comprising;
a sensor configured to sense identifying data borne by consumer merchandise;
a memory device configured to store identifying data borne by said consumer merchandise acceptable for access;
a data processor programmed to compare sensed identifying data with said identifying data stored in the memory device; and
said data processor further comprising a signal generator configured to generate a control signal and to transmit the control signal to said access barrier controller upon correlation by said data processor of said sensed identifying data with said identifying data stored in the memory device and acceptable for access. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A method of controlling access to or from a facility utilizing an article of consumer merchandise, comprising the steps of:
- entering into the memory of an automated data processing device identifying data correlating to
the identifying data borne by consumer merchandise acceptable for access to a facility, wherein said consumer merchandise has a purpose independent of its identifying data bearing function;
sensing identifying data borne by said consumer merchandise;
comparing sensed identifying data with said identifying data entered into said memory of saidautomated data processing device; and
opening an access gate responsive to the establishment of a correlation between sensedidentifying data and said identifying data entered into memory acceptable for access allowing a patron to enter or exit a facility. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
selling said consumer merchandise at said facility.
- entering into the memory of an automated data processing device identifying data correlating to
-
11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of:
selling said consumer merchandise at said facility.
-
12. The method of claim 8, wherein said facility includes a motor vehicle parking area.
-
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of:
selling said consumer merchandise at said facility.
-
14. A method of controlling access to or from a facility utilizing an article of consumer merchandise, comprising the steps of:
- operating a facility having an automatically controlled access gate controlling access to or from
said facility and an optical scanner disposed proximate the access gate;
entering into the memory of an automated data processing device identifying data correlatingbar coded identifying data borne upon consumer merchandise which is acceptable for access, wherein said consumer merchandise has a purpose independent of its identifying data bearing function;
optically scanning said bar code visible on said consumer merchandise as said consumermerchandise is being passed by said scanner and converting said scanned bar code into a form which can be processed by said automated data processing device;
communicating scanned and converted data to the automated data processing device andoperating said automated data processing device to compare identifying data obtained by scanning with said identifying data entered into the memory of said automated data processing device; and
automatically opening said access gate responsive to establishing correlation between saididentifying data obtained by scanning and said identifying data entered into said memory acceptable for access. - View Dependent Claims (15)
- operating a facility having an automatically controlled access gate controlling access to or from
Specification
-
- Resources
Litigation Campaign Assessment
Thank you for your request. You will receive a custom alert email when the Litigation Campaign Assessment is available.
×
-
Current AssigneePepsipark U S A Incorporated
-
Original AssigneePepsipark U S A Incorporated
-
InventorsLoftus, Patrick David
-
Primary Examiner(s)Horabik, Michael
-
Assistant Examiner(s)BANGACHON, WILLIAM L
-
Application NumberUS09/679,909Time in Patent Office838 DaysField of Search340/5.6, 340/10.4, 340/5.61, 340/5.2, 340/5.7, 340/5.9, 340/928, 340/10.33, 340/10.42, 340/5.62, 340/636, 235/384, 235/381, 235/375, 359/155, 359/162, 359/170US Class Current340/5.6CPC Class CodesG07B 15/04 comprising devices to free ...G07F 17/24 for parking metersG07G 1/0045 with a code reader for read...
