Payload platform accountability control system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12345487-B2
Application number	US-202218273676-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 4, 2022
Priority date	Feb 4, 2021
Publication date	Jul 1, 2025
Grant date	Jul 1, 2025

Abstract

An accountability control system may be configured to provide one or more accountability controls to a payload platform. A payload platform may comprise a device configured to deploy a payload. The accountability controls may comprise one or more of an authentication control, an authorization control, a custody control, or a security analysis control. The accountability controls may restrict or disable access and operations of the payload platform. The accountability controls may also create a chain of custody of operations and events taking place in the accountability control system and the payload platform.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A payload platform comprising:
a platform;
a payload configured to be deployed from the platform;
a processor; and
a tangible, non-transitory memory configured to communicate with the processor, the tangible, non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
receiving a platform credential;
authenticating the platform credential based on an accountability control;
determining a platform permission based on the platform credential and the accountability control, wherein the platform permission comprises an access permission and a separate at least one of an operate permission or a payload deployment permission; and
enabling at least one component of the platform or the payload based on the platform permission.

2. The payload platform of claim 1 , wherein the accountability control comprises an authentication control, and wherein the authentication control comprises at least one of an authentication type or an authentication continuum.

3. The payload platform of claim 2 , wherein the processor performs operations further comprising reauthenticating the platform credential based on the authentication continuum.

4. The payload platform of claim 1 , wherein the platform permission further comprises a remote operator requirement.

5. The payload platform of claim 1 , wherein the payload deployment permission comprises at least one of a number of payloads, a number of projectiles, or a provision of a stimulus signal.

6. The payload platform of claim 1 , wherein the accountability control comprises a security analysis control, and wherein the security analysis control comprises at least one of a device fingerprint control or a component compatibility control.

7. The payload platform of claim 6 , wherein the processor performs operations further comprising performing a security analysis of at least one of the platform or the payload based on the security analysis control.

8. The payload platform of claim 1 , wherein the processor performs operations further comprising generating custody control data in response to at least one of the receiving, the authenticating, the determining, or the enabling.

9. The payload platform of claim 1 , further comprising a platform accessory, wherein the platform accessory comprises at least one of a recording device, an audio output component, an aiming apparatus, or a light-emitting component, and wherein the platform permission further comprises an accessory access permission controlling user operation of the platform accessory.

10. The payload platform of claim 1 , wherein the platform credential comprises a physical authentication key, and wherein the physical authentical key is configured to be inserted into or removed from the payload platform.

11. An authorization system comprising:
a processor; and
a tangible, non-transitory memory configured to communicate with the processor, the tangible, non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
receiving, from a payload platform, a platform credential;
determining a platform permission based on the platform credential, wherein the platform permission comprises an access permission and a separate at least one of an operate permission or a payload deployment permission; and
transmitting, to the payload platform, a permission response comprising the platform permission, wherein in response to the payload platform receiving the permission response, the payload platform is configured to enable or disable a component of the payload platform based on the platform permission.

12. The authorization system of claim 11 , wherein the processor performs operations further comprising capturing custody control data in response to at least one of the receiving, the determining, or the transmitting.

13. The authorization system of claim 11 , wherein the platform permission further comprises a remote operator requirement, and wherein the processor performs operations further comprising transmitting a remote operator request to a remote control system based on the platform permission.

14. The authorization system of claim 11 , wherein the platform permission further comprises at least one of an accessory access permission or a remote operator requirement.

15. The authorization system of claim 11 , wherein the payload deployment permission comprises at least one of a number of payloads, a number of projectiles, or a provision of a stimulus signal.

16. A method for providing an accountability control to a payload platform, comprising:
receiving a platform credential;
authenticating the platform credential based on the accountability control;
determining a platform permission based on the platform credential and the accountability control, wherein the platform permission comprises an access permission and a separate at least one of an operate permission or a payload deployment permission;
at least one of enabling or disabling a component of the payload platform based on the platform permission; and
capturing custody control data based on the accountability control, wherein the custody control data is captured in response to at least one of the receiving, the authenticating, the determining, or the enabling.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the accountability control comprises a security analysis control, and further comprising performing a security analysis of the payload platform based on the security analysis control.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the performing the security analysis comprises determining whether a component of the payload platform is compromised.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the performing the security analysis comprises generating a device fingerprint of at least one component of the payload platform.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the performing the security analysis further comprises comparing the device fingerprint to a previously generated device fingerprint.

Assignees

• Axon Entpr Inc

Inventors

• Smith Patrick W
• Schultz Karl U
• Holden Jenner B
• Appel Austin S
• Powley Justin K

Classifications

• F41H13/0012

  Electrical discharge weapons, e.g. for stunning · CPC title

• F41H13/0025

  for remote electrical discharge via conducting wires, e.g. via wire-tethered electrodes shot at a target · CPC title

• F41A17/066 Primary

  having means for recognizing biometric parameters, e.g. voice control, finger print or palm print control · CPC title

• F41A17/063

  comprising a transponder · CPC title

• F41A17/06

  Electric or electromechanical safeties (F41A17/04, F41A17/08 take precedence) · CPC title