Audio-based access control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12537008-B2
Application number	US-202418596161-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 5, 2024
Priority date	Dec 20, 2018
Publication date	Jan 27, 2026
Grant date	Jan 27, 2026

Abstract

A method according to one embodiment includes receiving audio input by a microphone of an access control device that controls access through a passageway, processing an audio signal associated with the audio input to identify and authenticate a user, determining a command corresponding with the audio signal in response to identification and authentication of the user, and performing at least one action that corresponds with the command.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for audio-based access control, the method comprising:
receiving audio input by a microphone of an audio detection device of an access control system that controls access through a passageway; processing an audio signal associated with the audio input to identify and authenticate a user and, in response to the user not being identified and authenticated, processing the audio signal to determine the audio signal is non-voice data; determining a command corresponding with the audio signal in response to identification and authentication of the user and corresponding with the non-voice data in response to the user not being identified and authenticated; and performing at least one action that corresponds with the command.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein processing the audio signal comprises processing the audio signal locally by the access control system to identify and authenticate the user.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein processing the audio signal comprises:
transmitting audio data corresponding with the audio signal to a server; and processing the audio data by the server to identify and authenticate the user.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the audio input corresponds with a voice command.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising electrically disconnecting a credential reader from a controller of the access control system and transmitting the audio input to a remote server.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the electrically disconnecting the credential reader from the controller is in response to detecting that the microphone of the audio detection device has been activated.

7 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising electrically connecting, by the audio detection device, the credential reader to the controller in response to authentication of the user.

8 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the electrically disconnecting the credential reader from the controller comprises activating a bus switch electrically coupled to each of the credential reader and the controller.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein in response to authenticating the user via the processing of the audio signal associated with the audio input, transmitting credential data for the user from the remote server to the controller of the access control system.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the transmitted credential data emulates user credential data that is received by the credential reader of the access control system in response to the user presenting a user credential device to the credential reader.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the performing the at least one action is in response to the credential data transmitted to the controller.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the authenticating the user based on the recorded voice data comprises transmitting, by the audio detection system, the voice data to a server over a Wi-Fi communication connection or an Ethernet communication connection.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the authenticating the user based on the recorded voice data further comprises receiving, by the audio detection system and from the server, the credential data associated with the user in response to successful authentication of the user based on the recorded voice data by the server.

14 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
generating a challenge phrase to be spoken by the user of the access control system; and outputting the challenge phrase to the user; wherein the audio input includes information relating to a spoken phrase spoken by the user; and wherein the processing the audio signal associated with the audio input comprises to authenticate the spoken phrase based on a comparison with the challenge phrase.

15 . A method for audio-based access control, the method comprising:
recording, by an audio detection system, audio inputs including voice data of a user and non-voice data in a vicinity of an access control system; authenticating the user, by the access control system, based on the recorded voice data and based on credential data associated with the user; transmitting, by the audio detection system, the credential data to the controller in response to successful authentication of the user based on the recorded voice data; processing the audio input to determine the audio input is non-voice data and a command that is associated with the non-voice data in response the user not being authenticated; and performing, by the controller, an access control function in response to receiving the credential data or the command in response to determining the audio input is non-voice data.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the recording of the voice data is in response to electrically disconnecting a credential reader from a controller of the access control system.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the electrically disconnecting the credential reader from the controller is in response to detecting that an input device of the audio detection system has been activated.

18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising electrically connecting, by the audio detection system, the credential reader to the controller in response to authentication of the user based on the recorded voice data.

19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein electrically disconnecting the credential reader from the controller comprises activating a bus switch electrically coupled to each of the credential reader and the controller.

20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein performing the access control function comprises transmitting a signal to at least one of an electric strike, an electronic latch, or a maglock to unlock a lock mechanism.

Assignees

• Schlage Lock Co Llc

Inventors

• Langenberg Daniel
• Baumgarte Joseph W
• Long Joshua
• Plummer Brady
• Goodwin John D
• Johnson Dakoda
• Hopkins Benjamin J
• Prostko Robert
• Martens Robert

Classifications

• G10L2015/223

  Execution procedure of a spoken command · CPC title

• G10L17/24

  the user being prompted to utter a password or a predefined phrase · CPC title

• G10L15/22

  Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue · CPC title

• G07C9/00563

  using personal physical data of the operator, e.g. finger prints, retinal images, voicepatterns · CPC title

• G10L17/00 Primary

  Speaker identification or verification techniques · CPC title