Frictionless Access Control System with User Tracking and Omni and Dual Probe Directional Antennas

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018102007-A1
Application number	US-201715729926-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 11, 2017
Priority date	Oct 11, 2016
Publication date	Apr 12, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

An access control system includes a mesh network of nodes for tracking and authenticating users throughout a building. The nodes include wireless interfaces. The user devices send user information to the nodes, which send the user information to a verification and tracking system, which returns authentication status information. As the user moves throughout the building, the nodes calculate the proximity between the particular node and the user device and compare the calculated proximity information to that of nearby nodes. The user information and authentication status information is then handed off to the node determined to be closest to the user device and, in the case of door nodes connected to door controllers, is used to grant access to restricted areas of the building. Door nodes are equipped with directional antennas with an adjustable antenna assembly including two or more probes to eliminate dead zones around the door nodes.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An access control and user tracking system for a security system, the access control and user tracking system comprising:
a verification and tracking system for receiving user information and generating authentication status information; and nodes, each comprising wireless interfaces, for receiving user information and device information from user devices via the wireless interfaces and sending and receiving device information and authentication status information to and from other nodes.

2 . The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the wireless interfaces include directional antennas.

3 . The system as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the directional antennas include adjustable assemblies, each comprising two or more elements for detecting electromagnetic waves.

4 . The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the wireless interfaces include omnidirectional antennas.

5 . The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the wireless interfaces include Bluetooth transceivers.

6 . The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the wireless interfaces include WiFi transceivers.

7 . The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the nodes calculate a proximity of the user devices to the nodes and send the calculated proximity information to other nodes.

8 . The system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the nodes compare the calculated proximity information to calculated proximity information received from other nodes.

9 . The system as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising door controllers for receiving authentication status information from the nodes and granting or denying access based on the authentication status information.

10 . The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the user devices include smart phones and/or fobs.

11 . A method for providing access control and tracking users of a security system, the method comprising:
nodes with wireless interfaces receiving user information and device information from user devices and sending the user information to a verification and tracking system; the verification and tracking system receiving the user information, generating authentication status information, and sending the authentication status information to the nodes; and the nodes sending the user information, device information and authentication status information to other nodes.

12 . The method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the wireless interfaces include directional antennas.

13 . The method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the directional antennas include adjustable assemblies, each comprising two or more elements for detecting wireless signals waves.

14 . The method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the wireless interfaces include omnidirectional antennas.

15 . The method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the wireless interfaces include Bluetooth transceivers.

16 . The method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the wireless interfaces include WiFi transceivers.

17 . The method as claimed in claim 11 , further comprising the nodes calculating a proximity of the user devices to the nodes and send the calculated proximity information to other nodes.

18 . The method as claimed in claim 17 , further comprising nodes comparing the calculated proximity information to calculated proximity information received from other nodes.

19 . The method as claimed in claim 11 , further comprising door controllers receiving authentication status information from the nodes and granting or denying access based on the authentication status information.

20 . The method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the user devices include smart phones and/or fobs.

21 . A directional antenna for an access control system, the directional antenna comprising:
an adjustable assembly comprising two or more elements for detecting wireless signals.

22 . The system as claimed in claim 21 , further comprising a rotation stage, for adjusting the positions of the two or more elements.

Assignees

• Sensormatic Electronics Llc

Inventors

• Trani James

Classifications

• G07C9/00571 Primary

  operated by interacting with a central unit · CPC title

• G07C9/28 Primary

  the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence · CPC title

• G07C9/00111 Primary

  Physics · mapped topic