Physical access request authorization

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9626816-B2
Application number	US-201615155498-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 16, 2016
Priority date	Mar 26, 2013
Publication date	Apr 18, 2017
Grant date	Apr 18, 2017

Abstract

In a method for controlling physical access to a computing device a first access request to a room containing the computing device is received. In response, a processor determines that the first access request is valid based on the room and the date and time of the first access request and unlocks a door to the room to permit entry to the room. Subsequently, a second access request to a cabinet that is located in the room and contains the computing device is received. In response, a processor determines that the second access request is valid based on the cabinet and the date and time of the second access request and unlocks the cabinet to permit access to the computing device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for controlling physical access to a computing device the method comprising:
receiving a first access request to a room containing the computing device, and one or more processors determining whether the first access request is valid based on the room and the date and time of the first access request, wherein responsive to determining the first access request is valid unlocking a door to the room to permit entry to the room;
subsequently, receiving a second access request to a cabinet that is located in the room and contains the computing device, and one or more processors determining whether the second access request is valid based on the cabinet and the date and time of the second access request, wherein responsive to determining the second access request is valid unlocking the cabinet to permit access to the computing device; and
wherein the first access request comprises a first identification data and a first change request number and the second access request comprises a second identification data and a second change request number, wherein the first and second change request numbers are associated with one or more conditions, wherein two or more individuals listed as approvers of the first and second change request numbers agree to all conditions of the one or more conditions of the first and second change request number.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more conditions comprises a time range in which access to the computing device is allowed.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the step of determining, by the one or more processors, whether the first access request is valid comprises the step of determining, by the one or more processors, whether the date and time of the first access request falls within the time range; and
wherein the step of determining, by the one or more processors, whether the second access request is valid comprises the step of determining, by the one or more processors, whether the date and time of the second access request falls within the time range.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:
receiving a third access request to a specific part of the computing device in the cabinet, and, one or more processors determining whether the third access request is valid based on the specific part of the computing device and the date and time of the third access request, wherein responsive to determining the third access request is valid approving access to the specific part of the computing device; and
wherein the third access request comprises a third identification data and a third change request number, wherein the third change request numbers are associated with one or more conditions, wherein two or more individuals listed as approvers of the third change request number agree to all conditions of the one or more conditions of the third change request number.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the one or more conditions comprises a time range in which access to the specific part of the computing device is allowed.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the step of determining, by the one or more processors, whether the first access request is valid comprises the step of determining, by the one or more processors, whether the date and time of the first access request falls within the time range; wherein the step of determining, by the one or more processors, whether the second access request is valid comprises the step of determining, by the one or more processors, whether the date and time of the second access request falls within the time range; and wherein the step of determining, by the one or more processors, whether the third access request is valid comprises the step of determining, by the one or more processors, whether the date and time of the third access request falls within the time range.

7. A computer program product for controlling physical access to a computing device, the computer program product comprising:
one or more computer-readable storage devices and program instructions stored on the one or more computer-readable storage devices, the program instructions comprising:
program instructions to receive a first access request to a room containing the computing device, and program instructions to determine whether the first access request is valid based on the room and the date and time of the first access request, wherein responsive to determining the first access request is valid unlock a door to the room to permit entry to the room;
subsequently, program instructions to receive a second access request to a cabinet that is located in the room and contains the computing device, and program instructions to determine whether the second access request is valid based on the cabinet and the date and time of the second access request, wherein responsive to determining the second access request is valid unlock the cabinet to permit access to the computing device; and
wherein the first access request comprises a first identification data and a first change request number and the second access request comprises a second identification data and a second change request number, wherein the first and second change request numbers are associated with one or more conditions, wherein two or more individuals listed as approvers of the first and second change request numbers agree to all conditions of the one or more conditions of the first and second change request number.

8. The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein the one or more conditions comprises a time range in which access to the computing device is allowed.

9. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the program instructions to determine whether the first access request is valid comprise program instructions to determine whether the date and time of the first access request falls within the time range; and wherein the program instructions to determine whether the second access request is valid comprise program instructions to determine whether the date and time of the second access request falls within the time range.

10. The computer program product of claim 7 further comprising:
program instructions stored on the one or more computer-readable storage devices, to receive a third access request to a specific part of the computing device in the cabinet, and program instructions to determine whether the third access request is valid based on the specific part of the computing device and the date and time of the third access request, wherein responsive to determining the third access request is valid approve access to the specific part of the computing device; and
wherein the third access request comprises a third identification data and a third change request number, wherein the third change request numbers are associated with one or more conditions, wherein two or more individuals listed as approvers of the third change request number agree to all conditions of the one or more conditions of the third change request number.

11. The computer program product of claim 10 , wherein the one or more conditions comprises a time range in which access to the specific part of the computing device is allowed.

12. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the program instructions to determine whether the first access request is valid comprise program instructions to determine whether the date and time of the first access request falls within the time range; wherein the program instructions to determine whether the second access request is valid comprise program instructions to determine whether the date and time of the second access request falls within the time range; and wherein program instructions to determine whether

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Clark Michael A
• Gambon Kenneth T
• Lehman Bret W

Classifications

• G06Q10/105

  Human resources · CPC title

• G06F21/86

  Secure or tamper-resistant housings · CPC title

• G07C9/20

  involving the use of a pass · CPC title

• G07C9/00182 Primary

  operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks · CPC title

• G07C9/00

  Individual registration on entry or exit · CPC title