Electronic access control and location tracking system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9997001-B2
Application number	US-201715818020-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 20, 2017
Priority date	Aug 15, 2014
Publication date	Jun 12, 2018
Grant date	Jun 12, 2018

Abstract

A method and system that allows authorized individuals access into controlled access locations and the ability to grant temporary and limited access to guests into these locations. The method and system allows for navigational services to be provided to members and guests, and real-time tracking and confirmation to members and administrators that guests have arrived at their destination and did not enter any unauthorized areas. The method preferably can work through a system of wireless radio, sound and/or light-based beacons communicating with member and guest's electronic devices. Members and administrators can send one or more temporary electronic access keys to a guest's smartphone or other electronic device. Wireless radio, sound and/or light-based beacons provide an access control and location tracking system with real-time data about the member and guest whereabouts, allowing for the confirmation and tracking.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic method for granting access to an individual requiring access to a controlled access area with a closed entrance, said method comprising the steps of:
a. electronically receiving one or more digital by a portable electronic device of a first party, each of said one or more digital keys providing access for the first party to an associated access point of a controlled access area;
b. electronically storing the digital key to an electronic keychain database;
c. electronically determining by the portable electronic device which digital key from one or more digital keys is needed by the first party for accessing to a specific access point of a controlled access area;
d. wirelessly transmitting the digital key determined in step (c) by the portable electronic device for use by an access control computer system in order for granting of access by the access control computer system.

2. The electronic method for granting access of claim 1 wherein step (d) includes wirelessly transmitting the digital key by the portable electronic device to one or more beacons located in an immediate proximity to a closed entrance for the controlled access area for sending of the digital key by the one or more beacons to the access control computer system in order for granting of access by the access control computer system.

3. The electronic method for granting access of claim 1 wherein the electronic keychain database is contained within the portable electronic device.

4. The electronic method for granting access of claim 1 further comprising the step of electronically retrieving the determined digital key from the electronic keychain database by the portable electronic device prior to step (d).

5. The electronic method for granting access of claim 1 further comprising the step of confirming that the first party desires to use the determined digital key from the electronic keychain database by the portable electronic device.

6. The electronic method for granting access of claim 5 wherein the step of confirming comprising either receiving indication that a confirmation button was pressed by the first party or receiving a biometric identifier from the first party prior to step (d).

7. The electronic method for granting access of claim 1 further comprising the step of automatically determining or sensing which beacons are in proximity to the entrance for the controlled access area prior to step (c).

8. The electronic method for granting access of claim 1 further comprising the step of wirelessly receiving a signal by the portable electronic device from a beacon in range with the portable electronic device informing the portable electronic device to wirelessly transmit the digital key prior to step (c); wherein in step (c) the portable electronic device uses information from the received signal sent by the beacon to determine which digital key from the one or more digital keys to wirelessly transmit in step (d).

9. The electronic method for granting access of claim 2 wherein the digital key wirelessly transmitted to the one or more beacons in step (d) is electronically received by the access control computer system for processing and determining whether the first party has permission to access the controlled access area.

10. The electronic method for granting access of claim 1 further comprising the step of wirelessly transmitting the digital key determined in step (c) at continuous intervals after access permission has been granted by the access computer system and while the first party remains in the controlled access area in order to provide for real time information on access permissions granted including where an individual associated with the portable electronic device remain in the controlled access area after an authorized designated time period.

11. The electronic method for granting access of claim 1 further comprising the step of wirelessly transmitting the digital key determined in step (c) at continuous intervals after access permission has been granted by the access computer system and while the first party remains in the controlled access area for receipt by at least one beacon from a plurality of beacons positioned throughout the controlled access area in order to provide for real time information on access permissions granted including where an individual associated with the portable electronic device remain in the controlled access area after an authorized designated time period.

12. The electronic method for granting access of claim 11 further comprising the step of electronically receiving one or more possible routes information by the portable electronic device that are sent from the access control computer system to direct the first party to a final authorized location for the first party from a current location of the first party, wherein the one or more possible routes are determined by the access control computer system based on authorizations granted to the individual by the access control computer system.

13. The electronic method for granting access of claim 12 , wherein the one or more possible routes information are calculated by the access control computer system after the access control computer system determines that the first party has not reached the final authorized location from information received from the at least one beacon.

14. The electronic method for granting access of claim 1 further comprising the step of electronically updating the electronic keychain database to indicate that the digital key was used to gain access to the controlled access area by the first party.

15. An electronic system for granting access to an individual requiring access to a controlled access area with a closed entrance, comprising:
an access control computer specifically programmed to grant and deny access authorizations for one or more access points of a controlled access area for a location;
a software application running on a portable electronic device for receiving one or more digital keys and determining which specific digital key to select from the one or more digital keys, each of the digital keys providing access for a first party to an associated access point of a controlled access area;
an electronic database; wherein the one or more digital keys are stored in the electronic database;
wherein the access control computer uses information for the selected digital key in deciding to grant or deny access authorizations.

16. The electronic system for granting access of claim 15 wherein the electronic database is an electronic keychain database which is contained within the portable electronic device.

17. The electronic system for granting access of claim 15 further comprising one or more beacons located in an immediate proximity to a closed entrance for the controlled access area, each of the one or more beacons programmed to transmit any received digital key to the access control computer system for use by the access control computer in granting of access by the access control computer system.

18. The electronic system for granting access of claim 15 wherein the software application retrieves the determined digital key from the electronic database.

19. The electronic system for granting access of claim 16 wherein the software application retrieves the determined digital key from the electronic keychain database.

20. The electronic system for granting access of claim 17 wherein the software application automatically determines or senses which beacons are in proximity to the ent

Assignees

• Collateral Opportunities Llc

Inventors

• Kusens Bruce Howard
• Kusens Michael

Classifications

• G07C9/28

  the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence · CPC title

• G07C9/27

  with central registration · CPC title

• G07C2009/00769

  with data transmission performed by wireless means · CPC title

• G07C9/00571

  operated by interacting with a central unit · CPC title

• G07C9/00309 Primary

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