Access Control Device Multi-Parameter Authorization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current access control systems for transport containers lack comprehensive authorization mechanisms that consider geolocation, environmental conditions, and container status, leading to potential security vulnerabilities and inefficiencies in managing access.

Innovation Solution

An access control device with an electronic circuit, wireless communications module, and sensor system that verifies authorization queries by determining current parameters such as geolocation, environmental conditions, and container status, generating an access authorization signal to enable or deny physical access, using short-range wireless communication technologies like Bluetooth, RFID, or NFC.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional electronic locks with transponder or PIN code are used, then basic access control is achieved, but security vulnerabilities exist due to lack of comprehensive authorization mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidauthorization mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the access control mechanism from simple credential verification to multi-parameter authorization evaluation. The system now considers geolocation parameters, environmental conditions (temperature, humidity), container status (locked/unlocked, sealed/unsealed), and time parameters together to make access decisions, significantly improving security reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The access control device is enhanced to perform multiple functions: it not only verifies electronic credentials but also monitors geolocation, environmental conditions, container status, and communicates with external systems. This multi-functional approach integrates various authorization mechanisms into a single comprehensive system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If access control device monitors multiple parameters (geolocation, environmental conditions, container status), then access authorization accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess authorization accuracyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a nested architecture where the access control device contains an electronic circuit with processing unit, memory, wireless communications module, and sensor system. The sensor system further nests multiple sensors for different environmental parameters. This nested structure organizes complexity hierarchically, allowing high measurement precision while managing device complexity through modular design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Reliability

If comprehensive access conditions (geolocation, environmental, status) are verified, then unauthorized access is prevented, but access time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess control reliabilityVSAvoidaccess time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by continuously monitoring and pre-evaluating geolocation, environmental conditions, and container status parameters before an access request is made. This allows the system to have authorization decisions ready in advance, reducing the actual access time while maintaining comprehensive security verification

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The access control device continuously receives feedback from sensors monitoring environmental conditions and container status, and from wireless communications receiving geolocation data. This continuous feedback loop allows the system to maintain up-to-date authorization status without requiring time-consuming queries at each access attempt

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4421703A1Device and method for authorizing and enabling physical access to contents of a transport container
Publication Date: 2024.08.28 LEGIC IDENTSYSTEMS AG
  • EP4421703A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4421703A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4421703A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An access control device (1) attachable to a transport container (3) and an access control method are disclosed, the access control device (1) configured to: receive, from an electronic key device (2), an authorization query, verify the authorization query to determine whether the electronic key device (2) is authorized; determine a current geolocation of the access control device (1), a measured environmental parameter of the internal or external environment of the transport container (3), and/or current status information of the transport container (3); verify whether the one or more current parameters satisfy stored access conditions, the stored access conditions including geolocation conditions, an environmental condition, and/or a container status condition; generate an access authorization signal upon affirmative verification of the authorization query and the current parameters; and transmit, via the electronic communications interface, the access authorization signal to an actuator for enabling physical access to contents of the transport container (3).