Access Control System Distinguishing Tailgate and Piggyback via Gesture

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing access control systems struggle to differentiate between authorized guests and unauthorized individuals attempting to enter through access points, leading to difficulties in distinguishing between 'piggyback' and 'tailgate' situations.

Innovation Solution

An access control system that includes a camera and an electronic processor to capture images of individuals at access points, determine authorized entry based on credential information, detect consent-to-follow gestures to determine the number of guests, and generate alerts for unauthorized entries.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If passive access control is used to eliminate human monitoring and reduce friction, then ease of operation is improved, but the ability to distinguish between authorized guests and unauthorized persons deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of entryVSAvoiddetection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical monitoring with an automated image processing system that uses computer vision algorithms to detect and analyze images of persons at the access point, enabling the system to automatically distinguish between authorized guests and unauthorized persons without human intervention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary image processing system that acts as a mediator between the access control system and the persons attempting entry. This intermediary system analyzes images and provides intelligence to determine whether to grant access, enabling precise differentiation between legitimate guests and unauthorized individuals

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If active monitoring with visual monitoring is implemented, then detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity and operational friction increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the complex manual visual monitoring process with an automated image processing system that uses computer vision algorithms, reducing operational complexity while maintaining or improving detection accuracy through algorithmic analysis of images

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The image processing system performs self-service by automatically analyzing images and making determination about access eligibility without requiring human monitoring. The system independently processes images, identifies persons, and provides intelligence to control access, eliminating the need for human operators

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If the system only checks credential information without analyzing behavior, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability of access control deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess speedVSAvoidaccess control reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple data sources including credential information, image data, and behavioral analysis into a unified access control decision-making process. This combination allows the system to maintain fast access operation while improving reliability by cross-referencing multiple factors to determine legitimate access

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS12277821B2Access control system and method to distinguish between tailgate and piggyback
Publication Date: 2025.04.15 MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS INC
  • US12277821B2 patent drawing
  • US12277821B2 patent drawing
  • US12277821B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Access control system and method to distinguish between tailgate and piggyback. The method includes receiving, from a camera positioned at an access point, one or more images of a first person at the access point and determining based on credential information whether the first person is authorized to enter through the access point. In response to determining that the first person is authorized to enter through the access point, the method includes determining, based on a consent-to-follow gesture of the first person detected in the one or more images, a number of guests of the first person requested to enter through the access point. The method also includes determining, based on the one or more images, a number of persons entering through the access point and generating an alert indicating unauthorized entry when the number of persons is greater than the number of guests.