Audio Token Access Control via Acoustic Transduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing access control systems at locations such as business entrances and transit points face limitations in communication, including hardware and software requirements, discovery range, and user action burdens, which hinder efficient and secure access management.
Innovation Solution
An access control system that utilizes configurable audio tokens broadcast by user computing devices, allowing or denying access based on received audio tokens, which can be generated and managed by an account management system, and verified by access computing devices using microphones, enabling dynamic and secure access control without manual actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional access control systems use hardware badges or RFID devices, then access verification can be achieved, but the system requires additional hardware and software components, increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical badge swiping mechanisms and RFID hardware with acoustic wave transmission. The access token is encoded into sound waves that can be transmitted through the air and detected by the access control system, eliminating the need for physical contact with badges or complex RFID readers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces audio tokens as an intermediary medium between the user's computing device and the access control system. The token is transmitted as an acoustic signal that carries authentication information, serving as a mediator that simplifies the interaction between user and system without requiring direct hardware coupling.
2Reliability
If users manually present identification or swipe cards, then access can be verified, but the process requires user actions that increase operation time and reduce productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The access token is pre-encoded with authentication information and stored in the user's computing device before approach. When the user nears the access point, the token is automatically transmitted via acoustic waves without requiring the user to manually present a badge or card, enabling seamless access.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables automatic authentication where the user's computing device self-transmits the audio token without manual intervention. The access control system automatically detects and verifies the acoustic signal, eliminating the need for users to manually swipe cards or present identification.
3Loss of time
If audio tokens are used for access control, then discovery time and access speed are improved, but the system must rely on acoustic transmission which may be affected by environmental factors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic audio token generation where each token is time-sensitive and can be rotated or updated. This dynamic approach ensures that even if environmental factors affect transmission, the system can adapt by regenerating tokens and maintaining security through time-limited validity periods.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution provides fast discovery and secure access management, allowing users to gain access automatically without swiping cards or showing identification, with the ability to rotate tokens for enhanced security and varying access levels, reducing latency and manual intervention.
Implementation Method 1
receive an audio token from a user computing device speaker component
Implementation Method 2
The access system might be a business, an airline gate, a transit system, a building security system, a residential building, a school system, a gym, or any other suitable system
Data Source
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AI summary
The examples provide an access computing device that is configured to receive configurable audio tokens from user computing devices and allow or deny access to users associated with the audio tokens. The system receives an audio token communicated from a user computing device. The audio token includes a set of data associated with a user account associated with the user computing device. The system analyzes the set of data in the audio token. In response to determining that the audio token is associated with the user account and that the user account is allowed entry to a secured location, the system performs an action to allow access to a user associated with the user account. If the user account is not allowed entry, then the system does not perform an action to allow entry.