Digital Access Key Consolidation With Shared Tokens and Navigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Carrying multiple access keys and managing location data for various destinations is cumbersome, leading to clutter, loss, and inefficiency, especially when sharing access with others or navigating unfamiliar areas.

Innovation Solution

A portable digital access device with a wireless transceiver and processor that combines multiple access keys and location data, allowing secure authentication and navigation by exchanging information with access control systems and navigation systems, enabling seamless access and route planning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple entry enabling items are carried physically, then access to multiple locations is enabled, but bulk and risk of loss increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess capabilityVSAvoidbulk

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple entry enabling items (keys, access cards, tickets) into a single portable device with a display screen. The device stores multiple authentication credentials and can present them to different access control systems, eliminating the need to carry multiple separate physical items while maintaining access capability to multiple locations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The portable device is designed to perform multiple functions: it can serve as a key, access card, ticket, and navigation device simultaneously. The device communicates with various access control systems using different authentication protocols and can display location information for multiple destinations, making it a universal access and navigation solution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple entry enabling items are carried physically, then access to multiple locations is enabled, but risk of losing or misplacing items increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess capabilityVSAvoidsecurity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By consolidating multiple entry enabling items into one portable device, the patent reduces the risk of losing or misplacing individual items. The device's larger form factor with display screen makes it easier to locate and track compared to small keys or cards, while the single-point storage provides centralized security management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple entry enabling items are carried physically, then access to multiple locations is enabled, but difficulty in identifying correct key increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess capabilityVSAvoididentification ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The portable device uses visual display elements (color changes, icons, text) on its screen to indicate which authentication credential is active or appropriate for the current access control system. This visual feedback mechanism helps users quickly identify the correct key or access method without physically examining multiple items.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

4Adaptability or versatility

If entry enabling items are copied and delivered physically, then access sharing is enabled, but efficiency and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess sharingVSAvoidefficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables digital copying of authentication credentials within the portable device. The device can store multiple credentials and selectively present them, or transfer credentials between devices electronically, eliminating the need for physical duplication and delivery of keys and access cards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

5Adaptability or versatility

If location data of multiple destinations is managed separately, then navigation to destinations is enabled, but route planning complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenavigation capabilityVSAvoidmanagement complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines location data for multiple destinations within a single portable device and integrates it with authentication credentials. The device can manage and display location information for all destinations associated with the stored keys, providing centralized route planning and navigation without requiring separate management systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11952011B2Devices and methods for digitally combining multiple access keys and locations

Publication Date: 2024.04.09 TOYOTA MOTOR ENG & MFG NORTH AMERICA INC

AI summary

Methods and devices for digitally combining multiple access or entry enabling items or keys and/or location data of multiple destinations. A device may wirelessly communicate with a plurality of access control devices. The access control devices may individually authenticate a digital key of a plurality of digital keys identifiable by key identification data stored in a memory of the device. The device may further include a processor. The processor may be configured to determine that the digital key is authenticated by one of the access control devices. The processor may be further configured to communicate with the one access control system to prompt the one access control system to allow access to a user of the device. The processor may be further configured to communicate the location data to a navigation system. The processor may be further configured to transmit access tokens and/or location data to other devices.