Emergency Delegation Chain for Secure Access Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic lock systems face security risks when granting access to emergency responders or neighbors, as they can potentially enter the premises without proper authorization, even in non-emergency situations.
Innovation Solution
A method and device for controlling access using a delegation chain that includes an emergency delegation, which only grants access when a specified emergency situation occurs, such as a break-in, fire, or health emergency, by communicating with sensors or emergency services to verify the situation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If access is granted to emergency responders or neighbors without verification, then access speed is improved, but security is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary verification mechanism (emergency service provider, sensor devices, or monitoring devices) that acts as a mediator between the access request and the actual access granting. This intermediary verifies whether a genuine emergency situation exists before allowing access, thus maintaining security while enabling fast access when needed. The lock device communicates with these intermediaries to validate the emergency condition without requiring manual verification that would slow down access.
2Ease of operation
If blanket access is granted to emergency contacts, then ease of operation is improved, but security control is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the access rights dynamic by introducing conditional delegation. Instead of static blanket access, the access rights are activated only when specific emergency conditions are met (verified through communication with emergency services or sensor devices). The delegation chain includes emergency delegations that are dynamically validated based on the actual emergency situation, allowing convenient access for emergency contacts while preventing unauthorized access in non-emergency situations.
3Reliability
If delegation chain verification is implemented, then security is improved, but device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing delegation chains with emergency delegations before emergencies occur. The lock device is pre-configured with delegation information including emergency delegations that specify conditions for access. When an emergency occurs, the verification process simply checks whether the pre-defined conditions are met, rather than creating complex verification logic during the emergency. This reduces the operational complexity during critical moments.
Data Source
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AI summary
It is provided a method for controlling access to a physical space using an emergency delegation. The method is performed in a lock device and comprises the steps of: receiving an access request from an electronic key; obtaining a plurality of delegations, wherein each delegation is a delegation from a delegator to a delegatee, the plurality of delegations collectively forming a chain of delegations wherein when two delegations are chained together, the delegatee of one delegation is the delegator of the next delegation; determining that a delegation in the chain of delegations is an emergency delegation, the emergency delegation indicating that access should only be granted when an emergency situation occurs; determining when an emergency situation occurs; and granting access to the physical space when the chain of delegations starts in the lock device and ends in the electronic key; and when the emergency situation occurs.