Hotel Electronic Lock Access Using Smart Device Authentication
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The current hotel check-in process is cumbersome and inconvenient for guests, involving multiple steps and the use of unreliable plastic key cards that often require replacement, and contactless key cards do not alleviate the burden on guests or staff.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for authenticating a passive smart device, such as an NFC, BLE, or RFID-enabled device, to unlock electronic locks in hotel rooms, using a mobile computing device to manage and encrypt access keys, ensuring secure and efficient room entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If plastic key cards are used for hotel room access, then guests can unlock their rooms, but the key cards frequently experience performance issues and damage requiring replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical magnetic stripe key card system with an electronic authentication system using mobile devices. The mobile device contains an authentication application that communicates with the hotel's access control system via network protocols, eliminating the physical key card entirely. This substitution resolves the reliability issues of magnetic stripes while maintaining guest convenience through contactless access.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital copy of the key card functionality within the mobile device's authentication application. Instead of relying on a physical plastic card, the system uses a software-based authentication mechanism that replicates key card functions. This digital copy is more reliable and resistant to damage while providing the same access control purpose.
2Ease of operation
If contactless door locks with physical contactless key cards are provided, then guests can access their rooms without swiping plastic cards, but the burden on guests and staff of checking-in and carrying the card remains
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the mobile device universal by using it for multiple purposes: authentication, communication, and access control. The same mobile device that guests use for messaging and other functions also serves as the room key through the authentication application. This eliminates the need for a separate physical key card while reducing check-in complexity by integrating access control into a device guests already possess.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the key card functionality from the physical domain and embeds it within the mobile device's software. By taking out the authentication capability from a separate physical object and integrating it into the mobile device, the system eliminates the need for guests to carry additional items while maintaining secure access control.
3Reliability
If guests must stop at the front desk to receive key cards, then key distribution can be controlled, but wait time increases and burden on front desk staff increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables preliminary authentication and key distribution before guest arrival. The authentication application can be pre-configured on the mobile device, and the hotel system can prepare access credentials in advance. This eliminates the need for guests to wait at the front desk, as authentication can occur remotely or be automatically activated upon arrival, while maintaining controlled key distribution through the authentication system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service authentication where guests use their own mobile devices to access their rooms without requiring front desk staff intervention. The authentication application autonomously handles the authentication process by communicating with the hotel's access control system, eliminating wait times while maintaining secure key distribution through automated verification.
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes one or more memory devices storing instructions, and one or more processors configured to execute the instructions to perform steps of a method. The system may receive an authentication request from a computing device and determine whether the authentication request corresponds with stored authentication data. Based on the determination, the system may store identification data associated with a smart device corresponding to the authentication request. The system may receive detection data when the smart device is detected within a predetermined area and, in response to a detection, obtain an identifier from the smart device. The system may determine whether the obtained identifier corresponds with the stored identification data. Based on the determination, the system may direct an electronic lock to transition from a locked state to an unlocked state.