Location-Aware Card Reader Authentication for Authorized Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional access systems lack the ability to ensure that individuals access or exit environments only at authorized locations and within permitted time periods, posing security risks.
Innovation Solution
A location-aware access system that integrates a card reader with GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and RFID/NFC units to authenticate users by obtaining access credential, generate a timestamp, and ascertain location coordinates, and a timestamp, and a controller to authenticate the card based on these parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional card and card reader-based access systems are used, then access control is simplified, but security is compromised as individuals can access environments at unauthorized locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds location-based authentication dimension to the traditional card-based access system. By incorporating GPS coordinates and location verification, the system transitions from simple card presentation to multi-factor authentication that includes physical location, thereby enhancing security without completely redesigning the access control architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The access system is enhanced to perform multiple functions: card authentication, location determination, time period verification, and location-based access control. The card reader and controller are upgraded to handle both traditional access control tasks and new location-aware authentication, making the system more versatile while maintaining backward compatibility.
2Reliability
If location awareness is added to access systems, then unauthorized access at intermediary exits is prevented, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces location services (GPS, Wi-Fi positioning) as intermediary components that bridge the card reader and the access control logic. These location services act as mediators that provide geographic context without requiring direct integration of complex location determination hardware into the access control system, thereby managing complexity while enabling location-aware authentication.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary location determination and verification before granting access. By checking whether the current location matches the authorized location in advance, the system prevents unauthorized access attempts at intermediary exits before they can succeed, enhancing reliability through proactive verification rather than reactive response.
3Reliability
If multiple authentication parameters (credentials, timestamp, location) are verified, then security is enhanced, but authentication time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication process maintains continuous verification of multiple parameters without significant pauses or delays. The system simultaneously checks credentials, timestamp validity, and location accuracy in an integrated manner rather than sequentially with idle time between checks, ensuring that all security measures are applied continuously and efficiently to minimize total authentication time while maintaining high security standards.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for location aware access are provided. A location aware access system comprises a card reader and at least one controller. The card reader obtains access credential from a card, generates a corresponding time stamp, ascertains location coordinates representative of a geolocation of the card reader when the access credentials were received, and provides the access credentials, the time stamp, and the location coordinates to the controller. The controller is configured to receive the access credentials, the time stamp, and the location coordinates corresponding to the geolocation of the card from the card reader. Further, the controller is configured to perform authentication of the card based on the access credentials, the time stamp, and the location coordinates corresponding to the geo location of the card, and trigger an unlocking mechanism corresponding to the card reader upon successful authentication of the card.