Mobile Building Access With Location-Based Door Authorization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current physical access control systems that rely on physical access cards are cumbersome and error-prone, requiring time-consuming management and issuance.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing a user's mobile device as an access credential, enabling commissioning mode to associate access points with device locations, and allowing secure access through GPS and Bluetooth functionalities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If physical access cards are used for building access control, then access authorization can be provided, but the system becomes cumbersome and time-consuming to manage and issue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical access cards with digital copies stored in mobile devices. The access credential is copied from a central system to the user's mobile device, eliminating the need for physical card issuance and management. This digital copying approach resolves the contradiction by making access control operations easier while reducing the time required for card management and distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical physical card system with an electronic/mobile-based system. Instead of physically swiping or inserting access cards, the system uses electronic credentials on mobile devices that can be remotely issued and managed. This substitution eliminates the time-consuming physical card management processes while maintaining access control functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If physical access cards are used, then access control functionality is provided, but the system requires cumbersome issuance and management processes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the mobile device universal by enabling it to serve multiple functions: it acts as both a communication device and an access credential holder. The mobile device can store multiple access credentials, support different authentication methods, and function across various locations and buildings. This universality increases adaptability while the centralized management system reduces operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a centralized management system as an intermediary between the access control infrastructure and users. This intermediary handles credential issuance, revocation, and management remotely, reducing the complexity at the point of use. The mobile device becomes a simple intermediary carrier for the actual access credentials managed by the central system.
3Reliability
If mobile devices are used as access credentials with location-based authorization, then security is enhanced, but the system requires complex location capturing and associating processes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs location capturing and associating as a preliminary commissioning action during system setup. The access points are pre-configured with their location data, and the association between locations and access credentials is established in advance. This preliminary action resolves the contradiction by enabling secure location-based access control while hiding the complexity during actual use, as the complex association processes have already been completed during commissioning.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for unlocking an access point of a facility with a mobile device. Permissions and locations of access points of the facility accessible to a user of a particular mobile device may be downloaded and a location of the particular mobile device determined. The mobile device may identify one or more access points of the facility that are accessible by the user of the mobile device based on the location of the mobile device and the downloaded permissions and locations of the access points. The method may include displaying on the mobile device a notification of the access points that are identified by the mobile device, receiving a selection of one of the displayed access points from the user via a user interface of the mobile device, sending a command from the mobile device to unlock the selected access point, and unlocking the selected access point.