Multi-Network Entry Access Using Mobile Device Radios
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current entry access systems using smart keycards or proximity keycards are inconvenient and lack security, as they require physical interaction and can be easily replicated, while smartphone-based systems are not significantly faster or more convenient due to battery and processor usage, and often involve slow message exchanges.
Innovation Solution
A multi-network entry access system utilizing a mobile device with multiple radios (e.g., Bluetooth, WiFi, LTE) to simultaneously communicate over different networks for faster and more reliable access, with a control system that prioritizes networks for quicker authorization and uses beacons or user triggers to automate the entry process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If smartphone-based access systems are used, then security is improved, but convenience and speed are not significantly enhanced due to battery and processor usage constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the access control functionality across multiple independent networks (Bluetooth, WiFi, cellular). Each network can independently handle authentication requests, allowing the system to maintain security while distributing the processing load to avoid excessive battery and processor usage on a single network interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing communication channels and authentication credentials across multiple networks before access is needed. This allows the mobile device to quickly authenticate without performing heavy processing at the moment of access, thereby maintaining convenience while ensuring security.
2Reliability
If multiple message exchanges are used for authentication, then security is improved, but speed and convenience deteriorate due to processing time
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates copies of authentication credentials and communication channels across multiple networks. Instead of performing multiple sequential message exchanges over a single network, the system can simultaneously authenticate over multiple network copies, significantly reducing access time while maintaining security through redundant verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic authentication exchanges at optimized intervals across different networks. Rather than requiring multiple sequential message exchanges, the system periodically checks authentication status across networks, allowing faster access while maintaining security through regular verification cycles.
3Device complexity
If a single network is used for access communication, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability and speed suffer due to network availability issues
Solution Approach 1:
The access control system is designed with multi-functionality by supporting multiple network protocols and communication channels (Bluetooth, WiFi, cellular). This universal design allows the system to maintain low complexity at each individual network interface while achieving high overall reliability through the ability to switch between or use multiple networks simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are systems and methods for performing entry access over two or more networks. The two or more networks are leveraged to accelerate the entry access and provide redundancy. Performance over each of the two or more networks is tracked in order to allow a mobile device to exchange entry access messaging over the particular network providing fastest start-to-unlock time. The mobile device can alternatively exchange the entry access messaging simultaneously over the two or more networks to create a race condition whereby the fastest start-to-unlock time is obtained without monitoring network performance. Performing the entry access messaging exchange over the two or more networks also ensures reliability in the event a particular network is down or congested, an authorization device on a particular network is down or overloaded, a radio of a mobile device communicating over a particular network is disabled or slow performing.