PACS-LACS Authentication Bridge Using Soft Token Reader Emulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing physical access control systems (PACS) are difficult to integrate with logical access control systems (LACS) and lack compatibility with new computing environments and authentication standards, making it hard to adapt to changing technological landscapes.
Innovation Solution
A hardware accessory device integrates LACS into PACS by processing soft tokens from client devices, verifying user information, and emulating transactions with PACS readers, allowing seamless authentication without modifying existing PACS infrastructure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If PACS is modified to integrate LACS authentication, then interoperability and adaptability improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a hardware accessory device as an intermediary component that bridges PACS and LACS systems. This accessory receives soft tokens from client devices, verifies them against PACS credentials, and emulates reader transactions, thereby enabling interoperability without directly modifying the core PACS infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The integration function is segmented into a separate hardware accessory device rather than being embedded throughout the entire PACS infrastructure. This modular approach allows LACS authentication capabilities to be added selectively at specific access points without complicating the entire system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If PACS infrastructure is modified to support LACS, then adaptability improves, but ease of manufacture and deployment worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The hardware accessory serves as a mediator that can be deployed independently at reader locations without requiring modifications to the central PACS infrastructure. This allows organizations to integrate LACS capabilities incrementally at specific access points rather than undertaking system-wide modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The hardware accessory emulates the behavior of traditional card readers by copying their transaction protocols and communication interfaces. This emulation allows the accessory to integrate seamlessly into existing PACS workflows while adding LACS authentication capabilities.
3Adaptability or versatility
If PACS and LACS are integrated, then authentication flexibility improves, but difficulty of detecting and measuring interoperability increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hardware accessory acts as a controlled intermediary that manages the authentication flow between PACS and LACS. It receives soft tokens, verifies them against stored credentials, and generates appropriate reader transactions, thereby providing a predictable and measurable integration point for verifying interoperability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of integrating a logical access control system with a physical access control system is disclosed. A soft token is received at a hardware accessory from a client device of a user. The soft token includes a payload. The payload includes information about the user that is stored in a user profile of the logical access control system. Based on a verifying of the soft token using a certificate extracted from a trust store of the hardware accessory, the information about the user that is included in the payload is parsed. Based on the information about the user satisfying one or more access criteria of a reader associated with a physical access control system, the reader is triggered. The triggering includes emulating a transaction associated with the physical access control system.