Smart Alert Access Control Using Location-Based Advertisements

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing building-safety control systems require user interaction and exchange of personal information with building owners or managers for temporary access to alerts, which is inconvenient for users like hotel guests or short-term renters.

Innovation Solution

A processor-based access controller that sends a smart-device access request to a network server, allowing on-demand access to smart alerts from building-safety control systems without the need for user interaction or exchange of personal information, by determining the user's presence within a registered access area using methods like BLE advertisements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If users receive temporary access to building-safety alerts through interaction with building representatives and exchange of personal information, then access security is maintained, but user convenience and ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidaccess security
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a building representative device as an intermediary that mediates between the building management system and visitor devices. This intermediary automatically manages access credentials, generating time-limited access tokens without requiring direct interaction between visitors and building representatives, thus improving convenience while maintaining security through automated credential verification

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service access where visitor devices can automatically obtain and manage their own access credentials through the building representative device. Visitors independently complete the access setup process without manual intervention from building representatives, eliminating the need for personal information exchange while maintaining secure access control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If manual interaction and information exchange are required for temporary access, then user information security is protected, but access time and productivity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess speedVSAvoidaccess setup time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The building representative device pre-generates and stores access credentials and building safety alert subscription information before visitors arrive. When a visitor requests access, the system immediately activates pre-configured credentials without requiring real-time manual setup, thus eliminating access setup time while maintaining security through pre-validated access control rules

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically handles the entire access setup process including credential generation, alert subscription activation, and access token distribution without requiring manual interaction. This self-service mechanism eliminates both access setup time and the need for personal information exchange, as the system autonomously manages the complete access workflow

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4280191A1Controlling on-demand user access to smart alerts
Publication Date: 2023.11.22 CARRIER CORP
  • EP4280191A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4280191A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4280191A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An access controller of a communications network includes a processor operable to send a smart-device access request to a network server of the communications network. The processor is further operable to receive a smart-device access advertisement based at least in part on: the network server receiving the smart-device access request; and a determination by the network server that the processor is within an access area. The processor is further operable to use the smart-device access advertisement to establish access between the processor and a smart-device of the communications network. Subsequent to establishing the access between the processor and the smart-device, the processor is operable to communicate with the smart-device whether or not the processor is within the access area.