Tailgate-Discouraging Access Control System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional access control systems are vulnerable to tailgating, where an unauthorized person enters a secured area after an authorized individual, often due to societal norms and lack of effective deterrents.
Innovation Solution
A tailgate-discouraging device comprising a sensor, control circuitry, and an alert mechanism that counts users and authorized credentials, triggering alerts when the number of users exceeds the number of authorized credentials, using visual, audible, or communication-based alerts to deter unauthorized entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional access control systems are used, then authorized access is controlled, but the system becomes vulnerable to tailgating attacks
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by detecting potential tailgating behavior before unauthorized entry is completed. Sensors monitor the passage and detect when multiple individuals pass through without multiple authorized credentials, triggering an alert to prevent the unauthorized entry from being finalized.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring access events and providing real-time alerts when abnormal patterns are detected. The system compares the number of individuals passing through against the number of authorized credentials presented, and provides feedback through alerts when discrepancies indicate potential tailgating.
2Ease of operation
If door holding behavior is encouraged to maintain social norms, then user convenience is improved, but security is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies self-service by automatically monitoring and detecting tailgating behavior without requiring manual intervention from security personnel. The sensors and control circuitry autonomously detect abnormal access patterns and trigger alerts, making the security function self-regulating while maintaining social courtesy.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If monitoring of all users is implemented to detect tailgating, then security detection capability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by implementing selective monitoring that focuses only on detecting the specific condition of multiple users passing without multiple credentials. Rather than comprehensive analysis of all access parameters, the system monitors the essential discrepancy between user count and credential count, achieving effective detection with minimal complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary apparatus includes a sensor, control circuitry, and an alert mechanism. The sensor is configured to sense one or more users entering a passageway. The control circuitry in communication with the sensor and a credential reader, and is configured to count a number of the one or more users entering the passageway, to count a number of authorized credentials presented to the credential reader, and to transmit an alert signal based upon the number of the one or more users and the number of authorized credentials. The alert mechanism in communication with the control circuitry, and is configured to perform an alert operation in response to the alert signal.