Patent Description:
Access controls may be utilized to control access to specific entry point, such as, for example a lock on a door. While mobile devices may be utilized to actuate access controls (i.e., locks) that control access to rooms, actuation is not automated and visually impaired individuals may have difficulty finding the access control and navigating through a building with multiple control access controls. <CIT> discloses a method of advertisement filtering including receiving advertisements from a multiple of access controls; filtering the received advertisements based on a credential on the mobile device; comparing the filtered received advertisements and determining a user intent to access a particular access control in response to the comparing and to a destination intent.

According to a first aspect, the invention provides a method of operating an access control system. The method includes: determining that the individual may be intending to actuate an access control; transmitting an entrance inquiry notification to the individual; receiving an entrance inquiry response from the individual; determining an entrance inquiry response intent in response to the entrance inquiry response; receiving an access request from a mobile device being carried by the individual in response to the entrance inquiry response intent, the access request including a digital credential; and actuating the access control in response to access request if the digital credential is authorised to actuate the access control. Determining that the individual may be intending to actuate an access control further includes: detecting a location of the mobile device being carried by the individual; and determining that the location of the mobile device is located proximate the access control. Transmitting an entrance inquiry notification to the individual further includes: generating audio sound waves, wherein the entrance inquiry notification is transmitted to the individual via the audio sound waves. Receiving an entrance inquiry response from the individual further includes: receiving audio sound waves, wherein the entrance inquiry notification response is received via the audio sound waves.

Optionally, a speaker on the mobile device generates the audio sound waves.

Optionally, a speaker on the access control generates the audio sound waves.

Optionally, a microphone on the mobile device receives the audio sound waves.

Optionally, a microphone on the access control receives the audio sound waves.

Optionally, the access control is a door lock.

The method may include: actuating a servo to open a door to a room, the door being operably connected to the access control.

According to another aspect, an access control system is provided for carrying out the method of the first aspect. The access control system includes: a processor; and a memory including computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations including a method as discussed above.

Determining that the individual may be intending to actuate an access control further includes: detecting a location of the mobile device being carried by the individual; and determining that the location of the mobile device is located proximate the access control.

Transmitting an entrance inquiry notification to the individual further includes: generating audio sound waves, wherein the entrance inquiry notification is transmitted to the individual via the audio sound waves.

Receiving an entrance inquiry response from the individual further includes: receiving audio sound waves, wherein the entrance inquiry notification response is received via the audio sound waves.

Optionally, the access control is a door lock, and the operations further include: actuating a servo to open a door to a room, the door being operably connected to the access control.

According to another aspect, a computer program product tangibly embodied on a computer readable medium is provided for carrying out the method of the first aspect. The computer program product including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations including a method as discussed above.

Technical effects of embodiments of the present disclosure include detecting when an individual intends to actuate an access control, transmitting an audible command to the individual asking whether the individual would like to actuate the access control, and receiving an audible command from the individual indicating whether the individual would like to actuate the access control.

Referring now to <FIG>, an access control system <NUM> within building is illustrated, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The access control system may include one or more access controls <NUM> that control access to a room <NUM> (e.g., hallway or other area) through an impediment, such as, for example a door <NUM>. The access control system <NUM> may include any number of access controls <NUM>. It is understood that embodiments disclosed herein are not limited to doors <NUM> and may be applicable to other impediments, such as, for example a turnstile, elevator car, escalator, etc. A digital credential <NUM> may be utilized to actuate an access control <NUM> and gain access to a room <NUM>. The access control <NUM> may be a door lock that controls access to a hotel room <NUM>. The access control <NUM> may be in operable communication with a servo <NUM> that physically opens the door <NUM>. The access control <NUM> may actuate the servo <NUM> in response to the digital credential <NUM>. The system <NUM> generally includes a mobile device <NUM>, a server <NUM>, a wireless access protocol device <NUM>, and an access control <NUM>. It should be appreciated that, although particular systems are separately defined in the schematic block diagrams, each or any of the systems may be otherwise combined or separated via hardware and/or software. In the illustrated embodiment, the access controls <NUM> may control access through a door <NUM> to a room <NUM>. The access control system <NUM> may include any number of doors <NUM> and rooms <NUM>. Further, there may be multiple doors <NUM> and access controls <NUM> for each room <NUM>.

A mobile device <NUM> belonging to an individual <NUM> may be granted access to one or more access controls <NUM> (e.g. the door lock on an office or hotel room assigned to the individual) via the digital credential <NUM>. There may be one or more mobile devices <NUM> assigned to a room <NUM> (e.g. a husband and a wife in a hotel; or multiple workers in a collaborative workspace). An individual <NUM> may utilize their mobile device <NUM> to unlock and/or lock the access control <NUM> operably connected to their assigned room <NUM> through an access request <NUM>, which may include the digital credential <NUM>. The mobile device <NUM> stores the digital credential <NUM> to unlock and/or lock the access control <NUM>. The digital credential <NUM> may be used for multiple access controls <NUM> if there are multiple access controls <NUM> for a single assigned room <NUM> or the individual is assigned access to multiple rooms <NUM>. For example, an access control <NUM> operably connected to an individual's hotel room <NUM> and an access control <NUM> operably connected to a hotel pool may respond to the same the digital credential <NUM>. Other digital credentials <NUM> may be specific to a single access control <NUM>.

Wireless communication may occur between the access control <NUM> and the mobile device <NUM> via short range wireless communication, such as for example Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, infrared, or any other short-range wireless communication method known to one of skill in the art. In an embodiment, the short-range wireless communication is Bluetooth. The mobile device <NUM> may have to be within a selected range of the access control <NUM> in order to utilize short-range wireless communication. For example, the selected range may be manually set by an individual as a chosen range or automatically set based on the limitations of hardware associated with the mobile device <NUM> and/or the access control <NUM>.

Each access control <NUM> is a wireless-capable, restricted-access, or restricted-use device such as wireless locks, access control readers for building entry, and other restricted-use machines. The mobile device <NUM> submits the digital credential <NUM> to the access controls <NUM>, thereby selectively permitting a user to actuate (i.e., access or activate) functions of the access controls <NUM>. A user may, for example, submit a digital credential <NUM> to an electromechanical lock to unlock it, and thereby gain access to a room <NUM>.

The mobile device <NUM> may transmit an access request <NUM> including the digital credential <NUM> to the access control <NUM> by short-range radio transmission when the mobile device <NUM> is placed proximate the access control <NUM>. The mobile device <NUM> is a wireless capable handheld device such as a smartphone that is operable to communicate with the server <NUM> and the access controls <NUM>. The server <NUM> may provide data <NUM> including digital credentials <NUM> and other data to the access control <NUM>, such as firmware or software updates to be communicated to one or more of the access controls <NUM>. Although the server <NUM> is depicted herein as a single device, it should be appreciated that the server <NUM> may alternatively be embodied as a multiplicity of systems, from which the access controls <NUM> receives digital credential <NUM> and other data.

The server <NUM> may be an electronic controller including a processor and an associated memory comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform various operations. The processor may be, but is not limited to, a single-processor or multi-processor system of any of a wide array of possible architectures, including field programmable gate array (FPGA), central processing unit (CPU), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), digital signal processor (DSP) or graphics processing unit (GPU) hardware arranged homogenously or heterogeneously. The memory may be but is not limited to a random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), or other electronic, optical, magnetic or any other computer readable medium.

In order to determine a current location of the mobile device <NUM>, an indoor positioning system <NUM> may collect and analyze positional data. The indoor positioning system <NUM> may include the access controls <NUM> and the wireless access control devices <NUM>. In one embodiment, the indoor positioning system <NUM> is a separate electronic controller in electronic communication with the access controls <NUM> and the wireless access protocol devices <NUM>. The indoor positioning system <NUM> may also be in communication with the mobile device12. In the embodiment where the indoor positioning system <NUM> is an electronic controller, the indoor positioning system <NUM> may include a processor and an associated memory comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform various operations. The processor may be, but is not limited to, a single-processor or multi-processor system of any of a wide array of possible architectures, including field programmable gate array (FPGA), central processing unit (CPU), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), digital signal processor (DSP) or graphics processing unit (GPU) hardware arranged homogenously or heterogeneously. The memory may be but is not limited to a random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), or other electronic, optical, magnetic or any other computer readable medium. In another embodiment, the indoor positioning system <NUM> may be software located on at least one of the access controls <NUM>, the wireless access protocol devices <NUM>, and the server <NUM>.

The access control <NUM> may be configured to continuously advertise a wireless signal <NUM> to the mobile device <NUM>. The advertisement is the access control <NUM> declaring its presence to any nearby listening device and if it is a connectable advertisement it is an opportunity for another device (i.e., nearby mobile device <NUM>) to connect to the access control <NUM>. For example, the wireless signal <NUM> of the access control <NUM> may be a Bluetooth signal. The mobile device <NUM> is configured to detect the wireless signal <NUM> and determine positional data of the mobile device <NUM> in response to a signal strength of the wireless signal <NUM>. The positional data of the mobile device <NUM> may help determine which access control <NUM> is located proximate the mobile device <NUM>, and thus which access control <NUM> the mobile device <NUM> desires to enter.

Positional data of the mobile device <NUM> may also be determined using the wireless access protocol device <NUM>. The wireless access protocol device <NUM> may be configured to advertise a wireless signal <NUM>. The advertisement is the wireless access protocol device <NUM> declaring its presence to any nearby listening device and if it is a connectable advertisement it is an opportunity for another device (i.e., nearby mobile device <NUM>) to connect to the wireless access protocol device <NUM>. For example, the wireless signal <NUM> of the wireless access protocol device <NUM> may be a Wi-Fi signal. The mobile device <NUM> is configured to detect the wireless signal <NUM> and determine a positional data of the mobile device <NUM> in response to a signal strength of the wireless signal <NUM>.

Positional data of the mobile device <NUM> may also be determined using the wireless access protocol device <NUM> and/or the access controls <NUM> to detect a wireless signal <NUM> advertised by the mobile device <NUM>. The mobile device <NUM> may be configured to advertise a wireless signal <NUM>. The advertisement is the mobile device <NUM> declaring its presence to any nearby listening device and if it is a connectable advertisement it is an opportunity for another device (i.e., access control <NUM> or wireless access protocol device <NUM>) to detect this advertisement and triangulate the location of the mobile device <NUM>. The wireless access protocol device <NUM> and/or the access controls <NUM> are configured to detect the wireless signal <NUM> and determine a positional data of the mobile device <NUM> in response to a signal strength of the wireless signal <NUM>.

Wireless signal interaction data between the mobile device <NUM> and at least one of the access device <NUM> and the wireless access protocol device <NUM> may be transmitted to the indoor positioning system <NUM> to determine positional data and a current location of the mobile device <NUM>. The indoor positioning system <NUM> may use signal strength detected between the mobile device <NUM>, access controls <NUM>, and the wireless access protocol device <NUM> to determine positional data of the mobile device <NUM>.

As an individual <NUM> carrying a mobile device <NUM> approaches an access control <NUM>, the current location of the mobile device <NUM> may be tracked to determine when the individual <NUM> has the intent to enter the access control <NUM>. Intent may be determined by the proximity of the individual <NUM> to an access control <NUM>, a predicted schedule of the individual <NUM>, past usage of the access control <NUM> by the individual <NUM>, a direction of travel of the individual <NUM>, an electronic schedule of the individual <NUM>, etc. If the individual <NUM> has a dedicated office or is a host of a conference room, then the individual <NUM> can open the door <NUM> without proximity and/or past schedule once the mobile device <NUM> has detected the access control <NUM>. Once the individual <NUM> is determined to intend to enter a specific access control <NUM>, an entrance inquiry notification 11a may be transmitted to the individual <NUM> inquiring whether the individual <NUM> desires to enter the access control <NUM>. The entrance inquiry notification 11a may be audible, visual, tactile, or vibratory. The entrance inquire notification 11a may be transmitted to the individual <NUM> by the mobile device <NUM> and/or a separate device located proximate the door <NUM> of the access control <NUM>, such as, for example, the access control <NUM>. The entrance inquire notification 11a may be transmitted by an audio speaker <NUM> of the mobile device <NUM> and/or an audio speaker <NUM> of the access control <NUM>. For example, the entrance inquire notification 11a may be an audible alert from the mobile device <NUM> stating "Do you desire to enter Door A?" Advantageously, utilizing an audible alert from the mobile device <NUM> may help visually impaired individuals navigate through an access control system <NUM>.

Following the entrance inquiry notification 11a, the individual <NUM> may provide an entrance inquiry response 11b that may be verbally provided or entered into the user interface (e.g., input device <NUM> see <FIG>) of the mobile device <NUM>. If the entrance inquiry response 11b is provided verbally, the entrance inquiry response 11b may be detected/received by a microphone <NUM> of the mobile device <NUM> or a microphone <NUM> in the access control <NUM>. If the entrance inquiry response 11b is verbal then the access control <NUM> and/or mobile device <NUM> may transmit the entrance inquiry response 11b to a third party cognitive service <NUM> for speech analysis to determine the entrance inquiry response intent 11c of the entrance inquiry response 11b. The third party cognitive service <NUM> may be located on the mobile device <NUM> and/or in electronic communication with the mobile device <NUM> (i.e., a web based service). The entrance inquiry response intent 11c of the entrance inquiry response 11b may indicate whether or not the individual <NUM> would like to actuate the access control <NUM>. Once the entrance inquiry response intent 11c is determined then the entrance inquiry response intent 11c is transmitted back to the access control <NUM> through the server <NUM>. If the entrance inquiry response intent 11c indicates that the individual <NUM> wants to actuate the access control <NUM> then the mobile device <NUM> transmits an access request <NUM> to the access control <NUM> including the digital credential <NUM>. The digital credential <NUM> may be utilized to unlock an access control and allow access to a room <NUM>, discussed further below. The access control <NUM> will be actuated if the digital credential <NUM> is authorized to actuate the access control <NUM>. For example, the individual <NUM> may be authorized to access some rooms <NUM> but not others. Once the access control <NUM> is unlocked, the individual <NUM> may enter through the door <NUM>. Additionally, the servo <NUM> may physically open the door <NUM> for the individual <NUM> when the access control <NUM> is unlocked.

Referring now to <FIG>, with continued reference to <FIG>, a block diagram of an example electronic lock system <NUM> including the access control <NUM>, the mobile device <NUM>, and the server <NUM> is illustrated, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The access control <NUM> generally includes a lock actuator <NUM>, a lock controller <NUM>, a lock antenna <NUM>, a lock transceiver <NUM>, a lock processor <NUM>, a lock memory <NUM>, a lock power supply <NUM>, a lock card reader <NUM>, a credential module <NUM>, a microphone <NUM>, and a speaker <NUM>.

The access control <NUM> may have essentially two readers, one reader <NUM> to read a physical key card <NUM> and the credential module <NUM> to communicate with the mobile device <NUM> via the lock processor <NUM> and the transceiver <NUM> and antenna <NUM>. In addition to utilizing the mobile device <NUM> to actuate the access control <NUM>, a physical key card <NUM> may also be used to actuate the access control <NUM> by being inserted into the access control <NUM> for the access control <NUM> to read the physical key card <NUM> (e.g. a magnetic strip on an encoded card <NUM>). The physical key card <NUM> is capable of being encoded with card data, such as, for example, a magnetic strip or RFID chip. The card data may include credentials similar to the digital credential <NUM> to grant access to a specific access control <NUM>. For example, for a period the mobile device <NUM> may be granted access to a specific access control <NUM>, such as, for example, a period of stay/employment for the individual possessing the mobile device <NUM>.

The access control <NUM> is responsive to the digital credential <NUM> from the mobile device <NUM>, and may, for example, be the lock of a door lock. Upon receiving and authenticating an appropriate digital credential <NUM> from the mobile device <NUM> using the credential module <NUM>, or after receiving card data from lock card reader <NUM>, the lock controller <NUM> commands the lock actuator <NUM> to lock or unlock a mechanical or electronic lock. The lock controller <NUM> and the lock actuator <NUM> may be parts of a single electronic or electromechanical lock unit, or may be components sold or installed separately. In an embodiment, the access control <NUM> is composed of separate components - a reader (e.g., transceiver <NUM> and/or antenna <NUM>) at a door <NUM>, a processor <NUM> that gets the digital credential <NUM> from the reader, and then a lock actuator <NUM> that gets a signal from the processor <NUM> to actuate an electromechanical lock.

The lock transceiver <NUM> is capable of transmitting and receiving data to and from at least one of the mobile device <NUM>, the wireless access protocol device <NUM>, and the other access controls <NUM>. The lock transceiver <NUM> may, for instance, be a near field communication (NFC), Bluetooth, infrared, ZigBee, or Wi-Fi transceiver, or another appropriate wireless transceiver. The lock antenna <NUM> is any antenna appropriate to the lock transceiver <NUM>. The lock processor <NUM> and lock memory <NUM> are, respectively, data processing, and storage devices. The lock processor <NUM> may, for instance, be a microprocessor that can process instructions to the validate digital credential <NUM> and determine the access rights contained in the digital credential <NUM> or to pass messages from the transceiver <NUM> to the credential module <NUM> and to receive a response indication back from the credential module <NUM>. The lock memory <NUM> may be RAM, EEPROM, or other storage medium where the lock processor <NUM> can read and write data including but not limited to lock configuration options. The lock power supply <NUM> is a power source such as line power connection, a power scavenging system, or a battery that powers the lock controller <NUM>. In other embodiments, the lock power supply <NUM> may only power the lock controller <NUM>, with the lock actuator <NUM> powered primarily or entirely by another source, such as user work (e.g. turning a bolt).

While <FIG> shows the lock antenna <NUM> and the transceiver <NUM> connected to the processor <NUM>, this is not to limit other embodiments that may have additional antenna <NUM> and transceiver <NUM> connected to the credential module <NUM> directly. The credential module <NUM> may contain a transceiver <NUM> and antenna <NUM> as part of the credential module <NUM>. Or the credential module <NUM> may have a transceiver <NUM> and antenna <NUM> separately from the processor <NUM> which also has a separate transceiver <NUM> and antenna <NUM> of the same type or different. In some embodiments, the processor <NUM> may route communication received via transceiver <NUM> to the credential module <NUM>. In other embodiments the credential module <NUM> may communicate directly to the mobile device <NUM> through the transceiver <NUM>. The speaker <NUM> is configured to generate audio sound waves (i.e., audible sound). The microphone <NUM> is configured to detect audio sound waves (i.e., audible sound).

The mobile device <NUM> generally includes a key antenna <NUM>, a key transceiver <NUM>, a key processor <NUM>, a key memory <NUM>, a GPS receiver <NUM>, an input device <NUM>, an output device <NUM>, a key power supply <NUM>, an inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor <NUM>, a speaker <NUM>, and a microphone <NUM>. The key transceiver <NUM> is a transceiver of a type corresponding to the lock transceiver <NUM>, and the key antenna <NUM> is a corresponding antenna. In some embodiments, the key transceiver <NUM> and the key antenna <NUM> may also be used to communicate with the server <NUM>. In other embodiments, one or more separate transceivers and antennas may be included to communicate with server <NUM>. The key memory <NUM> is of a type to store a plurality of digital credentials <NUM> locally on the mobile device <NUM>. The mobile device <NUM> may also include a mobile device application <NUM>. Embodiments disclosed herein, may operate through the mobile device application <NUM> installed on the mobile device <NUM>. The IMU sensor <NUM> may be a sensor such as, for example, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or a similar sensor known to one of skill in the art. The speaker <NUM> is configured to generate audio sound waves (i.e., audible sound). The microphone <NUM> is configured to detect audio sound waves (i.e., audible sound).

Referring now to <FIG>, with continued reference to <FIG>, a flow chart of a method <NUM> of operating an access control system <NUM>, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In an embodiment, the method <NUM> may be performed by the access control system <NUM> and/or by the server <NUM> of the access control system <NUM>.

At block <NUM>, it is determined that the individual <NUM> intends to actuate an access control <NUM>. It may be determined that the individual <NUM> intends to actuate an access control <NUM> by: detecting a location of a mobile device <NUM> being carried by an individual <NUM>; and determining that the location of the mobile device <NUM> is located proximate the access control <NUM> or is enroute to the access control <NUM>.

At block <NUM>, an entrance inquiry notification 11a is transmitted to the individual <NUM>. The entrance inquiry notification 11a may be transmitted to the individual <NUM> via audio sound waves generated by at least one of the speaker <NUM> on the mobile device <NUM> and the speaker <NUM> on the access control <NUM>. At block <NUM>, an entrance inquiry response 11b is received from the individual <NUM>. The entrance inquiry response 11b may be transmitted by the individual <NUM> and received by at least one of the microphone <NUM> on the mobile device <NUM> and the microphone <NUM> on the access control <NUM>.

At block <NUM>, an entrance inquiry notification intent 11c is determined in response to the entrance inquiry notification 11b. At block <NUM>, an access request <NUM> is received from a mobile device <NUM> being carried by the individual <NUM> in response to the entrance inquiry notification intent 11c. At block <NUM>, the access control <NUM> is actuated in response to access request <NUM>. The access control <NUM> within the method <NUM> may be a door lock. The method may further comprise: actuating servo <NUM> to open a door <NUM> to a room <NUM>, the door <NUM> being operably connected to the access control <NUM>.

Embodiments can also be in the form of computer program code, for example, whether stored in a storage medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, such as over electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via electromagnetic radiation, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes an device for practicing the embodiments.

Claim 1:
A method (<NUM>) performed by an access control system, the method comprising:
determining (<NUM>) that an individual (<NUM>) may be intending to actuate an access control (<NUM>);
transmitting (<NUM>) an entrance inquiry notification (11a) to the individual (<NUM>), wherein transmitting the entrance inquiry notification to the individual further comprises generating audio sound waves, wherein the entrance inquiry notification is transmitted to the individual (<NUM>) via the audio sound waves;
receiving (<NUM>) an entrance inquiry response (11b) from the individual (<NUM>), wherein receiving the entrance inquiry response from the individual further comprises receiving audio sound waves, wherein the entrance inquiry response (11b) is received via the audio sound waves;
determining (<NUM>) an entrance inquiry response intent (11c) in response to the entrance inquiry response (11b);
receiving (<NUM>) an access request (<NUM>) from a mobile device (<NUM>) being carried by the individual (<NUM>) in response to the entrance inquiry response intent (11c), the entrance inquiry response intent (11c) indicating that the individual wants to actuate the access control, the access request including a digital credential (<NUM>); and
actuating (<NUM>) the access control (<NUM>) in response to the access request (<NUM>) if the digital credential (<NUM>) is authorised to actuate the access control (<NUM>);
wherein determining that the individual (<NUM>) may be intending to actuate the access control further comprises:
detecting a location of the mobile device (<NUM>) being carried by the individual (<NUM>); and
determining that the location of the mobile device (<NUM>) is located proximate the access control (<NUM>).