Patent Document

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/105,279, filed Dec. 13, 2013, which is a continuation of International Patent Application No. PCT/US2012/042683, filed Jun. 15, 2012 which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/498,169 filed Jun. 17, 2011, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference to the extent not inconsistent. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to an access system including a wireless token and a proximity and location verification device. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a three point access system which includes a wireless token which transmits a request for access which ultimately results in a door being unlocked. 
     SUMMARY 
     Disclosed is a wireless device access system which employs short-range wireless communication and one or more directional antennas to require the presence of a user device within a designated area proximate to an entry point of a structure prior to providing access to the structure. The access system includes a wireless node having a wireless transmission area proximate to or covering the entry point which authenticates a user device for a certain structure when the user device comes within range of the wireless node. In response to authenticating the user device, the wireless node sends a wake-up signal to an access device associated with the certain structure, such as a lock on an entry point. In response to the wake-up command, the access device will remain active for a predetermined but limited period of time so as to be available to communicate with a user device. Additionally, in some forms, the wake-up command may also issue a notification triggering an in-room system to prepare the room, such as by turning on the lights or other user specified actions. In a further form, the wake-up command may include a temporary security code for verifying an unlock command sent by a user device. When the user device comes within range of the recently activated access device, provided that the access device is still active, the user device will communicate its credential information to the access device for confirmation. In addition, the access device utilizes at least a pair of directional antennas to confirm that the requesting user device is within a designated area, such as a 2 foot semi-circular area outside of a door. Such a location confirmation ensures that access to a structure won&#39;t ever be improperly granted based upon a user device within the structure or within an adjacent structure. Upon confirming the authorization associated with the provided access code and confirming that the user device is within the designated area, the access device grants the user access to the structure by unlocking the entry. In a further form, the two directional antennas are separated by a ground plane to improve their relative performance. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic view of an access system according to one implementation of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2A-2B  is a process flow diagram illustrating one set of steps performed in enabling a user to access a structure using the novel access system, including a wireless token. 
         FIG. 3  is a mock floor plan illustrating the coverage areas of the access node and the two door lock antennas in a typical multi-room hotel setting. 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  are plan views illustrating opposite sides of one form of a lock as arranged in a door according to one implementation of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     For the purposes of promoting and understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications in the described embodiments, and any further applications of the principles of the invention as described herein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. 
     Currently, systems exist, such as the Signature RFID/NFC system from VingCard, which provide a user access to a hotel room using their mobile phone. Alternatively, other point-to-point systems exist which provide access to an office, lab, or other secured area using a wireless token, such as an RFID tag or card. However, such systems are limited in that the token is limited to a single identifier which leaves open a crucial security flaw which would allow for duplication of the token&#39;s responsive signal. Additionally, given the wireless range of these tokens, an undesirable situation may arise in which the token is within range of the lock or RFID reader when inside of the secured area. This presents the possibility that access may be granted to anyone seeking entry at that time. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , one embodiment of an access system  20  advantageously permits a user to access a structure  40  using a wireless token  24 . In addition to lodging and workplace access systems, it will be appreciated that similar embodiments of the access system to be described also encompass systems for controlling access to other structures or openings/doors thereof. In particular, the access system  20  is particularly well suited to providing access to structures in which the authorized users frequently change, such as a hotel. As such, in the illustrated embodiment, according to  FIG. 1 , the described system comprises an access system  20  for allowing a hotel guest to access their assigned hotel room  40  using a wireless token  24 , which in the preferred form, is an electronic device capable of short range wireless communication, such as a device implementing Bluetooth®, Zigbee®, or some other low-power wireless communication protocol/standard. It shall be understood that many of the descriptions herein are made with respect to a hotel environment and are meant for illustrative purposes and that the concepts herein are generally applicable to a general safety and security access system and are not limited to only a hotel room access system. 
     Examples of other structures for which the novel access system may be adapted include other rooms within a hotel (i.e. workout rooms, pools, VIP lounges), office buildings, school/university buildings, laboratories, warehouses, and portions thereof, event ticket gates/turnstiles, movie theatres, safety deposit boxes, mailboxes, lockers, or other enclosures for which providing selective user access is desired. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , according to the illustrative embodiment, the access system  20  includes one or more wireless tokens  24  which allow a user to access their assigned hotel room without a traditional key or card. Illustratively, in some embodiments, the access system  20  includes a data network  54 . Data network  54  is preferably a private local area network (LAN) and may comprise the Internet, which is a TCP/IP based global network; however, the user of the term “Internet” herein shall be understood to refer to at least a portion of any public interconnected electronic network which interchanges data by packet-switching. 
     Access system  20  additionally comprises a mechanical lock  34  for locking and unlocking a structure  40  (partially shown). In the illustrated embodiment, a user gains access to the structure  40  via door  32 . In the illustrative embodiment, mechanical lock  34  is a mechanical door lock, which includes a locking mechanism similar to a common entry or exterior lock, but is further capable of self-unlocking in response to an electronic signal, in addition to other functionality described herein. For purposes of non-limiting example, mechanical lock  34  may include a cam lock, rotary latch, electro-mechanical lock, magnetic lock, or the like. According to the preferred form, lock  34  unlocks in response to an electrical signal sent from a wireless token  24  and/or access node  50 . In one form, the electrical signal is sent wirelessly, such as over a low-power RF connection, such as a Zigbee® connection. In a further preferred form, the lock  34  returns to a locked state following the passage of a predetermined time period or a user opening and closing the door following the receipt of an unlock signal. In some additional forms, lock  34  or door  40  may also include a mechanical key slot, key card, or other entry permitting authentication means  36  in addition to, or as backup for, that described herein with respect to lock  34 . In addition, it shall be appreciated that system  20  may be applied to access restrictions other than locks including, for example, an elevator control system providing limited access, a garage door, or others access barriers, as described later. 
     Access system  20  also utilizes at least one access node  50  to interface with wireless token  24  and lock  34 . Access node  50 , as illustrated, is a wireless node implementing a common short-range wireless standard, such as Bluetooth® or ZigBee®, to those implemented by wireless token  24  and lock  34 . Access node  50  is also connected to server  60  via firewall  52  and network  54 . 
     In the illustrative form, access system  20  includes a plurality of access nodes, such as access node  50 , where each node is strategically positioned near a specified structure (i.e. a hotel room). The access nodes are preferably always in a active mode so that wireless tokens  24  may be connected with them on demand in the event the wireless token  24  is authorized, such as by having an authorized MAC address or some other selected security mechanism. In a further form, the access nodes  50  are not in a discoverable mode and the pairing of the access nodes  50  with wireless token  24  occurs prior to the user&#39;s arrival programmatically. Illustratively, in some embodiments, access node  50  is operatively connected to server  60  to process and authenticate electronic unlock requests from wireless tokens  24 . Firewall  52  includes at least a hardware or software implemented firewall or other selected security features to prevent external access to server  60  or access node  50 . 
     The location information maintained by access node  50  is linked to the present/assigned location of the node and is used in processing any unlock request. For example, an access node on the fourth floor of a hotel in downtown Chicago may be assigned a unique hotel identifier coupled with a hotel zone identifier. Alternatively, the node may be assigned a single identifier which is then linked to its location by the wireless token  24  or server  60 . For purposes of illustrating the hierarchical relationship between access nodes  50  and the structures which fall within their range, a mock floor plan is shown in  FIG. 3 . The mock floor plan illustrates a number of complete circles which denote the wireless range of a number of access nodes  50  for purposes of covering the entryway/hallway of a hotel floor and one or more doors. 
     According to the illustrated embodiment, server  60  operates in conjunction with access node  50  over internal network  54  to authenticate any wireless token  24  which comes within its range. In one form, when a wireless token  24  comes within range of an access node  50 , the access node  50  receives information from the wireless token  24  and seeks to identify one or more structures within its coverage area to which the wireless token  24  is authorized to enter. The server  60  serves to authenticate the request or a portion thereof using a reservations and occupancy database, while in other forms, the access node  50  may perform at least a portion of the authentication. In the illustrative embodiment, server  60  processes each request corresponding to an authentication request received by access node  50  from wireless token  24 , and upon proper authentication, confirms the authentication for one or more structures to access node  50  which then transmits an electronic signal to the corresponding lock(s), such as lock  34 , notifying the lock to wake-up for a predetermined period of time in order to communication with nearby authorized wireless token  24 . In a further form, the access node  50  not only notifies lock  34  that it should wake-up, but also communicates information to lock  34  regarding which wireless token  24  it should be expecting. 
     While server  60  is described and illustrated as being a server, it should be understood that server  60  may be any computer, including a client server arrangement. Server  60  may interface with access node  50  by either a wireless or hardwired interconnection. Preferably, the connection is a secured connection. A non-limiting example list of potential interfaces includes IR, optical, RF, serial port, IP network, and USB. Additionally, the functions of server  60  and access node  50  may be integrated into one computer system. 
     Once access node  50  as authenticated wireless token  24  and woken-up a selected lock  34 , the process proceeds to a second level authentication between the wireless token  24  and lock  34 . In the illustrated embodiment, wireless token  24  connects to lock  34  and provides authorization information. In one form, the authorization information provided may be the same as the authorization information provided by wireless token  24  to access node  50 , described above. Alternatively, in another form, the authorization information provided by wireless node  24  may be unlock information provided to wireless node  24  by access node  50  earlier in the process. Furthermore, in this form as well as other, upon receiving the authorization information from wireless token  24 , lock  34  may communicate with access node  50  to confirm the authorization or wireless token  24 . In the event the authorization information received by lock  34  is authorized, by whatever means selected, lock  34  determines that a legitimate unlock request is present. 
     Additionally, either prior to or simultaneous with, lock  34  assesses the location of wireless token  24  to determine whether it is within a designated area. For making this determination, lock  34  includes two directional antennas  38  and  39  which are operable to communicate with wireless token  24  over a low power wireless transmission protocol. As illustrated in  FIG. 1  and  FIGS. 4A-B , according to the illustrated form, lock  34  and antennas  38  and  39  are located within the mortise of door  32  or in a position proximate thereto. According to the described form, as shown in  FIG. 4A , antenna  38  faces outward from door  32  and structure  40  while, as shown in  FIG. 4B  antenna  39  faces inward from door  32  and into structure  40 . These antennas enable lock  34  to determine an approximate location of wireless token  24  with respect to door  32  (i.e. inside or outside of structure  40 ) based upon a received signal strength indication (RSSI) determined by each of directional antennas  38  and  39 . 
     The direction antennas  38  and  39  are preferably patch antennas, which provide for a low-profile combined with low back-lobe radiation. The low profile makes installations within the cavity of a door or other desired location easier while the low back-lobe radiation enhances the difference in signal strength perceived by the two opposing antennas with respect to the same user device. It shall be appreciated that various sizes of directional antennas  38  and  39  may be used, such as 3.5″×3″ or 5.5″×4.5″, and that the directional antennas  38  and  39  shown are sized for ease of illustration. 
     In order to further enhance the difference in signal strengths perceived by direction antennas  38  and  39  with respect to the same user device, the system  20  includes a ground plane  35  which is arranged between direction antennas  38  and  39 . Ground plane  35  may be a part of directional antennas  38  and/or  39  or separate therefrom. Ground plane  35  is preferably sized to be larger than direction antennas  38  and  39 , and more preferably is sized to be at least twice the size of directional antennas  38  and  39 . Ground plane  35  is also preferably made from a radio-frequency reflective material, such as metal or the like. In a further form, ground plane  35  may be replaced by two or more ground planes of the same or varying sizes and/or materials where desired. 
     In an alternate form, a number of omni-directional antennas implementing beamforming or spatial filtering signal processing may be used as directional antennas  38  and/or  39  as such processing provides for directional signal transmission and reception. As is known in the art, beamforming utilizes an array of omni-directional antennas which results in signals at particular angles experiencing constructive and destructive interference. By shifting the transmitters out of phase with one another, the cross-over points can be manipulated, resulting in a directional nature to the array on omni-directional antennas. In this form, the directional antennas  38  and/or  39  may be located in access node  50  as opposed to in lock  34 , and function with more than one door  32 , such as to provide inside/outside detection for its associated structure  40 . 
     Using the information obtained from the directional antennas  38  and  39  concerning user device  24 , lock  34  can confirm that the requesting user device  24  is within a designated area, such as an 2 foot semi-circular area on the outside of a door. The primary information derived from the directional antennas  38  and  39  is the signal strength received as well as the differential of the signal strength perceived between the two. Such a confirmation ensures that access to a structure won&#39;t ever be improperly granted based upon a user device within the structure. For example, the mock floor plan shown in  FIG. 3  illustrates a number of desired areas as small half circles outside of hotel room doors, which are the effective coverage areas for the required signal strength to be detected by antenna  38  with respect to wireless token  24 . It is only when a wireless token  24  is within these areas that their respective doors may be opened if authorized. Furthermore, a number of larger half circles in the interior of the hotel rooms show the field of coverage of antennas  39  which are used to detect when wireless token  24  is within the corresponding hotel room. 
     Only after the authentication information received from wireless token  24  is verified and the location of wireless token  24  has been determined to be in the designated area will lock  34  unlock to permit the user access to the structure. 
     In still other embodiments, lock  34  is operably coupled to an override switch (not shown) having an access disable state. Asserting the override switch prevents the access system  20  from permitting access to corresponding structure  40 . As one non-limiting example, the override switch may be asserted when a guest engages a deadbolt or bar latch within their hotel room. In some embodiments of the access system  20 , the override switch is incorporated into an electronic control, not shown here, accessible to the user within structure  40 . 
     A flowchart illustrating one set of steps performed in configuring a wireless token  24  for use in accessing a structure  40  according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 2 . The process involves a wireless token  24  and the various other components of access system  20 . The following description is with continuing reference to access system  20  of  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the wireless token  24  may be a dedicated wireless token or another device, such as a mobile telephone, laptop, tablet, or other portable electronic device; however, it is understood that numerous other networked appliances are also intended. 
     It shall be appreciated that initial reservation, check-in, and configuration information must be populated within server  60  to enable to access methods described herein to be performed. For example, confirmation information stored by server  60  preferably identifies the hotel and the user and includes a check-in/check-out date along with details of the type of room requested/reserved. In the preferred form, this confirmation information is received by server  60  as a result of a hotel booking being made for a user either online, in person, or over the phone. 
     Upon checking into the hotel, or being authorized to access some other structure in other adaptations of the system  20 , the wireless token  24  is automatically configured to pair with or otherwise connect to access nodes located near the structure  40 . Additionally, the details of the assigned room or structure, including its number and location, are then stored by server  60  is association with wireless token  24 . This ensures that access nodes  50  will proper identify the room wireless token  24  is assigned to access and be able to authenticate its request for access. It shall be appreciated that this process may be modified to accommodate more than one authorized hotel guest per room, such as having two wireless devices authorized to enter the same hotel room, or allowing a current guest to authorize the wireless device of another to access the hotel room for any portion of their remaining stay. 
     In continuing the description of the embodiment described with respect to  FIG. 2 , a flowchart illustrating one set of steps performed in allowing a user to access structure  40  using wireless token  24  and the various other components of access system  20  is shown. The following description is with continuing reference to access system  20  of  FIG. 1   
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the process begins at start point  200  with the user along with the wireless token  24  arriving in a location within range of an access node  50 . In step  202  or  204 , a user device, such as either a mobile telephone or wireless token  24 , are detected by the access node  50  respectively. Upon detecting the user device, the access node determines whether or not the user is authorized to enter one of the structure entrances that is proximate to access node  50  (step  206 ). If the user is not authorized, the process ends at point  208 . If the user is authorized, the user device connects to the access node  50  (step  210 ). Next, in order to ensure that the user is on the proper floor, the access node  50  compares its perceived signal strength from the nearest access nodes of the floor above and below (if available) to ensure that its signal is the strongest (step  212 ). If the user is determined to be on another floor, the process proceeds to and ends at step  214 . Alternatively, if the access node  50  determines that the user is on its associated floor, the process proceeds to step  216 . In step  216  the access node  50  collaborates with server  60  to confirm the credentials provided by the user device. In the event the credentials are not confirmed, the process ends at step  218 . If the credentials of the user device are confirmed, the process proceeds to step  220  where access node  50  sends a wake-up signal to the lock, such as lock  34 , associated with the structure, such as structure  40 , to which the user is authorized. Additionally, the access node  50  may detect the type of wireless standard the user device is capable of such that the proper wireless standard may be activated by the selected door lock  34  in step  220 . The wake-up signal may also include an access code, such as a temporary alphanumeric code or the like, which must be matched by the user device in order to cause the lock to open. 
     The second stage of the process beings in step  226  where the user device connects to the now active lock  34 . The dual antennas  38  and  39  of lock  34  detect a RSSI from the user device (step  228 ). In the preferred form, the central focus of the antennas  38  and  39  are directly opposite of one another and are separated by at least one ground plane. However, in an alternate form, the central focus of the antennas  38  and  39  may only be offset by at least 130 degrees. In yet another form, the central focus may differ by 150 degrees or more. In a still further form, the antennas are offset by approximately 180 degrees. If the user device is determined to be inside of the structure, such as by having a stronger signal strength via the internally facing antenna  39 , the process proceeds through steps  232 , and  234 , whereby it is determined that the user is already in the room and the process ends subject to starting over. Alternatively, if is determined to be outside of the structure, such as by having a stronger signal strength via the externally facing antenna  38  or a suitable ration, and at least a certain signal strength to indicate the desired proximity to lock  34  (step  236 ), the process proceeds to authenticate the request by comparing the security code provided by the user device to the stored access code received from node  50  (step  238 ) until lock  34  unlocks either provides the user with access to structure  40  (step  240 ) upon a successful authentication or the process ends at point  242 . 
     In a further form, door lock  34  takes appropriate samples of RSSI relative to wireless token  24  on either side of door, using antennas  38  and  39 . For example, the samples may include several periodic RSSI readings which are then averaged or otherwise combine to reduce interference, noise, or the like from a single reading. Based upon these readings, lock  34  makes a determination of whether wireless token  24  is inside and outside of door  32 . Additionally, the lock  34  may use the RSSI samples of antenna  38  to determine the distance wireless token  24  is from lock  34  for purposes of determining its presence within the defined proximity range outside of the door  32  as well. In a further form, the determination of whether a user device is inside or outside of a room requires that the RSSI detected by one directional antenna (such as  38 ) must be a predetermined amount of percentage greater than that of the opposing directional antenna (such as  39 ). Once measurements averages are conducted, and presence of token/device and it is determined that he is in the proper unlock zone (range of outside proximity), the unlock of step  242  is granted. 
     In yet another form, lock  34  may periodically transmit information to access node  50  for passing along to server  60  which indicates the user is still in the hotel room. This information may trigger the in-room temperature to be maintained, and upon detecting that the user is no longer in the room, the temperature may be raised to a user-specified or standard level or it may trigger the lights to be turned off, as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/126,486 to Sunyich entitled “Personalized Smart Room”, which is hereby incorporated by reference to the extent not inconsistent. 
     While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description with respect to a hotel access system, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all equivalents, changes, and modifications that come within the spirit of the inventions as described herein and/or by the following claims are desired to be protected. By way of non-limiting example, the system described herein may be applied to other enclosed areas where selective access is desired, including, other structures such as offices, amusement parks, military bases, restricted areas, vehicles, homes, etc.

Technology Category: 3