US-12620281-B2 - Building access using a mobile device

US12620281B2US 12620281 B2US12620281 B2US 12620281B2US-12620281-B2

Abstract

A mobile device determines a current location based at least in part on one or more characteristics of one or more signals received from a wireless access point. The wireless access point receives from the mobile device the current location of the mobile device and an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI)-based identifier that is unique to the user's mobile device. The door is electrically unlocked when the current location of the user's mobile device is determined to be within a predetermined proximity to the door and the wirelessly received IMEI based identifier of the user's mobile device is associated with a user that has access rights to access through the door.

Inventors

Prithivirajan Sadhasivam
Muthu Kannan Muthuvel
Sivakumar Nagarajan
Santhakumar P
Manonmani Chandrasekaran
S.B.Saravana Pandiyan
Thiruppathi V
Vikramraj Sivaram
Shiva Sankar G P
Hayes C Whitt

Assignees

HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20230913

Claims (20)

1 . A method of controlling access through a door of a facility having a door lock that can be electrically locked and unlocked, the method comprising: establishing a wireless communication between one or more wireless access points and a user's mobile device; the user's mobile device determining a current location of the user's mobile device; one or more of the wireless access points wirelessly receiving from the user's mobile device the current location of the user's mobile device and an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI)-based identifier that is unique to the user's mobile device and operates as a user credential; determining when the current location of the user's mobile device remains within a predetermined proximity to the door for at least a threshold period of time; determining when the wirelessly received IMEI-based identifier of the user's mobile device is associated with a user that has access rights to access through the door; electrically unlocking the door when each of: the current location of the user's mobile device remains within the predetermined proximity to the door for at least the threshold period of time; the user's mobile device detects a user action indicating an intent to open the door; and the wirelessly received IMEI-based identifier of the user's mobile device is associated with a user that has access rights to access through the door.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein: wherein the one or more wireless access points ( 14 ) include a 5G millimeter-wave access point, and the wireless communication includes sending and receiving one or more 5G millimeter-wave signals; and the user's mobile device determining the current location of the user's mobile device based at least in part on one or more characteristics of one or more of the 5G millimeter-wave signals received by the user's mobile device from one or more of the wireless access points.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more wireless access points include an Ultra-Wide Band (UWB) access point, and the wireless communication includes sending and receiving one or more UWB signals.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein: the user's mobile device determining the current location of the user's mobile device based at least in part on one or more characteristics of one or more of the UWB signals received by the user's mobile device from one or more of the wireless access points.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein electrically unlocking the door includes sending an unlock signal from one of the one or more wireless access points to the door lock.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein one or more of the wireless access points includes a router that is in communication with a network of the facility, wherein electrically unlocking the door includes sending via the router the unlock signal from one of the one or more wireless access points that include the router to the door lock across at least part of the network of the facility.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the wireless access points include a router, and wherein one of the wireless access points that include the router sending via the router one or more of the current location of the user's mobile device and the IMEI-based identifier of the user's mobile device to an access controller, the access controller determining one or more of: when the current location of the user's mobile device remains within the predetermined proximity to the door for at least the threshold period of time; when the wirelessly received IMEI-based identifier of the user's mobile device is associated with a user that has access rights to access through the door; and wherein electrically unlocking the door includes sending an unlock signal from the access controller to the door lock.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising hashing an IMEI number of the user's mobile device with a sim card serial number of the user's mobile device to form the IMEI based identifier.
9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising hashing an IMEI number of the user's mobile device with a sim card serial number of the user's mobile device to arrive at a hashed value, and encrypting the hashed value to form the IMEI-based identifier.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the user's mobile device includes on Operating System (OS), the OS sending the current location of the user's mobile device and the IMEI-based identifier to one or more of the wireless access points without first being prompted by an application program running on the user's mobile device.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the user action is an actuation of an unlock button on the mobile device.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the user action is a movement of the mobile device toward the door without the user activating an unlock button on the mobile device.
13 . An access control system for controlling access through a door of a facility, the access control system comprising: one or more wireless access points; a user's mobile device; a door lock for locking and unlocking the door of the facility; the user's mobile device is configured to: establish wireless communication with one or more of the wireless access points; determine a current location of the user's mobile device; wirelessly send the determined current location of the user's mobile device; wirelessly send an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI)-based identifier that is unique to the user's mobile device; one of the wireless access points is configured to: wirelessly receive from the user's mobile device the current location of the user's mobile device and the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI)-based identifier that is unique to the user's mobile device; an access controller operatively coupled to the one of the wireless access points that is configured to wirelessly receive the current location of the user's mobile device and the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI)-based identifier that is unique to the user's mobile device, the access controller configured to: determine when the current location of the user's mobile device remains within a predetermined proximity to the door for at least a threshold period of time; determine when the IMEI-based identifier of the user's mobile device is associated with a user that has access rights to access through the door; and unlock the door via the door lock when the current location of the user's mobile device remains within the predetermined proximity to the door for at least the threshold period of time, the user's mobile device detects a user action indicating an intent to open the door, and the IMEI-based identifier of the user's mobile device is associated with a user that has access rights to access through the door.
14 . The access control system of claim 13 , wherein the access controller is operatively coupled to the one of the wireless access points that is configured to wirelessly receive the current location of the user's mobile device and the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI)-based identifier that is unique to the user's mobile device via a network.
15 . The access control system of claim 13 , wherein the user's mobile device includes on Operating System (OS), the OS is configured to wirelessly send the determined current location of the user's mobile device and the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI)-based identifier that is unique to the user's mobile device without first being prompted by an application program running on the user's mobile device.
16 . The access control system of claim 13 , wherein the user action is an actuation of an unlock button on the mobile device.
17 . The access control system of claim 13 , wherein the user action is a movement of the mobile device toward the door without the user activating an unlock button on the mobile device.
18 . A method of controlling access through a door of a facility having a door lock that can be electrically locked and unlocked, the method comprising: establishing a wireless communication between one or more wireless 5G millimeter-wave routers and a user's mobile device; the user's mobile device determining a current location of the user's mobile device based at least in part on one or more characteristics of one or more signals received by the user's mobile device from one or more of the wireless 5G millimeter-wave routers; one or more of the wireless 5G millimeter-wave routers wirelessly receiving from the user's mobile device the current location of the user's mobile device and an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI)-based identifier that is unique to the user's mobile device; determining when the current location of the user's mobile device remains within a predetermined proximity to the door for at least a threshold period of time; determining when the wirelessly received IMEI-based identifier of the user's mobile device is associated with a user that has access rights to access through the door; and electrically unlocking the door when: the current location of the user's mobile device remains within the predetermined proximity to the door for at least the threshold period of time; the user's mobile device detects a user action indicating an intent to open the door; and the wirelessly received IMEI-based identifier of the user's mobile device is associated with a user that has access rights to access through the door.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the user action is an actuation of an unlock button on the mobile device.
20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the user action is a movement of the mobile device toward the door without the user activating an unlock button on the mobile device.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure pertains generally to methods of gaining access to a controlled space and more particularly to methods of using mobile devices in gaining access to a controlled space. BACKGROUND Physical access control systems are designed to provide access to buildings and/or specific areas of a building for individuals who are authorized to access such areas and to deny access to buildings and/or specific areas of the building to individuals who are not authorized to access such areas. For example, certain individuals may be authorized to access a secure area of a building, whereas other individuals may not be allowed to access the secure area. In another example, certain individuals may be authorized to access a first building but not a second building, whereas other individuals may not be allowed to access either building. In some cases, access may be granted only during certain times. Current approaches to physical access control systems often rely on users (e.g., employees) carrying physical access cards (e.g., physical badge) to gain entry to areas of a building. For example, a user can swipe a physical access card in an access card reader at a security door to gain entry to an area of a building. However, issuing and managing physical access card can be time consuming, cumbersome and error prone. What would be desirable is a system which allows a user's mobile device to act as an access credential for building access systems. SUMMARY This disclosure is directed to providing and/or managing access control, and more particularly to methods and systems for using a user's mobile device as an access credential to gain access to one or more authorized areas. An example may be found in a method of controlling access through a door of a facility having a door lock that can be electrically locked and unlocked. The illustrative method includes establishing a wireless communication between one or more wireless access points and a user's mobile device. The user's mobile device determining a current location of the user's mobile device based at least in part on one or more characteristics of one or more signals received by the user's mobile device from one or more of the wireless access points. One or more of the wireless access points wirelessly receives from the user's mobile device the current location of the user's mobile device and an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) based identifier that is unique to the user's mobile device. The IMEI based identifier may operate as a user credential. A determination is made as to when the current location of the user's mobile device is within a predetermined proximity to the door. A determination is made as to when the wirelessly received IMEI based identifier of the user's mobile device is associated with a user that has access rights to access through the door. The door is electrically unlocked when the current location of the user's mobile device is within the predetermined proximity to the door and the wirelessly received IMEI based identifier of the user's mobile device is associated with a user that has access rights to access through the door. Another example may be found in an access control system for controlling access through a door of a facility. The illustrative access control system includes one or more wireless access points, a user's mobile device, and a door lock for locking and unlocking the door of the facility. The user's mobile device is configured to establish wireless communication with one or more of the wireless access points and to determine a current location of the user's mobile device based at least in part on one or more characteristics of one or more signals received by the user's mobile device from one or more of the wireless access points. The user's mobile device is configured to wirelessly send the determined current location of the user's mobile device and to wirelessly send an IMEI based identifier that is unique to the user's mobile device. One of the wireless access points is configured to wirelessly receive from the user's mobile device the current location of the user's mobile device and the IMEI based identifier that is unique to the user's mobile device. An access controller is operatively coupled to the one of the wireless access points and is configured to receive the current location of the user's mobile device and the IMEI based identifier that is unique to the user's mobile device. The access controller is configured to determine when the current location of the user's mobile device is within a predetermined proximity to the door, determine when the IMEI based identifier of the user's mobile device is associated with a user that has access rights to access through the door, and unlock the door via the door lock when the current location of the user's mobile device is within the predetermined proximity to the door and the IMEI based identifier of the user's mobile device is associated with