Hands-free gate access control system and method of use
A method and system provide for a hands-free access mechanism. The method includes locating a mobile device using a first radio access technology. The method further includes measuring a signal strength using the first technology and determining that the signal strength meets a predetermined signal strength threshold in order to trigger a location process using a second technology having a more precise location capability than the first technology. The method may further assess environmental conditions upon determining a particular precise location and trigger an access sequence upon detecting the mobile device in a selected position. The access sequence triggered may be impacted by the environmental conditions.
1 . A method for access control at an access point associated with a control system, the method comprising:
locating a mobile device using a first radio access technology (RAT), the first RAT having a first location capability;
measuring a signal strength using the first RAT and determining that the signal strength meets a predetermined signal strength threshold;
triggering a location determination process to locate the mobile device upon determining the signal strength meets the predetermined signal strength threshold, the location determination process executed using a second RAT having a second location capability more precise than the first location capability, wherein the second RAT is Ultra Wide Band (UWB);
responsive to triggering a location determination process, adjusting an exchange rate of UWB signals with the mobile device based on the signal strength;
detecting a mobile device position through the location determination process, wherein the detected mobile device position corresponds to a selected position relative to the access point; and
triggering an access sequence upon detecting the mobile device in the selected position.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising performing an optical detection process to further locate objects within a predetermined distance of the access point and determine a position of the mobile device with respect to a different access point.
3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising releasing the mobile device and halting the access sequence upon detecting that the mobile device is within a threshold distance of the different access point.
4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising initiating the access sequence at the different access point subsequent to release.
5 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising determining the access sequence based on the optical detection process.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first RAT is Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting an exchange rate of UWB signals with the mobile device based on the signal strength comprises decreasing a time between UWB signals as the signal strength increases.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined signal strength threshold is a received signal strength indicator (RSSI).
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the RSSI is reported by the mobile device to the control system.
10 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising self-adjusting the predetermined signal strength threshold at the mobile device based on a passage history of the mobile device through the access point.
11 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising self-adjusting the predetermined signal strength threshold at the control system based on access point signal strength.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the selected position is based on distance from the access point and an angle of approach to the access point.
13 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising associating multiple adjacent access points with corresponding control systems.
14 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising releasing the mobile device and delaying triggering the access sequence when the detected position is within a threshold distance of a different access point.
15 . A system for access control, the system comprising:
at least one access point;
multiple antennas mounted to the access point, the antennas communicating with a mobile device; and
a processor controlling the access point and executing instructions to perform multiple operations including:
locating the mobile device using a first radio access technology (RAT), the first RAT having a location capability;
measuring a signal strength using the first RAT and determining that the signal strength meets a predetermined threshold;
triggering a location determination process to locate the mobile device upon determining the signal strength meets the predetermined threshold, wherein:
the location determination process is executed using a second RAT having a more precise location capability than the first RAT; and
triggering a location determination process comprises increasing an exchange rate of RAT signals with the mobile device as the signal strength increases;
detecting, through the location determination process, that the mobile device is in a selected position; and
triggering an access sequence upon detecting the mobile device in the selected position, causing opening of the access point.
16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the selected position is determined utilizing a distance from the access point and an angle of approach to the access point.
17 . The system of claim 15 , further comprising performing an optical detection system to further locate objects within a predetermined distance of the access point and determine a position of the mobile device with respect to a different access point.
18 . The system of claim 17 , the operations further comprising releasing the mobile device and halting the access sequence upon detecting that the mobile device is within a threshold distance of the different access point.
19 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the first RAT is Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).
20 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the second RAT is Ultra Wide Band (UWB).
21 . A method for operating an access point comprising:
performing initial signal detection and authentication utilizing a first RAT allowing an information exchange between a control system and a mobile device;
triggering a location determination process performed by a second RAT to locate the mobile device, wherein:
the location determination process is triggered in response to determining that a signal strength measured with the first RAT meets a predetermined threshold;
the location determination process is executed using the second RAT; and
the location determination process comprises increasing an exchange rate of RAT signals with the mobile device;
receiving a notification through the location determination process, that the mobile device is in a selected position relative to the access point;
utilizing an additional detection system to assess conditions surrounding the mobile device and the access point; and
triggering an access sequence upon detecting the mobile device in the selected position and the surrounding conditions meeting specified criteria.