Electronic information access system and methods
View Patent ↗An electronic information access system and associated methods. In one exemplary embodiment, the system comprises an antenna adapted to receive electromagnetic energy, the electromagnetic energy encoding first data associated with at least one person; and processing apparatus in signal communication with the antenna. The processing apparatus is configured to: access a first database containing second data relating to the one or more certain persons; analyze at least portions of the first data and the second data to determine if the at least one person is authorized to access the information; and if the at least one person is authorized access, facilitate download of the information to a personal electronic device (PED) of the at least one person.
1. An information system associated with a transport apparatus, the transport apparatus configured to move from one location to another, the access to information of said information system being authorized for only one or more certain persons, the system comprising:
an antenna adapted to receive electromagnetic energy, said electromagnetic energy encoding first data associated with at least one person; and
processing apparatus in signal communication with said antenna, said processing apparatus configured to:
access a first database containing second data relating to said one or more certain persons;
analyze at least portions of said first data and said second data to determine if said at least one person is authorized to access said information; and
if said at least one person is authorized access, facilitate download of said information to a personal electronic device (PED) of said at least one person.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processing apparatus is further configured to enable data communication with the PED before said download occurs.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic energy encoding first data associated with at least one person comprises an encrypted protocol.
4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an interrogator apparatus configured to elicit transmission of said electromagnetic energy from a radio frequency device associated with the at least one person.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the radio frequency device is embedded within a card-like form factor.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the information comprises information specifically tailored for the at least one person based on one or more prior preferences or selections of the at least one person.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the information comprises information specific to the at least one person.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the antenna is configured for short-range radio frequency communications with a corresponding radio frequency device of said at least one person.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the corresponding radio frequency device comprises an RFID tag.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein said download is performed in response to a user actuating one or more functions on said PED.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein said actuating one or more functions on said PED comprises actuating a function that selects at least one type of content-related information to be downloaded.
12. The system of claim 10 , wherein said download is performed automatically after said at least one person is authorized access.
13. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a controller which, if said access is authorized, permits actuation by said at least one person of services associated with the transport apparatus.
14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the PED comprises a personal digital device.
15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the PED comprises a laptop computer.
16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the PED comprises a notebook computer.
17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is further configured to retain a record of said access by said at least one person.
18. An information system disposed within a building, the access to information of said information system being authorized for only one or more certain persons, the system comprising:
an interrogator;
an antenna adapted to receive electromagnetic energy, said electromagnetic energy encoding first data associated with a person, said electromagnetic energy being received when the person brings a radio frequency device having said first data stored thereon in proximity to said interrogator; and
processing apparatus in signal communication with said antenna, said processing apparatus configured to:
access a first database containing second data relating to said one or more certain persons;
analyze at least portions of said first data and said second data to determine if said person is authorized to access said information; and
if said at least one person is authorized access, facilitate download of said information to a personal electronic device (PED) of said person when they are in the building.
19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the database is disposed remotely from the building, and is accessed via a network connection between the system and the database.
20. The system of claim 18 , wherein the processing apparatus is further configured to enable data communication with the PED before said download occurs.
21. The system of claim 18 , wherein the electromagnetic energy encoding first data associated with a person comprises an encrypted protocol.
22. The system of claim 18 , wherein the radio frequency device is embedded within a card-like form factor.
23. The system of claim 18 , wherein the information comprises information specifically tailored for the person based on one or more prior preferences or selections of the person.
24. The system of claim 18 , wherein the information comprises information specific to the person.
25. The system of claim 18 , wherein the antenna is configured for short-range radio frequency communications with the radio frequency device.
26. The system of claim 18 , wherein the radio frequency device comprises an RFID tag.
27. The system of claim 18 , wherein said download is performed in response to a user actuating one or more functions on said PED.
28. The system of claim 27 , wherein said actuating one or more functions on said PED comprises actuating a function that selects at least one type of content-related information to be downloaded.
29. The system of claim 18 , wherein said download is performed automatically after said person is authorized access.
30. The system of claim 18 , further comprising a controller which. if said access is authorized, permits actuation by said person of services associated with the building.
31. The system of claim 18 , wherein the structure comprises one or more elevators.
32. The system of claim 18 , wherein the PED comprises a personal digital assistant (PDA) device.
33. The system of claim 18 , wherein the PED comprises a laptop computer.
34. The system of claim 18 , wherein the PED comprises a notebook computer.
35. The system of claim 18 , wherein the building comprises a plurality of floors, and wherein said person must travel to one of said floors in order to be sufficiently proximate said interrogator for said receipt of said electromagnetic energy to occur.
36. An information system associated with a building, the access to information of said information system being authorized for only one or more certain persons, the certain persons also utilizing the building, the system comprising:
an antenna adapted to receive electromagnetic energy, said electromagnetic energy encoding first data associated with at least one person; and
processing apparatus in signal communication with said antenna, said processing apparatus configured to:
access a first database containing second data relating to said one or more certain persons;
analyze at least portions of said first data and said second data to determine if said at least one person is authorized to access said information; and
if said at least one person is authorized access, facilitate download of said information to a personal electronic device (PED) of said at least one person.
37. The system of claim 36 , wherein the processing apparatus is further configured to enable data communication with the PED before said download occurs.
38. The system of claim 36 , wherein the electromagnetic energy encoding first data associated with at least one person comprises an encrypted protocol.
39. The system of claim 36 , further comprising an interrogator apparatus configured to elicit transmission of said electromagnetic energy from a radio frequency device associated with the at least one person.
40. The system of claim 39 , wherein the building comprises a plurality of floors, and wherein said at least one person must travel to one of said floors in order to be sufficiently proximate said interrogator for said elicitation of said transmission to occur.
41. The system of claim 39 , wherein the radio frequency device is embedded within a card-like form factor.
42. The system of claim 36 , wherein the information comprises information specifically tailored for the at least one person based on one or more prior preferences or selections of the at least one person.
43. The system of claim 36 , wherein the information comprises information specific to the at least one person.
44. The system of claim 36 , wherein the antenna is configured for short-range radio frequency communications with a corresponding radio frequency device of said at least one person.
45. The system of claim 36 , wherein the corresponding radio frequency device comprises an RFID tag.
46. The system of claim 36 , wherein said download is performed in response to a user actuating one or more functions on said PED.
47. The system of claim 46 , wherein said actuating one or more functions on said PED comprises actuating a function that selects at least one type of content-related information to be downloaded.
48. The system of claim 46 , wherein said download is performed automatically after said at least one person is authorized access.
49. The system of claim 36 , further comprising a controller which, if said access is authorized, permits actuation by said at least one person of services associated with the building.
50. The system of claim 36 , wherein the structure comprises one or more elevators.
51. The system of claim 36 , wherein the PED comprises a personal digital assistant (PDA) device.
52. The system of claim 36 , wherein the PED comprises a laptop computer.
53. The system of claim 36 , wherein the PED comprises a notebook computer.
54. An information system disposed within a building, the access to information of said information system being authorized for only one or more certain persons, the system comprising:
an interrogator;
an antenna means for receiving electromagnetic energy, said electromagnetic energy encoding first data associated with a person, said electromagnetic energy being received when the person brings a radio frequency device having said first data stored thereon in proximity to said interrogator; and
means for processing apparatus in signal communication with said antenna means, said means for processing configured to:
access a first database containing second data relating to said one or more certain persons;
analyze at least portions of said first data and said second data to determine if said person is authorized to access said information; and
when it is determined that said at least one person is authorized access, facilitate download of said information to a personal electronic device (PED) of said person.