Electronic access control and location tracking system
A method and system that allows authorized individuals access into controlled access locations and the ability to grant temporary and limited access to guests into these locations. The method and system allows for navigational services to be provided to members and guests, and real-time tracking and confirmation to members and administrators that guests have arrived at their destination and did not enter any unauthorized areas. The method preferably can work through a system of wireless radio, sound and/or light-based beacons communicating with member and guest's electronic devices. Members and administrators can send one or more temporary electronic access keys to a guest's smartphone or other electronic device. Wireless radio, sound and/or light-based beacons provide an access control and location tracking system with real-time data about the member and guest whereabouts, allowing for the confirmation and tracking.
1. An electronic system for determining whether an individual is currently located in an authorized or unauthorized location within a controlled access area, comprising:
a plurality of beacons placed throughout a controlled access area;
an access control computer system in electronic communication with the plurality of beacons, the access control computer system specifically programmed to receive and process a digital key initially transmitted by a portable electronic device of a particular individual who is currently located within the controlled access area;
an access control & location tracking database in electronic communication with the access control computer system; the access control & location tracking database containing or storing information related to the transmitted digital key;
wherein upon receipt of the digital key by the access control computer system the access control computer system is specifically program to obtain the digital key information from the access control & location tracking database for the received digital key and is specifically programmed to determined what access/location permissions have been afforded to a person associated with the digital key;
wherein the access control computer system is specifically programmed to determine a current location of the person based on information received from one or more of the plurality of beacons and based on the permissions and the current location the access control computer system is specifically programmed to determine whether the person is in an authorized or unauthorized location within the controlled access area.
2. The electronic system for determining of claim 1 wherein at least one beacon of the plurality of beacons receives the digital key from the portable electronic device and the at least one beacon is specifically programmed to forward the digital key along with identifying information for the at least one beacon to the access control computer system.
3. The electronic system for determining of claim 1 wherein the portable electronic device is specifically programmed to wirelessly transmit the digital key in continuous intervals.
4. The electronic system for determining of claim 1 wherein the access control computer system is configured to transmit on or more notifications or alerts where the access control computer system determines that the person is in an unauthorized location within the controlled access area.
5. The electronic system for determining of claim 1 wherein the access control computer system is configured to automatically terminate one or more permissions granted to the person where the access control computer system determines that the person is in an unauthorized location within the controlled access area.
6. The electronic system for determining of claim 1 wherein the access control computer system also received final authorized location information for the person from the access control & location tracking database and if the current location of the person is not the final authorized location the access control computer system is configured to automatically calculate a route for the person to reach the final authorized location from the current location and to automatically forward the calculated route to the portable electronic device.
7. An electronic system for determining whether an individual is currently located in an authorized or unauthorized location within a controlled access area, comprising:
a plurality of beacons placed throughout a controlled access area;
an access control & location tracking keychain database contained within a portable electronic device of a particular individual who is currently located within the controlled access area, the access control & location tracking keychain database storing at least one digital key;
an access control computer system in electronic communication with the plurality of beacons, the access control computer system specifically programmed to receive and process a digital key from the at least one digital key which is initially transmitted by the portable electronic device;
an access control & location tracking database in electronic communication with the access control computer system; the access control & location tracking database containing or storing information related to the transmitted digital key;
wherein upon receipt of the digital key by the access control computer system the access control computer system is specifically program to obtain the digital key information from the access control & location tracking database for the received digital key and is specifically programmed to determined what access/location permissions have been afforded to a person associated with the digital key;
wherein the access control computer system is specifically programmed to determine a current location of the person based on information received from one or more of the plurality of beacons and based on the permissions and the current location the access control computer system is specifically programmed to determine whether the person is in an authorized or unauthorized location within the controlled access area.
8. The electronic system for determining of claim 7 wherein at least one beacon of the plurality of beacons receives the digital key from the portable electronic device and the at least one beacon is specifically programmed to forward the digital key along with identifying information for the at least one beacon to the access control computer system.
9. The electronic system for determining of claim 7 wherein the portable electronic device is specifically programmed to wirelessly transmit the digital key in continuous intervals.
10. The electronic system for determining of claim 7 wherein the access control computer system is configured to transmit on or more notifications or alerts where the access control computer system determines that the person is in an unauthorized location within the controlled access area.
11. The electronic system for determining of claim 7 wherein the access control computer system is configured to automatically terminate one or more permissions granted to the person where the access control computer system determines that the person is in an unauthorized location within the controlled access area.
12. The electronic system for determining of claim 7 wherein the access control computer system also received final authorized location information for the person from the access control & location tracking database and if the current location of the person is not the final authorized location the access control computer system is configured to automatically calculate a route for the person to reach the final authorized location from the current location and to automatically forward the calculated route to the portable electronic device.
13. An electronic system for determining whether an individual is currently located in an authorized or unauthorized location within a controlled access area, comprising:
a plurality of beacons placed throughout a controlled access area;
an access control & location tracking keychain database contained within a portable electronic device of a particular individual who is currently located within the controlled access area, the access control & location tracking keychain database storing at least one digital key;
an access control computer system in electronic communication with the plurality of beacons, the access control computer system specifically programmed to receive and process a digital key from the at least one digital key which is initially transmitted by the portable electronic device to at least one beacon of the plurality of beacons, wherein the at least one beacon is configured to automatically forward the digital key along with identifying information for the at least one beacon to the access control computer system;
an access control & location tracking database in electronic communication with the access control computer system; the access control & location tracking database containing or storing information related to the transmitted digital key;
wherein upon receipt of the digital key by the access control computer system the access control computer system is specifically program to obtain the digital key information from the access control & location tracking database for the received digital key and is specifically programmed to determined what access/location permissions have been afforded to a person associated with the digital key;
wherein the access control computer system is specifically programmed to determine a current location of the person based on information received from one or more of the plurality of beacons and based on the permissions and the current location the access control computer system is specifically programmed to determine whether the person is in an authorized or unauthorized location within the controlled access area.
14. The electronic system for determining of claim 13 wherein the portable electronic device is specifically programmed to wirelessly transmit the digital key in continuous intervals.
15. The electronic system for determining of claim 13 wherein the access control computer system is configured to transmit on or more notifications or alerts where the access control computer system determines that the person is in an unauthorized location within the controlled access area.
16. The electronic system for determining of claim 13 wherein the access control computer system is configured to automatically terminate one or more permissions granted to the person where the access control computer system determines that the person is in an unauthorized location within the controlled access area.
17. The electronic system for determining of claim 13 wherein the access control computer system also received final authorized location information for the person from the access control & location tracking database and if the current location of the person is not the final authorized location the access control computer system is configured to automatically calculate a route for the person to reach the final authorized location from the current location and to automatically forward the calculated route to the portable electronic device.