Access control system with secure pass-through
The mobile device ( 12 ) sends credentials to the authentication module ( 18 ), which may be the credential module ( 36 ) of the first access control device ( 16 a ). If these credentials are authenticated, the first access control device ( 16 a ) allows access to its associated first secured element ( 17 a ) and puts the access control devices ( 16 a, 16 b ) in the second mode, viz. the secure-pass-through-mode. Any request to access a second secured element ( 17 b ) received from the mobile device ( 12 ) in the second mode is passed on and treated as an authenticated request to a second access control device ( 16 b ). The access control devices ( 16 a, 16 b ) allow access to their associated secured elements ( 17 a, 17 b ) based on whether the type of access being requested is consistent with the type of credentials.
1. An access control system, comprising:
a credential authenticator; and
an access controller disposed for restricting access to a restricted area and operable in first and second modes;
a second device disposed for restricting access to a second secured element and operable in first and second modes,
the access controller being responsive to a first request for first access to the restricted area being delivered to the access controller by a mobile device within a communication range of the credential authenticator,
the second device being responsive to a second request, which is distinct from the first request, for second access to the second secured element being delivered to the second device, via the access controller, by the mobile device,
wherein:
in the respective first modes, the access controller and the second device maintain the restricting of the access to the restricted area and the restricting of the access to the second secured element, respectively,
in the respective second modes, the access controller and the second device permit the first and second access, respectively, and
the respective second modes are effectuated based on credentials being transmitted from the mobile device to and authenticated by the credential authenticator.
2. The access control system according to claim 1 , wherein the credential authenticator is provided within a Bluetooth module.
3. The access control system according to claim 1 , wherein the credential authenticator is remote from the access controller and from the second device.
4. The access control system according to claim 1 , wherein the credential authenticator is a component of one of the access controller and the second device.
5. The access control system according to claim 1 , wherein the mobile device comprises one or more of a portable computing device, a smartphone and a tablet.
6. The access control system according to claim 1 , wherein the second device comprises a Wi-Fi credential database.
7. The access control system according to claim 1 , wherein the access controller comprises a set top box and the second device comprises an environmental controller.
8. The access control system according to claim 1 , wherein the access controller comprises an elevator kiosk and the second device comprises an elevator dispatch system.
9. The access control system according to claim 1 , wherein the access controller comprises a refrigeration unit.
10. An access control system, comprising:
a module having a credential authenticator whereby an application with credentials stored on the module is executable to establish a connection between a mobile device and the module such that the credentials are transmittable to the module for authentication by the credential authenticator; and
an access controller disposed to restrict access to a restricted area;
a second device disposed to restrict access to a second secured element,
the access controller being operable responsive to a first request for access to the restricted area, which is issued by the mobile device, in first and second modes, within a communication range of the credential authenticator, and
the second device being operable responsive to a second request, which is distinct from the first request, for access to the second secured element, which is issued by the mobile device via the access controller operating in the second mode, in first and second modes,
wherein:
in the respective first modes, the within a communication range of the credential authenticator, and the second device restrict the access to the restricted area and the second secured element, and
in the respective second modes, the within a communication range of the credential authenticator, and the second device permit the access to the restricted area and the second secured element based on the credentials being authenticated by the credential authenticator and a type of the credentials.
11. The access control system according to claim 10 , wherein the module comprises a Bluetooth module.
12. The access control system according to claim 10 , wherein the mobile device comprises one or more of a portable computing device, a smartphone and a tablet.
13. The access control system according to claim 10 , wherein the second device comprises a Wi-Fi credential database.
14. The access control system according to claim 10 , wherein the access controller comprises a set top box and the second device comprises an environmental controller.
15. The access control system according to claim 10 , wherein the access controller comprises an elevator kiosk and the second device comprises an elevator dispatch system.
16. The access control system according to claim 10 , wherein the access controller comprises a refrigeration unit.
17. An access control method, comprising:
storing mobile credentials in an application of a mobile device;
identifying that the mobile device is within range of a module having a credential authenticator;
executing the application to establish a connection with the module whereby the mobile credentials are transmittable to the module for authentication by the credential authenticator; and
operating an access controller and a second device in respective secure-pass-through modes such that the access controller and the second device permit access to a restricted area and a second secured element, respectively, based on the credentials being authenticated by the credential authenticator and a type of the credentials in respective response to:
a first request for restricted area access issued by the mobile device to the access controller, within a communication range of the credential authenticator, and
a second request, which is distinct from the first request, for second secured element access issued by the mobile device to the second device via the access controller operating in the secure-pass-through mode.
18. The access control method according to claim 17 , wherein mobile credential transmission for authentication comprises:
sending the mobile credentials from the mobile device to the module;
validating the credentials at the module; and
establishing the respective secure-pass-through modes.