IP Library Granted Patent US 12,614,422
Granted Patent B2
US 12,614,422 · App. 18/131,487 · Granted Apr 28, 2026

Wireless lockout-tagout state machine-based access control system and method

Inventors: Matthew Frank Trapani (Deerfield, IL); Anthony Mark Williams (Northbrook, IL)
Assignee: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH
G07C9/00896F16P3/08G07C9/00817
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,614,422
App. No.
18/131,487
Granted
Apr 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A wireless lockout-tagout state machine-based access control system and method. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for an electronic access control system that utilizes state machine-based single or multiple access codes to enable context-dependent or context-specific user-access permissions for different access points within an access-controlled area. Each state in the state machine may comprise an access event and a first state can lead to one or more subsequent different states, which may enable a feedback loop back to a past state to ensure a sequence of access events. In certain embodiments, the sequence of access events may be configured to ensure one or more safety protocols or parameters.

Claims (33)

1 . An electronic access control method comprising:

generating, with at least one processor, at least one electronic access control code associated with one or more electronic access control devices;

configuring, with the at least one processor, a state machine model for the one or more electronic access control devices,

wherein the at least one electronic access control code comprises at least one input in the state machine model,

wherein the state machine model comprises one or more states, each state in the one or more states corresponding to a status of the one or more electronic access control devices;

providing, with the at least one processor, the at least one electronic access control code to a client device;

providing, with the client device, the at least one electronic access control code to a first electronic access control device;

receiving, with the at least one processor, access event data for the first electronic access control device;

in response to the access event data, effecting, with the at least one processor, at least one state transition in the state machine model; and

based on the at least one state transition, enabling the at least one electronic access control code to unlock a second electronic access control device.

2 . The electronic access control method of claim 1 wherein the state machine model is configured to configure at least one condition for the at least one electronic access control code according to the one or more states.

3 . The electronic access control method of claim 2 further comprising determining whether the at least one condition for the at least one electronic access control code is satisfied in response to the at least one state transition.

4 . The electronic access control method of claim 3 further comprising granting access to the second electronic access control device in response to determining the at least one condition for the at least one electronic access control code is satisfied or denying access to the second electronic access control device in response to determining the at least one condition for the at least one electronic access control code is not satisfied.

5 . The electronic access control method of claim 1 further comprising receiving, with the client device, at least one user-generated input comprising safety or compliance data corresponding to at least one asset at an access-controlled site.

6 . The electronic access control method of claim 5 further comprising effecting, with the at least one processor, at least one second state transition for the one or more electronic access control devices according to the state machine model in response to the safety or compliance data.

7 . The electronic access control method of claim 4 further comprising effecting, with the at least one processor, at least one second state transition for the one or more electronic access control devices according to the state machine model in response to granting access to the second electronic access control device.

8 . An electronic access control system comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer readable medium communicably engaged with the processor and comprising instructions stored thereon that, when executed, command the processor to perform one or more operations, the one or more operations comprising:

generating at least one electronic access control code associated with one or more electronic access control devices, wherein the one or more electronic access control devices are configured to selectively grant or restrict access to at least one asset at an access-controlled site;

configuring a state machine model for the one or more electronic access control devices,

wherein the at least one electronic access control code comprises at least one input in the state machine model,

wherein the state machine model comprises one or more states, each state in the one or more states corresponding to a status of the one or more electronic access control devices,

wherein the state machine model is configured to configure at least one condition for the at least one electronic access control code according to the one or more states;

providing the at least one electronic access control code to a client device, wherein the at least one electronic access control code is configured to unlock a first device in the one or more electronic access control devices according to the state machine model;

receiving access event data for the first device in the one or more electronic access control devices; and

effecting at least one state transition in the state machine model in response to the access event data for the first device,

wherein the state machine model is configured to enable the at least one electronic access control code to unlock at least one second device in the one or more electronic access control devices based on the at least one state transition.

9 . The electronic access control system of claim 8 wherein the one or more operations further comprise receiving access event data for the at least one second device.

10 . The electronic access control system of claim 9 wherein the one or more operations further comprise effecting at least one second state transition in the state machine model in response to the access event data for the at least one second device, wherein the at least one second state transition comprises a return to a prior state or a transition to a sequential state in the state machine model.

11 . The electronic access control system of claim 8 wherein the one or more operations further comprise receiving safety or compliance data associated with the at least one asset.

12 . The electronic access control system of claim 11 wherein the one or more operations further comprise processing the safety or compliance data according to the state machine model, wherein the state machine model is configured to effect at least one second state transition in response to the safety or compliance data.

13 . The electronic access control system of claim 12 wherein the state machine model is configured to disable the at least one electronic access control code for at least one device in the one or more electronic access control devices in response to the at least one second state transition.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 22, 2025
From: SECURITY ENHANCEMENT SYSTEMS, LLC
To: TYCO FIRE & SECURITY GMBH
Reel/Frame 071202/0611 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2023
From: TRAPANI, MATTHEW FRANK; WILLIAMS, ANTHONY MARK
To: SECURITY ENHANCEMENT SYSTEMS, LLC
Reel/Frame 064133/0750 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63328243 · Apr 6, 2022
Related Publication 20230334926A1 · Oct 19, 2023
References Cited (9)
US 7467400B1 · Moss et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20020180582A1 · Nielsen · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20130120110A1 · Kalous et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20210166303A1 · Gideon, III · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210256783A1 · Davis et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210375082A1 · Wegelin · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20220159469A1 · Kumakura · 2022 [cited by examiner]
International Search Report, International application No. PCT/US23/17703. Date of mailing: Aug. 4, 2023. ISA/US, Alexandria, VA. [cited by applicant]
Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority, International application No. PCT/US23/17703. Date of mailing: Aug. 4, 2023. ISA/US, Alexandria, VA. [cited by applicant]