APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR BIOMETRIC ACCESS CONTROL

1 . An apparatus for biometric access control, wherein the apparatus comprises:

an outer body configured to house a plurality of internal components;

a power source disposed within the outer body, wherein the power source is configured to provide power;

a biometric sensor connected to the power source, wherein the biometric sensor is configured to receive biometric data associated with a user and the biometric sensor is disposed within a sensor cavity configured to allow the biometric sensor to be depressed into the sensor cavity by a user;

a pressure sensor configured to detect pressure data indicating when the biometric sensor is depressed into the sensor cavity;

a transceiver including one or more of an NFC chip, an RFID chip, or a BLE system; and

a processing circuit communicatively connected to the biometric sensor and the transceiver, wherein the processing circuit is configured to:

send identification data to an external device, using the transceiver;

receive, via the transceiver, an external response generated by the external device based on receipt of the identification data;

unlock the biometric sensor based on the external response, wherein the unlocking of the biometric sensor enables an activation of the biometric sensor;

receive pressure data from the pressure sensor; and

subsequently activate the biometric sensor when the pressure data indicates that the biometric sensor is depressed into the sensor cavity,

wherein the identification data is configured to uniquely identify at least one of the apparatus or the transceiver.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the external response consists of an unlocking signal.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit is configured to send usage data associated with the apparatus to the external device.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit is further configured to receive first biometric data, via the biometric sensor, once unlocked and store the first biometric data as reference biometric data.

5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:

receive second biometric data, after being subsequently activated;

compare the second biometric data to the reference biometric data; and

modify an internal state of the apparatus based on a match in comparing the second biometric data and the reference biometric data.

6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein processing circuit is further configured to determine a device usability of the apparatus based on the modified internal state based on the match in comparing the second biometric data and the reference biometric data.

7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the modification of the internal state includes converting the apparatus from a locked to an unlocked state.

8 . A system for biometric access control, comprising:

the apparatus of claim 5 ; and

the external device;

wherein external device comprises a user device comprising at least one of a computing device or a mobile device,

the user device is configured to communicate with the apparatus via the BLE system,

the user device includes a web or mobile app configured to:

display a first screen indicating a locked status, prior to the unlocking of the biometric sensor,

display a second screen indicating an unlocked status, after the unlocking of the biometric sensor and before the modifying of the internal state of the apparatus, and

display a third screen indicating an activated status, after the modifying the internal state of the apparatus.

9 . A method for biometric access control, wherein the method comprises:

providing an apparatus comprising: an outer body, a power source disposed within the outer body, a biometric sensor connected to the power source and disposed within a sensor cavity configured to allow the biometric sensor to be depressed into the sensor cavity by a user, a pressure sensor configured to detect pressure data indicating when the biometric sensor is depressed into the sensor cavity, a transceiver including at least one of an NFC chip, RFID chip, or a BLE system, and a processing circuit communicatively connected to the biometric sensor and the transceiver;

sending, by the processing circuit via the transceiver, identification data to an external device;

receiving, by the processing circuit via the transceiver, an external response generated by the external device based on receipt of the identification data;

unlocking the biometric sensor based on the external response;

detecting, by the pressure sensor, the pressure data indicating when the biometric sensor is depressed into the sensor cavity; and

subsequently activating the biometric sensor when the pressure data indicates that the biometric sensor is depressed into the sensor cavity,

wherein the identification data is configured to uniquely identify at least one of the apparatus or the transceiver.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising sending, by the processing circuit, usage data associated with the apparatus to the external device.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the external response consists of an unlocking signal.

12 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

after the unlocking of the biometric sensor, prompting, by the processing circuit, the user to input a first biometric data;

receiving, by the processing circuit via the biometric sensor, the first biometric data; and

storing, by the processing circuit, the first biometric data as a reference biometric data.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

after the storing the reference biometric data, receiving, by the processing circuit via the biometric sensor, a second biometric data;

comparing, by the processing circuit, the second biometric data to the reference biometric data; and

modifying, by the processing circuit, an internal state of the apparatus based on a match in comparing the second biometric data and the reference biometric data.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the modification of the internal state includes converting the apparatus from a locked to an unlocked state.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising returning the unlocked apparatus back to a locked state after a predetermined condition is satisfied,

wherein the predetermined condition comprises at least one of a predetermined unlock time, a predetermined amount of consumption of an active ingredient, a predetermined usage limit.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the predetermined unlock time is within a range of 5 to 10 minutes, the predetermined amount of consumption of an active ingredient is within a range of greater than zero to 10 mg, and the predetermined usage limit comprises a predetermined number of inhalations.

17 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising displaying on a web or mobile application of the external device, a first screen indicating a locked status, prior to the unlocking of the biometric sensor.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising displaying, on the web or mobile application, a second screen indicating an unlocked status, after the unlocking of the biometric sensor and before the modifying of the internal state of the apparatus.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising displaying, on the web or mobile application, a third screen indicating an activated status, after the modifying the internal state of the apparatus.