Multi-factor authentication with geolocation and short-range communication

1. A method of multi-factor authentication, performed by an access control device, the method comprising:

detecting, by the access control device, at least one beacon signal of a plurality of beacon signals periodically transmitted by a user equipment (UE) via a short-range radio access technology (RAT), wherein the at least one beacon signal includes a unique identifier of the UE;

sending a query to a location server for a current location of the UE in response to detecting the at least one beacon signal;

receiving an indication of the current location from the location server in response to sending the query;

determining whether the UE is within a threshold distance of the access control device based on the indication of the current location;

monitoring a signal strength of one or more beacon signals of the plurality of beacon signals periodically transmitted by the UE in response to determining that the UE is within the threshold distance;

comparing the signal strength of the one or more beacon signals with a signal strength threshold;

generating an access signal in response to determining that the signal strength of the one or more beacon signals exceeds the signal strength threshold, wherein the access signal indicates that a user associated with the UE is authorized to access a protected resource;

maintaining a list of trusted UEs and associated unique identifiers;

determining whether the unique identifier of the UE corresponds to a trusted UE included in the list of trusted UEs, wherein sending the query to the location server for the current location of the UE is in response to determining that the unique identifier of the UE is included in the list of trusted UEs; and

denying access to the protected resource in response to determining that the unique identifier of the UE does not correspond to any trusted UEs included in the list of trusted UEs.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the short-range RAT comprises Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Wi-Fi, or Zigbee.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the unique identifier comprises an Integrated Circuit Card Identifier (ICCID) of a subscriber identity module (SIM) card of the UE, an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) of the UE, or an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) of the UE.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein querying the location server for the current location of the UE comprises forwarding the unique identifier to the location server, wherein the location server obtains the current location of the UE based on the unique identifier.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the indication of the current location from the location server comprises receiving current location coordinates of the UE, the method further comprising:

calculating a distance between the UE and the access control device based on the current location coordinates of the UE and location coordinates of the access control device, wherein monitoring the signal strength of the one or more beacon signals periodically transmitted by the UE is in response to determining that calculated distance is less than the threshold distance.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the indication of the current location from the location server comprises receiving a distance between the UE and the access control device, determined by the location server, the method further comprising:

monitoring the signal strength of the one or more beacon signals in response to determining that the distance is less than the threshold distance.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the indication of the current location from the location server comprises receiving a notification that the UE is within the threshold distance of the access control device, the method further comprising:

monitoring the signal strength of the one or more beacon signals in response to receiving the notification.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein monitoring the signal strength of one or more beacon signals comprises determining a received signal strength indication (RSSI) of the one or more beacon signals.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the access signal comprises sending the access signal to a locking mechanism to actuate the locking mechanism between a locked position and an unlocked position.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the access signal comprises sending the access signal to an automatic door opener to actuate a door between an open position and a closed position.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the access signal comprises sending the access signal to a software application of a computing device to grant the user associated with the UE access to the software application.

12. An access control device, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory coupled to the at least one processor, the at least one memory having instructions stored therein, which when executed by the at least one processor, direct the access control device to:

detect at least one beacon signal of a plurality of beacon signals periodically transmitted by a user equipment (UE) via a short-range radio access technology (RAT), wherein the at least one beacon signal includes a unique identifier of the UE;

send a query to a location server for a current location of the UE in response to detecting the at least one beacon signal;

receive an indication of the current location from the location server in response to sending the query;

determine whether the UE is within a threshold distance of the access control device based on the indication of the current location;

monitor a signal strength of one or more of the plurality of beacon signals periodically transmitted by the UE in response to determining that the UE is within the threshold distance;

compare the signal strength of the one or more beacon signals with a signal strength threshold;

generate an access signal in response to determining that the signal strength of the one or more beacon signals exceeds the signal strength threshold, wherein the access signal indicates that a user associated with the UE is authorized to access a protected resource;

maintain a list of trusted UEs and associated unique identifiers;

determine whether the unique identifier of the UE corresponds to a trusted UE included in the list of trusted UEs, wherein the instructions to send the query to the location server for the current location of the UE comprises instructions to send the query in response to determining that the unique identifier of the UE is included in the list of trusted UEs; and

deny access to the protected resource in response to determining that the unique identifier of the UE does not correspond to any trusted UE included in the list of trusted UEs.

13. The access control device of claim 12 , wherein the short-range RAT comprises Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Wi-Fi, or Zigbee.

14. The access control device of claim 12 , wherein the unique identifier comprises an Integrated Circuit Card Identifier (ICCID) of a subscriber identity module (SIM) card of the UE, an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) of the UE, or an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) of the UE.

15. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions, which when executed by at least one processor of an access control device, direct the access control device to:

detect at least one beacon signal of a plurality of beacon signals periodically transmitted by a user equipment (UE) via a short-range radio access technology (RAT), wherein the at least one beacon signal includes a unique identifier of the UE;

send a query to a location server for a current location of the UE in response to detecting the at least one beacon signal;

receive an indication of the current location from the location server in response to sending the query;

determine whether the UE is within a threshold distance of the access control device based on the indication of the current location;

monitor a signal strength of one or more of the plurality of beacon signals periodically transmitted by the UE in response to determining that the UE is within the threshold distance;

compare the signal strength of the one or more beacon signals with a signal strength threshold;

generate an access signal in response to determining that the signal strength of the one or more beacon signals exceeds the signal strength threshold, wherein the access signal indicates that a user associated with the UE is authorized to access a protected resource;

maintain a list of trusted UEs and associated unique identifiers;

determine whether the unique identifier of the UE corresponds to a trusted UE included in the list of trusted UEs, wherein the instructions to send the query to the location server for the current location of the UE comprises instructions to send the query in response to determining that the unique identifier of the UE is included in the list of trusted UEs; and

deny access to the protected resource in response to determining that the unique identifier of the UE does not correspond to any of the trusted UEs included in the list of trusted UEs.

16. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein the short-range RAT comprises Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Wi-Fi, or Zigbee.

17. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein the unique identifier comprises an Integrated Circuit Card Identifier (ICCID) of a subscriber identity module (SIM) card of the UE, an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) of the UE, or an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) of the UE.

18. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein querying the location server for the current location of the UE comprises forwarding the unique identifier to the location server, wherein the location server obtains the current location of the UE based on the unique identifier.

19. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein receiving the indication of the current location from the location server comprises receiving current location coordinates of the UE, the access control device further configured to:

calculate a distance between the UE and the access control device based on the current location coordinates of the UE and location coordinates of the access control device, wherein monitoring the signal strength of the one or more beacon signals periodically transmitted by the UE is in response to determining that calculated distance is less than the threshold distance.

20. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein receiving the indication of the current location from the location server comprises receiving a distance between the UE and the access control device, determined by the location server, the access control device further configured to:

monitor the signal strength of the one or more beacon signals in response to determining that the distance is less than the threshold distance.