Rules-based area access management system using personal area networks

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a device ID and a door ID;

retrieving a dynamic set of access rules for the door ID;

determining whether the device ID is authorized based on the dynamic set of access rules;

outputting an indication indicating that the device ID is authorized to effectuate unlocking or opening of a door associated with the door ID; and

outputting an indication indicating that the device ID is not authorized to prevent unlocking or opening of the door.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the device ID is provided via an unlock signal provided by an electronic key device.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the electronic key device includes at least one of:

a keycard;

a fob; and

a mobile user device.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the electronic key device provides the unlock signal through user input, wherein the user input comprises at least one of:

a press of a physical button implemented on the electronic key device; and

user input received via a graphical user interface implemented by the electronic key device.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the device ID is received from an electronic key device via an access reader device.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein the access reader device comprises one or more environmental sensors for collecting environmental data.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein the environmental data obtained from the access reader device is included in the dynamic set of access rules.

8. A system comprising:

an electronic key device configured to provide an unlock signal comprising a device ID;

an access reader configured to receive the unlock signal and transmit the unlock signal;

a door access controller configured to receive the unlock signal and provide the device ID from the unlock signal and provide a door ID of a door controlled by the door access controller;

an access control determination server comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a computing device to cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

receiving the device ID and the door ID from the door access controller;

retrieving a dynamic set of access rules for the door ID;

determining whether the device ID is authorized based on the dynamic set of access rules;

outputting, to the door access controller, an indication indicating that the device ID is authorized to effectuate unlocking or opening of a door associated with the door ID via the door access controller; and

outputting an indication indicating that the device ID is not authorized to prevent unlocking or opening of the door.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the electronic key device is further configured to provide the unlock signal based on authenticating a user of the electronic key.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the electronic key device is further configured to continuously provide the unlock signal.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the electronic key is further configured to provide the unlock signal via a personal area network (PAN).

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the access controller is configured to transmit the unlock signal based on a signal strength of the unlock signal received from the electronic key device, wherein the signal strength is indicative of a distance between the electronic key device and the access controller.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the access controller includes at least one integrated environmental sensor and is configured to provide data from the environmental sensor to the access control determination server.

14. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a computing device to cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

receiving a device ID and a door ID;

retrieving a dynamic set of access rules for the door ID;

determining whether the device ID is authorized based on the dynamic set of access rules;

outputting an indication indicating that the device ID is authorized to effectuate unlocking or opening of a door associated with the door ID; and

outputting an indication indicating that the device ID is not authorized to prevent unlocking or opening of the door.

15. The computer program product of claim 14 , wherein the device ID is provided via an unlock signal provided by an electronic key device.

16. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein the electronic key device includes at least one of:

a keycard;

a fob; and

a mobile user device.

17. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein the electronic key device provides the unlock signal through user input, wherein the user input comprises at least one of:

a press of a physical button implemented on the electronic key device; and

user input received via a graphical user interface implemented by the electronic key device.

18. The computer program product of claim 14 , wherein the device ID is received from an electronic key device via an access reader device.

19. The computer program product of claim 18 , wherein the access reader device comprises one or more environmental sensors for collecting environmental data.

20. The computer program product of claim 19 , wherein the environmental data obtained from the access reader device is included in the dynamic set of access rules.