Methods, systems, apparatus, and devices for controlling access to access control locations

Abstract

A method for controlling access to a restricted resource is provided. The method may include receiving, by a cloud server, identifiers from a user device over a long range wireless channel. Further, the method may include comparing the identifiers with a plurality of identifiers registered with access control devices. A system of control access with mobile and keycard access is also provided with long distance wireless communications between the cloud server and access control devices where the information can be remotely and wirelessly updated in each access control device independantly.Further, the method may include authenticating the user device based on the comparing and subsequently transmitting a code to the user device upon successful authenticating. Thereafter, the user device may transmit the code to the access control device over a short range wireless channel. Further, the access control device may be configured to provide access to the restricted resource based on receiving of the code. Further, the method may include transmitting the code to the access control device over a long range wireless channel so that the access control device may authenticate the user device.

1 . A method for controlling access to an access control location, the method comprising:
 receiving, using a communication device, a request associated with at least one access control device from a user device, wherein the request comprises an identifier associated with at least one of a user and the user device, wherein the identifier is unique to the at least one of the user and the user device;   retrieving, using a storage device, a plurality of identifiers associated with at least one of a plurality of users and a plurality of user devices;   comparing, using a processing device, the identifier with the plurality of identifiers;   authenticating, using the processing device, the at least one of the user and the user device based on the comparing;   transmitting, using a communication device, a code to the user device based on the authenticating, wherein the code is associated with the identifier, wherein the user device is configurable for transmitting the code to the at least one access control device through at least one short-range communication channel;   wherein the at least one access control device is disposable in at least one access control location, wherein the at least one access control device comprises a plurality of codes, wherein the at least one access control device is configured for:   receiving the code from the user device through the at least one short-range communication channel;   interacting with at least one electronic access card that contains a user code;   storing at least one electronic access card code and one user code after receiving the code from a cloud server through a long-distance communication channel;   comparing the code from the user device or electronic access card with the plurality of codes stored;   transitioning between a locked state and an unlocked state based on the comparing of the codes;   wherein the at least one access control device is further configured for:   generating at one access data based on the transitioning between the locked state and the unlocked state;   transmitting the data to the cloud server over a long-distance communication channel.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user device is configurable for establishing a connection with the at least one access control device through the at least one short-range communication channel based on a proximity between the user device and the at least one access control device, wherein the user device is configured for generating the request based on the establishing of the connection, wherein the receiving of the request from the user device is based on the generating of the request. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one access control device is associated with at least one access control device identifier, wherein the user device is configured for generating the at least one access control device identifier based on the establishing of the connection, wherein the request comprises the at least one access control device identifier. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 analyzing, using the processing device, the request associated with the at least one access control device; 
 determining, using the processing device, at least one request information associated the request based on the analyzing; 
 retrieving, using the storage device, at least one access control device information associated with the at least one access control device; and 
 comparing, using the processing device, the at least one request information with the at least one access control device information, wherein the authenticating is based on the comparing of the at least one request information and the at least one access control device information. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising:
 retrieving, using the storage device, at least one of user information and user device information based on the request; and 
 comparing, using the processing device, the at least one of the user information and the user device information with the at least one access control device information, wherein the authenticating is based on the comparing of the at least one of the user information and the user device information and the at least one access control device information. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 receiving, using the communication device, at least one access information associated with the at least one of the user and the user device from at least one first user device; 
 analyzing, using the processing device, the at least one access information; 
 determining, using the processing device, at least one of a validity and an applicability of the code for the at least one access control device based on the analyzing; 
 generating, using the processing device, at least one command based on the determining; and 
 transmitting, using the communication device, the at least one command to the at least one access control device through at least one communication channel, wherein the at least one access control device is configured for either of including and removing the code based on the at least one command. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising transmitting, using the communication device, the plurality of codes to the at least one access control device over a long range communication channel, wherein the at least one access control device comprises a memory device configured to store the plurality of codes. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one access control device is configured for receiving a temporary code based on at least one external action receivable by an input device comprised in the at least one access control device, wherein the method comprises:
 receiving, using the communication device, the temporary code from the at least one access control device;   retrieving, using the storage device, a plurality of first codes;   comparing, using the processing device, the temporary code with the plurality of first codes;   authenticating, using the processing device, the temporary code based on the comparing;   generating, using the processing device, at least one first command based on the authenticating; and   transmitting, using the communication device, the at least one first command to the at least one access control device through at least one communication channel, wherein the transitioning between the locked state and the unlocked state of the at least one access control device is based on the at least one first command.   
     
     
         9 . A system to control access to at least one access control location wherein the system in at least one access location comprising:
 an access control device having an apparatus to read electronic access card information;   said access control device having a data storage for at least one electronic access card information;   an electric locking device that can change between locking state and unlocking state upon receiving a relay signal from said access control device;   a cloud server having a processing device, a data storage and internet connection;   a user device having a communication device comprising a short-range wireless communication module; and a long-distance communication module through which said user device communicates with the cloud server;   said access control device having a short-range wireless communication module with a distance of up to one hundred meters, through which the access control device communicates with the user device;   said access control device having a long-distance communication module through which said access control device communicates independently with the cloud server;   said access control device further configured for communications that comprise:   (i) receiving multiple electronic access cards information from the cloud server over the device’s long-distance communication module;   (ii) sending information of at least one access control event to the cloud server over device’s long-distance communication module;   (iii) receiving command of locking and unlocking from the cloud server over device’s long-distance communications module;   (iv) transmitting a relay signal to the locking device.   
     
     
         10 . In the system of  claim 9 , the long-distance communication module comprises at least one of:
 (i) a WiFi module;   (ii) a cellular communication module;   (iii) an ethernet network connection.   
     
     
         11 . In the system of  claim 9 , the short-range wireless communication module comprises at least one of:
 (i) Bluetooth module;   (ii) Near-Field Communication module.   
     
     
         12 . In the system of  claim 9 , the reading apparatus comprises at least one of:
 (i) a QR code scanner;   (ii) a code entry keypad;   (iii) an RFID reader;   (iv) a camera for reading biometrics.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the communication device is further configured for:
 receiving at least one identifier associated with at least one of at least one user and at least one user device from at least one first user device; and   transmitting at least one code to the at least one access control device through at least one communication channel, wherein the at least one access control device is configured for including the at least one code based on the transmitting of the at least one code, wherein the processing device is further configured for generating the at least one code corresponding to the at least one of the at least one user and the at least one user device, wherein each code of the at least one code is unique to at least one of each user of the at least one user and each user device of the at least one user device.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the processing device is further configured for: 
 analyzing the request associated with the at least one access control device;   determining at least one request information associated the request based on the analyzing; and   comparing the at least one request information with at least one access control device information, wherein the authenticating is based on the comparing of the at least one request information and the at least one access control device information, wherein the storage device is further configured for retrieving the at least one access control device information associated with the at least one access control device.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the storage device is further configured for retrieving at least one of user information and user device information based on the request, wherein the processing device is further configured for comparing the at least one of the user information and the user device information with the at least one access control device information, wherein the authenticating is based on the comparing of the at least one of the user information and the user device information and the at least one access control device information. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one access control device is configured for generating at least one access data based on the transitioning between the locked state and the unlocked state, wherein the communication device is further configured for:
 receiving the at least one access data from the at least one access control device through at least one communication channel; and   transmitting an access notification to at least one second user device, wherein the processing device is further configured for:   analyzing the at least one access data;   identifying the at least one of the user and the user device based on the analyzing; and   generating the access notification based on the identifying, wherein the storage device is further configured for storing the at least one access data.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the communication device is further configured for 
 receiving at least one access information associated with the at least one of the user and the user device from at least one first user device; and   transmitting at least one command to the at least one access control device through at least one communication channel, wherein the at least one access control device is configured for either of including and removing the code based on the at least one command, wherein the processing device is further configured for:   analyzing the at least one access information;   determining at least one of a validity and an applicability of the code for the at least one access control device based on the analyzing; and   generating the at least one command based on the determining.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one access control device is configured for receiving a temporary code based on at least one external action receivable by an input device comprised in the at least one access control device, wherein the communication device is further configured for:
 receiving the temporary code from the at least one access control device; and   transmitting at least one first command to the at least one access control device through at least one communication channel, wherein the transitioning between the locked state and the unlocked state of the at least one access control device is based on the at least one first command, wherein the storage device is further configured for retrieving a plurality of first codes, wherein the processing device is further configured for:   comparing the temporary code with the plurality of first codes;   authenticating the temporary code based on the comparing; and   generating the at least one first command based on the authenticating.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the communication device is further configured for transmitting the plurality of codes to the at least one access control device over a long range communication channel, wherein the at least one access control device comprises a memory device configured to store the plurality of codes. 
     
     
         20 . A method for setting up an access control system in at least one access control location, the method comprises the following for the at least one location:
 installing a controller comprising a processer, a data storage, a Bluetooth module, a long-distance communication module that communicates with a cloud server independently;   installing a locking device configured to unlock or lock the access location upon receiving a relay signal from the controller;   installing at least one power source below 50V for the reader, the controller and the locking device in a compartment which is inside the same wall as that of the locking device and has the same size opening on the wall as that of a two-gang electric box;   configuring the controller to communicate with a cloud server.   
     
     
         21 . In the method of  claim 20 , it further comprises installing on the outside of the access controlled location a reading apparatus that reads electronic card information and communicates with a user device in short range wireless communications of up to one hundred meters in distance;. 
     
     
         22 . In the method of  claim 21 , the controller is installed in at least one of the locations:
 (i) inside the reading apparatus’s casing;   (ii) inside the power source compartment.