Portable access device

Abstract

Portable devices, methods, and systems for controlling access to computers and other secure systems such as systems protecting secure premises, by processing data supplied by the individual seeking access to the system and data supplied by the system to which the prospective user seeks access, to determine whether access by the individual is to be authorized or enabled. In one embodiment the invention provides a device for providing a code that may be used to access a system such as a computer or security system. The device comprises an output device and at least one processor. The processor processes data representing a biometric characteristic of a prospective user of the system and a signal provided by the system, and, depending upon a result of the processing, provides to the output device a code that may be used to access the system.

1 . A device for providing a code that may be used to access a system such as a computer system, the device comprising: 
 an output device; and    at least one processor for processing information representing a biometric characteristic of a person seeking access to the system and information provided by the system, and, depending on a result of the processing, providing to the output device a code that may be used to access the system.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein providing to the output device a code that may be used to access the system is conditioned upon a correlation between the information representing the biometric characteristic and stored biometric information.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the correlation between the information representing the biometric characteristic and the stored biometric information is established by the at least one processor.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2 , comprising memory for storing the stored biometric information.  
     
     
         5 . A portable device for providing a code that may be used to access a system such as a computer system, the device comprising: 
 at least one sensor for receiving a wireless signal from a system to be accessed;    a biometric sensor for acquiring biometric information representing a biometric characteristic of a person seeking access to the system;    an output device; and    at least one processor for processing the biometric information and the signal, and for providing to the output device an access code.    
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the wireless signal comprises an optical signal and the at least one sensor comprises a photosensor.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , comprising a plurality of photosensors, at least one of the photosensors being an infrared sensor and at least one other of the photosensors being a visible-spectrum sensor.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the output device is a display.  
     
     
         9 . A portable device for providing a code that may be used to access a system such as a computer system, the device comprising: 
 at least one sensor for receiving a wireless signal from a signal generator associated with the system to be accessed;    a biometric sensor for acquiring biometric information representing a biometric characteristic of a person seeking access to the system;    at least one processor for processing information received from the at least one sensor and the biometric sensor and providing the code; and    a housing supporting the at least one sensor, the biometric sensor, and the processor.    
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the housing comprises at least one surface with which is associated a means for identifying the person.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the means comprises at least one of a human readable device and a photograph.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the means comprises machine-readable coding.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the means comprises an electronic device.  
     
     
         14 . A method of providing a code for use in accessing a system such as a computer system, the method performed by an access device and comprising: 
 processing biometric information received from a biometric sensor associated with the access device to establish a correlation between the received biometric information and stored biometric information; and    if the correlation satisfies a correlation criteria, providing to an output device of the portable access device an access code that may be used to access the system, the access code determined using information received sensor associated from the system to be accessed;    otherwise not providing to the output device a code that may be used to access the system.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the access code that may be used to access to the system is session-specific.  
     
     
         16 . A method of providing a code for use in accessing a system such as a computer system, the method performed by an access device comprising a processor, a signal sensor, and a biometric sensor, the method comprising: 
 processing a signal received by a signal sensor of the access device from a signal generator associated with a system to be accessed, to determine whether the system has received information indicating that a person seeking access to the system is attempting to access the system using a primary entry station;    if it is determined that the person is attempting to access the system using a primary entry station, providing to an output device of the portable device an access code that may be used to access the system regardless of any biometric information received from a biometric sensor of the access device;    otherwise providing to the output device an access code that may be used to access the system only upon determination that a correlation criteria is satisfied by biometric information received from the biometric sensor and biometric information otherwise accessed by the access device.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the access code that may be used to access the system is session-specific.