Authentication device and method

Abstract

An authentication device includes at least one processor, at least one computer-readable medium, and program instructions stored on the at least one computer-readable medium for execution by the at least one processor. The program instructions include first program instructions to wirelessly pair the authentication device with a controlled access device. The program instructions further include second program instructions to broadcast data indicative of an authorization to grant access to the controlled access device, while the controlled access device is within a predefined range of the authentication device, upon successfully pairing with the controlled access device.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . An authentication system, comprising:
 an authentication device comprising at least one processor, at least one computer-readable medium, and program instructions stored on the at least one computer-readable medium for execution by the at least one processor, the program instructions comprising:
 first program instructions to send data indicative of an authorization to grant access to any of a plurality of controlled access devices; and 
   each of the controlled access devices comprising at least one processor, at least one computer-readable medium, and program instructions stored on the at least one computer-readable medium for execution by the at least one processor, the program instructions comprising:
 second program instructions to receive the data from the authentication device; 
 third program instructions to determine if the data received from the authentication device is valid to grant access to the respective controlled access device based on an evaluation of the data; 
 fourth program instructions to grant access to the respective controlled access device based on the evaluation of the data indicating valid authorization and to continue to allow access to the respective controlled access device while continuing to receive valid data from the authentication device; and 
 fifth program instructions to enable access controls of the respective controlled access device to deny access to the respective controlled access device based on the respective controlled access device not receiving valid data from the authentication device. 
   
     
     
         24 . The authentication system of  claim 23 , wherein the authentication device is configured to pair with each of the plurality of controlled access devices in response to an initial encounter with each respective controlled access device, and, after pairing with each respective control access device the authentication device is programmed to send the data to each respective controlled access device, and
 wherein each of the controlled access devices is configured to pair with the authentication device in response to the initial encounter with the authentication device, and, after pairing with the authentication device is configured to receive the data from the authentication device.   
     
     
         25 . The authentication system of  claim 23 , wherein the data comprises variable data. 
     
     
         26 . The authentication system of  claim 25 , wherein the variable data comprises time. 
     
     
         27 . The authentication system of  claim 25 , wherein the first program instructions are further programmed to encrypt the variable data and send the encrypted variable data to the respective controlled access device. 
     
     
         28 . The authentication system of  claim 23 , wherein the data comprises advertisement data, wherein the authentication device wirelessly communicates the advertisement data to each of the plurality of controlled access devices that is within range of the authentication device. 
     
     
         29 . The authentication system of  claim 28 , wherein prior to sending the data to the any of the plurality of controlled access devices, the first program instructions are further programmed to establish a wireless connection from the authentication device and each of the plurality of controlled access devices within range thereof, and
 wherein the second program instructions of each of the plurality of controlled access devices are further programmed to establish the wireless connection and pair with the authentication device, prior to receiving the data from the authentication device, such that a bond forms between the authentication device and each respective controlled access device to which it pairs to enable automatically establishing a subsequent wireless connection between the authentication device and each respective controlled access device when within range of each other.   
     
     
         30 . The authentication system of  claim 23 , wherein the fifth program instructions are further programmed to wait for at least a predetermined period of time while not receiving valid data from the authentication device to deny access to the respective controlled access device. 
     
     
         31 . The authentication system of  claim 23 , wherein the access controls are further programmed to lock the respective controlled access device automatically based on the respective controlled access device not receiving valid data from the authentication device in response to the authentication device going out of range with respect to the respective controlled access device. 
     
     
         32 . The authentication system of  claim 23 , wherein the access controls are further programmed to unlock and grant access to the respective controlled access device automatically based on the respective controlled access device receiving valid data from the authentication device in response to the authentication device coming within range of the respective controlled access device. 
     
     
         33 . A method comprising:
 receiving, at a respective controlled access device, data from an authentication device, the received data being data indicative of an authorization to grant access to any of a plurality of controlled access devices including the respective controlled access device;   determining, by a processor, if the data received from the authentication device is valid to grant access to the respective controlled access device based on an evaluation of the data;   granting access to the respective controlled access device based on the evaluation of the data indicating valid authorization and continuing to allow access to the respective controlled access device while the respective controlled access device continues to receive valid data from the authentication device; and   enabling access controls of the respective controlled access device to deny access to the respective controlled access device based on the respective controlled access device not receiving valid data from the authentication device.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 pairing the authentication device with at least some of the plurality of controlled access devices, including the respective controlled access device, in response to an initial encounter by the authentication device with each respective controlled access device; and   in response to the pairing, each of the controlled access devices is configured to receive the data from the authentication device.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the received data comprises variable data. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the variable data comprises time. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the variable data is encrypted such that the respective controlled access device receives the encrypted variable data from the authentication device. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the received data comprises advertisement data, wherein the respective controlled access device and any of the other of the plurality of controlled access devices within range of the authentication device receives the advertisement data in a wireless communication from the authentication device. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein prior to the respective controlled access device receiving the advertisement data, the method further comprises
 establishing a wireless connection and pairing the respective controlled access device with the authentication device, such that a bond forms between the authentication device and the respective controlled access device to which it pairs to enable automatically establishing a subsequent wireless connection between the authentication device and the respective controlled access device when within range of each other.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising waiting, by the respective controlled access device, for at least a predetermined period of time while not receiving valid data from the authentication device prior to enabling the access controls of the respective controlled access device. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising automatically locking the respective controlled access device, by the access controls thereof, based on the respective controlled access device not receiving valid data from the authentication device in response to the authentication device going out of range with respect to the respective controlled access device. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising automatically unlocking and granting access to the to the respective controlled access device based on the respective controlled access device receiving valid data from the authentication device in response to the authentication device coming within range of the respective controlled access device.