Light sequenced card validation

Abstract

A multi-point validation device includes an elongate rail extending in a generally horizontal direction, a plurality of radio frequency antennas spaced apart along the length of the elongate rail, at least one reader module coupled with the plurality of radio frequency antennas, at least one visual indicator associated with each of the plurality of antennas and positioned proximate a corresponding one of the antennas, a processor, and a memory. The memory stores instructions that cause the processor to activate a single one of the radio frequency antennas, cause an indication that the single one of the radio frequency antennas is active to be produced by the at least one visual indicator associated with the single one of the radio frequency antennas, and receive data, at the at least one reader module, from at least one access media via the single one of the radio frequency antennas.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multi-point validation device, comprising:
 an elongate rail extending in a generally horizontal direction;   a plurality of radio frequency antennas spaced apart along a length of the elongate rail;   at least one reader module coupled with the plurality of radio frequency antennas;   at least one visual indicator associated with each of the plurality of radio frequency antennas and positioned proximate a corresponding one of the plurality of radio frequency antennas;   at least one processor; and   a memory configured to store instructions that, when executed cause the at least one processor to:
 activate each of the plurality of radio frequency antennas in a sequence such that only a single one of the plurality of radio frequency antennas is active at a single time; 
 provide a visual indication that the single one of the plurality of radio frequency antennas is in an active state; and 
 receive data by at least one reader module from at least one access media via the single one of the plurality of radio frequency antennas. 
   
     
     
         2 . The multi-point validation device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the sequence is repeated a plurality of times.   
     
     
         3 . The multi-point validation device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one visual indicator comprises a graphical interface.   
     
     
         4 . The multi-point validation device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an additional antenna assembly that is configured to detect modulation that is indicative of a presence of an access credential, wherein the sequence is modified based on the detected modulation.   
     
     
         5 . The multi-point validation device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more proximity sensors positioned along at least a portion of the elongate rail that are configured to detect a position of one or both of a user and an access credential, wherein the sequence is determined based at least in part on the position.   
     
     
         6 . The multi-point validation device of  claim 5 , wherein the instructions further cause the at least one processor to:
 continuously track the position using the one or more proximity sensors; and   adjust the sequence such that a next one of the plurality of radio frequency antennas to be activated follows the position until an access media associated with the position is validated.   
     
     
         7 . The multi-point validation device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the multi-point validation device consists of a single reader module that is interfaced with each of the plurality of radio frequency antennas.   
     
     
         8 . A method of operating a multi-point validation device, comprising:
 activating a plurality of radio frequency antennas in a sequence such that only a single one of the plurality of radio frequency antennas is activated at a time, wherein the plurality of radio frequency antennas are positioned along a length of a generally horizontal elongate rail;   causing an indication of a location of the single one of the plurality of radio frequency antennas to be produced by at least one visual indicator, the at least one visual indicator being positioned proximate the single one of the plurality of radio frequency antennas; and   receiving data by at least one reader module from at least one access media via the single one of the plurality of radio frequency antennas.   
     
     
         9 . The method of operating a multi-point validation device of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 detecting a presence of multiple access media within a signal range of at least one of the plurality of radio frequency antennas; and   modifying the sequence to select the single one of the plurality of radio frequency antennas to modify based at least in part on a predetermined prioritization order associated with the presence of multiple access media.   
     
     
         10 . The method of operating a multi-point validation device of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 providing an indication that at least one of the plurality of radio frequency antennas that is not active will be activated shortly, wherein the at least one of the plurality of radio frequency antennas is most proximate at least one of the multiple access media that is not currently being read.   
     
     
         11 . The method of operating a multi-point validation device of  claim 8 , wherein:
 validating the received data to determine whether a user associated with the at least one access media is authorized to access a controlled area; and   providing, an indication of a result of the validation of the received data.   
     
     
         12 . The method of operating a multi-point validation device of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the indication comprises audio feedback.   
     
     
         13 . The method of operating a multi-point validation device of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the sequence comprises a predetermined time period for which each of the plurality of radio frequency antennas is activated.   
     
     
         14 . The method of operating a multi-point validation device of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 determining that one or both of a read or write procedure of the single one of the plurality of radio frequency antennas is still in progress when the predetermined time period has elapsed; and   extending the predetermined time period to allow the one or both of the read or write procedure to finish.   
     
     
         15 . A multi-point validation device, comprising:
 an elongate rail extending in a generally horizontal direction;   a plurality of radio frequency antennas spaced apart along a length of the elongate rail;   at least one reader module coupled with the plurality of radio frequency antennas;   at least one visual indicator associated with each of the plurality of radio frequency antennas and positioned proximate a corresponding one of the plurality of radio frequency antennas;   at least one processor; and   a memory configured to store instructions that, when executed cause the at least one processor to:
 activate a plurality of radio frequency antennas in a sequence such that only a single one of the plurality of radio frequency antennas is activated at a time, wherein the plurality of radio frequency antennas are positioned along a length of a generally horizontal elongate rail; 
 cause an indication of a location of the single one of the plurality of radio frequency antennas to be produced by at least one visual indicator, the at least one visual indicator being positioned proximate the single one of the plurality of radio frequency antennas; and 
 receive data by at least one reader module from at least one access media via the single one of the plurality of radio frequency antennas. 
   
     
     
         16 . The multi-point validation device of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions further cause the at least one processor to:
 generate a validation result based on the received data; and   provide an indication of the validation result.   
     
     
         17 . The multi-point validation device of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the indication of the validation result is provided by one or both of the at least one visual indicator or an additional display screen.   
     
     
         18 . The multi-point validation device of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the indication comprises an identifier associated with a user of the at least one access credential.   
     
     
         19 . The multi-point validation device of  claim 15 , wherein:
 when in an inactive state, a read/write functionality each of the plurality of radio frequency antennas is disabled and a detection signal is emitted that allows each respective one of the plurality of radio frequency antennas to detect modulation indicating a presence of an access credential.   
     
     
         20 . The multi-point validation device of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the sequence comprises each of the plurality of radio frequency antennas being activated in turn for a predetermined period of time.