Systems and methods for determining and executing trusted user access

Abstract

Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein for determining and executing trusted user access. In one embodiment, a system for determining and executing trusted user access for smart locks at a retail shopping facility includes an access member, a smart lock securing the access member, a user interface device, and a control circuit coupled to the user interface device. The control circuit being configured to determine whether a user is a trusted user based on a determination that authentication data matches with stored authentication data within a threshold accuracy, and provide an optical key to the user interface device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for determining and executing trusted user access for smart locks at a retail shopping facility, the system comprising:
 an access member that allows access to a secured space configured to store one or more items for sale at a retail shopping facility;   a smart lock securing the access member, the smart lock configured to:
 detect a user interface device within a threshold distance from the smart lock; and 
 provide a first signal to the user interface device causing the user interface device to prompt a user to provide an authentication data; 
   the user interface device operable by the user and is configured to:
 in response to a receipt of the first signal from the smart lock, prompt the user to provide the authentication data; 
 receive the authentication data from the user; 
 provide the authentication data to a control circuit to determine whether the user is a trusted user; 
 in response to the determination by the control circuit that the user is the trusted user, receive an optical key from the control circuit; and 
 provide the optical key to the smart lock, wherein the smart lock is further configured to unlock the access member in response to receiving the optical key; and 
   the control circuit communicatively coupled to the user interface device, the control circuit configured to:
 receive the authentication data; 
 determine whether the authentication data matches within a threshold accuracy a stored authentication data associated with a profile stored in a database, wherein the profile is associated with the user; 
 determine that the user is the trusted user based on the determination that the authentication data matches with the stored authentication data within the threshold accuracy; and 
 provide the optical key to the user interface device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the authentication data comprises biometric data, password, and an authentication code. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the smart lock comprises an optical lock and an electronic lock, wherein the optical lock comprises a transceiver that receives one or more wavelengths corresponding to at least one of a visible range and an infrared range of electromagnetic spectrum. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the smart lock comprises a transceiver, a locking mechanism, and a smart lock control circuit. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the optical key comprises one of a laser beam signal and an infrared signal transmitted by the user interface device. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
 determine whether a store-risk value associated with the retail shopping facility is within a risk threshold value; and   further determine that the user is the trusted user based additionally on the determination that the store-risk value associated with the retail shopping facility is within the risk threshold value, wherein the store-risk value is based on historical shrinkage events associated with the retail shopping facility, and wherein shrinkage events comprise shoplifting and employee theft.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
 determine whether a crime index value associated with an area that is within a threshold distance from the retail shopping facility is within an index threshold value; and   further determine that the user is the trusted user based additionally on the determination that the crime index value associated with the area that is within the threshold distance from the retail shopping facility is within the index threshold value, wherein the crime index value is based on crime data associated with the area that is within the threshold distance from the retail shopping facility.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the access member comprises a door, a lid, a hinged barrier, a sliding barrier, a revolving barrier to at least one of: an entrance to a room and a storage container, and wherein the storage container comprises a glass display case, a shelf, a rack, and an enclosed container. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein inside the secured space comprises one or more sensors configured to provide sensor data corresponding to the one or more items stored inside the secured space, and wherein the control circuit is further configured to determine whether a first item of the one or more items is removed or returned inside the secured space. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more biometric sensors coupled to at least one of the smart lock and the access member, the one or more biometric sensors configured to capture biometric data of the user to provide additional verification that the user is the trusted user. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the smart lock is further configured to:
 in response to the detection of the user interface device, initiate communication with the user interface device to determine whether the user is pre-authorized to access the secured space; and   in response to the determination that the user is pre-authorized to access the secured space, provide the first signal to the user interface device.   
     
     
         12 . A method for determining and executing trusted user access for smart locks at a retail shopping facility, the method comprising:
 detecting, by a smart lock securing an access member that allows access to a secured space configured to store one or more items for sale at a retail shopping facility, a user interface device within a threshold distance from the smart lock;   providing, by the smart lock, a first signal to the user interface device causing the user interface device to prompt a user to provide an authentication data;   in response to receiving the first signal from the smart lock, prompting the user, by the user interface device operable by the user, to provide the authentication data;   receiving, by the user interface device, the authentication data from the user;   providing, by the user interface device, the authentication data to a control circuit to determine whether the user is a trusted user;   in response to determining by the control circuit that the user is the trusted user, receiving, by the user interface device, an optical key;   providing, by the user interface device, the optical key to the smart lock;   unlocking, by the smart lock, the access member in response to receiving the optical key;   receiving, by the control circuit communicatively coupled to the user interface device, the authentication data;   determining, by the control circuit, whether the authentication data matches within a threshold accuracy a stored authentication data associated with a profile stored in a database, wherein the profile is associated with the user;   determining, by the control circuit, that the user is the trusted user based on the determination that the authentication data matches with the stored authentication data within the threshold accuracy; and   providing, by the control circuit, the optical key to the user interface device.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the authentication data comprises biometric data, password, and an authentication code. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the smart lock comprises optical lock and electronic lock. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the smart lock comprises a transceiver, a locking mechanism, and a smart lock control circuit. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the optical key comprises laser beam and infrared signal. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 determining, by the control circuit, whether a store-risk value associated with the retail shopping facility is within a risk threshold value; and   further determining, by the control circuit, that the user is the trusted user based additionally on the determination that the store-risk value associated with the retail shopping facility is within the risk threshold value, wherein the store-risk value is based on historical shrinkage events associated with the retail shopping facility, and wherein shrinkage events comprise shoplifting and employee theft.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 determining, by the control circuit, whether a crime index value associated with an area that is within a threshold distance from the retail shopping facility is within an index threshold value; and   further determining, by the control circuit, that the user is the trusted user based additionally on the determination that the crime index value associated with the area that is within the threshold distance from the retail shopping facility is within the index threshold value, wherein the crime index value is based on crime data associated with the area that is within the threshold distance from the retail shopping facility.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the access member comprises a door, a lid, a hinged barrier, a sliding barrier, a revolving barrier to at least one of: an entrance to a room and a storage container, and wherein the storage container comprises a glass display case, a shelf, a rack, and an enclosed container. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising determining, by the control circuit, whether a first item of the one or more items stored inside the secured space is removed or returned inside the secured space based on sensor data provided by one or more sensors inside the secured space. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising capturing, by one or more biometric sensors coupled to at least one of the smart lock and the access member, biometric data of the user to provide additional verification that the user is the trusted user.