Method and system for providing gated access for a third party to a secure entity or service

A method for providing gated access for a third party to a secure entity or service comprising the steps of:

• storing biometric data in dependence upon a biometric characteristic of a first designated user of the secure entity or service other than the third party;
• toring biometric data in dependence upon a biometric characteristic of the third party;
• capturing biometric information representative of a biometric characteristic and providing biometric data in dependence thereupon;
• comparing the captured biometric data with the stored biometric data of the first designated user to produce a comparison result;
• and,
• if the comparison result is indicative of a match:
• providing a wireless gating signal for enabling wireless signals provided by the third party to access the secure entity or service;
• receiving the gating signal at the secure entity or service;
• and,
• in response to the wireless gating signal, setting a flag within the secure entity or service, the flag for use in gating received wireless signals for controlling access to the secure entity or service such that in a first state the secure entity or service is non responsive to the wireless signals and in a second other state the secure entity or service is responsive to the wireless signals provided by the third party.

A method for providing gated access for a third party to a secure entity or service comprising the steps of:

• providing to a first designated user other than the third party a first portable biometric device operable to capture biometric information presented thereto, the portable biometric device having stored biometric data in dependence upon a biometric characteristic of the first designated user;
• providing the third party with a second other portable biometric device operable to capture biometric information presented thereto, the second portable biometric device having stored biometric data in dependence upon a biometric characteristic of the third party;
• capturing biometric information representative of a biometric characteristic in response to the first designated user presenting said information to the first portable biometric device and providing biometric data in dependence thereupon;
• comparing the captured biometric data with the stored biometric data in the first portable biometric device to produce a comparison result;
• and,
• if the comparison result is indicative of a match, performing the steps of:
• providing a wireless gating signal from the first portable biometric device for enabling wireless signals provided by the third party to access the secure entity or service;
• receiving the gating signal at a port of the secure entity or service;
• and,
• in response to the wireless gating signal, setting a flag within a locking mechanism of the secure entity or service, the flag for use in gating received wireless signals for controlling access to the secure entity or service such that in a first state the locking mechanism is non responsive to the wireless signals and in a second other state the locking mechanism is responsive to the wireless signals provided by the third party.

A security system for securing an entity or a service from indiscriminate access and for providing gated access for a third party, the security system comprising:

• at least a portable biometric device, the device comprising:
• a biometric sensor for capturing biometric information representative of a biometric characteristic in response to a person presenting said information to the portable biometric device;
• an encoder for digitally encoding the captured biometric information and providing biometric data in dependence thereupon;
• memory for storing biometric data indicative of a biometric characteristic of a first designated user;
• a processor for comparing the captured biometric data with stored biometric data to produce a comparison result, and if the comparison result is indicative of the first designated user for providing a wireless gating signal for enabling wireless signals provided by the third party to access the secure entity or service, and if the comparison result is indicative of the third party for providing a wireless signal;
• and,
• a transmitter for wireless transmission of the wireless gating signal or the wireless signal;
• at least a port for receiving the wireless gating signal and the wireless signal from the portable biometric device;
• and,
• a locking mechanism for securing the entity or service, the locking mechanism comprising a processor for setting a flag in response to the wireless gating signal, the flag for use in gating received wireless signals for controlling access to the secure entity or service such that in a first state the locking mechanism is non responsive to the wireless signals and in a second other state the locking mechanism is responsive to the wireless signals provided by the third party.