Electronic access control and location tracking system

An electronic method for determining a specific digital access key from a plurality of digital access keys to send to an access control computer system in order for the access control computer system to grant access to an individual at a specific location of a controlled access area, the specific digital access key associated with the specific location of the controlled access area, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) electronically receiving an identification signal by a portable electronic device in the possession of a person who wishes to enter a specific location of a controlled access area, the identification signal transmitted from a beacon associated with the specific location and also contains a power setting and signal duration setting, the portable electronic device programmed with a permissions application;
• (b) querying a digital access keychain database stored with the portable electronic device for a specific key associated with the specific location based on the identification signal received from the beacon;
• (c) selecting the specific digital access key from the keychain database for the specific location based on the identification signal received from the beacon;
• (d) determining by the portable electronic device if the power level of the received identification signal equals or exceeds the power setting;
• (e) determining by the portable electronic device if the power level of the received identification signal remains equal to or exceeds the power setting for a time period equaling or exceeding the signal duration setting;
• and
• (f) electronically transmitting the specific digital access key by the portable electronic device to an access control and location tracking system where the received identification signal power level remains equal to or exceeds the power setting for a time period equaling or exceeding the signal duration setting.

An electronic system for determining a specific digital access key from a plurality of digital access keys to send to an access control computer system in order for the access control computer system to grant access to an individual at a specific location of a controlled access area, the specific digital access key associated with the specific location of the controlled access area, said system comprising:

• at least one beacon located in the proximity of a specific location within a controlled access area;
• a portable electronic device specifically programmed with a software application for processing or retaining access permissions for a particular individual, said access permissions in the form of one or more digital keys, said portable electronic device carried by or on the person of the particular individual when the particular individual seeks access to the controlled access area;
• and
• an access control electronic keychain database contained within the portable electronic device for storing the one or more digital keys;
• wherein when the particular individual is in range of the at least one beacon, said portable electronic device receives an identification signal from the at least one beacon which the portable electronic device uses for selecting a specific key from the one or more digital keys stored in the electronic keychain database.

An electronic method for determining whether to request that a specific digital access key be sent to an access control computer system in order for the access control computer system to grant access to an individual at a specific location of a controlled access area, the specific digital access key associated with the specific location of the controlled access area and selected and transmitted by a portable electronic device of the individual based on certain conditions being met for an identification signal received by the portable electronic device from a beacon associated with the specific location, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) electronically receiving identification and location information from a portable electronic device by an access control and location tracking system;
• (b) electronically receiving signal strength information for the received identification signal by the access control and location tracking system from the portable electronic device;
• (c) electronically receiving signal duration information for the received identification signal by the access control and location tracking system from the portable electronic device;
• (d) electronically determining by the access control and location tracking system signal strength and signal duration configuration settings for the specific location based information stored in an access control and location tracking database;
• (e) electronically comparing the received signal strength information to the signal strength configuration setting by the access control and location tracking system;
• (f) electronically determining by the access control and location tracking system whether the received signal strength information equals or is above a minimum signal strength configuration setting;
• (g) where the received signal strength information equals or is above the minimum signal strength configuration setting, electronically activating a timer by the access control and location tracking system;
• (h) electronically tracking by the access control and location tracking system from information received from the activated timer whether the received signal strength information equals or exceeds the minimum signal strength configuration setting for a time period equaling or exceeding the signal duration configuration setting.