Methods and apparatus for using visible light communications for controlling access to an area

An access authorization device, comprising:

• means for storing a plurality of unique identifiers corresponding to mobile wireless communications devices authorized to control an access device used to control access to an area;
• means for providing identification information corresponding to said access device to a light emitting device by way of a power line network;
• means for receiving a first hashed value from a mobile wireless communications device, said first hashed value having been generated from said identification information corresponding to said access device and a unique identifier corresponding to said mobile wireless communications device seeking to trigger unlocking of said access device;
• means for receiving, from said mobile wireless communications device, said unique identifier corresponding to said mobile wireless communications device;
• means for generating a second hashed value by hashing said unique identifier corresponding to said mobile wireless communications device with said identification information corresponding to said access device;
• means for determining if said first hashed value was generated from one of said mobile wireless communications devices authorized to control said access device based at least in part on determining that said second hashed value matches said first hashed value;
• and
• means for sending an access command for unlocking said access device after determining that said first hashed value was generated from one of said mobile wireless communications devices authorized to control said access device.

An access authorization device, comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• at least one processor configured to:
• store, in said memory, a plurality of unique identifiers corresponding to mobile wireless communications devices authorized to control an access device used to control access to an area;
• provide identification information corresponding to said access device to a light emitting device by way of a power line network;
• receive a first hashed value from a mobile wireless communications device, said first hashed value having been generated from said identification information corresponding to said access device and a unique identifier corresponding to said mobile wireless communications device seeking to trigger unlocking of said access device;
• receive, from said mobile wireless communications device, said unique identifier corresponding to said mobile wireless communications device;
• generate a second hashed value by hashing said unique identifier corresponding to said mobile wireless communications device with said identification information corresponding to said access device;
• determine if said first hashed value was generated from one of said mobile wireless communications devices authorized to control said access device based at least in part on determining that said second hashed value matches said first hashed value;
• and
• send an access command to unlock said access device after determining that said first hashed value was generated from one of said mobile wireless communications devices authorized to control said access device.

A computer program product for use in an access authorization device, the computer program product comprising:

• a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising:
• code for causing at least one computer to store a plurality of unique identifiers corresponding to mobile wireless communications devices authorized to control an access device used to control access to an area;
• code for causing said at least one computer to provide identification information corresponding to said access device to a light emitting device by way of a power line network;
• code for causing said at least one computer to receive a first hashed value from a mobile wireless communications device, said first hashed value having been generated from said identification information corresponding to said access device and a unique identifier corresponding to said mobile wireless communications device seeking to trigger unlocking of said access device;
• code for causing said at least one computer to receive, from said mobile wireless communications device, said unique identifier corresponding to said mobile wireless communications device;
• code for causing said at least one computer to generate a second hashed value by hashing said unique identifier corresponding to said mobile wireless communications device with said identification information corresponding to said access device;
• code for causing said at least one computer to determine if said first hashed value was generated from one of said mobile wireless communications devices authorized to control said access device based at least in part on determining that said second hashed value matches said first hashed value;
• and
• code for causing said at least one computer to send an access command to unlock said access device after determining that said first hashed value was generated from one of said mobile wireless communications devices authorized to control said access device.