US 12,307,838 B2
Method and system for connectivity and control of a hazard-prone environment using a low power wide area network
Adam G. Sobol, Dayton, OH (US); Paul Sheldon, Arlington Heights, IL (US); Harish Natarahjan, Hoffman Estates, IL (US); Joseph T. Kreidler, Arlington Heights, IL (US); Brian A. Donlin, Chicago, IL (US); Jon G. Ledwith, Palatine, IL (US); Patrick J. McVey, Wheeling, IL (US); Ross D. Moore, Winnetka, IL (US); Peter Nanni, Algonquin, IL (US); Dwayne D. Forsyth, Deer Park, IL (US); Todd Sobol, Dayton, OH (US); John D. Reed, Dayton, OH (US); Reid B. Erekson, Arlington Heights, IL (US); Sam H. Viesca, Lafayette, CO (US); and Steven L. Russek, Glendale, WI (US)
Assigned to CareBand Inc., Chicago, IL (US)
Filed by CareBand Inc., Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Oct. 27, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/974,759.
Application 17/974,759 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/236,358, filed on Apr. 21, 2021, granted, now 11,503,434.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/101,273, filed on Apr. 22, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0084106 A1, Mar. 16, 2023
Int. Cl. H04W 4/80 (2018.01); G07C 9/00 (2020.01); G07C 9/29 (2020.01); H04W 4/021 (2018.01)
CPC G07C 9/00182 (2013.01) [G07C 9/29 (2020.01); H04W 4/021 (2013.01); H04W 4/80 (2018.02)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
17. A communication network to selectively grant a user access to a confined space within an industrial setting, the communication network comprising:
a source node configured to exchange data over a plurality of wireless communication protocols; and
at least one peripheral node situated within the industrial setting, wherein the source node and the at least one peripheral node are signally cooperative with one another to create a plurality of sub-networks within the communication network, the plurality of sub-networks comprising:
a personal area network to communicate signals between the source node and the at least one peripheral node using a short-range communication protocol; and
a low power wide area network to communicate signals between the source node and at least one gateway such that a signal received by the gateway from the at least one peripheral node through the source node is conveyed to a backhaul by the gateway over an internet protocol network, whereupon the communication network participates in a plurality of access-granting processes comprising:
an authentication process where the user becomes associated with the source node;
an authorization process where the source node sends an access request for the confined space to the backhaul; and
a sensing process that receives results from the authentication and authorization processes such that messages that are generated by the sensing process are combined in response to a series of situation-specific conditional inquiries to form an instruction that is used by the source node to selectively grant or deny the user access to the confined space.