Patent attributes
An access-control mechanism, wireless device, and method for controlling the access-control mechanism and wireless device is provided herein. During operation the wireless device will create a “group” of devices that will be allowed to enter through a passage barrier without authentication. When authenticating with the access-control mechanism, the wireless device will prove the access-control mechanism with a list of credentials (e.g., identification information) for each device within the group. The access-control mechanism will then determine if every device on the list is allowed entry. If so, non-authenticated entry for a number of devices/people through the passage barrier will be allowed. The number of non-authenticated devices/people allowed to enter will be equal to a number of devices that are in the group.