US Patent 9824248 Proximity-based and user-based access control using wearable devices

Methods and apparatuses are described for proximity-based and user-based access control using wearable devices. A short-range frequency reader coupled to a target device detects a plurality of wearable devices in proximity to the reader, each wearable device comprising a short-range frequency antenna. The reader identifies, for each wearable device, a user wearing the wearable device. The reader determines, for each wearable device, a distance from the reader and an orientation in relation to the target device. The reader determines a level of access available to the target device based upon the identity of each user, the distance of each wearable device from the reader, the orientation of each wearable device in relation to the target device, and the distance of the wearable devices from each other in a three-dimensional space.