[0001] The present invention relates generally to allow entry permissions and, more particularly, to an apparatus for authenticating an entity and granting entry permissions.

BACKGROUND
[0002] In these troubled times of COVID-19 pandemic non-contact temperature assessment devices are used as part of an initial check at entry points to identify and triage entities that may have elevated temperatures. Though the temperature determination and monitoring is a vital step to help prevent spread of virus, even when these devices are used properly, temperature assessment may have limited impact on reducing the spread of COVID-19 infections. As an example, if the entity after getting their temperature’s assessed perform an authentication activity for confirming their entry within a specified region by using a fingerprint scanner, the spread of COVID-19 infections in this case shall not be curtailed and may anyways see a rising trend.
[0003] There is therefore a need to provide an improved apparatus and a corresponding mechanism to overcome the above mentioned limitations.

OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE
[0004] Some of the objects of the present disclosure aimed to ameliorate one or more problems of the prior art or to at least provide a useful alternative are listed herein below.
[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide an apparatus for determining body temperature of an entity before granting entry permission into a specified region.
[0006] An object of the present disclosure is to provide an apparatus for authenticating an entity using a unique identification document for granting entry permission into a specified region.
[0007] An object of the present disclosure is to provide an apparatus that dispenses liquid hand sanitizer to the authenticated entity before allowing entry into the specified region.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention relates generally to allow entry permissions and, more particularly, to an apparatus for authenticating an entity and granting entry permissions.
[0009] According to an aspect of the present disclosure is provided an apparatus for granting an entry permission to an entity, said apparatus comprising: a temperature sensor for capturing and determining a body temperature of the entity upon the apparatus being pointed towards head of the entity; a bar code scanner, comprising a scanner that is enabled to read different bar code symbologies or types representing a subset of all bar code symbologies present on an identification card associated with the entity for authenticating the entity; and responsive to determination of the captured body temperature being within a predetermined range and a positive authentication of the entity, granting the entry permission to the entity and activating a sanitizer dispenser for allowing automatic dispensing of sanitizer, the sanitizer being used by the authenticated entity before entering into a specified region.
[00010] According to an embodiment, upon determination of the captured body temperature being not within the predetermined range and negative authentication of the entity, denying the entry permission to the entity.
[00011] According to an embodiment, the sanitizer dispenser comprises a compartment to store a liquid-based hand sanitizer.
[00012] According to an embodiment, the sanitizer dispenser further comprises an activation circuit for activating dispensing capabilities of a dispensing outlet, wherein the activation circuit is configured to receive an activation signal for dispensing the hand sanitizer.
[00013] According to an embodiment, the activation circuit is part of a computing system that wirelessly communicates with a processor embedded within the apparatus.
[00014] According to an embodiment, the determined body temperature and the read different bar code symbologies are delivered and stored at a remote computing device for future use.
[00015] According to an embodiment, the determined body temperature and the read different bar code symbologies are compared with the stored body temperature and the different bar code symbologies maintained at the remote computing device for authentication of the entity.
[00016] According to an embodiment, the temperature sensor is switched to a low power mode when not capturing and determining the body temperature of the entity.
[00017] According to an embodiment, the temperature sensor transmits the determined body temperature from the sensor to a monitoring device associated with the apparatus.
[00018] According to an embodiment, the determination of the captured body temperature being within a predetermined range is indicative of the captured body temperature being equivalent to body temperature of a healthy entity.
[00019] Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like features.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
[00020] In the figures, similar components and/or features may have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label with a second label that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the first reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label irrespective of the second reference label.
[00021] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary apparatus for granting entry permission to an entity in a specific region in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[00022] In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present invention. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that embodiments of the present invention may be practiced without some of these specific details.
[00023] Establishments such as businesses, education institutes, and community organizations are developing plans to resume normal or phased operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. These plans may include an initial assessment to try to identify entities that may be infectious to limit the spread of COVID-19 infections. Temperature measurement can be one part of the assessment to determine if an entity has an elevated temperature potentially caused by a COVID-19 infection. One of a mechanism to measure and determine an entity’s surface temperature is use of "no-touch" or non-contact temperature assessment devices, such as thermal imaging systems (also known as thermal imaging cameras or infrared telethermographic systems) or non-contact infrared thermometers.
[00024] The available scientific literature supports using thermal imaging systems and non-contact infrared thermometers to detect elevated temperatures. These devices have many benefits, but they must be used properly to get accurate readings. Since an elevated temperature does not conclusively indicate a COVID-19 infection, further evaluation and diagnostic testing are needed to determine if someone has a COVID-19 infection.
[00025] According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is possible for a person to get infected with COVID-19 by touching a surface that has virus on it and then touching their own face. Many of the workers have to clock in and out, such as in hospitals and health facilities. Considering the large number of people who must place their fingers or entire hands on these time clocks day in and day out, it becomes a concern that should be taken care of. To avoid situations like these authentication of the users or the people working in a facility are authenticated by scanning their faces using a camera or one of their identification cards using a barcode scanner.
[00026] Referring to the drawings, the invention will now be described in more detail.
[00027] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary apparatus for granting entry permission to an entity in a specific region in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[00028] In an embodiment, is provided an apparatus 100 for granting entry permission to an entity. The entity can be any of an employee, a visitor or an owner of an establishment (such as a school building, an office, a mall, or a hospital and the like) within the specified region. Within the apparatus 100 is provided a temperature sensor 104 that is used for capturing and determining a body temperature of the entity upon the apparatus being pointed towards head of the entity. Further, is provided a bar code scanner 106 that includes a scanner that is enabled to read different bar code symbologies or types representing a subset of all bar code symbologies present on an identification card associated with the entity for authenticating the entity. In response to determination of the captured body temperature being within a predetermined range and a positive authentication of the entity, the entry permission is granted to the entity. However, upon a determination of the captured body temperature being not within the predetermined range and negative authentication of the entity, the entry permission to the entity is denied.
[00029] Also, a sanitizer dispenser 110 (also referred to herein as sanitizing device) is activated for allowing automatic dispensing of sanitizer. The sanitizer is used by the authenticated entity before entering into a specified region. As can be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the number of sanitizer dispensers can be multiple such as one or more sanitizer dispensers. The sanitizer dispenser 110 comprises a compartment to store a liquid-based hand sanitizer. The apparatus 100 may be installed on an entrance area of such as an office, a medical facility, etc. Further, the liquid-based hand sanitizer is a liquid, gel, or foam that is generally used to decrease infectious agents on the hands.
[00030] In yet another embodiment, the sanitizer dispenser 110 further comprises an activation circuit for activating dispensing capabilities of a dispensing outlet. The activation circuit is configured to receive an activation signal for dispensing the hand sanitizer. The activation circuit is part of a computing system that wirelessly communicates with a processor (not shown) embedded within the apparatus 100.
[00031] Referring to FIG. 1, in one embodiment, the apparatus 100 includes a stand or enclosure that contains the various components of the apparatus. In the illustrated embodiment, the apparatus 100 contains a screen 108 and may also include a speaker that is used to present audio-visual material to the users of the apparatus 100. In an embodiment, the apparatus 100 may also include one or more forward facing cameras (not shown) (e.g. a single camera, cameras in stereo, a plenoptic camera, etc.) that capture images of the entities’ faces that make use of the apparatus 100.
[00032] In an embodiment, the apparatus 100 may also include a bar code scanner 106 that is enabled to read different bar code symbologies or types representing a subset of all bar code symbologies present on an identification card associated with the entity for authenticating the entity. The bar code scanner 106 may facilitate to scan a bar code that may take any conventional form in one or more dimensions, and includes, for example, the typical one-dimensional UPC form. The UPC symbology is based on a specification enacted by the Uniform Product Code Council, Inc. of Dayton Ohio. The typical UPC bar code includes a series or sequence of alternating dark bars and light spaces of varying widths. The bars and spaces are arranged in groups representing individual characters. The bar code starts with a left margin character and ends with a right margin character, and has a center reference character as well, with the characters provided there between representing any desired data. The bar code to be scanned may take any conventional form in one or more dimensions including the conventional one-dimensional UPC symbology.
[00033] In an embodiment, a probable cause of the scanner not reading or decoding the bar code correctly is that the bar code has a set of symbols that is not on the list of symbologies that the scanner uses during normal operation. If so the scanner may be switched to a second mode of operation, in which all symbologies known to the scanner are checked for. The scanner can be switched between the normal or first mode of operation and the second or universal mode in a number of different ways. Further, minimum width of either a bar or space in the UPC symbology is defined as a single module, which represents a unit width. There are many types of bar code symbologies e.g., also known as encoding schemes. For example, there are a number of different one-dimensional bar code symbologies. These symbologies include UPC/EAN, Code 39, Code 128, Codabar and Interleaved 2 of 5.
[00034] In an embodiment, the apparatus 100 may also include an opening or a compartment 112 that may receive entity’s hands or other items to be sanitized. In one embodiment, while the entity’s hands are in the apparatus 100, the screen 108 and/or speaker may present content (e.g. such as safety measures to be taken like maintaining social distance, wearing mask etc.) to the entity.
[00035] In an embodiment, to measure temperature of an entity from a distance is used a temperature sensor 104 that includes a set of infra red sensors. These sensors detect an entity’s infrared (IR) energy. The higher the temperature, the more IR energy is emitted. Sensing element of the sensors absorbs emitted energy and produces an output signal.
[00036] For effective use of the apparatus 100 the temperature sensor present within the apparatus 100 is switched to a low power mode when not capturing and determining the body temperature of the entity. Also, the temperature sensor may transmit the determined body temperature from the sensor to a monitoring device associated with the apparatus. Further, determination of the captured body temperature being within a predetermined range is indicative of the captured body temperature being equivalent to body temperature of a healthy entity.
[00037] The measured body temperature and the read different bar code symbologies are delivered and stored at a remote computing device (also referred to herein as cloud 102) for future use. In an embodiment, the determined body temperature and the read different bar code symbologies are compared with the stored body temperature and the different bar code symbologies maintained at the remote computing device for authentication of the entity. The connection with the cloud is done using wired networks, for example, LAN, cable, etc., and wireless networks, such as WLAN, cellular, or satellite.
[00038] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments, versions or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art.

ADVANTAGES OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE
[00039] The present invention relates generally to allow entry permissions and, more particularly, to an apparatus for authenticating an entity and granting entry permissions.
[00040] The present disclosure provides an apparatus for determining body temperature of an entity before granting entry permission into a specified region.
[00041] The present disclosure provides an apparatus for authenticating an entity using a unique identification document for granting entry permission into a specified region.
[00042] The present disclosure provides an apparatus that dispenses liquid hand sanitizer to the authenticated entity before allowing entry into the specified region.

Claims:1. An apparatus for granting an entry permission to an entity, said apparatus comprising:
a temperature sensor for capturing and determining a body temperature of the entity upon the apparatus being pointed towards head of the entity;
a bar code scanner, comprising a scanner that is enabled to read different bar code symbologies or types representing a subset of all bar code symbologies present on an identification card associated with the entity for authenticating the entity; and
responsive to determination of the captured body temperature being within a predetermined range and a positive authentication of the entity, granting the entry permission to the entity and activating a sanitizer dispenser for allowing automatic dispensing of sanitizer, the sanitizer being used by the authenticated entity before entering into a specified region.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein upon determination of the captured body temperature being not within the predetermined range and negative authentication of the entity, denying the entry permission to the entity.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sanitizer dispenser comprises a compartment to store a liquid-based hand sanitizer.
4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sanitizer dispenser further comprises an activation circuit for activating dispensing capabilities of a dispensing outlet, wherein the activation circuit is configured to receive an activation signal for dispensing the hand sanitizer.
5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the activation circuit is part of a computing system that wirelessly communicates with a processor embedded within the apparatus.
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the determined body temperature and the read different bar code symbologies are delivered and stored at a remote computing device for future use.
7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the determined body temperature and the read different bar code symbologies are compared with the stored body temperature and the different bar code symbologies maintained at the remote computing device for authentication of the entity.
8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor is switched to a low power mode when not capturing and determining the body temperature of the entity.
9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor transmits the determined body temperature from the sensor to a monitoring device associated with the apparatus.
10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the determination of the captured body temperature being within a predetermined range is indicative of the captured body temperature being equivalent to body temperature of a healthy entity.