Security Enhancement for Building Access, Using One Time Password (OTP) Technology

Ubiquitous as mobile technologies are, and the various advancements the technologies have experienced, makes the field pertinent for integration into security systems of buildings. As a security enhancement technique for building access, this project was proposed as a way of paving a way for integration of one time password (OTP) technology using microcontroller to security systems. In addition, the proposed project will be a supplement to the challenges of other security authentication methods centered on Bluetooth, radio frequency identification (RFID), biometrics and voice recognition techniques. In other to reduce complexity in design, a microcontroller was introduced to hub the coordination of the system. The two way verification system which can be coupled with aforementioned security systems, boast of its ability to store numeric identity of each authorized user to a building in the electrical erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) of the microcontroller. The system prompt a user wanting to gain access to the building through the door to input designated numeric identity (password) stored in data base. Once the inputted designated numeric identity entered matches an identity in the data base, then for the second verification process, a randomly generated OTP which has a programmed validity of three minutes is sent to the user phone via a GSM (global system for mobile communication) module. If either the password or OTP entered doesn’t match, then access is denied and the user will only be relegated to two limited successful chances with time duration as programmed for retrial before the system reset for the next user. Once there is failure at any stage of verification outside prescribed attempted limit, an alarm is sounded with implication that a burglar is attempting entry. Electric power to the project was driven from an ac mains which was then rectified to power all the dc dependent components used. The low construction cost, user friendliness, flexibility, insured security when compared to other security systems, makes the inovation unique.