Bi-directional access control system

• US 10,026,249 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2017
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC (Allegion PLC)
• Original Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC (Allegion PLC)
• Inventors: GrandPre, Patrick, Baumgarte, Joseph W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Garcia, Carlos E
• Application Number:
  US15/487,777
• Publication Number:
  US 20170301165A1
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 340 52, 340 55, 340 57, 340 58
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00357 and the lock having more than one limited data transmission ranges
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit

Abstract

Systems and apparatuses for real time, bi-directional communications between an access control management host and one or more access control devices. The access control devices can be structured to make certain decisions at the access control device and communicate, in real time, information to, as well as receive in real time information from, the access control management host via a networked gateway. The access control device and networked gateway can communicate via a first wireless protocol that at least assists in minimizing the energy of an electrical energy source, such as, for example, a battery, that is coupled to the access control device. Examples of the first wireless protocol can include low latency, low-power wireless technologies or protocols. The networked gateway can communicate with the access control management host using a second protocol via a wired or wireless connection.

Claims

1. An access control device for controlling displacement of an entryway device, the access control device comprising:

at least one wireless transceiver;

a processing device structured to make a decision relating to the operation of the access control device based at least in part on information stored in the access control device; and

wherein the access control device is structured to initiate communication with an access control management host in real time via a networked gateway without being prompted by the access control management host, using a low latency, low-power wireless technology or protocol, and in response to a determination that the access control device has at least one of a message, a request, or a status update for transmittal to the access control management host.

2. The access control device of claim 1, further comprising a reader device for detecting credential information of a credential device, and wherein the decision made by the processing device is based at least in part on the detected credential information and information stored in a memory of the access control device, the memory coupled to the processing device, and further wherein the access control device is powered by a battery.

3. The access control device of claim 2, wherein the memory includes a user access database, and wherein the decision is a determination of whether credentials detected by the access control device, in view of information in the user access database and the memory, indicates authority to operate the access control device.

4. The access control device of claim 3, wherein the low latency, low-power wireless technology or protocol is at least one of the following:

Bluetooth (including Bluetooth low energy (BLE)) or Zigbee.

5. The access control device of claim 1, wherein the access control device is an electronic lock.

6. The access control device of claim 5, wherein the decision is a determination to displace a lock mechanism of the electronic lock from one of an unlocked position and a locked position to the other of the unlocked position and the locked position.

7. The access control device of claim 1, wherein the access control device is structured to have real time connections with the networked gateway having a duration of less than one second, during which a time the access control device transmits real time communications to the networked gateway.

8. The access control device of claim 1, wherein the access control device maintains a record of certain events during at least an interruption in a networked connection between the access control device and the networked gateway, and further wherein following restoration of the networked connection between the access control device and the networked gateway, the access control device communicates to the gateway device at least an indication of the record of events.

9. A system, comprising:

an access control device and a networked gateway, the access control device comprising;

at least one wireless transceiver;

a memory for storing information relating to operation of the access control device; and

a processing device coupled to the memory, the processing device structured to make a decision relating to the operation of the access control device based at least in part on information stored in the memory; and

wherein the access control device is structured to initiate communication with an access control management host in real time via the networked gateway without being prompted by the access control management host, using a low latency, low-power wireless technology or protocol, and in response to a determination that the access control device has at least one of a message, a request, or a status update for transmittal to the access control management host.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a reader device structured to detect credential information of a credential device, and wherein the decision made by the processing device is based at least in part on the detected credential information, and further wherein the access control device is battery powered.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the low latency, low-power wireless technology or protocol is at least one of the following:

Bluetooth (including Bluetooth low energy (BLE)) or Zigbee.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the access control device is an electronic lock.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the decision is a determination to displace a lock mechanism of the electronic lock from one of an unlocked position and a locked position to the other of the unlocked position and the locked position.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the memory includes a user access database, and wherein the decision is a determination of whether credentials detected by the reader device, in view of information in the user access database and the memory, indicates authority to operate the access control device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the access control device is structured to have real time connections with the networked gateway having a duration of less than one second during which the access control device transmits real time communications to the networked gateway.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the access control device maintains a record of certain events during at least an interruption in a networked connection between the access control device and the networked gateway, and further wherein following restoration of the networked connection between the access control device and the networked gateway, the access control device communicates to the networked gateway at least an indication of the record of certain events.

17. A system, comprising:

an access control device, a networked gateway, and an access control management host, the access control device comprising;

at least one wireless transceiver;

a memory for storing information relating to operation of the access control device; and

a processing device coupled to the memory, the processing device structured to make a decision relating to the operation of the access control device based at least in part on information stored in the memory;

wherein the access control device is structured to initiate communication in real time with the networked gateway using a first wireless protocol without being prompted by the access control management host in response to a determination that the access control device has at least one of a message, a request, or a status update for transmittal to the access control management host, the first wireless protocol comprising a low latency, low-power wireless technology or protocol; and

wherein the networked gateway communicates with the access control management host in real time using a second protocol that is different than the first wireless protocol to transmit the at least one of the message, the request, or the status update.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the networked gateway and the access control management host communicate with each other using an Ethernet connection.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the access control management host is structured to establish times for the access control device to seek updates.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the second protocol is a wireless protocol, and wherein the networked gateway and the access control management host communicate with each other using at least one of a LAN, WAN, and/or cellular data network.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the system further includes a reader device for detecting credential information of a credential device, and wherein the decision made by the processing device is based at least in part on the detected credential information, and further wherein the access control device is battery powered.

22. The system of claim 17, further comprising a mobile electronic device;

wherein the access control device is structured to transmit at least one of diagnostic results or usage data to the mobile electronic device; and

wherein the mobile electronic device is structured to transmit the at least one of the diagnostic results or the usage data received from the access control device to the access control management host.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the mobile electronic device is further structured to transmit firmware updates to the access control management host;

and

wherein the access control management host is further structured to push the firmware updates to the access control device.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein the access control device is an electronic lock.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the decision is a determination to displace a lock mechanism of the electronic lock from one of an unlocked position and a locked position to the other of the unlocked position and the locked position.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the memory includes a user access database, and wherein the decision includes a determination of whether credentials detected by the access control device, in view of information in the user access database, indicates authority to operate the access control device.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the access control device is structured to have real time connections with the networked gateway having a duration of less than one second during which the time the access control device transmits real time communications to the networked gateway.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the access control device maintains a record of certain events during at least an interruption in a networked connection between the access control device and the networked gateway, and further wherein following restoration of the networked connection between the access control device and the networked gateway, the access control device communicates to the networked gateway at least an indication of the record of certain events.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein a real time, bi-directional communication link is provided between the access control device and the access control management host.

30. The system of claim 25, wherein the access control management host is further structured to set parameters regarding time periods during which the lock mechanism is permitted to be displaced from the locked position to the unlocked position.