Door locks and assemblies for use in wireless guest engagement systems

• US 10,049,516 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2017
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carnival Corporation
• Original Assignee: Carnival Corporation
• Inventors: Padgett, John, Jungen, Michael G., Steele, Douglas, Prestenback, Kyle, Criado, Richard J., Ball, Vince, Leonards, Adam, Curtis, Glenn, Vellon, Manny, Mendiuk, Patrick, Lam, Sander
• Primary Examiner(s): Talukder, Md
• Application Number:
  US15/460,997
• Publication Number:
  US 20180137701A1
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 455 411, 455 412, 455 413
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00412 the transmitted data signal being encrypted
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00904 for hotels, motels, office buildings or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2291 used in bluetooth or WI-FI devices of Wireless Local Area Networks [WLAN] H01Q1/241 takes precedence; WLAN in general H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0343 to be carried on the body
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/26 using coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/70 specially adapted for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/33 using wearable devices, e.g. using a smartwatch or smart-glasses
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A guest engagement system and associated methods provide seamless engagement with guests of facilities through the use of wireless sensing technologies. The system makes use of individual guest devices which are carried by guests and used to automatically identify and authenticate the guests throughout the facility. Services can thereby be seamlessly provided to the guests throughout the facility. The services include automatic unlocking of doors, including hotel or state room doors, based on the guests'"'"' immediate proximity to their assigned room'"'"'s door. The services also include automated payment services provided at checkout or vending terminals, and automated log-on to interactive displays and portals, among others, based on secure wireless authentication of the guest devices.

Claims

1. A door latch assembly comprising:

a door knob;

a latch selectively operated by operation of the door knob;

an electrical isolation sleeve mounted on a spindle of the door latch assembly and configured to electrically isolate the door knob from other portions of the door latch assembly;

an electronically controlled locking mechanism operative to selectively unlock the latch;

a proximity sensor operative to sense contact or proximity of a user with the door knob; and

an access panel separate from the door knob and the latch, and including a radio configured for wireless communication with the electronically controlled locking mechanism, a first transceiver configured for wireless communication with a portable user device, and a second transceiver for communication with a reservation server,

wherein the electronically controlled locking mechanism is operative to selectively unlock the latch based on the contact or proximity of the user with the door knob sensed by the proximity sensor,

the door knob is electrically isolated from a ground potential,

the proximity sensor is a capacitive touch sensor electrically connected to the electrically isolated door knob and operative to sense contact or proximity of the user with the electrically isolated door knob, and

the access panel is configured to receive door access information from the reservation server via the second transceiver, determine whether the latch should be unlocked based on the door access information received from the reservation server, and transmit an instruction to unlock the latch to the electronically controlled locking mechanism via the radio based on the determination.

2. The door latch assembly of claim 1, wherein the electronically controlled locking mechanism is operative to activate a solenoid to unlock the door latch assembly only when the proximity sensor senses contact or proximity of the user with the door knob.

3. The door latch assembly of claim 1, wherein the access panel communicates via the first transceiver using a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) communication standard with the portable user device, and communicates via the second transceiver and a wired network connection with the reservation server.

4. The door latch assembly of claim 1, wherein the access panel is configured to receive a unique identifier from the portable user device through wireless communication with the portable user device via the first transceiver, determine whether the received unique identifier corresponds to an authorized user based on information on authorized users received from the reservation server via the second transceiver, and selectively transmit a latch unlocking signal based on the result of the determination.

5. The door latch assembly of claim 1, wherein the access panel further comprises:

a display configured to display information received from the reservation server and selected based on the unique identifier received from the portable user device; and

a camera configured to selectively capture an image of a user based on the result of the determination.

6. The door latch assembly of claim 5, wherein the access panel further comprises:

a communication antenna communicatively coupled to the first transceiver and disposed along an outer periphery of the display of the access panel.

7. The door latch assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a door lock communication module electrically connected to the electronically controlled locking mechanism of the door latch assembly, and including a radio configured for wireless communication.

8. The door latch assembly of claim 7, wherein the door knob functions as a communication antenna for the radio of the door lock communication module.

9. The door latch assembly of claim 7, wherein the access panel communicates with the door lock communication module via short-range radio operating on the ISM band.

10. The door latch assembly of claim 7, wherein the access panel is configured to engage in encrypted wireless communications with the door lock communication module via the radio, and

the access panel is configured to engage in encrypted wireless communications with the portable user device via the first transceiver.

11. The door latch assembly of claim 7, wherein the electronically controlled locking mechanism is operative to unlock the latch in response to the door lock communication module receiving an unlocking signal via the radio.

12. The door latch assembly of claim 11, wherein in response to the door lock communication module receiving the unlocking signal, the electronically controlled locking mechanism is operative to unlock the latch only when the proximity sensor senses contact or proximity of the user with the door knob.

13. An electronic door lock assembly comprising:

a latch assembly including a latch and an electronically controlled locking mechanism operative to selectively unlock a door;

a door lock communication module electrically connected to the electronically controlled locking mechanism of the latch assembly, and including a radio configured for wireless communication; and

an access panel separate from and fixedly mounted proximate to the door lock communication module and latch assembly, and including a radio configured for wireless communication with the door lock communication module, a first transceiver configured for wireless communication with a portable user device, and a second transceiver for communication with a reservation server,

wherein the access panel separate from and fixedly mounted proximate to the door lock communication module is configured to receive door access information from the reservation server via the second transceiver, determine whether the door should be unlocked based on the door access information received from the reservation server, and transmit an instruction to unlock the door to the door lock communication module via the radio based on the determination.

14. The electronic door lock assembly of claim 13, wherein the radio, first transceiver, and second transceiver of the access panel each operate according to a different communication standard.

15. The electronic door lock assembly of claim 13, wherein the access panel communicates via the first transceiver using a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) communication standard with the user device, and communicates via the second transceiver and a wired network connection with the reservation server.

16. The electronic door lock assembly of claim 13, wherein the door lock communication module and the access panel communicate with via short-range radio operating on the ISM band.

17. The electronic door lock assembly of claim 13, wherein the door lock communication module is configured to engage in encrypted wireless communications with the access panel via the radio of the door lock communication module, and

the access panel is configured to engage in encrypted wireless communications with the door lock communication nodule via the radio of the access panel, and to engage in encrypted wireless communications with the user device via the first transceiver of the access panel.

18. The electronic door lock assembly of claim 13, wherein the access panel is configured to receive a unique identifier from the user device through wireless communication with the user device via the first transceiver, determine whether the received unique identifier corresponds to an authorized user based on information on authorized users received from the reservation server via the second transceiver, and selectively transmit a door unlocking signal to the door lock communication module based on the result of the determination.

19. The electronic door lock assembly of claim 18, wherein the access panel further comprises a display configured to display information received from the reservation server and selected based on the unique identifier received from the user device, and a camera configured to selectively capture an image of a user based on the result of the determination.

20. The electronic door lock assembly of claim 13, wherein the latch assembly further comprises a door knob and a proximity sensor operative to sense contact or proximity of a user with the door knob, and

the electronically controlled locking mechanism is operative to selectively unlock the door based on the contact or proximity of the user with the door knob sensed by the proximity sensor.

21. The electronic door lock assembly of claim 20, wherein the door knob is electrically isolated, and the proximity sensor is a capacitive touch sensor electrically connected to the electrically isolated door knob and operative to sense contact or proximity of the user with the electrically isolated door knob.

22. The electronic door lock assembly of claim 20, wherein the door knob is electrically isolated from ground, and the door knob functions as a communication antenna for the radio of the door lock communication module.