Contextual data delivery to other users at an electronic lockbox

• US 10,068,399 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2017
• Issued: 09/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SentriLock, LLC
• Original Assignee: SentriLock, LLC
• Inventors: Fisher, Scott R., Adams, Marcus D., Bollas, Robert A., Caupp, Steve L., Carver, Connie F., Etgen, Kyle T., Hunt, Christopher A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah, Tanmay
• Application Number:
  US15/613,451
• Publication Number:
  US 20170270726A1
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 340 561
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00936 for key cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/62 Comprising means for indicating the status of the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00174 Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys mechanical locks with electric permutation E05B49/00; arrangements for sensing or reading record carriers G06K7/00; electronic switching H03K17/00
• 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 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses

Abstract

An electronic lockbox system allows both sales agents and sales prospects to communicate either with the lockbox, or with the central clearinghouse computer. Contextual data then is provided to the sales prospect while the prospect is visiting a specific property that is the site of a lockbox installation. Both the agent and the prospect use smart devices, such as smart phones, that have both wide area network capability and low power radio capability. In other situations, contextual data can be sent to a user having a smart device, in which that contextual data pertains to at least one human occupant of the specific property where that lockbox has been installed, which can be useful where a medical caregiver arrives to visit a human occupant of a specific property that is protected by the electronic lockbox.

Claims

1. An electronic lockbox system, said system comprising:

(a) at least one electronic lockbox, said at least one electronic lockbox having a first processing circuit, a first memory circuit, a first short range wireless communications circuit, and a secure compartment having a movable door that is under the control of said first processing circuit, wherein said at least one electronic lockbox is assigned to a specific property; and

(b) at least one portable receiver/transmitter, said at least one portable receiver/transmitter having a second processing circuit, a second memory circuit, a display, a data entry circuit, and a second short range wireless communications circuit;

(c) wherein said first and second processing circuits are programmed with computer code to perform functions of;

(i) activating said at least one electronic lockbox by an action performed by a person;

(ii) using said first short range wireless communications circuit of said at least one electronic lockbox to send a first message containing contextual data pertaining to at least one human occupant of said specific property; and

(iii) after receiving said first message at said second short range wireless communications circuit of said at least one portable receiver/transmitter, generating visual information on said display, wherein;

(A) said visual information pertains to said at least one human occupant of said specific property, and

(B) said person and said at least one human occupant are not the same human being.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

said second memory circuit of said at least one portable receiver/transmitter contains a time sensitive decryption key; and

said second processing circuit of said at least one portable receiver/transmitter requires said time sensitive decryption key to decipher said first message containing contextual data pertaining to said at least one human occupant of said specific property.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein, said person comprises at least one of:

(a) an emergency medical technician;

(b) a routine medical caregiver;

(c) a police department officer;

(d) a fire department official;

(e) an administrative servicing person; and

(f) a repair servicing person.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein, said specific property comprises at least one of:

(a) a dwelling;

(b) a medical care facility; and

(c) a vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein:

said at least one portable receiver/transmitter is used to provide a first level of authorization so that said second processing circuit of said at least one portable receiver/transmitter is able to decipher said first message containing contextual data pertaining to said at least one human occupant of said specific property; and

said at least one portable receiver/transmitter is used to provide a second level of authorization to said at least one electronic lockbox, which allows said person to access the secure compartment of said at least one electronic lockbox.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second portable receiver/transmitter of said at least one portable receiver/transmitter, said second portable receiver/transmitter having a third processing circuit, a third memory circuit, a second display, a second data entry circuit, and a third short range wireless communications circuit;

wherein;

(a) said at least one portable receiver/transmitter is used to provide a first level of authorization so that said second processing circuit of said at least one portable receiver/transmitter is able to decipher said first message containing contextual data pertaining to said at least one human occupant of said specific property; and

(b) said second portable receiver/transmitter is used to provide a second level of authorization to said at least one electronic lockbox, which allows a second person to access the secure compartment of said at least one electronic lockbox.

7. An electronic lockbox system, said system comprising:

(a) a first electronic lockbox, said first electronic lockbox having a first processing circuit, a first memory circuit, a first short range wireless communications circuit, and a secure compartment having a movable door that is under the control of said first processing circuit, wherein said first electronic lockbox is assigned to a first specific property;

(b) a first portable receiver/transmitter having a second processing circuit, a second memory circuit, a first display, a first data entry circuit, a second short range wireless communications circuit, and a first WAN communications circuit used to communicate with a wide area network, said first portable receiver/transmitter being assigned to a sales agent;

(c) a central computer having a third processing circuit, a third memory circuit containing at least one database, and a second WAN communications circuit used to communicate with said wide area network, wherein said at least one database includes a first database having a plurality of entries that store contextual data pertaining to at least one property in said electronic lockbox system; and

(d) a second portable receiver/transmitter having a fourth processing circuit, a fourth memory circuit, a second display, a second data entry circuit, a GPS receiver circuit, and a third WAN communications circuit used to communicate with said wide area network, said second portable receiver/transmitter being assigned to a sales prospect;

wherein said first, second, third, and fourth processing circuits are programmed with computer code to perform functions of;

(i) at said first electronic lockbox, granting access to said secure compartment if a sales agent correctly performs an authorized access procedure;

(ii) at said first electronic lockbox, using said first short range wireless communications circuit and said second short range wireless communications circuit, sending a first message that is received by said first portable receiver/transmitter, said first message containing access event information pertaining to said first electronic lockbox;

(iii) at said first portable receiver/transmitter, using said first WAN communications circuit and said second WAN communications circuit, sending a second message that is received by said central computer, said second message containing access event information pertaining to said first electronic lockbox;

(iv) at said second portable receiver/transmitter, using said third WAN communications circuit and said second WAN communications circuit, sending a third message that is received by said central computer, said third message containing GPS coordinates information that specifies an approximate physical location of said second portable receiver/transmitter;

(v) at said central computer, determining if said approximate physical location of said second portable receiver/transmitter corresponds to a physical location of said first electronic lockbox, and if so, then;

(vi) at said central computer, using said second WAN communications circuit and said third WAN communications circuit, sending a fourth message that is received by said second portable receiver/transmitter, said fourth message containing contextual data pertaining to said first specific property.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said first and third processing circuits are programmed with computer code to perform further functions of:

(a) at said central computer, using said second WAN communications circuit and said first WAN communications circuit, sending a fifth message that is received by said first portable receiver/transmitter, said fifth message containing the same contextual data that was sent in said fourth message.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein said first and third processing circuits are programmed with computer code to perform further functions of:

(a) at said central computer, using said second WAN communications circuit and said first WAN communications circuit, sending a fifth message that is received by said first portable receiver/transmitter, said fifth message containing different contextual data from that sent in said fourth message, but still pertaining to said first specific property.

10. An electronic lockbox system, said system comprising:

(a) a first electronic lockbox, said first electronic lockbox having a first processing circuit, a first memory circuit, a first short range wireless communications circuit, and a secure compartment having a movable door that is under the control of said first processing circuit, wherein said first electronic lockbox is assigned to a first specific property;

(b) a first portable receiver/transmitter having a second processing circuit, a second memory circuit, a first display, a first data entry circuit, a second short range wireless communications circuit, and a first WAN communications circuit used to communicate with a wide area network, said first portable receiver/transmitter being assigned to a sales agent;

(c) a central computer having a third processing circuit, a third memory circuit containing at least one database, and a second WAN communications circuit used to communicate with said wide area network, wherein said at least one database includes a first database having a plurality of entries that store contextual data pertaining to at least one property in said electronic lockbox system; and

(d) a second portable receiver/transmitter having a fourth processing circuit, a fourth memory circuit, a second display, a second data entry circuit, a third short range wireless communications circuit, and a third WAN communications circuit used to communicate with said wide area network, said second portable receiver/transmitter being assigned to a sales prospect;

wherein said first, second, third, and fourth processing circuits are programmed with computer code to perform functions of;

(i) activating said first electronic lockbox by an action performed by at least one of;

(A) said sales agent and (B) said sales prospect;

(ii) using said first short range wireless communications circuit of said first electronic lockbox, sending a first message containing first unique identification information pertaining to said first electronic lockbox;

(iii) at said first portable receiver/transmitter, allowing said sales agent to login to said central computer, using said first WAN communications circuit and said second WAN communications circuit;

(iv) after receiving said first message at said second short range wireless communications circuit of said first portable receiver/transmitter, using said first WAN communications circuit and said second WAN communications circuit to send a second message to said central computer, said second message containing said first unique identification information pertaining to said first electronic lockbox and identification information pertaining to said sales agent;

(v) after receiving said first message at said third short range wireless communications circuit of said second portable receiver/transmitter, using said third WAN communications circuit and said second WAN communications circuit to send a third message to said central computer, said third message containing said first unique identification information pertaining to said first electronic lockbox;

(vi) after receiving said second and third messages at said central computer, using said second WAN communications circuit and said third WAN communications circuit to send a fourth message to said second portable receiver/transmitter, said fourth message containing contextual data pertaining to said first specific property.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said first and third processing circuits are programmed with computer code to perform further functions of:

(a) at said central computer, using said second WAN communications circuit and said first WAN communications circuit, sending a fifth message that is received by said first portable receiver/transmitter, said fifth message containing the same contextual data that was sent in said fourth message.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein said first and third processing circuits are programmed with computer code to perform further functions of:

(a) at said central computer, using said second WAN communications circuit and said first WAN communications circuit, sending a fifth message that is received by said first portable receiver/transmitter, said fifth message containing different contextual data from that sent in said fourth message, but still pertaining to said first specific property.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein said first and third processing circuits are programmed with computer code to perform further functions of:

(a) at said central computer, after receiving said second message and said third message, determining, using said third processing circuit, if said second message and said third message both pertain to said first electronic lockbox, and if so;

(b) at said central computer, after receiving said second message and said third message, determining, using said third processing circuit, if said second message and said third message were both received within a predetermined time interval, and if so;

(c) at said central computer, after receiving said second message and said third message, determining, using said third processing circuit, if said sales prospect has been linked to said sales agent in a prospect-agent database of said at least one database;

(i) if so, adding a property visit event to said agent-prospect database for said sales prospect and said sales agent;

(ii) if not, adding said sales prospect to said prospect-agent database for said sales agent to create a link between said sales prospect and said sales agent, and then adding a property visit event to said agent-prospect database for said sales prospect and said sales agent; and

(d) at said central computer, thereby automatically maintaining said agent-prospect database of property visits, without user intervention.

14. An electronic lockbox system, said system comprising:

(a) a first electronic lockbox, said first electronic lockbox having a first processing circuit, a first memory circuit, a first short range wireless communications circuit, and a secure compartment having a movable door that is under the control of said first processing circuit, wherein said first electronic lockbox is assigned to a first specific property;

(b) a first portable receiver/transmitter having a second processing circuit, a second memory circuit, a first display, a first data entry circuit, a second short range wireless communications circuit, and a first WAN communications circuit used to communicate with a wide area network, said first portable receiver/transmitter being assigned to an authorized user;

(c) a central computer having a third processing circuit, a third memory circuit containing at least one database, and a second WAN communications circuit used to communicate with said wide area network, wherein said at least one database includes a first database having a plurality of entries that store contextual data pertaining to at least one property in said electronic lockbox system; and

(d) a second portable receiver/transmitter having a fourth processing circuit, a fourth memory circuit, a second display, a second data entry circuit, a third short range wireless communications circuit, and a third WAN communications circuit used to communicate with said wide area network, said second portable receiver/transmitter being assigned to a second person;

wherein said first, second, and fourth processing circuits are programmed with computer code to perform functions of;

(i) activating said at least one electronic lockbox by an action performed by at least one of;

(A) said authorized user and (B) said second person;

(ii) at said first electronic lockbox, using said first short range wireless communications circuit and said second short range wireless communications circuit, sending a first message that is received by said first portable receiver/transmitter, said first message containing first unique identification information pertaining to said first electronic lockbox;

(iii) at said first portable receiver/transmitter, using said second short range wireless communications circuit and said third short range wireless communications circuit, and based upon said first unique identification information, sending a second message that is received by said second portable receiver/transmitter, said second message containing contextual data pertaining to said first specific property; and

(iv) at said second portable receiver/transmitter, after receiving said second message, then generating visual information on said second display, wherein said visual information pertains to said first specific property.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said second and third processing circuits are programmed with computer code to perform further functions of:

(a) at said first portable receiver/transmitter, allowing said authorized user to login to said central computer, using said first WAN communications circuit and said second WAN communications circuit;

(b) at said central computer, based upon a request by said authorized user for contextual data pertaining to said first specific property, and before sending said second message, sending a third message from said central computer to said first portable receiver/transmitter, using said second WAN communications circuit and said first WAN communications circuit, said third message containing said contextual data pertaining to said first specific property; and

(c) at said first portable receiver/transmitter, after receiving said third message, then sending, in near real time, said second message.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein said second processing circuit is programmed with computer code to perform further functions of:

(a) at said first portable receiver/transmitter, pre-storing contextual data pertaining to said first specific property in said second memory circuit;

(b) later, after receiving said first message, then sending, in near real time, said second message.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein said authorized user has the ability to access the secure compartment of said first electronic lockbox.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein said authorized user comprises a sales agent, and said second person comprises a sales prospect.

19. An electronic lockbox system, said system comprising:

(a) a plurality of electronic lockboxes, at least two of said electronic lockboxes having a first processing circuit, a first memory circuit, a first short range wireless communications circuit, and a secure compartment having a movable door that is under the control of said first processing circuit, wherein a first one of said plurality of electronic lockboxes is assigned to a first specific property, and wherein a second one of said plurality of electronic lockboxes is assigned to a second specific property;

(b) a first portable receiver/transmitter having a second processing circuit, a second memory circuit, a first display, a first data entry circuit, a second short range wireless communications circuit, and a first WAN communications circuit used to communicate with a wide area network, said first portable receiver/transmitter being assigned to a sales prospect who is not authorized to access a secure compartment of said plurality of electronic lockboxes;

(c) a central computer having a third processing circuit, a third memory circuit containing at least one database, and a second WAN communications circuit used to communicate with said wide area network, wherein said at least one database includes a first database having a plurality of entries that store visit history reports and contextual data pertaining to properties in said electronic lockbox system, including at least said first specific property and said second specific property;

wherein said first, second, and third processing circuits are programmed with computer code to perform functions of;

(i) at said first portable receiver/transmitter, allowing said sales prospect to login to said central computer, using said first WAN communications circuit and said second WAN communications circuit;

(ii) at said first portable receiver/transmitter, allowing said sales prospect to request a visit history report pertaining to property visits for at least one of said first specific property and said second specific property;

(iii) at said central computer, sending a visit history report pertaining to property visit activities of said sales prospect, and sending current contextual data pertaining to the specific properties included in said visit history report to said first portable receiver/transmitter, using said second WAN communications circuit and said first WAN communications circuit;

(iv) at said first portable receiver/transmitter, storing said current contextual data received from said central computer in said second memory circuit;

(v) at said first portable receiver/transmitter, determining if existing contextual data is resident in said second memory circuit for at least one of said first specific property and said second specific property, and if so, then;

(vi) at said first portable receiver/transmitter, updating said existing contextual data for said at least one of said first specific property and said second specific property.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the function of updating said existing contextual data for said at least one specific property comprises replacing said existing contextual data with said current contextual data.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the function of updating said existing contextual data for said at least one specific property comprises appending said existing contextual data.

22. An electronic lockbox system, said system comprising:

(a) at least one electronic lockbox, said at least one electronic lockbox comprising;

a first means for processing data, a first means for storing data, a first means for wirelessly communicating over a short range, and a secure compartment having a means for opening that is under the control of said first means for processing data, wherein said at least one electronic lockbox is assigned to a specific property; and

(b) at least one portable receiver/transmitter, said at least one portable receiver/transmitter comprising;

a second means for processing data, a second means for storing data, a means for displaying information, a means for entering data to said at least one portable receiver/transmitter, and a second means for wirelessly communicating over a short range;

(c) wherein said first and second means for processing data perform functions of;

(i) activating said at least one electronic lockbox by an action performed by a person;

(ii) using said first means for wirelessly communicating over a short range of said at least one electronic lockbox, sending a first message containing contextual data pertaining to at least one human occupant of said specific property; and

(iii) after receiving said first message at said second means for wirelessly communicating over a short range of said at least one portable receiver/transmitter, generating visual information on said means for displaying information, wherein;

(A) said visual information pertains to said at least one human occupant of said specific property, and

(B) said person and said at least one human occupant are not the same human being.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein:

said second means for storing data of said at least one portable receiver/transmitter contains a time sensitive decryption key; and

said second means for processing data of said at least one portable receiver/transmitter requires said time sensitive decryption key to decipher said first message containing contextual data pertaining to said at least one human occupant of said specific property.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein, said person comprises at least one of:

(a) an emergency medical technician;

(b) a routine medical caregiver;

(c) a police department officer;

(d) a fire department official;

(e) an administrative servicing person; and

(f) a repair servicing person.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein, said specific property comprises at least one of:

(a) a dwelling;

(b) a medical care facility; and

(c) a vehicle.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein:

said at least one portable receiver/transmitter provides a first level of authorization so that said second means for processing data of said at least one portable receiver/transmitter is able to decipher said first message containing contextual data pertaining to said at least one human occupant of said specific property; and

said at least one portable receiver/transmitter provides a second level of authorization to said at least one electronic lockbox, which allows said person to access the secure compartment of said at least one electronic lockbox.

27. The system of claim 22, further comprising a second portable receiver/transmitter of said at least one portable receiver/transmitter, said second portable receiver/transmitter comprising:

a third means for processing data, a third means for storing data, a second means for displaying information, a second means for entering data to said second portable receiver/transmitter, and a third means for wirelessly communicating over a short range;

wherein;

(a) said at least one portable receiver/transmitter provides a first level of authorization so that said second means for processing data of said at least one portable receiver/transmitter is able to decipher said first message containing contextual data pertaining to said at least one human occupant of said specific property; and

(b) said second portable receiver/transmitter provides a second level of authorization to said at least one electronic lockbox, which allows a second person to access the secure compartment of said at least one electronic lockbox.