Access management system

• US 10,074,224 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2015
• Issued: 09/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gate Labs Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gate Labs Inc.
• Inventors: Ho, Harvey, Saeedi, Ehsan, Ehyaie, Danial
• Primary Examiner(s): Ren, Zhubing
• Application Number:
  US14/736,126
• Publication Number:
  US 20160307380A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,189 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0001 with electric actuators; Constructional features thereof for vehicles E05B81/04
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/172 Classification, e.g. identification
• 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 9/00563 using personal physical data of the operator, e.g. finger prints, retinal images, voicepatterns
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/23 by means of a password
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/253 visually
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/38 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/00 Speaker identification or verification techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/186 Video door telephones
• 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 88/02 Terminal devices
• 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

Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for remotely managing access to an area. An access management platform, which can be an electronic lock that is installed on, e.g., a door of a house, can enable a user to establish a virtual presence at the door. In one example, a delivery person activates a doorbell button/icon of the access management platform, which sends a message to a smartphone of the owner of the platform. The owner, who is at work, uses his smartphone to initiate a video stream using a camera of the platform, and a two way audio stream. The owner sees and initiates a discussion with the delivery person. The owner uses his smartphone to unlock the door, and asks the delivery person to open the door and deliver the package inside. The owner uses his smartphone to capture his signature to acknowledge the delivery.

Claims

1. A door management platform, for remotely managing access to an area, comprising:

an electronic locking device comprising;

a device first side comprising a cover having a cover surface, a processor, a microphone, a speaker, a camera, a code input device, a keyhole, and a wireless communication interface coupled to the processor;

a device second side comprising a motor assembly electronically coupled to the processor, a rotatable base having a rotatable base surface, and a rotatable battery pod; and

a deadbolt,

wherein the device first side, the device second side, and the deadbolt are mountable to a door that separates an exterior space from the area,

wherein, when the device is mounted to the door, the cover surface faces a first direction away from the door and the rotatable base surface faces a second direction away from the door opposite the first direction,

wherein the microphone and the speaker are electronically coupled to the wireless communication interface and form a two-way real-time audio connection when activated to enable a user and a person requesting access to the area to communicate,

wherein the camera is coupled to the wireless communication interface and is configured to capture a real-time stream of video when activated, wherein, when the device is mounted to the door, the camera has a line of sight away from the door, wherein, when the device is mounted to the door and the door is open, the line of sight is at least partially directed toward the area, wherein, when the device is mounted to the door and the door is closed, the line of sight is directed away from the area,

wherein the electronic locking device is associated with a first company and is configured to send, via the wireless communication interface, the real-time stream of video to a computing device to enable the user to see the person requesting access to the area protected by the electronic locking device,

wherein the electronic locking device is in data communication with a server, and wherein the server is in data communication with a backend system of a second company,

wherein the device has a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration when the device is mounted to the door, wherein the rotatable base is in a rotatable base first position relative to the door when the device is in the locked configuration and the rotatable base is in a rotatable base second position relative to the door when the device is in the unlocked configuration, and wherein the rotatable base is rotatable between the rotatable base first and second positions,

wherein the rotatable battery pod is removably attachable to the rotatable base, wherein the rotatable battery pod has a rechargeable battery, wherein, when the rotatable battery pod is removably attached to the rotatable base, the rotatable battery pod has a pod surface facing the second direction, wherein the rotatable battery pod is in a rotatable battery pod first position relative to the door when the device is in the locked configuration and the rotatable battery pod is in a rotatable battery pod second position relative to the door when the device is in the unlocked configuration, wherein the rotatable battery pod is rotatable between the rotatable battery pod first and second positions, and wherein, when the rotatable battery pod is removably attached to the rotatable base, rotating the rotatable battery pod rotates the rotatable base between the first and second positions,

wherein, when the device is mounted to the door, the motor assembly is coupled to the deadbolt and is configured to lock or unlock the deadbolt in response to a message received from the backend system of the second company,

wherein a mobile device of the person has a location sensor, and wherein the processor is configured to perform an action when the location sensor is proximate to a selected location,

wherein the backend system of the second company is configured to receive a signal from a device of the person requesting access, and wherein the signal comprises a package tracking number, and

wherein a device of the person requesting access is configured to send a signal that enables the electronic locking device to verify that the signal is from a delivery service company.

2. The door management platform of claim 1, wherein the electronic locking device is configured to communicate with a mobile device of the person.

3. The door management platform of claim 2,

wherein the door management platform is configured to receive, from the computing device an electronic signature to acknowledge delivery of an item, and

wherein the door management platform is configured to send the electronic signature to a receiver.

4. The door management platform of claim 3, wherein the receiver comprises any of the mobile device and the backend system of a company.

5. The door management platform of claim 2,

wherein the person comprises a delivery person for a company;

and wherein the electronic locking device is configured to receive, via the mobile device, verification for the delivery person from the backend system of the company.

6. The door management platform of claim 5,

wherein personal data of the delivery person is within the backend system and is provided to the computing device for verification by the user.

7. The door management platform of claim 6,

wherein the personal data includes any of a global positioning system (GPS) location, name, employee number and photo of the delivery person, that the user can use to identify the delivery person.

8. The door management platform of claim 2,

wherein the person comprises a delivery person for a company;

and wherein a one-time code is sent to the mobile device and the door management platform to verify the delivery person.

9. The door management platform of claim 2,

wherein the electronic locking device is configured to communicate with the mobile device via any of a short distance wireless communication standard, a local area wireless network, or a cellular network.

10. The platform of claim 1, further comprising a motion sensor, wherein the motion sensor is configured to initiate alerts over the wireless communication interface when the motion sensor is triggered by a motion.

11. The door management platform of claim 1, wherein the second company is a delivery company.

12. The door management platform of claim 1, wherein the backend system of the second company is configured to transfer money between a user account and an online account.

13. The door management platform of claim 1, wherein the server is configured to receive access identifying information from the backend system of the second company.

14. The door management platform of claim 1, wherein the package tracking number comprises access identifying information.

15. The door management platform of claim 1, wherein the backend system of the second company is configured to receive a delivery acknowledgement signal from the door management platform.

16. A method for utilizing a door management platform, for remotely managing access to an area, the door management platform comprising an electronic locking device mountable to a door, the method comprising:

rotating a rotatable base of the electronic locking device from a rotatable base first position to a rotatable base second position, wherein the device has a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration when the device is mounted to a door, wherein the rotatable base is in the rotatable base first position relative to the door when the device is in the locked configuration and the rotatable base is in the rotatable base second position relative to the door when the device is in the unlocked configuration;

rotating a rotatable battery pod of the electronic locking device from a rotatable battery pod first position to a rotatable battery pod second position, wherein the rotatable battery pod is in the rotatable battery pod first position relative to the door when the device is in the locked configuration and the rotatable battery pod is in the rotatable battery pod second position relative to the door when the device is in the unlocked configuration, wherein the rotatable battery pod is removably attachable to the rotatable base, wherein the rotatable battery pod has a rechargeable battery, wherein, when the rotatable battery pod is removably attached to the rotatable base, rotating the rotatable battery pod rotates the rotatable base between the first and second positions, and wherein the electronic locking device further comprises;

a device first side comprising a cover having a cover surface, a processor, a microphone, a speaker, a camera, a code input device, a keyhole, and a wireless communication interface coupled to the processor;

a device second side comprising a motor assembly electronically coupled to the processor, the rotatable base having a rotatable base surface, and the rotatable battery pod; and

a deadbolt,

wherein the device first side, the device second side, and the deadbolt are mountable to the door that separates an exterior space from the area,

wherein, when the device is mounted to the door, the cover surface faces a first direction away from the door and the rotatable base surface faces a second direction away from the door opposite the first direction,

wherein the microphone and the speaker are electronically coupled to the wireless communication interface and form a two-way real-time audio connection when activated to enable a user and a person requesting access to the area to communicate,

wherein the camera is coupled to the wireless communication interface and is configured to capture a real-time stream of video when activated, wherein, when the device is mounted to the door, the camera has a line of sight away from the door, wherein, when the device is mounted to the door and the door is open, the line of sight is directed toward the area, wherein, when the device is mounted to the door and the door is closed, the line of sight is directed away from the area,

wherein the electronic locking device is associated with a first company and is configured to send, via the wireless communication interface, the real-time stream of video to a computing device to enable the user to see the person requesting access to the area,

wherein, when the rotatable battery pod is removably attached to the rotatable base, the rotatable battery pod has a pod surface facing the second direction,

wherein, when the device is mounted to the door, the motor assembly is coupled to the deadbolt and is configured to lock or unlock the deadbolt in response to a message received from a backend system of a second company;

sending, via the code input device by the person requesting access to the area, identifying data to a server;

communicating, from the server to the backend system of the second company, a secure message for verifying the identifying data;

initiating a real-time stream of video captured from the camera when a motion sensor initiates an alert over the wireless communication interface when the motion sensor is triggered by a motion;

sending, via the wireless communication interface, the real-time stream of video captured from the camera to a computing device to enable the user to see the person requesting access to the area protected by the electronic locking device,

communicating data between the server and the electronic locking device,

communicating data between the server and the backend system of a second company,

initiating a two-way real-time audio connection between the electronic locking device and the computing device to enable the user and the person to be able to communicate,

locking or unlocking the deadbolt in response to a message received from the backend system of the second company,

wherein the identifying data is a one-time code securely sent to a mobile device of the person requesting access to the area,

sensing a location of the person with a location sensor on a mobile device of the person, and performing an action by the processor when the sensed location of the person is proximate to a selected location,

receiving, via the backend system of the second company, a signal from a device of the person requesting access, wherein the signal comprises a package tracking number; and

sending a signal from a device of the person requesting access that enables the electronic locking device to verify that the signal is from a delivery service company.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the electronic locking device is configured to communicate with a mobile device of the person.

18. The method of claim 17, including

receiving by the door management platform an electronic signature to acknowledge delivery of an item, and

sending by the door management platform the electronic signature to a receiver.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the receiver comprises any of the mobile device and the backend system of the company.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the person comprises a delivery person for a company;

and wherein the electronic locking device is configured to receive, via the mobile device, verification for the delivery person from a backend system of the company.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein personal data of the delivery person is within the backend system and is provided to the computing device for verification by the user.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the personal data includes any of a global positioning system (GPS) location, name, employee number and photo, of the delivery person, that the user can use to identify the delivery person, the photo being an electronic copy of a photo of the person requesting access.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the person comprises a delivery person for a company;

and wherein a one-time code is sent to the mobile device and the electronic locking device to verify the delivery person.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein the electronic locking device is configured to communicate with the mobile device of the person via any of a short distance wireless communication standard, a local area wireless network, or a cellular network.

25. The method of claim 16, further comprising sensing motion proximate to the electronic locking device with a motion sensor, and communicating alerts over the wireless communication interface when motion is sensed.

26. The method of claim 16, wherein the second company is a delivery company.

27. The method of claim 16, further comprising transferring money between a user account and an online account via the backend system of the second company.

28. The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving, via the server, access identifying information from the backend system of the second company.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the package tracking number comprises access identifying information.

30. The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving, via the backend system of the second company, a delivery acknowledgement signal from the door management platform.