Method for utilizing a wireless connection to unlock an opening

• US 10,078,931 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2017
• Issued: 09/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corbin Russwin Inc. (Assa Abloy AB)
• Original Assignee: ASSA Abloy Incorporated (Assa Abloy AB)
• Inventors: Lowder, Scott B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Khan, Suhail
• Application Number:
  US15/459,676
• Publication Number:
  US 20170278331A1
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00317 keyless data carrier having only one limited data transmission range
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00341 keyless data carrier 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 2009/00801 by acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/63 Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/29 the pass containing active electronic elements, e.g. smartcards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• 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

Abstract

A method of operating a lock from a portable remote device includes sending a radio frequency identification signal from the portable remote device to a controller for the lock, and receiving the radio frequency identification signal at the lock controller and identifying the remote device as an authorized user of the lock. The method then includes sending a sound frequency identification signal from the portable remote device to the lock controller, receiving the sound frequency identification signal at the lock controller and identifying the remote device as an authorized user of the lock. The method further includes authorizing operation of the lock in accordance with the radio or sound frequency identification signal from the portable remote device. A system for practicing the method includes a lock controller capable of receiving a radio frequency identification signal and a sound frequency identification signal from the portable remote device.

Claims

1. A method of operating a lock from a portable remote device, the lock controlling access to an area secured by a physical barrier, comprising:

sending a radio frequency identification signal from the portable remote device to a controller for the lock;

receiving the radio frequency identification signal at the lock controller and identifying the remote device as an authorized user of the lock;

sending a sound frequency identification signal from the portable remote device to the lock controller;

receiving the sound frequency identification signal from the portable remote device at the lock controller;

determining a side of the barrier from which the sound frequency identification signal is sent from the portable remote device;

identifying the portable remote device as an authorized user of the lock; and

authorizing operation of the lock in accordance with the radio or sound frequency identification signal from the portable remote device and only if the sound frequency identification signal is sent from the portable remote device from a desired side of the barrier.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the portable remote device is a mobile telephone and the radio frequency identification signal is a Bluetooth signal.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the radio frequency identification signal is initially sent from the portable remote device and received by the controller at a first distance from the lock, and further including, after initially sending the radio frequency identification signal, moving the remote device toward the lock, and wherein the sound frequency identification signal from the portable remote device is received by the controller at a second distance from the lock closer than the first distance.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the sound frequency identification signal is provided in a frequency above 20,000 Hz or inaudible to most humans.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the sound frequency identification signal is received at the lock controller at a time after the radio frequency identification signal is received at the lock controller.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the sound frequency identification signal is received at the lock controller from the portable remote device at a distance closer than the radio frequency identification signal is received at the lock controller.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein, after receiving the radio frequency identification signal and identifying the remote device as an authorized user of the lock, the lock controller sends a radio frequency signal to the remote device specifying the sound frequency identification signal to be sent from the portable remote device, and wherein the portable remote device subsequently sends the specified sound frequency identification signal to the lock controller.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the sound frequency identification signal is specified as to frequency, duration and/or amplitude.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the radio frequency identification signal and sound frequency identification signal are digitally coded.

10. The method of claim 1 further including additional validation by radio frequency identification signal and/or sound frequency identification signal before authorizing operation of the lock.

11. A method of operating a lock from a portable remote device, the lock controlling access to an area secured by a physical barrier, comprising:

providing a sound frequency detection device on each side of the barrier operatively connected to a controller for the lock;

sending a radio frequency identification signal from the portable remote device to the lock controller;

receiving the radio frequency identification signal at the lock controller and identifying the remote device as an authorized user of the lock;

sending a sound frequency identification signal from the portable remote device to the lock controller;

receiving the sound frequency identification signal from the portable remote device at the lock controller;

using the sound frequency detection devices on both sides of the barrier, determining a side of the barrier from which the sound frequency identification signal is sent from the portable remote device;

identifying the portable remote device as an authorized user of the lock; and

authorizing operation of the lock in accordance with the radio or sound frequency identification signal from the portable remote device.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein operation of the lock is authorized only if the sound frequency identification signal is first detected from a sound frequency detection device on the desired side of the barrier.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the radio frequency identification signal is initially sent from the portable remote device and received by the controller at a first distance from the lock, and further including, after initially sending the radio frequency identification signal, moving the remote device toward the lock, and wherein the sound frequency identification signal from the portable remote device is received by the controller at a second distance from the lock closer than the first distance.

14. A lock controller for operating a lock for a door from a portable remote device comprising:

an antenna for receiving a radio frequency identification signal;

a microphone for receiving a sound frequency identification signal from the portable remote device;

a microprocessor for processing a radio frequency identification signal received by the antenna and a sound frequency identification signal received by the microphone to determine whether the radio frequency identification signal and the sound frequency identification signal identify the remote device as an authorized user of the lock; and

a device driver controllable by the microprocessor for operating the lock upon determination by the lock controller that the radio frequency identification signal and the sound frequency identification signal identify the remote device as an authorized user of the lock,

the lock controller capable of and adapted to receive a radio frequency identification signal, use the microprocessor to determine whether the remote device is an authorized user of the lock and, if the remote device is identified as an authorized user of the lock, send a radio frequency signal from the lock controller to the remote device specifying a frequency, duration and/or amplitude of the sound frequency identification signal to be sent from the portable remote device;

the lock controller further capable of and adapted to receive the sound frequency identification signal from the portable remote device and use the microprocessor to determine whether the remote device is an authorized user of the lock and, if the remote device is identified as an authorized user of the lock from both the radio frequency identification signal and the specified frequency, duration and/or amplitude of the sound frequency identification signal, send an authorization signal from the processor to the device driver authorizing unlocking of the lock.

15. The lock controller of claim 14 wherein the radio frequency identification signal is transmitted via a Bluetooth signal.

16. The lock controller of claim 14 wherein the lock controls access to an area secured by a physical barrier, and the lock controller is capable of determining a side of the barrier from which the sound frequency identification signal is sent from the portable remote device.

17. The lock controller of claim 16 wherein the lock controller authorizes operation of the lock only if the sound frequency identification signal is sent from the portable remote device from a desired side of the barrier.

18. The lock controller of claim 16 further including a sound frequency detection device on each side of the barrier operatively connected to the controller, and wherein the lock controller is capable of detecting the sound frequency identification signal with both sound frequency detection devices to determine the side of the barrier from which the sound frequency identification signal is sent.

19. A lock controller for operating a lock for a door from a portable remote device, the lock controlling access to an area secured by a physical barrier, comprising:

an antenna for receiving a radio frequency identification signal;

a microphone on each side of the barrier for receiving a sound frequency identification signal from the portable remote device;

a microprocessor for processing a radio frequency identification signal received by the antenna and a sound frequency identification signal received by the microphone to determine whether the radio frequency identification signal and the sound frequency identification signal identify the remote device as an authorized user of the lock; and

a device driver controllable by the microprocessor for operating the lock upon determination by the lock controller that the radio frequency identification signal and the sound frequency identification signal identify the remote device as an authorized user of the lock,

the lock controller capable of and adapted to receive a radio frequency identification signal, use the microprocessor to determine whether the remote device is an authorized user of the lock and, if the remote device is identified as an authorized user of the lock, send a radio frequency signal from the lock controller to the remote device specifying the sound frequency identification signal to be sent from the portable remote device;

the lock controller further capable of and adapted to receive the sound frequency identification signal from the portable remote device and use the microprocessor to determine a side of the barrier from which the sound frequency identification signal is sent from the portable remote device and whether the remote device is an authorized user of the lock, and, if the portable remote device is identified as an authorized user of the lock from both the radio frequency identification signal and the sound frequency identification signal and if the sound frequency identification signal is sent from the portable remote device from a desired side of the barrier, send an authorization signal from the processor to the device driver authorizing unlocking of the lock.