Door locks and assemblies for use in wireless guest engagement systems

• US 10,171,978 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2017
• Issued: 01/01/2019
• 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): Holloway, III, Edwin
• Application Number:
  US15/655,722
• Publication Number:
  US 20180137702A1
• Time in Patent Office: 530 Days
• Field of Search: 340 561
• 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. An access panel for controlling an electronically controlled door lock, comprising:

a radio configured for wireless communication with a door lock communication module electrically connected to an electronically controlled locking mechanism;

a first transceiver configured for wireless communication with a user device to identify a user seeking to activate the electronically controlled locking mechanism;

a second transceiver configured for communication with a reservation server storing identifiers of users authorized to activate the electronically controlled locking mechanism,

wherein each of the radio, first transceiver, and second transceiver operate according to a different communication standard; and

a microprocessor configured to control operation of the access panel, including the radio and the first and second transceivers, to perform functions to;

control the first transceiver to monitor for periodic beacon signals broadcast wirelessly by the user device,

in response to receiving a periodic beacon signal from the user device via the first transceiver, determine a next time period during which the user device will listen for communications, based on timing of receipt of the periodic beacon signal,

during the determined next time period, control the first transceiver to transmit to the user device a request for a private identifier for the user device, and

control the first transceiver to establish a wireless communication connection with the user device.

2. The access panel of claim 1, 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.

3. The access panel of claim 1, wherein the access panel communicates with the door lock communication module via short-range radio operating on the ISM band.

4. The access panel claim 1, 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 user device via the first transceiver.

5. The access panel of claim 1, 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 via the door lock communication module based on the result of the determination.

6. The access panel of claim 5, further comprising:

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.

7. The access panel of claim 6, further comprising:

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

8. The access panel of claim 1, wherein the access panel receives a public identifier for the user device in the beacon signal, and requests the private identifier for the user device in response to receiving the public identifier in the beacon signal.

9. The access panel of claim 8, wherein the access panel is configured to selectively transmit an unlock authorization signal via the radio to the door lock communication module in response to determining that the private identifier for the user device matches an identifier of a user authorized to activate the electronically controlled locking mechanism.

10. The access panel of claim 1, wherein the access panel is configured to establish an encrypted wireless communication connection with the user device and receive the private identified for the user device across the encrypted wireless communication connection.

11. The access panel of claim 1, wherein the access panel is further configured to transmit to the user device during the determined next time period a request to change an operating mode of the user device to a bi-directional mode of operation.

12. The access panel of claim 1, further comprising:

a local memory storing a list of identifiers of users authorized to activate the electronically controlled locking mechanism,

wherein the access panel is configured to determine whether an identifier received from the user device using the first transceiver is included in the list stored in local memory and transmit an unlock authorization signal via the radio to the door lock communication module in response to the determination.

13. The access panel of claim 12, wherein in response to determining that the identifier received from the user device using the first transceiver is not included in the list stored in local memory, the access panel is configured to request updated information of users authorized to activate the electronically controlled locking mechanism from the reservation server using the second transceiver.

14. The access panel of claim 1, further comprising:

a display configured to display information selected based on a unique identifier received from the user device,

wherein the access panel is configured to detect a plurality of user devices concurrently located within a communication range thereof using the first transceiver, to identify a plurality of users authorized to activate the electronically controlled locking mechanism from among identifiers of users received from the plurality of user devices, and display information for each of the identified plurality of users authorized to activate the electronically controlled locking mechanism.