Scheduled enabled lockbox access

• US 10,229,550 B1
• Filed: 12/27/2017
• Issued: 03/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Inventors: Tudi, Sandeep Reddy
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, Brian E
• Application Number:
  US15/855,467
• Time in Patent Office: 440 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/08 With time considerations, e.g. temporary activation, valid time window or time limitations
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00912 for safes, strong-rooms, vaults or the like

Abstract

A lockbox is provided. The lockbox includes a compartment that has a door and a door locking mechanism controlling operations of the door. The lockbox includes a memory storing a time access period. The lockbox includes a transceiver that automatically activates and manages a wireless communication mechanism based on the time access period. The transceiver also detects a user device on the wireless communication mechanism. The lockbox includes a processor, which is electrically coupled to the memory and the transceiver. The processor automatically authenticates the user device detected on the wireless communication mechanism and disables the door locking mechanism to provide access via the door to the compartment in response to a completed authentication.

Claims

1. A lockbox comprising:

a compartment comprising a door and a door locking mechanism controlling operations of the door;

a memory storing a time access period and an authentication pin associated with the time access period;

a transceiver automatically activating and managing a wireless communication mechanism based on the time access period and detecting a user device on the wireless communication mechanism, the transceiver automatically deactivating the wireless communication mechanism based on an expiration of the time access period, the transceiver receiving a user pin from the user device; and

a processor, electrically coupled to the memory and the transceiver, automatically authenticating the user device detected on the wireless communication mechanism when the user pin matches the authentication pin associated with the time access period and providing the expiration of the time access period has not occurred, the processor disabling the door locking mechanism to provide access via the door to the compartment in response to a completed authentication.

2. The lockbox of claim 1, wherein the time access period comprises a predefined time range for providing user access to the compartment.

3. The lockbox of claim 1, wherein the memory stores an access schedule defining a plurality of access periods, including the time access period, and

wherein the transceiver automatically activates and deactivates the wireless communication mechanism based on each access period of the access schedule.

4. The lockbox of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication mechanism comprises a personal area network operating on short wavelength radio waves in accordance with a wireless technology standard.

5. The lockbox of claim 4, wherein the wireless technology standard comprises Bluetooth.

6. The lockbox of claim 1, wherein the lockbox comprises an interface button that bypasses the automatic authentication of the user device and triggers a direct pairing of the lockbox and the user device when pressed.

7. The lockbox of claim 1, wherein the lockbox comprises an interface button that opens the door to the compartment when pressed after the completed authentication and the disabling of the door locking mechanism.

8. The lockbox of claim 1, wherein the lockbox comprises a real estate electronic padlock-shaped box that stores one or more keys in the compartment.

9. A lockbox system comprising:

an electronic lockbox comprising;

a compartment comprising a door and a door locking mechanism controlling operations of the door,

a first memory storing a time access period and an authentication pin associated with the time access period,

a first transceiver automatically activating and managing a wireless communication mechanism based on the time access period and detecting a user device on, the first transceiver automatically deactivating the wireless communication mechanism based on an expiration of the time access period, the first transceiver receiving a user pin from the user device, and

a first processor, electrically coupled to the first memory and the first transceiver, automatically authenticating the user device detected on the wireless communication mechanism when the user pin matches the authentication pin associated with the time access period and providing the expiration of the time access period has not occurred, the processor disabling the door locking mechanism to provide access via the door to the compartment in response to a completed authentication;

the wireless communication mechanism supporting communications between the electronic lockbox and the user device; and

the user device comprising;

a second memory storing an application;

a second transceiver automatically detecting the wireless communication mechanism; and

a processor, electrically coupled to the second memory and the second transceiver, automatically providing a user pin to the electronic lockbox.

10. The lockbox system of claim 9, wherein the time access period comprises a predefined time range for providing user access to the compartment.

11. The lockbox system of claim 9, wherein the memory stores an access schedule defining a plurality of access periods, including the time access period, and

wherein the first transceiver automatically activates and deactivates the wireless communication mechanism based on each access period of the access schedule.

12. The lockbox system of claim 9, wherein the wireless communication mechanism comprises a personal area network operating on short wavelength radio waves in accordance with a wireless technology standard.

13. The lockbox system of claim 12, wherein the wireless technology standard comprises Bluetooth.

14. The lockbox system of claim 9, wherein the electronic lockbox comprises an interface button that bypasses the automatic authentication of the user device and triggers a direct pairing of the electronic lockbox and the user device when pressed.

15. The lockbox system of claim 9, wherein the electronic lockbox comprises an interface button that opens the door to the compartment when pressed after the completed authentication and the disabling of the door locking mechanism.

16. The lockbox system of claim 9, wherein the electronic lockbox comprises a real estate electronic padlock-shaped box that stores one or more keys in the compartment.