Access management and reporting technology

• US 10,347,065 B1
• Filed: 04/02/2018
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alarm.com Inc. (Alarm.com Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Alarm.com Inc. (Alarm.com Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Burge, Gregory Le, Earnshaw, Stanley Reed
• Primary Examiner(s): Yacob, Sisay
• Application Number:
  US15/943,439
• Time in Patent Office: 463 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00325 and the lock having only one limited data transmission range
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00825 remotely by lines or wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00936 for key cabinets
• 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 9/0069 actuated in a predetermined sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00817 where the code of the lock can be programmed
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00904 for hotels, motels, office buildings or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/20 involving the use of a pass
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/33 by means of a password
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/068 using time-dependent keys, e.g. periodically changing keys cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for controlling usage of secret information H04L9/088
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0846 using time-dependent-passwords, e.g. periodically changing passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/108 when the policy decisions are valid for a limited amount of time

Abstract

An access management and reporting system includes a keysafe that is located outside of a building and a communication system that is located within the building. The communication system is configured to perform, over a short-range wireless communication protocol, two-way communication with a communication module of the keysafe. The system also includes a server that is located remote from the building and the keysafe. The server is configured to perform, over a long-range communication protocol, two-way communication with the communication system located within the building, is configured to manage access to the keysafe, and is configured to handle reporting related to access of the keysafe.

Claims

1. A communication gateway comprising:

at least one processer; and

a computer-readable storage medium configured to store instructions that, when executed by the at least one processer, cause the communication gateway to;

perform communication with a communication module, the communication module being configured to grant access to a building and perform communication over a short-range wireless communication protocol;

perform communication with a server that is located remotely from the building, the communication module, and the communication gateway;

based on communication with the communication module over the short-range wireless communication protocol, detect access to the building through the communication module; and

based on the detection of access to the building through the communication module;

control a monitoring device to perform an operation related to granting access to the building through the communication module, the operation being different than enabling access to the building and the monitoring device being configured to monitor access to the building, and

perform communication with the server to indicate access to the building through the communication module.

2. The communication gateway of claim 1, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the at least one processer, cause the communication gateway to control the monitoring device to perform the operation related to granting access to the building through the communication module by controlling, based on the detection of access to the building through the communication module, an alarm panel to change from an armed state in which opening of a physical door of an entrance to the building requires entry of a proper password for the alarm panel to stop the alarm panel from sending an alarm signal that results in a monitoring station dispatching emergency services to a disarmed state in which opening of the physical door of the entrance to the building does not require entry of the proper password.

3. The communication gateway of claim 1, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the at least one processer, cause the communication gateway to control the monitoring device to perform the operation related to granting access to the building through the communication module by controlling a lighting device to turn on a light located within the building based on the detection of access to the building through the communication module.

4. The communication gateway of claim 1, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the at least one processer, cause the communication gateway to control the monitoring device to perform the operation related to granting access to the building through the communication module by beginning operation of a video camera located at the building based on the detection of access to the building through the communication module.

5. The communication gateway of claim 1, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the at least one processer, cause the communication gateway to control the monitoring device to perform the operation related to granting access to the building through the communication module by sending, to an alarm panel, a control command that instructs the alarm panel to disarm the alarm panel and turn on a light located within the building.

6. The communication gateway of claim 1, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the at least one processer, cause the communication gateway to perform communication with the server by performing, over a long-range wireless communication protocol, two-way communication with the server.

7. The communication gateway of claim 1, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the at least one processer, cause the communication gateway to detect access to the building through the communication module by detecting that a proper passcode has been entered through the communication module, the communication module comprising a user input device configured to receive user input of a passcode and a processor that operates the communication module to grant access to the building based on receipt of the proper passcode by the user input device.

8. The communication gateway of claim 1, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the at least one processer, cause the communication gateway to send, to the server, sensor data collected by the monitoring device.

9. The communication gateway of claim 8, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the at least one processer, cause the communication gateway to perform communication with the server to verify, based on analysis of sensor data collected by the monitoring device, whether access using the communication module was proper.

10. The communication gateway of claim 8, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the at least one processer, cause the communication gateway to send, to the server, sensor data collected by the monitoring device by sending, to the server, image data captured by an image sensor of the monitoring system.

11. A computer-implemented method comprising:

performing, by a communication gateway, communication with a communication module, the communication module being configured to grant access to a building and perform communication over a short-range wireless communication protocol;

performing, by the communication gateway, communication with a server that is located remotely from the building, the communication module, and the communication gateway;

based on communication with the communication module over the short-range wireless communication protocol, detecting, by the communication gateway, access to the building through the communication module; and

based on the detection of access to the building through the communication module;

controlling, by the communication gateway, a monitoring device to perform an operation related to granting access to the building through the communication module, the operation being different than enabling access to the building and the monitoring device being configured to monitor access to the building, and

performing, by the communication gateway, communication with the server to indicate access to the building through the communication module.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein controlling the monitoring device to perform the operation related to granting access to the building through the communication module comprises controlling, based on the detection of access to the building through the communication module, an alarm panel to change from an armed state in which opening of a physical door of an entrance to the building requires entry of a proper password for the alarm panel to stop the alarm panel from sending an alarm signal that results in a monitoring station dispatching emergency services to a disarmed state in which opening of the physical door of the entrance to the building does not require entry of the proper password.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein controlling the monitoring device to perform the operation related to granting access to the building through the communication module comprises controlling a lighting device to turn on a light located within the building based on the detection of access to the building through the communication module.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein controlling the monitoring device to perform the operation related to granting access to the building through the communication module comprises beginning operation of a video camera located at the building based on the detection of access to the building through the communication module.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein controlling the monitoring device to perform the operation related to granting access to the building through the communication module comprises sending, to an alarm panel, a control command that instructs the alarm panel to disarm the alarm panel and turn on a light located within the building.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein performing communication with the server comprises performing, over a long-range wireless communication protocol, two-way communication with the server.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein detecting access to the building through the communication module comprises detecting that a proper passcode has been entered through the communication module, the communication module comprising a user input device configured to receive user input of a passcode and a processor that operates the communication module to grant access to the building based on receipt of the proper passcode by the user input device.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising sending, to the server, sensor data collected by the monitoring device.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising performing communication with the server to verify, based on analysis of sensor data collected by the monitoring device, whether access using the communication module was proper.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein sending, to the server, sensor data collected by the monitoring device comprises sending, to the server, image data captured by an image sensor of the monitoring system.