Electronic lock box with key presence sensing

• US 20070090921A1
• Filed: 10/23/2006
• Published: 04/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SentriLock, LLC
• Original Assignee: Sentrilock Incorporated
• Inventors: Fisher, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 7,999,656 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.73
• 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 9/00563 using personal physical data of the operator, e.g. finger prints, retinal images, voicepatterns
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/446 Rigid shackle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5031 Receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7915 Tampering prevention or attack defeating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8216 Tampering detector

Abstract

An electronic lock box contains a secure compartment for storing keys to a structure. A sensing system allow the lock box to determine whether the contents of the lock box have been replaced as well as ensuring the correct key or object has been returned. The system reports the status of the object back to the central clearinghouse computer through an electronic key or secure memory device.

Claims

1. An electronic lock box system, comprising:

an electronic lock box apparatus having a control circuit, a memory circuit, an identifier sensing device, a secure compartment with an access element, and a shackle for attachment to a fixed object, wherein said control circuit is configured to exchange data signals with said identifier sensing device; and

a security apparatus having an identification member, and an attachment member;

wherein;

(a) said identifier sensing device detects a presence of the identification member of said security apparatus, if said security apparatus is positioned within said secure compartment; and

(b) said identifier sensing device detects an absence of the identification member of said security apparatus, if said security apparatus is not positioned within said secure compartment.

2. The electronic lock box system as recited in claim 1, wherein after the absence of said identification member has been detected, said control circuit of the electronic lock box apparatus alters a value of an internal security code in said memory circuit, and stores the absence status in an event log of a non-volatile memory portion of said memory circuit.

3. The electronic lock box system as recited in claim 1, wherein:

(a) the attachment member of said security apparatus is attachable to a key,

(b) the identification member of said security apparatus includes a first security status when said security apparatus is attached to said key; and

(c) if said key is removed from said attachment member, said first security status of the identification member becomes altered to a second security status.

4. The electronic lock box system as recited in claim 3, wherein said second security status comprises at least one of:

(a) a different data value than existed at the time said security apparatus was attached to said key;

(b) a disconnected antenna;

(c) a substantial change in electrical conductivity of an electrical sense loop than existed at the time said security apparatus was attached to said key;

(d) substantial change in optical transmission of an optical sense loop than existed at the time said security apparatus was attached to said key; and

(e) an alteration of a visual indicia than existed at the time said security apparatus was attached to said key.

5. The electronic lock box system as recited in claim 4, wherein if said control circuit receives said different data value from said identifier sensing device, said control circuit is configured to recode a mismatch in an event log of a non-volatile memory portion of said memory circuit.

6. The electronic lock box system as recited in claim 4, wherein said key comprises one of:

(a) a mechanical key;

(b) a radio-frequency transmitter; and

(c) a light beam emitter.

7. The electronic lock box system as recited in claim 6, wherein said mechanical key includes an opening therein, and the attachment member of said security apparatus extends through said opening of the mechanical key.

8. The electronic lock box system as recited in claim 1, wherein said security apparatus comprises one of:

(a) a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip and an RFID transceiver, and said attachment member comprises an antenna lead of said RFID chip;

(b) a radio transmitter and receiver, a processing circuit, and an input circuit that determines a continuity of said attachment member, which comprises an electrical conductor;

(c) a radio transmitter and receiver, a processing circuit, and an input circuit that determines a continuity of said attachment member, which comprises an electrical conductor that makes electrical contact through said mechanical key;

(d) a radio transmitter and receiver, a processing circuit, and an input circuit that determines a continuity of said attachment member which comprises a fiber optic cable;

(e) a wire that is electrically connected to said security apparatus and is mechanically connected to said key; and

(f) bar code label.

9. The electronic lock box system as recited in claim 8, wherein said RFID tag is attached to said key in a manner by which it is virtually impossible to detach said RFID tag from said key without said identifier sensing device at least momentarily detecting the absence of said key.

10. The electronic lock box system as recited in claim 8, wherein said bar code decal is mechanically attached to said key in a manner by which it is virtually impossible to detach said bar code decal from said key without said identifier sensing device at least momentarily detecting the absence of said key.

11. The electronic lock box system as recited in claim 10, wherein if said key is removed from the security apparatus, said bar code decal becomes unreadable, and said identifier sensing device sends a signal to said control circuit informing the control circuit of the altered condition of said bar code decal.

12. The electronic lock box system as recited in claim 8, wherein said attachment member is attached to said key in a manner by which it is virtually impossible to detach said attachment member from said key without said identifier sensing device at least momentarily detecting the absence of said key.

13. The electronic lock box system as recited in claim 8, wherein if said key is removed from the security apparatus, and if said security apparatus is presented to the secure compartment of said electronic lock box apparatus, then said control circuit alters a value of a non-volatile memory element of said memory circuit, which disables further key-detecting functions of the electronic lock box apparatus.

14. The electronic lock box system as recited in claim 1, wherein said access element comprises one of:

(a) a pivotable door; and

(b) a slidable tray.

15. The electronic lock box system as recited in claim 14, further comprising an access element sensing circuit that detects whether said secure compartment is in one of:

(a) an open state; and

(b) a closed state;

wherein said control circuit is further configured to exchange data signals with said door sensing circuit.

16. The electronic lock box system as recited in claim 15, wherein said access element sensing circuit comprises at least one of:

(a) an electromechanical contact limit switch;

(b) a metal-detecting proximity sensor;

(c) a magnetic sensor; and

(d) an optical sensor.

17. The electronic lock box system as recited in claim 15, wherein said control circuit is further configured to:

(a) determine a present status of whether or not said security apparatus is positioned within said secure compartment, in response to said access element sensing circuit indicating that said access element has been opened; and

(b) determine a present status of whether or not said security apparatus is positioned within said secure compartment, in response to said access element sensing circuit indicating that said access element has been closed.

18. The electronic lock box system as recited in claim 17, wherein said control circuit is further configured to:

(a) store an entry in an event log each time said access element sensing circuit indicating that said access element has been opened, and each time said access element sensing circuit indicating that said access element has been closed;

(b) wherein said entry includes;

(i) a status of whether said access element just opened or just closed,

(ii) a status of whether or not said security apparatus was positioned within said secure compartment, and

(iii) a status of whether or not the identification member of said security apparatus provided a correct identification result if said security apparatus was positioned within said secure compartment.

29. The electronic lock box as recited in claim 1, wherein said identifier sensing device comprises one of:

(a) a wireless transceiver; and

(b) a bar code reader.

19. A security apparatus used with an electronic lock box system, said security apparatus comprising:

(a) an identification member, which includes an identification control circuit, a memory circuit having alterable memory elements, a wireless transceiver, and at least one input/output circuit; and

(b) an attachment member for use with an external key;

(c) wherein;

said identification control circuit is configured to perform at least one of the following functions;

(i) to modify a data value of said alterable memory elements, in response to said attachment member becoming detached from said key; and

(ii) to disable itself in response to said attachment member becoming detached from said key.

20. The security apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein said attachment member comprises one of:

(a) a sense loop that makes electrical contact with said key, in which said key is electrically conductive; and

(b) a sense loop that passes through an opening of said key; and

(c) an antenna.

21. The security apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein said identification control circuit is configured to modify a data value of said alterable memory elements so as to make the alterable memory elements become unreadable, in response to said attachment member becoming detached from said key.

22. A security apparatus used with an electronic lock box system, said security apparatus comprising:

(a) an identification member, which comprises one of;

(i) a bar code label; and

(ii) an radio frequency identification (RFID) tag;

(b) an attachment member for use with an external key;

wherein said identification member becomes unreadable in response to said attachment member becoming detached from said external key.

23. The security apparatus as recited in claim 22, wherein said bar code label becomes obscured if said attachment member becoming detached from said external key.

24. An electronic lock box, comprising:

an electronic lock box apparatus having a control circuit, a memory circuit, a secure compartment with an access element, and a shackle for attachment to a fixed object; and

an access element sensing circuit that detects whether said secure compartment is in one of;

(a) an open state; and

(b) a closed state;

wherein said control circuit is configured to exchange data signals with said access element sensing circuit.

25. The electronic lock box as recited in claim 24, wherein said access element comprises one of:

(a) a pivotable door; and

(b) a slidable tray.

26. The electronic lock box as recited in claim 24, further comprising:

an identifier sensing device;

wherein said control circuit is further configured to exchange data signals with said identifier sensing device.

27. The electronic lock box as recited in claim 26, further comprising:

a security apparatus having an identification member, and an attachment member;

wherein;

(a) said identifier sensing device detects a presence of the identification member of said security apparatus, if said security apparatus is positioned within said secure compartment; and

(b) said identifier sensing device detects an absence of the identification member of said security apparatus, if said security apparatus is not positioned within said secure compartment.

28. The electronic lock box as recited in claim 27, wherein said control circuit is further configured to automatically command said identifier sensing device to determine the presence or absence of the identification member of said security apparatus, in response to a change of state in an output signal from said access element sensing circuit.

30. A method for operating an electronic lock box system, said method comprising:

providing an electronic lock box apparatus having a control circuit, a memory circuit, an identifier sensing device, a secure compartment with an access element, and a shackle for attachment to a fixed object;

providing a key with a security apparatus attached thereto, said security apparatus having an identification member, and an attachment member, said attachment member being used for attaching said security apparatus to said key; and

using said identifier sensing device, detecting a presence of the identification member of said security apparatus, if said security apparatus is positioned within said secure compartment.

31. The method as recited in claim 30, further comprising the step of:

determining an absence of the identification member of said security apparatus, if said identifier sensing device does not detect its presence.

32. The method as recited in claim 30, further comprising the steps of:

allowing access to said secure compartment, by way of said access element, and allowing said key with the security apparatus to be removed from said secure compartment; and

thereafter, sensing an absence of the identification member of said security apparatus, in response to said key with the security apparatus being removed from said secure compartment.

33. The method as recited in claim 30, wherein said key comprises one of:

(a) a mechanical key;

(b) a radio-frequency transmitter; and

(c) a light beam emitter.

34. The method as recited in claim 30, wherein said security apparatus comprises one of:

(a) a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip and an RFID transceiver, and said attachment member comprises an antenna lead of said RFID chip;

(b) a radio transmitter and receiver, a processing circuit, and an input circuit that determines a continuity of said attachment member, which comprises an electrical conductor;

(c) a radio transmitter and receiver, a processing circuit, and an input circuit that determines a continuity of said attachment member, which comprises an electrical conductor that makes electrical contact through said mechanical key;

(d) a radio transmitter and receiver, a processing circuit, and an input circuit that determines a continuity of said attachment member which comprises a fiber optic cable;

(e) a wire that is electrically connected to said security apparatus and is mechanically connected to said key; and

(f) bar code label.

35. The method as recited in claim 34, wherein:

(a) the identification member of said security apparatus includes a first security status when said security apparatus is attached to said key; and

(b) if said key is removed from said attachment member, said first security status of the identification member becomes altered to a second security status, wherein said second security status comprises at least one of;

(i) a different data value than existed at the time said security apparatus was attached to said key;

(ii) a disconnected antenna;

(iii) a substantial change in electrical conductivity of an electrical sense loop than existed at the time said security apparatus was attached to said key;

(iv) substantial change in optical transmission of an optical sense loop than existed at the time said security apparatus was attached to said key; and

(v) an alteration of a visual indicia than existed at the time said security apparatus was attached to said key.

36. The method as recited in claim 32, further comprising the steps of:

(a) upon removal of said key from said secure compartment, altering a value of an internal security code in an alterable memory element of said electronic lock box controller; and

(b) storing the altering value event in an event log of a non-volatile memory circuit of said electronic lock box controller.

37. The method as recited in claim 30, further comprising the steps of:

(a) altering a parameter of said identification member if said key is removed from the attachment member of said security apparatus; and

(b) disabling further key-detecting functions of said electronic lock box controller, if said identifier sensing device detects said altered parameter.

38. The method as recited in claim 37, further comprising the steps of:

(a) re-connecting said attachment member to said key;

(b) allowing an owner of said electronic lock box apparatus to re-enable the key-detecting functions of said electronic lock box controller; and

(c) placing said key back into said secure compartment, wherein said identifier sensing device now again detects a presence of the identification member of said security apparatus.

39. The method as recited in claim 30, further comprising the step of determining whether an incorrect key has been placed within said secure compartment, by:

(a) generating a random challenge, by said electronic lock box control circuit, that is transmitted to said key positioned in said secure compartment;

(b) generating a mathematical response, by said security apparatus of said key, and transmitting said response to said electronic lock box apparatus;

(c) generating, by said electronic lock box control circuit, an expected value of said random challenge; and

(d) comparing, by said electronic lock box control circuit, said key'"'"'s mathematical response to said expected value, to determine if said key is correct.

40. The method as recited in claim 30, further comprising the step of storing the result of said comparison in an internal event log in said memory circuit of the electronic lock box apparatus.

41. The method as recited in claim 30, further comprising the step of:

(a) providing an access element status detection device with said electronic lock box apparatus; and

(b) further comprising at least one of the steps of;

(i) upon closing the access element of said electronic lock box secure compartment, initiating a sensing operation of the security apparatus using said identifier sensing device; and

(ii) upon opening the access element of said electronic lock box secure compartment, initiating a sensing operation of the security apparatus using said identifier sensing device.

42. The method as recited in claim 30, further comprising at least one of the steps of:

(a) updating an internal identification code in a memory element of the identification member of said security apparatus in response to a mechanical key being removed from the attachment member of said security apparatus; and

(b) updating said internal identification code in said memory element of the of the identification member of said security apparatus in response to a mechanical key being attached to the attachment member of said security apparatus.

43. The method as recited in claim 30, further comprising the step of training said electronic lock box apparatus by storing a security apparatus identification code in said memory circuit, in response to an electronic lock box owner operating said electronic lock box apparatus while an individual security apparatus is present in said secure compartment.

44. The method as recited in claim 30, wherein said identifier sensing device comprises one of:

(a) a wireless transceiver; and

(b) a bar code reader.

45. A method for operating an electronic lock box system, said method comprising:

providing an electronic lock box apparatus having a control circuit, a memory circuit, an identifier sensing device, a secure compartment with an access element, an access element status detection device, and a shackle for attachment to a fixed object;

installing said lock box apparatus at said fixed object by use of said shackle;

installing a key within said secure compartment, said key having a security apparatus attached thereto;

detecting an access attempt of said secure compartment by an authorized user; and

before opening said secure compartment access element, detecting, by use of said identifier sensing device, a presence of said security apparatus, if said security apparatus is positioned within said secure compartment.

46. The method as recited in claim 45, further comprising the step of storing in said memory circuit a “

presence status”

event message of said security apparatus, if said security apparatus was positioned within said secure compartment before said access member was opened.

47. The method as recited in claim 46, further comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a separate secure memory device;

(b) providing a first access port to allow said electronic lock box apparatus control circuit to exchange data with said secure memory device;

(c) providing a remote central computer that has a second access port to allow said remote central computer to exchange data with said secure memory device;

(d) transferring said “

presence status”

event message from said electronic lock box apparatus control circuit to said secure memory device; and

(e) later, transferring said “

presence status”

event message from said secure memory device to said remote central computer.

48. The method as recited in claim 45, further comprising the step of storing in said memory circuit an “

absence status”

event message of said security apparatus, if said security apparatus was not positioned within said secure compartment before said access member was opened.

49. The method as recited in claim 48, further comprising at least one of the steps of:

(a) preventing said secure compartment access member from opening, and placing said electronic lock box apparatus into an alarm state that prevents its functioning until serviced by an authorized owner; and

(b) allowing said secure compartment access member to open, and storing an “

alarm status”

message in said memory circuit.

50. The method as recited in claim 45, further comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting a closure of said secure compartment access element;

(b) then, detecting the presence or absence, by use of said identifier sensing device, of said security apparatus within said secure compartment;

(c) storing in said memory circuit a “

presence status”

event message of said security apparatus, if said security apparatus is positioned within said secure compartment after said access member was closed; and

(d) storing in said memory circuit an “

absence status”

event message of said security apparatus, if said security apparatus is not positioned within said secure compartment after said access member was closed.

51. The method as recited in claim 45, further comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting a closure of said secure compartment access element;

(b) then, detecting the presence, by use of said identifier sensing device, of said security apparatus within said secure compartment, and determining if said identifier sensing device has been altered; and

(c) storing in said memory circuit an “

altered key status”

event message of said security apparatus, if said security apparatus has been altered.

52. A method for operating an electronic lock box system, said method comprising:

providing an electronic lock box apparatus having a control circuit, a memory circuit, an identifier sensing device, a secure compartment with an access element, and a shackle for attachment to a fixed object;

installing said lock box apparatus at said fixed object by use of said shackle;

installing a key within said secure compartment, said key having a security apparatus attached thereto; and

polling, under the control of said electronic lock box apparatus control circuit, said identifier sensing device to detect whether said security apparatus is positioned within said secure compartment.

53. The method as recited in claim 52, further comprising at least one of the steps of:

(a) using a random time interval between polling procedures; and

(b) using a predetermined fixed time interval between polling procedures.

54. The method as recited in claim 52, further comprising the step of increasing a frequency of polling procedures after said secure compartment has been accessed by an authorized user.

55. The method as recited in claim 52, further comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an access element status detection device with said electronic lock box apparatus; and

(b) polling, under the control of said electronic lock box apparatus control circuit, said access element status detection device to detect whether said access element is open or closed.

56. The method as recited in claim 52, wherein:

(a) said key comprises one of;

(i) a mechanical key;

(ii) a radio-frequency transmitter; and

(iii) a light beam emitter;

(b) said security apparatus comprises one of;

(i) a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip and an RFID transceiver, and said attachment member comprises an antenna lead of said RFID chip;

(ii) a radio transmitter and receiver, a processing circuit, and an input circuit that determines a continuity of said attachment member, which comprises an electrical conductor;

(iii) a radio transmitter and receiver, a processing circuit, and an input circuit that determines a continuity of said attachment member, which comprises an electrical conductor that makes electrical contact through said mechanical key;

(iv) a radio transmitter and receiver, a processing circuit, and an input circuit that determines a continuity of said attachment member which comprises a fiber optic cable;

(v) a wire that is electrically connected to said security apparatus and is mechanically connected to said key; and

(vi) bar code label; and

(c) said identifier sensing device comprises one of;

(i) a wireless transceiver; and

(ii) a bar code reader.