Key Fob and System for Indicating the Lock Status of a Door Lock

• US 20070262848A1
• Filed: 05/11/2006
• Published: 11/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Berstis, Viktors, Hicks, Creighton
• Granted Patent: US 7,898,382 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/3.900
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00984 fob
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/62 Comprising means for indicating the status of the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00944 Details of construction or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention provides a system that records, at a remote location, the current status of a door lock. This invention provides a key fob device, which records the current status of a door look. The key fob indicates to the user the current lock status of the given door(s) in question. The key fob is a small key chain attached device, which records the state of the door locks, or other devices or appliances, as one departs from the door. The system of the present invention comprises a sensor at the door that detects the current lock status of a door and transmits this lock to the key fob. Also incorporated into the key fob is circuitry that receives and records this received lock status. A display component in the key fob displays this current lock status when prompted by the user.

Claims

1. A method for remotely determining the status of a door lock comprising the steps of:

detecting an event at the door;

determining the present status of a lock associated with the door in response to the detected event;

transmitting the determined present door lock status to a remotely located receiver device;

storing the present door lock status in the remotely located receiver device; and

displaying the present door lock status stored in the remotely located receiver when prompted.

2. The method as described in claim 1 further comprising before said event detecting step, the steps of:

setting an initial door lock status; and

monitoring the door lock status.

3. The method as described in claim 1 wherein said lock status determining step comprises comparing a current lock status of the lock with a presently detected lock status and changing the current lock status to the present lock status when the two lock statuses are the same.

4. The method as described in claim 1 wherein said transmitting step further comprises broadcasting the lock status for a predetermined period of time following the detected event.

5. The method as described in claim 3 wherein the lock status for a lock comprises a closed and locked status, a closed and unlocked status and an open status.

6. The method as described in claim 1 further comprising after said transmitting step, the step of receiving the present door lock at receiver circuit device.

7. The method as described in claim 6 wherein said receiving step further comprises the step of using the transmitted signal to temporarily power a trigger receiver circuit in the receiver device which turns on the main receiver circuit of the receiver device.

8. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for remotely determining the status of a door lock comprising:

instructions for detecting an event at the door;

instructions for determining the present status of a lock associated with the door in response to the detected event;

instructions for transmitting the determined present door lock status to a remotely located receiver device;

instructions for storing the present door lock status in the remotely located receiver device; and

instructions for displaying the present door lock status stored in the remotely located receiver when prompted.

9. The computer program product as described in claim 8 further comprising before said event detecting instructions:

instructions for setting an initial door lock status; and

instructions for monitoring the door lock status.

10. The computer program product as described in claim 8 wherein said lock status determining instructions comprise instructions for comparing a current lock status of the lock with a presently detected lock status and instructions for changing the current lock status to the present lock status when the two lock statuses are the same.

11. The computer program product as described in claim 8 wherein said transmitting instructions further comprise instructions for broadcasting the lock status for a predetermined period of time following the detected event.

12. A system for remotely determining the status of a door lock comprising:

a lock status sensor device positioned in close proximity to a lock, the sensor having the capability to detect when the lock is in a closed position or in an open position;

a transmitter device that transmits the lock status detected by said lock status sensor device to a remote receiver device; and

a remote receiver device having the capability to receive the transmitted lock status, store the received lock status and display the stored lock status when prompted.

13. The system as described in claim 12 wherein said transmitter device is incorporated into said lock status sensor device.

14. The system as described in claim 12 wherein said transmitter device is an antenna transmitter device that receives the lock status from the lock status sensor.

15. The system as described in claim 12 wherein said remote receiver device is a key fob device having a trigger receiver circuit, a main receiver circuit and a storage buffer.

16. The system as describe in claim 15 wherein said remote receiver device further comprises means to display the lock stored lock status.

17. The system as described in claim 15 wherein said remote receiver device further comprises a user interface device to submit a status query.

18. The system as described in claim 17 wherein said user interface device is at least one button.

19. The system as described in claim 18 further comprising at least two buttons to perform user interface functions, which include submitting a status query.

20. A remote receiver device having the capability to receive a transmitted lock status, store the received lock status and display the stored lock status when prompted comprising:

a main receiver circuit that receives a transmitted lock status signal;

a trigger circuit that uses the transmitted lock signal to turn on the main receiver circuit;

a storage buffer for storing the lock status of a lock;

a means for displaying the stored lock status when prompted; and

an interface on the receiver device to enable query submissions by a user.