Providing An Endpoint Access To A Locked Target

• US 20090128285A1
• Filed: 11/20/2007
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Patel, Labhesh, Jagadeesan, Ramanathan T., Pelton, Gregory D., Shaffer, Shmuel, Nguyen, Bich T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,618,908 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.700
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00904 for hotels, motels, office buildings or the like

Abstract

In one embodiment, providing an endpoint access to a locked target includes receiving a virtual key at a grantee endpoint through a wireless link. The virtual key results from a permission from a grantor endpoint, and is operable to unlock a physical lock of the target. The virtual key is wirelessly transmitted to a management system of the target to unlock the lock.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a virtual key at a grantee endpoint, the virtual key resulting from a permission from a grantor endpoint, the virtual key received through a wireless link, the virtual key operable to unlock a lock of a target, the lock comprising a physical lock; and

wirelessly transmitting the virtual key to a management system of the target to unlock the lock.

2. The method of claim 1, the virtual key indicating:

one or more attributes, an attribute designating use of the target.

3. The method of claim 1, the virtual key indicating an attribute designating:

when the target may be used;

where the target may be used;

or

how the target may be used.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing that a breach of a restriction has occurred; and

notifying a designated endpoint of the breach.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing that a breach of a restriction has occurred; and

notifying the grantor endpoint of the breach.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing that a breach of a restriction has occurred; and

modifying the permission in response to the breach.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an instruction to modify the permission; and

modifying the permission in response to the instruction.

8. The method of claim 1, the target comprising a physical object to which access is limited.

9. The method of claim 1, the target comprising a resource to which access is limited.

10. The method of claim 1, the target comprising:

a vehicle;

a gate;

a building;

a room;

a credit card;

a servicing system;

a safe;

or

a monetary account.

11. The method of claim 1, the lock comprising a mechanical lock

12. An apparatus comprising:

a memory operable to;

store a virtual key at a grantee endpoint, the virtual key resulting from a permission from a grantor endpoint, the virtual key received through a wireless link, the virtual key operable to unlock a lock of a target, the lock comprising a physical lock; and

an access requestor coupled to the memory and operable to;

wirelessly transmit the virtual key to a management system of the target to unlock the lock.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, the virtual key indicating:

one or more attributes, an attribute designating use of the target.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, the virtual key indicating an attribute designating:

when the target may be used;

where the target may be used;

or

how the target may be used.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, the access requestor further operable to:

establish that a breach of a restriction has occurred; and

notify a designated endpoint of the breach.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, the access requester further operable to:

establish that a breach of a restriction has occurred; and

modify the permission in response to the breach.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, the access requestor further operable to:

receive an instruction to modify the permission; and

modify the permission in response to the instruction.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, the target comprising a physical object to which access is limited.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, the target comprising a resource to which access is limited.

20. The apparatus of claim 12, the target comprising:

a vehicle;

a gate;

a building;

a room;

a credit card;

a servicing system;

a safe;

or

a monetary account.

21. The apparatus of claim 12, the lock comprising a mechanical lock

22. A system comprising:

means for receiving a virtual key at a grantee endpoint, the virtual key resulting from a permission from a grantor endpoint, the virtual key received through a wireless link, the virtual key operable to unlock a lock of a target, the lock comprising a physical lock; and

means for wirelessly transmitting the virtual key to a management system of the target to unlock the lock.