SMART LOCK SYSTEM

• US 20090256676A1
• Filed: 04/14/2008
• Published: 10/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eastern Company The
• Original Assignee: Eastern Company The
• Inventors: Yudelson, David A., Hooper, Wayne J., Piccirillo, James S., Lamourine, Christopher E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,274,365 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.650
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 41/00 Locks with visible indication as to whether the lock is locked or unlocked indicator lights E05B17/10
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/06 Controlling mechanically-operated bolts by electro-magnetically-operated detents
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/00 Padlocks permutation locks E05B37/00; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/21 having a variable access code

Abstract

An electronic access control and recording system includes a lock, a card reader, a key card configured to communicate with the lock and with the card reader, a database, and an administrator microprocessor configured to provide a user interface and to communicate with the database and with the card reader. At least one of the lock and the card contain a microprocessor and a non-volatile memory storing encrypted information. In use, the key card provides access to the lock and transfers the encrypted information between the lock and the database via the card reader and the administrator microprocessor. The administrator microprocessor provides a user interface for reviewing and administering the database. The user interface also provides account and password qualification for users.

Claims

1. A smart lock system, comprising the combination of:

a. an electronic lock having a body defining a card opening, said body having disposed therein a lock microprocessor, a clock providing date and time to the lock microprocessor, an encrypted lock memory for storing encrypted information, a lock memory access encryption engine interconnecting the lock microprocessor and the encrypted lock memory and adapted to encrypt and decrypt information transferred therebetween, an unencrypted lock memory in communication with the lock microprocessor for storing unencrypted information, a latch mechanism operable by the lock microprocessor to secure or release the shackle for motion relative to the body, a first card interface having internal contacts accessible via the card opening and having a power contact connected to power the lock microprocessor, the clock, and the latch mechanism, and a first card encryption engine interconnecting the lock microprocessor and the first card interface and adapted to encrypt and decrypt information transferred therebetween, and

b. a key card comprising therein a card microprocessor, a second card interface having external contacts arranged to engage the internal contacts of the electronic lock when the key card is inserted to the card opening of the electronic lock and having a power contact arranged to engage the power contact of the electronic lock and connected to power the card microprocessor, a second card encryption engine interconnecting the card microprocessor and the second card interface and adapted to encrypt and decrypt information transferred therebetween, an unencrypted card memory in communication with the card microprocessor for storing unencrypted information, an encrypted card memory for storing encrypted information, and a card memory access encryption engine interconnecting the card microprocessor and the encrypted card memory and adapted to encrypt and decrypt information transferred therebetween.

2. The smart lock system according to claim 1, wherein the key card includes a card battery connected to power the second card interface so as to provide power to the card microprocessor and to the power contact of the first card interface when the key card is inserted into the card opening of the electronic lock.

3. The smart lock system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic lock includes a lock battery connected to power the first card interface so as to provide power to the lock microprocessor, to the clock, to the latch mechanism, and to the power contact of the second card interface when the key card is inserted into the card opening.

4. The smart lock system according to claim 1, wherein the latch mechanism engages a shackle adapted for securing together two objects.

5. The smart lock system according to claim 4, wherein one of the lock microprocessor and the card microprocessor is configured to actuate the latch mechanism for disengaging the shackle based on a comparison of information in the card memory with information in the lock memory.

6. A smart lock system, comprising:

an electronic lock;

a card reader;

a key card engageable with each of the lock and the reader for communication therebetween;

an administrator microprocessor in communication with the card reader; and

a database in communication with the administrator microprocessor,

wherein one of the lock and the card comprises a first microprocessor and a first memory, and the other of the lock and the card comprises a second memory, the first microprocessor being configured to open the lock based on comparing information in the first memory to information in the second memory.

7. The smart lock system according to claim 6, wherein the one of the card and the lock comprising a first microprocessor further comprises a first memory access encryption engine in communication with the first microprocessor and in communication with the first memory, wherein the second memory stores an encryption key, and wherein the first memory contains information encrypted by the first memory access encryption engine using the encryption key, whereby the first microprocessor can access the encrypted information in the one of the card and the lock only by reading the encryption key from the other of the card and the lock.

8. The smart lock system according to claim 6, wherein the first microprocessor and the first memory are comprised within the card, and wherein the first microprocessor compares a list of lock serial numbers in the first memory to a lock serial number in the second memory.

9. The smart lock system according to claim 6, wherein the first microprocessor and the first memory are comprised within the lock, and wherein the first microprocessor compares a lock serial number in the first memory to a list of lock serial numbers in the second memory.

10. The smart lock system according to claim 6, wherein the first microprocessor and the first memory are comprised within the lock, and wherein the first microprocessor compares a list of card serial numbers in the first memory to a card serial number in the second memory.

11. The smart lock system according to claim 6, wherein the one of the first memory and the second memory that is comprised within the card stores an expiration date and time, wherein the lock further comprises a clock indicating a current date and time, wherein the expiration date and time is modifiable by the administrator microprocessor when the card is engaged with the card reader, and wherein the card functions to open the lock only when the expiration date and time is later than the current date and time.

12. A smart lock system, comprising:

a plurality of electronic locks;

a card reader;

a plurality of key cards engageable with each of the plurality of locks, and with the card reader, for communication therebetween;

an administrator microprocessor in communication with the card reader; and

a database in communication with the administrator microprocessor,

wherein the database contains encrypted system information including, for each of the plurality of cards, a corresponding list of locks accessible by the card,

wherein each of the plurality of cards contains encrypted card information including the corresponding list of locks accessible by the card,

wherein each of the plurality of locks contains encrypted lock information including a corresponding list of cards not permitted to access the lock, and

wherein the encrypted card information is decrypted only when the card is inserted into one of the plurality of locks, or into the card reader, the encrypted lock information is decrypted only when one of the plurality of cards is inserted into the lock, and the encrypted system information is decrypted only when one of the plurality of cards is inserted into the card reader.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the encrypted system information further includes, for each of the plurality of locks, the corresponding list of cards not permitted to access the lock.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein the encrypted system information further includes a list of cards not permitted to access any of the plurality of locks, and wherein the encrypted lock information contained in each of the plurality of locks includes the list of cards not permitted to access any of the plurality of locks.

15. The system according to claim 12, wherein the encrypted system information further includes a plurality of card activity logs corresponding to each of the plurality of cards, and a plurality of lock activity logs corresponding to each of the plurality of locks.

16. The system according to claim 12, further comprising a display and an input device adjacent to the card reader, wherein each of the plurality of cards further contains unencrypted card information including an activity log key, wherein the administrator microprocessor is configured to provide a user interface to the display, wherein the user interface prompts a user to enter an account and a password into the input device when one of the plurality of cards is inserted into the card reader, wherein the administrator microprocessor is configured to query the database for a match between the account, the password, and a portion of the unencrypted card information, and wherein at least one of the encrypted system information and the encrypted card information is decrypted only when the database returns the match.