METHOD FOR ACCESSING A LOCKED OBJECT

• US 20110109433A1
• Filed: 11/10/2009
• Published: 05/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Security Incorporated (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: GE Security Incorporated (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Inventors: HODROJ, Ali, QUISLING, Brian, KUENZI, Adam
• Granted Patent: US 8,576,048 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.73
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 19/0005 Key safes E05B35/086 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0095 Mechanical aspects of locks controlled by telephone signals, e.g. by mobile phones electronic locks G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/38 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications

Abstract

A method for accessing a locked object. A first SMS message addressed to a short code and requesting access to the locked object is received by an Approval Authority computer and/or short code from one of a locked object and a requestor'"'"'s wireless communication device. The Approval Authority computer determines whether to grant the requested access, and sends, back to one of the locked object and the requestor'"'"'s wireless communication device, one of an access code for the locked object and a SMS reply containing the access code. If the requested access is granted, the Approval Authority also initiates billing the requestor a predetermined fee for the access.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, from one of a locked object and a requestor'"'"'s wireless communication device, a first SMS message addressed to a short code and requesting access to the locked object;

determining whether to grant the requested access; and

sending, back to one of the locked object and the requestor'"'"'s wireless communication device, one of an access code for the locked object and a SMS reply containing the access code.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating billing for the granted access.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the initiating billing for the granted access further comprises:

transmitting billing data to at least one of the requestor'"'"'s wireless communication device and a biller.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a denial message; and

sending a SMS reply to the one of the locked object and the requestor'"'"'s wireless communication device that contains the generated denial message.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a Double-Opt-In SMS message to the one of the locked object and the requestor'"'"'s wireless access device.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving from the one of the locked object and the requestor'"'"'s wireless communication device a SMS Reply containing a user acceptance or a user denial.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the locked object is a real-estate lockbox.