METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR AN AUTHENTICATING LOCK WITH BAR CODE

• US 20130257590A1
• Filed: 03/27/2013
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Onity Inc. (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Onity Inc. (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Inventors: Vecchiotti, Alberto, Kuenzi, Adam L., Dyer, Frank R., Switzer, R. Steve
• Application Number:
  US13/851,440
• Publication Number:
  US 20130257590A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.65
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 1/01 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/14 With a sequence of inputs of different identification information
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00174 Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys mechanical locks with electric permutation E05B49/00; arrangements for sensing or reading record carriers G06K7/00; electronic switching H03K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00904 for hotels, motels, office buildings or the like

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments provide systems and methods for opening electronic locks employing an image, such as the image of a bar code, (e.g., a QR code), and using the hardware and software resources commonly found on a mobile device such as a cell phone or tablet computer. An application on the mobile device obtains information identifying a lock, such as a series of numbers displayed by the lock or encoded in a bar code on the lock, and inputs it along with information identifying a particular user to an algorithm that generates a key code for the lock. The application on the mobile device displays the key code (e.g., as a numeric code or embedded in a bar code image) and the lock receives the displayed key code and opens. In various embodiments, the key code may be entered into a control interface on the lock, or captured by a camera connected to the lock.

Claims

1. A method for opening an electronically controlled lock by a user, the method comprising:

obtaining user information that identifies the user;

obtaining lock information that identifies the electronically controlled lock;

creating key information based on the user information and the lock information; and

displaying the key information on a mobile device, wherein the key information is received by the electronically controlled lock and processed to open the electronically controlled lock.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining lock information that identifies the electronically controlled lock comprises:

receiving an image associated with the electronically controlled lock; and

processing the image to extract the lock information.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the image is an image of a bar code.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining lock information that identifies the electronically controlled lock comprises:

receiving a series of characters associated with the electronically controlled lock.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein creating key information based on the user information and the lock information comprises:

calculating a series of characters using the user information and the lock information;

wherein the series of characters is a key code that opens the electronically controlled lock when entered via a key pad to the electronically controlled lock.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein creating key information based on the user information and the lock information comprises:

calculating a key code using the user information and the lock information; and

encoding the key code into an image;

wherein the key code opens the electronically controlled lock.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the image is an image of a bar code.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the key information on a mobile device comprises:

displaying a series of characters on the mobile device;

wherein the series of characters is a key code that opens the electronically controlled lock when entered via a key pad to the electronically controlled lock.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the key information on a mobile device comprises:

displaying an image on the mobile device;

wherein the image includes a key code that opens the electronically controlled lock.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the image is an image of a bar code.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending information from the mobile device indicating that the lock information that identifies the electronically controlled lock has been obtained.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions that, when executed by a processor, implement operations for opening an electronically controlled lock by a user, the operations comprising:

obtaining user information that identifies the user;

obtaining lock information that identifies the electronically controlled lock;

creating key information based on the user information and the lock information;

displaying the key information on a mobile device, wherein the key information is received by the electronically controlled lock and processed to open the electronically controlled lock.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, the operations further comprising:

sending information indicating that the lock information that identifies the electronically controlled lock has been obtained.

14. An electronic lock comprising:

a display that includes lock information that identifies the electronic lock to a mobile device;

a key information receptor that receives key information displayed by the mobile device; and

a processor, operably connected to the key information receptor, wherein the processor determines whether the key information is currently valid for opening the electronic lock; and

a lock actuator circuit, operably connected to the processor, that opens the electronic lock based on a signal from the processor indicating that the key information is currently valid for opening the electronic lock.

15. The electronic lock of claim 14, wherein the display comprises:

an image of a bar code.

16. The electronic lock of claim 14, wherein the display comprises:

a character display device.

17. The electronic lock of claim 14, wherein the key information receptor comprises:

a key pad.

18. The electronic lock of claim 14, wherein the key information receptor comprises:

an image capturing device.

19. The electronic lock of claim 18, wherein the image capturing device comprises:

a bar code scanner.

20. The electronic lock of claim 14, wherein the mobile device transmits information indicating that the mobile device has received the lock information that identifies the electronic lock.