NEAR FIELD COMMUNICATION BASED KEY SHARING TECHNIQUES

• US 20140049366A1
• Filed: 08/16/2012
• Published: 02/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Vasquez, Juan
• Granted Patent: US 9,384,613 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.54
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00849 programming by learning
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00865 remotely by wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00857 where the code of the data carrier can be programmed

Abstract

A computer-implemented technique includes storing keychains in a memory of a computer. A login identifier and a password are received from a mobile device. The login identifier and the password are verified. Subsequent to the verification, one of the keychains is downloaded from the computer to the mobile device. The keychain includes N keys that are each associated with one of M physical locks of M locking devices, where N and M are integers greater than or equal to 1. The M locking devices or another locking device are monitored. Information in a key log is recorded when each of the N keys is used on one of the M locking devices or the other locking device. The information includes a locking device identifier and a key identifier. The mobile device is alerted when each of the N keys is used based on the key log.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

remotely logging into one of a computer and a server via a control module of a first mobile device, wherein the logging into the one of the computer and the server comprises entering a unique identifier and a password;

subsequent to the computer or the server approving the password based on the unique identifier, downloading a keychain from one of the computer and the server to a memory of the first mobile device, wherein the keychain comprises N keys, where N is an integer greater than 1, and wherein each of the N keys is unlocks one or more of M physical locks, wherein M is an integer greater than or equal to 1; and

transferring one of the N keys from the first mobile device to a locking device using near field communication to unlock one of the M physical locks.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising one of:

transmitting one or more of the N keys from the first mobile device to a second mobile device; and

requesting that one of the computer and the server transmit one or more of the N keys to a second mobile device.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a verification request signal at the first mobile device from the locking device, wherein the verification request signal requests verification information from the first mobile device to verify if the first mobile device is authorized to unlock the lock of the locking device;

transmitting a first verification response signal to the locking device, wherein the first verification response signal includes the verification information.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the verification information includes at least one of a password, a passcode, and a pin.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising:

transmitting an information request signal from the first mobile device to the one of the computer and server, wherein the information request signal requests the verification information previously requested from the first mobile device by the locking device;

receiving a second verification response signal from the one of the computer and the server; and

transmitting the first verification response signal to the locking device based on the second verification response signal.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing user preferences;

transmitting the user preferences to the one of the computer and the server;

receiving notification signals from the one of the computer and the server based on the user preferences, wherein the notification signals indicate when one of the N keys has been used to unlock one of the M physical locks.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the user preferences comprise log information, wherein the log information indicates statistics related to the use of the N keys by the first mobile device and other mobile devices to be tracked by the one of the computer and the server.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the notification signals are received when one or more of the N keys are used by one of the other mobile devices.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the user preferences comprise key update information, wherein the key update information indicates when the N keys are to be updated.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, further comprising:

setting alerting criteria by the control module, wherein the alerting criteria indicates when to transmit the notification signals to the first mobile device;

transmitting the alerting criteria to the one of the computer and the server;

receiving the notification signals based on the alerting criteria.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, further comprising:

setting authorization criteria via the control module, wherein the authorization criteria indicates verification information requirements to unlock a lock; and

transmitting the authorization criteria to the one of the computer and the server.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

copying one of the N keys from a physical key via a key sniffer module; and

transmitting the one of the N keys from the first mobile device to a second locking device of a second one of the M physical locks to unlock the second one of the M physical locks.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

when the first mobile device is within a near field distance of the locking device for a first time, transmitting a key from the first mobile device to the locking device during a first period and setup of the locking device; and

when the first mobile device is within the near field distance of the locking device a second time, transmitting the key from the first mobile device to the locking device during a second period to unlock the one of the M physical locks of the locking device, wherein the second period is different than the first period.

14. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a unique identifier and a first key from a first mobile device via a lock control module of the locking device near field communication, wherein the first key is one of a plurality of keys in a keychain stored in the first mobile device;

determining whether the first key is a trusted key or a restricted key via a lock control module;

unlocking a physical lock when the first key is a trusted key via the lock control module;

requesting verification information from the first mobile device when the first key is a restricted key via a key verification module;

verifying the first key and the verification information via the key verification module; and

unlocking the physical lock when the first key and the verification information are valid via the lock control module.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, further comprising:

requesting the verification information from the first mobile device via a verification module;

receiving the verification information from the first mobile device and comparing the verification information with information stored in the locking device;

unlocking the physical lock when the verification information received from the first mobile device is valid.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, further comprising:

requesting verification information from the first mobile device via a verification module;

receiving the verification information from the first mobile device;

transmitting the verification information from the locking device to one of a computer and a server;

receiving a verification response signal from the one of the computer and the server; and

unlocking the physical lock based on the verification response signal and when the verification information received from the first mobile device is valid.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, further comprising:

monitoring when the first key and other keys are received at the locking device;

transmitting signals to the one of a computer and a server indicating use of the first key and the other keys by the first mobile device and other mobile devices when one of the first key and the other keys are received at the locking device.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, further comprising:

upon receiving the unique identifier and the first key, setting up at least one of;

a first wireless communication link between the locking device and the first mobile device; and

a second wireless communication link between the locking device and one of a computer and a server; and

communicating with at least one of (i) the first mobile device via the first wireless communication link without using near field communication protocols and (ii) the one of the computer and the server via the second wireless communication link.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, further comprising receiving one of vehicle settings and facility settings at one of the locking device and a network of the locking device over the second wireless communication link.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 19, wherein the one of vehicle settings and facility settings are received using one of a Bluetooth protocol and a Wi-Fi protocol.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, further comprising:

when the first mobile device is within a near field distance of the locking device for a first time, receiving a key transmitted from the first mobile device to the locking device during a first period and setup of the locking device;

when the first mobile device is within the near field distance of the locking device a second time, receiving the key transmitted from the first mobile device to the locking device during a second period, wherein the second period is different than the first period; and

unlocking the physical lock when the first mobile device is within the near field distance the second time.