AUTOMATIC UNLOCK DEVICE AND METHOD

• US 20170337758A1
• Filed: 08/07/2017
• Published: 11/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC (Allegion PLC)
• Original Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC (Allegion PLC)
• Inventors: Ahearn, John Robert, Baumgarte, Joseph Wayne, Focke, Gabriel Daniel, Henney, Michael Scott
• Application Number:
  US15/670,345
• Publication Number:
  US 20170337758A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00357 and the lock having more than one limited data transmission ranges
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/63 Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle
• 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 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A method is provided for operating an electronic lock system having a long range capability and a close proximity range capability, including identifying via the long range capability an initial contact between an electronic lock and a credential, authenticating the credential via the electronic lock, and unlocking the electronic lock when the authenticated credential is sensed via the close proximity range capability. An electronic lock system is also provided which includes a credential, an electronic lock configured to communicate with the credential and having a long range capability and a close proximity range capability. The long range capability identifies initial communication between the electronic lock and the credential, the electronic lock authenticates the identified credential, and the electronic lock unlocks when the authenticated credential is sensed via the close proximity range capability.

Claims

1. A method of operating an electronic lock system having a long range capability and a close proximity range capability, the method comprising:

identifying via the long range capability an initial contact between an electronic lock and a credential;

authenticating the credential via the electronic lock; and

unlocking the electronic lock when the authenticated credential is sensed via the close proximity range capability.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising reducing the range at which the close proximity range capability results in unlocking of the electronic lock after the authenticating.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising passing of information between the electronic lock and the credential after the identifying.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the passing of information occurs before the unlocking.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the passing of information occurs after the unlocking.

6. The method of claim 7, wherein the passing of information occurs until losing communication between the electronic lock and the credential.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the passing of information includes the authenticating.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the passing of information includes providing an update from the credential to the electronic lock.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein the passing of information including providing audit information from the electronic lock to the credential.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising encrypting information after the identifying and before the unlocking.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising computing information after the identifying and before the unlocking.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the unlocking comprises automatically unlocking the electronic lock when the authenticated credential is sensed via the close proximity range capability.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising incorporating the credential into a user card.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the electroniclock in association with a door.

15. An electronic lock system, comprising:

a credential; and

an electronic lock configured to wirelessly communicate with the credential, the electronic lock having a long range capability and a close proximity range capability; and

wherein the long range capability of the electronic lock is configured to identify initial communication between the electronic lock and the credential;

wherein the electronic lock is configured to authenticate the identified credential; and

wherein the electronic lock is configured to unlock when the authenticated credential is sensed via the close proximity range capability of the electronic lock.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the electronic lock is configured to automatically unlock when the authenticated credential is sensed via the close proximity range capability of the electronic lock.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the credential is incorporated into a user card.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the electronic lock is associated with a door.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the electronic lock and the credential are configured to pass information therebetween after identification of the initial communication between the electronic lock and the credential.

20. An apparatus, comprising:

an electronic lock having a long range capability and a close-proximity range capability, the electronic lock configured to identify a credential via the long range capability, authenticate the credential, and automatically unlock when the credential is sensed by the close proximity range capability.