Electronic combination lock with different levels of access control

• US 20180025564A1
• Filed: 09/11/2017
• Published: 01/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Sun Lock Company Ltd.
• Original Assignee: The Sun Lock Company Ltd.
• Inventors: LAI, Karl
• Granted Patent: US 10,679,441 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/226 Displays on locks, e.g. LED or LCD screens on handles E05B1/0084; on keys E05B19/0088
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0024 Cams
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0058 by batteries
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0086 Emergency release, e.g. key or electromagnet E05B63/0073 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 37/0034 actuated by either
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 37/0068 in padlocks E05B37/025, E05B37/10 and E05B37/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0004 said core being linearly movable
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/06 Controlling mechanically-operated bolts by electro-magnetically-operated detents
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/24 with built- in cylinder locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00841 by a portable device
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/04 Access control involving a hierarchy in access rights
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/08 With time considerations, e.g. temporary activation, valid time window or time limitations
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00944 Details of construction or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/21 having a variable access code

Abstract

A mobile device, such as a mobile phone, is configured with an application icon on the device display for communications with a combination lock through a wireless signal. The wireless signal includes information indicative of a combination code for operating the combination lock at one of a plurality of access levels, wherein the access levels define the number of access times for unlocking the combination lock. The display is arranged to allow a user to enter a password to unlock the combination lock and, if the user is an administrator, to change the combination codes and the access levels.

Claims

1. A mobile device, comprising:

a display configured with an application icon arranged for communications with a combination lock, and

an electronic circuit configured to provide a wireless signal when the application icon is activated, the wireless signal indicative of a combination code for operating the combination lock at one of a plurality of access levels, the access levels comprising at least a first level and a second level, wherein

the combination code for the second level is indicative of a permission to access the combination lock, and

the combination code for the first level is indicative of a permission to access the combination lock an unlimited number of times and a permission to change the combination code for all access levels.

2. The mobile device according to claim 1, where the combination code for the second level is further indicative of a permission to access the combination lock an unlimited number of access times, and wherein the plurality of access levels further comprise a third level, wherein the combination code for the third access level is indicative of a permission to access the combination lock a limited number of access times.

3. The mobile device according to claim 2, wherein the wireless signal comprises a communication signal for electronically linking the combination lock to the mobile device in a pairing process, and the mobile device further comprises a non-transitory memory unit configured for storing an identity of the combination lock that has been electronically linked to the electronic device.

4. The mobile device according to claim 3, wherein the wireless signal comprises a communication range, and wherein the display is arranged to show a list of one or more combination locks found in the communication range that have been electronically linked to the electronic device, and the display is further configured to allow deletion from the memory unit of one or more combination locks shown on the list.

5. The mobile device according to claim 3, wherein the combination lock comprises a plurality of preset codes stored therein to be matched with the combination code, and wherein the wireless signal comprises a communication range, and wherein the display is arranged to show a list of one or more combination locks found in the communication range that have been electronically linked to the mobile device, and the display is configured to provide a graphic keypad to allow entry from the display of information indicative of the combination code for operating the combination lock, and wherein if the combination code matches the preset code for said combination lock, the display is arranged to allow making a gesture on the display for unlocking the combination lock.

6. The mobile device according to claim 5, wherein when the preset code comprises a code for the first level, the display is arranged to allow entry from the display of a new code for replacing the preset code in said combination lock.

7. The mobile device according to claim 5, wherein when the preset code comprises a code for the first level, the display is arranged to allow entry from the display of information indicative of assignment of one or more users of the second and/or third levels for said combination lock.

8. The mobile device according to claim 7, wherein the information comprises the number of access times for the users of the third levels.

9. The mobile device according to claim 7, wherein the combination lock comprises an electronic keypad having a plurality of numeral keys arranged for entering a combination code, and wherein the assignment of a user of the second and/or third levels includes entry from the display of a number associated with one of the plurality of numeral keys.

10. The mobile device according to claim 1, comprising a mobile phone configured for communications in Bluetooth wireless channels.

11. A method, comprising:

providing a mobile device comprising a display, an electronic circuit and a non-transitory memory unit;

configuring the display with an application icon for communications with a combination lock, and

configuring the electronic circuit to provide a wireless signal when the application icon is activated, the wireless signal indicative of a combination code for operating the combination lock at one of a plurality of access levels, the access levels comprising at least a first level and a second level, wherein

the combination code for the second level is indicative of a permission to access the combination lock, and

the combination code for the first level is indicative of a permission to access the combination lock an unlimited number of times and a permission to change the combination code for all access levels.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the combination code for the second level is further indicative of a permission to access the combination lock an unlimited number of access times, and wherein the plurality of access levels further comprise a third level, wherein the combination code for the third access level is indicative of a permission to access the combination lock a limited number of access times.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the wireless signal comprises a communication signal for electronically linking the combination lock to the electronic device in a pairing process, said method further comprising:

storing in the non-transitory memory unit an identity of the combination lock that has been electronically linked to the electronic device.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the wireless signal comprises a communication range, said method further comprising:

arranging the display to show a list of one or more combination locks found in the communication range that have been electronically linked to the electronic device, and

configuring the display to allow deletion from the memory unit of one or more combination locks shown on the list.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the combination lock comprises a plurality of preset codes stored therein to be matched with the combination code, and wherein the wireless signal comprises a communication range, said method further comprising:

arranging the display to show a list of one or more combination locks found in the communication range that have been electronically linked to the electronic device,

providing on the display a graphic keypad to allow entry of information indicative of the combination code for operating the combination lock, wherein if the combination code matches the preset code for said combination lock, the display is arranged to allow making a gesture on the display for unlocking the combination lock,

arranging the display to allow entry from the display of a new code for replacing the preset code in said combination lock, when the preset code comprises a code for the first level and

arranging the display to allow entry from the display of information indicative of assignment of one or more users of the second and/or third levels for said combination lock, when the preset code comprises a code for the first level, wherein the information comprises the number of access times for the users of the third levels.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the combination lock comprises an electronic keypad having a plurality of numeral keys arranged for entering a combination code, and wherein the assignment of a user of the second and/or third levels includes entry from the display of a number associated with one of the plurality of numeral keys.

17. An electronic combination lock, comprising:

an electronic circuit configured to communicate with a mobile device via wireless signals, the wireless signals comprising a communication signal from the mobile device indicative of a combination code for operating the electronic combination lock at one of a plurality of access levels, the plurality of access levels comprising at least a first level and a second level,

a non-transitory memory configured to store a plurality of preset codes, the plurality of preset codes comprising at least a present code for the first level and a preset code for the second level, and

a processor configured to compare a received combination code from the mobile device with the plurality of preset codes and to allow access of the combination lock if the combination code is indicative of one of the preset codes, wherein

the preset code for the second level is indicative of a permission to access the combination lock, and

the preset code for the first level is indicative of a permission to access the combination lock an unlimited number of times and a permission to change the preset code for all access levels.

18. The electronic combination lock according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of access levels further comprises a third level and the plurality of preset codes further comprises a preset code for the third level, and wherein

the preset code for the second level is further indicative of a permission to access the combination lock an unlimited number of times, and wherein

the present code for the third level is indicative of a permission to access the combination lock a limited number of times.

19. The electronic combination lock according to claim 17, wherein the wireless signals further comprise a communication signal for linking the combination lock to the mobile device in a pairing process, and wherein the non-transitory memory unit is further configured for storing an identity of the mobile device that has been electronically linked to the combination lock.

20. The electronic combination lock according to claim 17, further comprising

a keypad for receiving information indicative of the combination code.