Intelligent Key System

• US 20190051082A1
• Filed: 10/04/2018
• Published: 02/14/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2001
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Mobile Tech, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mobile Tech, Inc.
• Inventors: Denison, William D.
• Granted Patent: US 10,269,202 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0096 Mechanical aspects of locks whose actuation is dependent on geographical location, e.g. by means of a GPS system electronic locks G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24206 Identification by portable memory in a key
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25062 Detect physical location of field device
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2613 Household appliance in general
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/26 Interlocks, e.g. for locking the doors of compartments other than that to be used
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

Techniques for using wireless electronic keys with electronic locks are disclosed. For example, a computer system can program an access code into a programmable wireless electronic key, and the programmable electronic key can then teach this access code to a programmable electronic lock via wireless communication to thereby program the programmable electronic lock. Unlocking action by the programmed lock can then be made contingent on there being a match between the access code from the key and the access code from the programmed lock. Further still, other operational control parameters (such as time limits) can be programmed into the key to restrict the ability of the key to unlock a lock. Also, audit data such as lock access history can be wirelessly transferred from an electronic lock to an electronic key, whereupon the key can later transfer this audit data to a computer for analysis.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a programmable electronic key comprising;

a key memory;

a power source;

a key wireless communication interface; and

a button;

a programmable electronic lock comprising;

a lock memory; and

a lock wireless communication interface; and

a computer system that is external to the programmable electronic lock and the programmable electronic key;

wherein the computer system is configured to (1) generate an access code for use with the programmable electronic key and the programmable electronic lock, and (2) provide the access code to the programmable electronic key;

wherein the programmable electronic key is configured to receive the access code from the computer system and store the access code in the key memory;

wherein the key memory is further configured to store operational limit data that comprises a temporal limit on an ability of the programmable electronic key to unlock the programmable electronic lock;

wherein the programmable electronic key is further configured to wirelessly transmit the access code in the key memory via the key wireless communication interface in response to user selection of the button;

wherein the programmable electronic lock is configured to (1) learn the access code from the programmable electronic key in response to a wireless transmission of the access code from the programmable electronic key with the programmable electronic key being within wireless range of the programmable electronic lock, and (2) store the access code in the lock memory to thereby program the programmable electronic lock with the learned access code;

wherein the programmable electronic key and the programmed electronic lock, in response to a user selection of the button with the programmable electronic key and the programmed electronic lock being within wireless range of each other, are further configured to wirelessly communicate via the key wireless communication interface and the lock wireless communication interface to permit a comparison between the access code from the key memory and the access code from the lock memory; and

wherein the programmed electronic lock is further configured to unlock contingent on (1) the temporal limit for the programmable electronic key not being expired, and (2) the comparison resulting in a determination that the access code from the key memory matches the access code from the lock memory.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the programmable electronic lock further comprises a processor, the processor configured to record audit data about attempted accesses of the programmable electronic lock in the lock memory;

wherein, contingent on the programmable electronic key and the programmed electronic lock being within wireless range of each other, the programmable electronic lock is further configured to wirelessly transmit the audit data from the lock memory via the lock wireless communication interface to the key wireless communication interface; and

wherein the programmable electronic key is further configured to store the audit data in the key memory for subsequent access by a remote computer.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the programmable electronic key is further configured to transfer the audit data in the key memory to the remote computer.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the remote computer comprises the computer system.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the key memory is further configured to store a key identifier for the programmable electronic key;

wherein the programmable electronic key is further configured to wirelessly transmit the key identifier in the key memory via the key wireless communication interface in response to user selection of the button;

wherein the programmed electronic lock, in response to a user selection of the button with the programmable electronic key and the programmed electronic lock being within wireless range of each other, is further configured to wirelessly receive the transmitted key identifier via the lock wireless communication interface; and

wherein the processor is further configured to record the key identifier as part of an access attempt in the audit data stored in the lock memory.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the lock memory is further configured to associate the recorded key identifier with a timestamp for the access attempt as part of the audit data.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the lock memory is further configured to associate the recorded key identifier and associated timestamp with an access outcome status for the access attempt as part of the audit data.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the lock memory is further configured to store a lock identifier for the programmable electronic lock, and wherein the audit data includes the lock identifier.

9. The system of claim 5 wherein the lock memory is further configured to store, as part of the audit data, data describing access attempts on the programmable electronic lock from a plurality of different programmable electronic keys.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the stored temporal limit operates to limit the ability of the programmable electronic key to unlock the programmable electronic lock by limiting an ability of the programmable electronic key to wirelessly transmit the access code in the key memory via the key wireless communication interface;

and

wherein the programmable electronic key is further configured to wirelessly transmit the access code in the key memory via the key wireless communication interface in response to user selection of the button if permitted by the stored temporal limit; and

wherein the programmable electronic key and the programmed electronic lock, in response to (1) the user selection of the button with the programmable electronic key and the programmed electronic lock being within wireless range of each other and (2) the temporal limit for the programmable electronic key not being expired, are further configured to wirelessly communicate via the key wireless communication interface and the lock wireless communication interface to permit the comparison.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the key memory includes a register that stores a value indicative of the temporal limit, and wherein the programmable electronic key further comprises a processor and a clock, wherein the processor is configured to determine whether the temporal limit has expired based on the register value and the clock.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the programmable electronic lock further comprises a processor, wherein the processor is configured to perform the comparison and determine, based on the comparison, whether the access code from the key memory matches the access code from the lock memory.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the programmable electronic key further comprises a processor, wherein the processor is configured to perform the comparison and determine, based on the comparison, whether the access code from the key memory matches the access code from the lock memory.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the computer system is further configured to randomly generate the access code.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the computer system comprises a database, the database configured to store a plurality of access codes available for programming into the programmable electronic key and the programmable electronic lock.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein the programmable electronic lock is adapted to secure a door for an enclosure.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the door and the enclosure are part of a vending machine.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein the programmable electronic key, in response to user selection of the button, is further configured to (1) encrypt the access code, and (2) wirelessly transmit the encrypted access code via the key wireless communication interface;

and

wherein the programmable electronic lock is further configured to decrypt the encrypted access code received from the programmable electronic key.

19. The system of claim 1 wherein the key wireless communication interface comprises a key infrared communication interface, and wherein the lock wireless communication interface comprises a lock infrared communication interface.

20. The system of claim 1 wherein the computer system is further configured to update the temporal limit data for the programmable electronic key in response to the programmable electronic key being connected to the computer system.

21. The system of claim 1 wherein the operational limit data further comprises a use count limit on the ability of the programmable electronic key to unlock the programmed electronic lock.

22. The system of claim 1 wherein the computer system is further configured to (1) provide a user interface through which an operational limit input is received from a user, (2) define the operational limit data based on the operational limit input received through the user interface, and (3) provide the defined operational limit data to the programmable electronic key for storage in the key memory.

23. The system of claim 1 wherein the computer system is further configured to program the programmable electronic key with data that allows the programmable electronic key to unlock a plurality of different programmable electronic locks.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the lock memory is further configured to store a lock identifier for the programmable electronic lock;

wherein the data that allows the programmable electronic key to unlock the different programmable electronic locks comprises a plurality of lock identifiers for the different programmable electronic locks that are loaded into the key memory by the computer system; and

wherein the programmed electronic lock is further configured to condition unlocking on a determination that the lock identifier from the lock memory matches a lock identifier from the key memory.

25. The system of claim 1 wherein the computer system further comprises a cradle for receiving the programmable electronic key to facilitate communication between the programmable electronic key and the computer system.

26. A system comprising:

an electronic key comprising;

a key memory configured to store (1) a key identifier for the electronic key, and (2) an access code;

a power source;

a key wireless communication interface; and

a button;

an electronic lock comprising;

a lock memory configured to store (1) an access code, and (2) audit data that describes a plurality of access attempts with respect to the electronic lock;

a processor; and

a lock wireless communication interface; and

a computer system that is external to the electronic key and the electronic lock;

wherein the electronic key, in response to user selection of the button with the electronic key being within wireless range of the electronic lock, is configured to wirelessly communicate with the electronic lock via the key wireless communication interface and the lock wireless communication interface to permit a comparison between the access code from the key memory and the access code from the lock memory;

wherein the electronic lock is further configured to unlock contingent on the comparison resulting in a determination that the access code from the key memory matches the access code from the lock memory;

wherein the electronic key is further configured to wirelessly transmit the key identifier in the key memory via the key wireless communication interface in response to user selection of the button;

wherein the lock wireless interface is further configured to receive the transmitted key identifier in response to user selection of the button with the electronic key and the electronic lock being within wireless range of each other;

wherein the processor is configured to record the received key identifier in the audit data in the lock memory as an access attempt with respect to the electronic lock;

wherein, contingent on the electronic key being within wireless range of the electronic lock, the electronic lock is further configured to transfer the audit data from the lock memory to the electronic key for storage of the audit data in the key memory; and

wherein the computer system is further configured to receive the audit data from the key memory of the programmable electronic key.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the audit data describes a plurality of time-stamped access attempts with respect to the electronic lock;

wherein the processor is configured to record the received key identifier and an associated time stamp in the audit data in the lock memory as a time-stamped access attempt with respect to the electronic lock;

the system further comprising a plurality of the electronic keys, each of a plurality of the electronic keys having a different key identifier in its key memory;

wherein the lock memory is further configured to store a lock identifier for the electronic lock, and wherein the audit data includes the lock identifier; and

wherein the audit data in the lock memory describes a plurality of time-stamped access attempts with respect to the electronic lock by a plurality of the electronic keys.

28. A system comprising:

a programmable electronic key comprising;

a key memory;

a power source;

a key wireless communication interface; and

a button;

a programmable electronic lock comprising;

a lock memory; and

a lock wireless communication interface; and

a computer system that is external to the programmable electronic lock and the programmable electronic key;

wherein the computer system is configured to (1) generate an access code for use with the programmable electronic key and the programmable electronic lock, and (2) provide the access code to the programmable electronic key;

wherein the programmable electronic key is configured to receive the access code from the computer system and store the access code in the key memory;

wherein the programmable electronic key is further configured to wirelessly transmit the access code in the key memory via the key wireless communication interface in response to user selection of the button;

wherein the programmable electronic lock is configured to (1) learn the access code from the programmable electronic key, and (2) store the access code in the lock memory to thereby program the programmable electronic lock with the learned access code;

wherein the programmable electronic key and the programmed electronic lock, in response to a user selection of the button with the programmable electronic key and the programmed electronic lock being within wireless range of each other, are further configured to wirelessly communicate via the key wireless communication interface and the lock wireless communication interface to permit a comparison between the access code from the key memory and the access code from the lock memory; and

wherein the programmed electronic lock is further configured to unlock contingent on the comparison resulting in a determination that the access code from the key memory matches the access code from the lock memory.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein the key memory is further configured to store operational limit data that limits an ability of the programmable electronic key to unlock the programmed electronic lock.

30. A system comprising:

a programmable electronic key comprising;

a key memory;

a power source;

a key wireless communication interface; and

a button;

a programmable device for securely holding a product, the programmable device comprising;

a device memory;

a device wireless communication interface; and

a circuit configured to selectively control a function for the device;

a computer system that is external to the programmable device and the programmable electronic key;

wherein the computer system is configured to (1) generate an access code for use with the programmable electronic key and the programmable device, and (2) provide the access code to the programmable electronic key;

wherein the programmable electronic key is configured to receive the access code from the computer system and store the access code in the key memory;

wherein the programmable electronic key is further configured to wirelessly transmit the access code in the key memory via the key wireless communication interface in response to user selection of the button;

wherein the programmable device is configured to (1) learn the access code from the programmable electronic key, and (2) store the access code in the device memory to thereby program the programmable device with the learned access code;

wherein the programmable electronic key and the programmed device, in response to a user selection of the button with the programmable electronic key and the programmed device being within wireless range of each other, are further configured to wirelessly communicate via the key wireless communication interface and the device wireless communication interface to permit a comparison between the access code from the key memory and the access code from the device memory;

wherein the circuit is further configured to change a control state of the function contingent on the comparison resulting in a determination that the access code from the key memory matches the access code from the device memory.