Information collector and disseminator for a realty lock box

• US 6,472,973 B1
• Filed: 02/19/1999
• Issued: 10/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gale Harold, Harold L. Marquis, Larson Robin, Sam Davis
• Original Assignee: Gale Harold, Harold L. Marquis, Larson Robin, Sam Davis
• Inventors: Davis, Sam, Harold, Gale, Marquis, Harold L., Robin, Larson
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dalencourt, Yves
• Application Number:
  US09/253,261
• Time in Patent Office: 1,348 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.1, 340/5.64, 340/5.73, 340/5.25, 340/5.23, 340/5.61, 340/5.33, 379/100.05, 379/100.06, 70/63, 235/382
• US Class Current: 340/5.73
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/32 Time-recording locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/23 by means of a password
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5031 Receptacle

Abstract

This invention is the addition of a wireless radio link to a real estate lock box to transfer the data obtained from the access keypad to a nearby receiver which sends the data to a central site computer and compiles the data for dissemination. The lock box can also be controlled from a central site via a radio link.

Claims

1. In an electronic lock system for operating an electro-mechanical lock box having an input port for an electronic key with a power source, the addition of a radio data link to relay information to a nearby receiver with a connection to an autodialer modem capable of connecting to a central site computer comprising:

(a) a housing that adapts to the lock box and accepts the electronic key while maintaining electrical contact between the lock box and the key;

(b) means for attaching said housing to the lock box, with said housing containing a miniature radio transmitter with antenna, which is powered from the power source via said electronic contact between the lock box and the electronic key;

(c) circuitry within the housing to convert the electrical pulses from the electrical contact with the lock box to the electronic key in a form that can be electrically applied to modulate the radio transmitter in the housing;

(d) a receiver located in a nearby location to the lock box which is tuned to the frequency of the radio of the radio transmitter in the housing;

(e) an auto-telephone dialer connected to the receiver to call a central site computer to retransmit the lock box data to the central site computer for final processing;

(f) a central site computer to service a plurality of lock boxes, interpret the data and process the data into meaningful reports.

2. The electronic lock system of claim 1, wherein the housing also contains circuitry to regulate the power from the electronic key and maintain the power for a brief time after the key is removed from the lock box housing for complete communications with a nearby receiver.

3. The electronic lock system of claim 1, which also has a microprocessor connected to the receiver to record the lock box data into local memory to be saved for transmittal to the central site computer when the connection between the autodialer and the central computer is operational.

4. The electronic lock system of claim 1, wherein the power source is a battery contained within the electronic key.

5. The electronic lock system of claim 3, wherein the housing also contains circuitry to regulate the power from the electronic key and maintain the power for a brief time after the key is removed from the lock box housing to complete communications with a nearby receiver.

6. The electronic lock system of claim 5, wherein the power source is a battery installed within the electronic key.

7. The electronic lock system of claim 5, wherein the electronic key has keypad for entering a code that will permit the conveying of the electronic pulses to the lock box and the lock box has a receptacle for containing a key which will be opened upon the receipt of the lock box of the appropriate electrical pulses with the keypad transmitting the code through the microprocessor with the microprocessor having the identification code of the lock box programmed into its memory for transmission with the code from the electronic key to the central site computer.

8. In an electronic lock system for operating an electro-mechanical lock box having an input port for an electronic key with a power source, the addition of a radio data link to relay information to a nearby receiver with a connection to an autodialer modem capable of connecting to a central site computer comprising:

(a) the lock box containing a miniature radio transmitter with antenna which is powered from the power source via electronic contact between the lock box and the electronic key;

(b) circuitry within the lock box to convert the electrical pulses from the electrical contact between the lock box and the electronic in a form that can be electrically applied to modulate the radio transmitter in the lock box;

(c) a receiver located in a nearby location to the lock box which is tuned to the frequency of the radio of the radio transmitter in the lock box;

(d) an auto-telephone dialer connected to the receiver to call a central site computer to retransmit the lock box data to the central site computer for final processing; and

(e) a central site computer to service a plurality of lock boxes, interpret the data and process the data into meaningful reports.

9. The electronic lock system of claim 8, wherein the lock box also contains circuitry to regulate the power from the electronic key and maintain the power for a brief time after the key is removed from the lock box for complete communications with a nearby receiver.

10. The electronic lock system of claim 8, which also has a microprocessor connected to the receiver to record the lock box data into local memory to be saved for transmittal to the central site computer when the connection between the autodialer and the central computer is operational.

11. The electronic lock system of claim 8, wherein the power source is a battery contained within the electronic key.

12. The electronic lock system of claim 10, wherein the lock box also contains circuitry to regulate the power from the electronic key and maintain the power for a brief time after the key is removed from the lock box to complete communications with a nearby receiver.

13. The electronic lock system of claim 12, wherein the power source is a battery installed with an electronic key.

14. The electronic lock system of claim 12, wherein electronic key has keypad for entering a code that will permit the conveying of the electronic pulses to the lock box and the lock box has a receptacle for containing a key which will be opened upon the receipt of the lock box of the appropriate electrical pulses with the keypad transmitting the code through the microprocessor with the microprocessor having the identification code of the lock box programmed into its memory for transmission with the code from the electronic key to the central site computer.