Activation of electronic lock using telecommunications network

• US 6,885,738 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2003
• Issued: 04/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Open Invention Network LLC
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: White, Isaac D. M., Dickens, James
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAN, WING F
• Application Number:
  US10/374,447
• Publication Number:
  US 20040165708A1
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 37910201-10206, 379/93.02, 379/93.03, 379/142.01, 37914204-14206, 379/142.13, 379/142.15
• US Class Current: 379/102.06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/007 with remote control systems remote control in general G08C

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed for activating an electronic lock in an intelligent switched telecommunications network having a plurality of Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) components. A call is received from a device communicating with the telecommunications network. The call is from a calling party to a called party. Processing of the call within the telecommunications network is suspended. A database is queried for a telephone number of the called party. The database stores telephone numbers of called parties subscribing to a lock service provided by a telecommunications service provider. The lock service allows a user to remotely activate an electronic lock using the telecommunications network. If the query is successful, processing of the call within the telecommunications network is resumed. The call is used to activate the electronic lock.

Claims

1. In an intelligent switched telecommunications network having a plurality of Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) components, a method for activating an electronic lock, comprising:

receiving a communication from a device communicating with the telecommunications network, the communication from a calling telephone number;

suspending processing of the communication within the telecommunications network;

querying a database for at least one of i) a called telephone number and ii) a calling telephone number, the database storing telephone numbers of subscribers to a lock service provided by a telecommunications service provider, the lock service using the telecommunications network to allow remote activation of an electronic lock; and

if the query is successful, resuming processing of the communication within the telecommunications network,

wherein the communication is used to activate the electronic lock.

2. A method for activating an electronic lock according to claim 1, wherein the step of querying the database for the called telephone number comprises a Service Control Point querying the database.

3. A method for activating an electronic lock according to claim 1, wherein the step of suspending processing of the communication comprises suspending the communication at a Service Switching Point on the telecommunications network.

4. A method for activating an electronic lock according to claim 1, further comprising authenticating the user.

5. A method for activating an electronic lock according to claim 1, further comprising identifying the electronic lock to be activated.

6. A method for activating an electronic lock according to claim 1, further comprising communicating the communication along the telecommunications network to the electronic lock, the electronic lock communicating with the telecommunications network, the communication activating the electronic lock to at least one of i) a locked condition and ii) an unlocked condition.

7. A method for activating an electronic lock according to claim 6, wherein the communication comprises information identifying the electronic lock to be activated.

8. A method for activating an electronic lock according to claim 1, further comprising communicating the communication along the telecommunications network to a plurality of electronic locks, the communication causing at least one electronic lock to activate.

9. A method for activating an electronic lock according to claim 8, wherein the communication comprises information identifying the at least one electronic lock to be activated.

10. A method for activating an electronic lock according to claim 1, further comprising wirelessly communicating the communication from the telecommunications network to the electronic lock.

11. A telecommunications network for processing a communication, comprising the following Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) components:

a Service Control Point processing system for providing lock service to a subscriber, the Service Control Point processing system comprising a processor accessing a database of telephone numbers of called parties subscribing to the lock service, the lock service allowing a user to remotely activate an electronic lock using the telecommunications network.