Key control with real time communications to remote locations

• US 7,606,558 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2004
• Issued: 10/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UTC Fire & Security Americas Corporation, Inc. (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: GE Security Incorporated (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Inventors: Hays, Jonathon G., Fale, Casey, Petrizzi, James, Despain, Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): Vuong; Quochien B
• Application Number:
  US10/785,738
• Publication Number:
  US 20040219903A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,066 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.01, 455/3.06, 455/410, 455/41.3, 340/5.6, 340/5.73, 340/5.74, 340/5.8, 340/5.25, 340/5.48, 340/5, 340/25, 379/93.37, 379/102.06
• US Class Current: 455/410
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 19/0005 Key safes E05B35/086 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/215 the system having a variable access-code, e.g. varied as a function of time
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/082 using revocation of authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 Wireless channel access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/265 for initial activation of new user

Abstract

A key control system includes at least one premise, a lockbox capable of securing a key to the premise and at least one mobile telephone associated with a user and having a stored access device program capable of communicating an access request to the lockbox. The premise is subject to authorized access by others, such as the user, based on preferences of an approval party established with the system. If specified by these preferences, the mobile telephone automatically initiates a communication to a selected destination to request approval of the access request.

Claims

1. A key control system for controlling access to a premise, the system comprising:

a wireless communication device associated with a user and having a stored access device program configured to cause the wireless communication device to communicate an access request to a lockbox having a lockable area configured to secure a key to the premise, wherein, if specified by preferences established by an approval party, the wireless communication device is configured to automatically initiate a communication to a selected destination to request approval of the access request, the communication to the selected destination being initiated as a result of the wireless communication device communicating the access request to the lockbox.

2. The key control system of claim 1, wherein the approval party is a listing real estate agent, and wherein the wireless communication device initiates a communication to the listing agent via a data communication sent over the wireless communication device'"'"'s wireless carrier network.

3. The key control system of claim 1, wherein the destination to which the wireless communication device initiates the communication includes a central authority having a computer receptive to communications from the wireless communication device over the wireless communication device'"'"'s wireless carrier network.

4. The key control system of claim 1, wherein if the access request is approved, information is communicated to the user via the wireless communication device to complete the approved access.

5. The key control system of claim 4, wherein the user receives an approval code to be entered via a keypad on the wireless communication device.

6. The key control system of claim 5, wherein instructions indicating approval of the access request sent to the wireless communication device automatically interact with the access device program stored in the wireless communication device.

7. The key control system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises the lockbox, and wherein the lockbox is configured to receive the access request from the wireless communication device.

8. The key control system of claim 7, wherein the wireless communication device and the lockbox are configured such that the access request from the wireless communication device to the lockbox is communicated wirelessly.

9. The key control system of claim 8, wherein the wireless communication from the wireless communication device to the lockbox includes infrared communication.

10. A key control system, comprising:

a lockbox having a lockable area for securing a key for access to a premise;

at least one wireless communication device assigned to a user and programmed with an access device program configured to cause the wireless communication device to communicate an access request to the lockbox and to communicate with at least one computer in a central authority that administers at least privileges of users to access the lockbox and preferences of an approval party that determines user access to the premise,

wherein in response to an access request by the user via the wireless communication device to unlock the lockbox, the wireless communication device automatically initiates a communication to the central authority that includes access request information, wherein the central authority reviews the access request information and approval party'"'"'s preferences associated with the premise, and

wherein if the central authority determines that the approval party'"'"'s preferences require approval of said access request, the central authority contacts the approval party and requests approval.

11. The key control system of claim 10, wherein if the central authority grants the access request, the central authority communicates information to the user via the wireless communication device.

12. The key control system of claim 11, wherein the information communicated to the user via the wireless communication device includes a voice message.

13. The key control system of claim 12, wherein the information communicated to the user via the wireless communication device includes instructions that automatically interact with the program stored in the wireless communication device to make the access request effective.

14. The key control system of claim 10, wherein if the access request is granted, the wireless communication device is authorized to access the lockbox within a predetermined time period.

15. The key control system of claim 14, wherein the wireless communication device is authorized to access the lockbox exactly one time within the predetermined time period.

16. The key control system of claim 10, wherein the lockbox is a first lockbox, further comprising at least a second lockbox, and wherein if the access request for the first lockbox is granted, the wireless communication device is additionally authorized to access at least the second lockbox.

17. The key control system of claim 10, wherein if the access request is granted, the user is granted access to the lockbox for a predetermined number of times.

18. The key control system of claim 17, wherein the granted access request expires after a predetermined time period.

19. The key control system of claim 10, wherein if the access request is granted, the user is granted access to the lockbox and any additional separate lockboxes within the system for a predetermined number of times.

20. The key control system of claim 19, wherein the central authority is operable to send termination instructions to the wireless communication device effective to block access to the lockbox via the wireless communication device, the termination instructions superceding any granted access request.

21. The key control system of claim 20, wherein the termination instructions are effective to block access to multiple lockboxes within the system.

22. The key control system of claim 19, wherein the granted access request expires after a predetermined time period.

23. The key control system of claim 22, wherein the central authority is configured to send termination instructions to the wireless communication device effective to block access to the lockbox via the wireless communication device, the termination instructions superceding any granted access request.

24. The key control system of claim 10, wherein the central authority also administers communications to and from the user regarding operation of the system.

25. The key control system of claim 10, wherein if the central authority determines that the approval party'"'"'s preferences do not require approval of the access request, the central authority processes the user'"'"'s access request in accordance with stored user privileges, and the access request is granted if authorized.

26. A wireless communication device, comprising:

a memory having a stored access device program configured to allow the wireless communication device to wirelessly communicate an access request to a nearby electronic lock, which, if authorized, unlocks the electronic lock; and

a memory having an authorization update program configured to allow the wireless communication device to automatically establish communication between the wireless communication device and a central server when the wireless communication device is powered on or when the wireless communication device reenters a mobile coverage area,

wherein the wireless communication device receives a reauthorization communication if authorization for the wireless communication device has been renewed.

27. A wireless communication device comprising:

a processor; and

one or more computer memories comprising instructions for execution by the processor to configure the wireless communication device to be actuatable by a user to interface with a lockbox to request access to at least one premise accessed by a key contained in the lockbox and to further configure the wireless communication device to establish a first communications link between the wireless communication device and the lockbox for requesting access and a second communications link from the wireless communication device to a remote location for requesting approval of the requested access, the second communications link being automatically initiated by the wireless communication device substantially in real time with the first communications link.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein a decision on whether or not the access request is approved is communicated to the wireless communication device within about 10 seconds.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein a decision on whether or not the access request is approved is communicated to the wireless communication device within about 30 seconds.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein a decision on whether or not the access request is approved is communicated to the wireless communication device within about 60 seconds.

31. A computer memory comprising:

instructions to configure a wireless communication device to function as an access device by transmitting a wireless access request to an electronic lock; and

instructions to configure the wireless communication device to automatically initiate, as a result of transmitting the wireless access request to the electronic lock, a communication to an approval party if in accordance with predetermined preferences of the approval party, wherein the communication requesting approval of the access request occurs at approximately the same time the access request is transmitted to the electronic lock.

32. A system comprising:

a lockbox having an area for securing a key for access to a premise;

one or more computers remotely located from the lockbox, wherein the one or more computers are configured to receive an indication from a wireless communication device that a user of the wireless communication device has requested access to the key in the lockbox, the indication having automatically been sent by the wireless communication device as a result of the communication device communicating an access request to the lockbox, and wherein the one or more computers receive the indication from the wireless communication device at approximately the same time that the user requests access to the key.