Mesh network door lock

• US 7,701,331 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2006
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clean Energy Management Solutions, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Bao Q. Tran
• Inventors: Tran, Bao Q.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): EUSTAQUIO, CAL J
• Application Number:
  US11/451,200
• Publication Number:
  US 20070290793A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,408 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426.28, 340/825.69, 340/539.1, 709/352
• US Class Current: 340/539.1
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/063 using wireless information transmission between the vehicle and a fixed station identification of vehicles G08G
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/084 using delegated authorisation, e.g. open authorisation [OAuth] protocol
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for sending a code from a mesh network key and wirelessly communicating the code with one or more mesh network appliances over a mesh network such as ZigBee; receiving the code over the mesh network by a mesh network lock controller; and providing access to the secured area upon authenticating the code.

Claims

1. An electronic door lock system, comprising:

an electrically actuated arm having a first position to allow access to an area and a second position to secure the area;

a mesh network to wirelessly communicate with one or more appliances;

a mesh network key accessed by a user and coupled to the mesh network to send a code;

a mesh network lock controller coupled to the electrically actuated arm and to the mesh network, said controller moving the electrically actuated arm to the first position upon authenticating the code, wherein two-way voice communication is captured by the mesh network key or an appliance coupled to the mesh network and transmitted via the mesh network proximate to an arm actuation.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the mesh network comprises one of:

an 802.15 network, a ZigBee network.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein a voice message is captured by one of:

the mesh network key and the mesh network lock controller.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the message is sent to a remote listener using one of:

Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS), cellular telephone service, Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP).

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the code comprises a cryptographic code.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrically actuated arm comprises a motor driving a garage door and wherein the mesh network lock controller opens the garage door without user action after an automatic authentication of an approaching vehicle.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrically actuated arm opens one or more car door locks.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrically actuated arm applies power to an appliance to turn on the appliance.

9. The system of claim 1, comprising a mesh network appliance to provide home security, door access control, lighting control, power outlet control, dimmer control, switch control, temperature control, humidity control, carbon monoxide control, fire alarm control, blind control, shade control, window control, oven control, cooking range control, personal computer control, entertainment console control, television control, projector control, garage door control, car control, pool temperature control, water pump control, furnace control, heater control, thermostat control, electricity meter monitor, water meter monitor, gas meter monitor, and remote diagnostic.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the mesh network is coupled to a wide area network including the Internet.

11. The system of claim 1, comprising an in-door positioning system coupled to one or more mesh network appliances to provide location information.

12. The system of claim 1, comprising a call center coupled to the mesh network to provide a human response.

13. The system of claim 1, comprising a web server coupled to the mesh network and to the POTS to provide information to an authorized remote user.

14. The system of claim 1, comprising a wireless router coupled to the mesh network and wherein the wireless router comprises one of:

802.11 router, 802.16 router, WiFi router, WiMAX router, Bluetooth router, X10 router.

15. The system of claim 1, comprising a mesh network appliance coupled to a power line to communicate X10 data to and from the mesh network.

16. A method to provide access to a secured area, comprising:

actuating an electrically actuatable arm having a first position and second position;

sending a code from a mesh network key and wirelessly communicating the code with one or more mesh network appliances over a mesh network;

capturing two-way voice communication by the mesh network key or a mesh appliance coupled to the mesh network and transmitting the two-way voice communication via the mesh network;

receiving the code over the mesh network by a mesh network lock controller; and

providing access to the secured area upon authenticating the code.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the mesh network comprises an 805.15 network.

18. The method of claim 16, comprising capturing and transmitting a voice message by one of:

the mesh network key and the mesh network lock controller.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the message is sent to a remote listener using one of:

Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS), cellular telephone service, Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP).

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the code comprises a cryptographic code and wherein the mesh network appliance provides home security, door access control, lighting control, power outlet control, dimmer control, switch control, temperature control, humidity control, carbon monoxide control, fire alarm control, blind control, shade control, window control, oven control, cooking range control, personal computer control, entertainment console control, television control, projector control, garage door control, car control, pool temperature control, water pump control, furnace control, heater control, thermostat control, electricity meter monitor, water meter monitor, gas meter monitor, and remote diagnostic.