Locking system and a method at a locking system

• US 7,937,070 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2005
• Issued: 05/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steab Stendal E1 AB
• Original Assignee: Steab Stendal E1 AB
• Inventors: Stendal, Fredrik
• Primary Examiner(s): Hu; Jinsong
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shen; Qun
• Application Number:
  US11/574,897
• Publication Number:
  US 20080057905A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,066 Days
• Field of Search: 370/338, 340/5.7, 340/5.61, 340/5.1
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0023 with encription of the transmittted data signal
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A locking system includes at least one electrical locking member for a door and at least one key member. Each electrical locking member is associated with a first communication member for wireless communication over short distances, and each key member includes a programmable, mobile unit including a second communication member for wireless communication over short distances. The electrical locking member is unlocked or locked by the fact that the second communication member encryptedly transmits an address unique to the second mobile unit, as well as an authorized user code to the first communication member.

Claims

1. Locking system comprising:

at least one electrical locking member for a door, the electrical locking member being associated with a first communication member for wireless communication over short distances;

at least one key member, the key member comprising a programmable, mobile unit comprising a second communication member for wireless communication over short distances;

a third, persistent memory member connected to the first communication member, the third memory member storing pair information comprising at least one link and encryption keys of at least the mobile unit paired together with at least the electrical locking member, the pair information allowing the mobile unit to unlock or lock the electrical locking member, the second communication member being adapted to transmit an encrypted address unique to the mobile unit and an authorized user code to the first communication member to unlock or lock the electrical locking member,

wherein each mobile unit comprises a selecting member operable to select one of three different operating modes of the mobile unit, and wherein, in a second operating mode, the mobile unit is adapted to search, by means of the pair information, automatically for electrical locking members that are registered in a second memory member included in each mobile unit at a predetermined time interval when the mobile unit finds at least one electrical locking member within a predetermined distance from the mobile unit, the mobile unit being adapted to display on a display member included in each mobile unit a question if the locking member found should be unlocked or locked.

2. Locking system according to claim 1, comprising a central processing unit connected to the electrical locking member, the central processing unit comprising a memory member for storage of the unique address of the mobile unit and the authorized user code, and the central processing unit being adapted to provide a signal to unlock or lock the electrical locking member.

3. Locking system according to claim 1, wherein each first communication member is connected to a first memory member adapted to store the unique address of the mobile unit as well as the authorized user code.

4. Locking system according to claim 3, wherein each electrical locking member is associated with a comparing member connected to the first communication member and the first memory member and adapted to compare and confirm agreement between the unique address of the mobile unit and user code received from the second communication member with the address and user code in the first memory member.

5. Locking system according to claim 4, wherein the electrical locking member remains in a locked state when the comparing member does not establish agreement.

6. Locking system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second communication member, respectively, are adapted to communicate by means of Bluetooth technology.

7. Locking system according to claim 1, wherein, in a first operating mode, the mobile unit is adapted to search, by means of the pair information, for electrical locking members and, if more than one electrical locking member is registered in a second memory member included in each mobile unit, the first mobile unit is adapted to display a list on a display member included in each mobile unit, the first mobile unit being adapted to permit a user to select from the list which electrical locking member of the more than one electrical locking member should be unlocked or locked.

8. Locking system according to claim 1, wherein, in a third operating mode, the mobile unit is adapted to search, by means of the pair information, automatically for electrical locking members that are registered in a second memory member included in each mobile unit and, when the mobile unit finds at least one electrical locking member within a predetermined distance from the mobile unit, the mobile unit being adapted to unlock or lock the locking member.

9. Locking system according to claim 8, wherein the mobile unit is adapted to send an SMS message comprising an erasure code to the mobile unit, the user code being erased in the mobile unit.

10. Locking system according to claim 1, wherein each mobile unit comprises a mobile telephone or a hand-held computer.

11. Locking system according to claim 10, wherein each first communication member is connected to a first memory member adapted to store the unique address of the mobile unit as well as the authorized user code, and wherein the first communication member, the first memory member and the third memory member are integrated in the electrical locking member.

12. Locking system according to claim 10, wherein each first communication member is connected to a first memory member adapted to store the unique address of the mobile unit as well as the authorized user code, and wherein the first communication member, the first memory member and the third memory member are arranged in a change-over switch connected to each the locking member and arranged to enable opening of the electrical locking member from inside.

13. Locking system according to claim 1, wherein a key member comprises a stationary unit.

14. Method of using a locking system, the locking system comprising at least one electrical locking member for a door and at least one key member, the key member comprising a programmable, mobile unit, for wireless unlocking or locking of the electrical locking member, the method comprising:

storing pair information in a third persistent memory member connected to a first communication member associated with the electrical locking member, the pair information allowing a mobile unit to unlock or lock an electrical locking member;

transmitting an encrypted address unique to the mobile unit to the first communication member by a second communication member included in the mobile unit, the second communication member being adapted for wireless communication over short distances;

unlocking or locking the electrical locking in response to the transmitted unique address,

selecting one of three different operating modes of the mobile unit by means of a selecting member included in each mobile unit, and

in a second operating mode, the method comprises;

automatically searching with the mobile unit for electrical locking members that are registered in a second memory member included in each mobile unit at a predetermined time interval by means of the pair information; and

when the mobile unit finds at least one electrical locking member within a predetermined distance from the mobile unit, displaying on a display member a question whether the at least one locking member should be unlocked or locked.

15. Method for wireless unlocking or locking of one or more electrical locking members according to claim 14, comprising:

storing at least one unique address of the mobile unit and at least one authorized user code in a central processing unit connected to each electrical locking member; and

determining whether the electrical locking member should be unlocked or locked with the central processing unit and sending a signal from the central processing unit to unlock or lock the electrical locking member.

16. Method for wireless unlocking or locking of one or more electrical locking members according to claim 14, comprising:

storing at least one unique address of the mobile unit and at least one authorized user code in a first memory member connected to the first communication member.

17. Method for wireless unlocking or locking of one or more electrical locking members according to claim 16, comprising:

comparing agreement between address and user code received from the second communication member and address and user code in the first memory member; and

unlocking or locking the electrical locking member if agreement is established.

18. Method for wireless unlocking or locking of one or more electrical locking members according to claim 14, wherein the first and second communication member, respectively, communicate by means of Bluetooth technology.

19. Method for wireless unlocking or locking or one or more electrical locking members according to claim 14, wherein, in a first operating mode, the method comprises:

searching for electrical locking members with the mobile unit by means of the pair information;

displaying a list comprising registered electrical locking members if more than one electrical locking member is registered in a second memory member included in each mobile unit; and

selecting an electrical locking member to be unlocked or locked from the more than one electrical locking member.

20. Method for wireless unlocking or locking of one or more electrical locking members according to claim 14, wherein, in a third operating mode, the method comprises:

automatically searching with the mobile unit for electrical locking members that are registered in a second memory member included in each mobile unit by means of the pair information; and

when the mobile unit finds at least one electrical locking member within a predetermined distance from the mobile unit, unlocking or locking at least one of the at least one electrical locking member found.

21. Method for wireless unlocking or locking of one or more electrical locking members according to claim 20, comprising:

sending an erasure code to the mobile unit; and

erasing the user code in the mobile unit.

22. Method for wireless unlocking or locking of one or more electrical locking members according to claim 21, wherein the key member comprises a stationary unit.

23. At least one computer software product directly loadable in an internal memory of at least one digital computer, the computer software product comprising software code portions for executing the steps according to claim 14 when the computer software product is run on the at least one computer.

24. Locking system comprising:

at least one electrical locking member for a door, the electrical locking member being associated with a first communication member for wireless communication over short distances;

at least one key member, the key member comprising a programmable, mobile unit comprising a second communication member for wireless communication over short distances;

a third, persistent memory member connected to the first communication member, the third memory member storing pair information comprising at least one link and encryption keys of at least the mobile unit paired together with at least the electrical locking member, the pair information allowing the mobile unit to unlock or lock the electrical locking member, the second communication member being adapted to transmit an encrypted address unique to the mobile unit and an authorized user code to the first communication member to unlock or lock the electrical locking member,

wherein the first and second communication member, respectively, are adapted to communicate by means of Bluetooth technology,

wherein each mobile unit comprises a selecting member operable to select one of three different operating modes of the mobile unit,

wherein, in a first operating mode, the mobile unit is adapted to search, by means of the pair information, for electrical locking members and, if more than one electrical locking member is registered in a second memory member included in each mobile unit, the first mobile unit is adapted to display a list on a display member included in each mobile unit, the first mobile unit being adapted to permit a user to select from the list which electrical locking member of the more than one electrical locking member should be unlocked or locked,

wherein, in a second operating mode, the mobile unit is adapted to search, by means of the pair information, automatically for electrical locking members that are registered in a second memory member included in each mobile unit at a predetermined time interval when the mobile unit finds at least one electrical locking member within a predetermined distance from the mobile unit, the mobile unit being adapted to display on a display member included in each mobile unit a question if the locking member found should be unlocked or locked, and

wherein, in a third operating mode, the mobile unit is adapted to search, by means of the pair information, automatically for electrical locking members that are registered in a second memory member included in each mobile unit and, when the mobile unit finds at least one electrical locking member within a predetermined distance from the mobile unit, the mobile unit being adapted to unlock or lock the locking member.

25. Method of using a locking system, the locking system comprising at least one electrical locking member for a door and at least one key member, the key member comprising a programmable, mobile unit, for wireless unlocking or locking of the electrical locking member, the method comprising:

storing pair information in a third persistent memory member connected to a first communication member associated with the electrical locking member, the pair information allowing a mobile unit to unlock or lock an electrical locking member;

transmitting an encrypted address unique to the mobile unit to the first communication member by a second communication member included in the mobile unit, the second communication member being adapted for wireless communication over short distances; and

unlocking or locking the electrical locking in response to the transmitted unique address,

wherein the first and second communication member, respectively, communicate by means of Bluetooth technology, and

the method comprising selecting one of three different operating modes of the mobile unit by means of a selecting member included in each mobile unit, wherein,

in a first operating mode, the method comprises;

searching for electrical locking members with the mobile unit by means of the pair information;

displaying a list comprising registered electrical locking members if more than one electrical locking member is registered in a second memory member included in each mobile unit; and

selecting an electrical locking member to be unlocked or locked from the more than one electrical locking member,

in a second operating mode, the method comprises;

automatically searching with the mobile unit for electrical locking members that are registered in a second memory member included in each mobile unit at a predetermined time interval by means of the pair information; and

when the mobile unit finds at least one electrical locking member within a predetermined distance from the mobile unit, displaying on a display member a question whether the at least one locking member should be unlocked or locked, and

in the third operating mode, the method comprises;

automatically searching with the mobile unit for electrical locking members that are registered in a second memory member included in each mobile unit by means of the pair information; and

when the mobile unit finds at least one electrical locking member within a predetermined distance from the mobile unit, unlocking or locking at least one of the at least one electrical locking member found.