Communication enabled active lock system

• US 8,138,886 B1
• Filed: 05/21/2008
• Issued: 03/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ifay F. Chang
• Original Assignee: Ifay F. Chang
• Inventors: Chang, Ifay F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alizada, Omeed
• Application Number:
  US12/124,401
• Time in Patent Office: 1,399 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.73, 340/5.22, 340/5.28, 340/5.32, 70/3, 70/17, 70/21, 70/22, 70256-257
• US Class Current: 340/5.73
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 19/0005 Key safes E05B35/086 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0058 by batteries
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0064 by solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0095 Mechanical aspects of locks controlled by telephone signals, e.g. by mobile phones electronic locks G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/00 Padlocks permutation locks E05B37/00; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00936 for key cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00817 where the code of the lock can be programmed
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/308 Combination lock

Abstract

An active lock system includes wireless communication capability and information display and processing functions providing convenience, security and privacy protect usable as a secured lock and/or as a lock box for storing a key or code, permitting access to a locked premise. The lock system consists of a keyless lock device with a coded input control for locking and unlocking itself, a compartment for storing objects, a wireless communication device for receiving cell phone calls and performing identity verification, an information processing and display device for capturing, storing and displaying data, instructions, images, graphics, messages, advertisements and system operational information, and a handle for attaching the lock system to a property it protects and controls access. The communication device operates under cell phone communication standards and decodes dial tone signals whereas the information display offers data interaction, procedural instructions and ads. The system can be powered by a solar pane.

Claims

1. A method for operating a lock system comprising the following steps:

assigning a lock id and lock code to said lock system by an owner who places said lock system on a premise to control access to said premise;

activating a wireless communication device housed in said lock system via a switch;

calling said communication device by dialing a communication number via a personal cell phone by the owner;

using said personal cell phone and its communication protocol and dial tone generation to enter said lock id, said lock code and expected and specific caller identifications into a memory shared by said wireless communication device and a display device and to program and activate an interactive program in said lock system for verifying lock id, lock code and caller identifications while at the location of said lock box;

entering, viewing, verifying and editing information to said lock through the operation of said interactive program;

wherein said information comprising of said lock id, said lock code, said caller identifications, instructions, messages and ads entered by the owner are stored in said memory shared by said communication device and said display device;

entering instructions and messages intended for specific users of said lock system, wanting in a user mode to gain access to said premise at a specific time;

testing communication with said communication device and said display device by calling via said personal cell phone, observing on said display device, verifying and obtaining said information that is displayed responsive to said calling at said location of said lock system;

wherein said testing and said information as lock code is displayed on the display device housed in said lock system can be extended beyond testing time rendering the procedure as the user mode; and

opening said lock system using said lock code.

2. The method for operating said lock system in claim 1;

wherein said lock id and said lock code are represented by two series of alphanumeric code, represented, generated and transmitted by dial tone signals via said personal cell phone, recognized and processed by said interactive program in said lock system and stored in said memory;

wherein said caller-ids are represented by callers'"'"' cell phone numbers, generated and transmitted by dial tone signals via said personal cell phone, and recognized and processed by said interactive program in said lock system and stored in said memory; and

wherein said caller-ids are alternatively represented by callers'"'"' driver license numbers, generated and transmitted by dial tone signals via said personal cell phone, and recognized and processed by said interactive program in said lock system and stored in said memory.

3. The method for operating said lock system in claim 1;

wherein said cell phone calling comprises of a call made by the owner of said lock system;

wherein said lock id and said lock code are codes dynamically selected and entered by said owner via a cell phone call are for a specific expected user who has requested and been granted a specific approval of a specific access to said premise during a specific period of time;

wherein said caller-ids are entered by said owner of said lock system by using dial tone signals generated by a cell phone call and are automatically registered and stored by said communication device for caller verification purposes;

wherein said one of said caller-ids belonging to said owner is designated as a super user id which allows said owner to activate and deactivate, to alter said interactive program and to process said information in a speedy and expedient procedure.

8. A communicative lock system in a box form for property protection that performs the method as in claim 1 or claim 4, the system comprising:

a keyless lock device having a programmable alphanumerically coded input control for locking and unlocking of a box with a compartment for storing objects;

a communication device having a wireless communication cell phone receiver with an antenna functionally compliant with cell phone communication protocols and capable of receiving and decoding cell phone calls and dial tone signals;

a processor capable of being programmed to process said dial tone signals into digital data and store said processed digital data and said received cell phone calls in a memory;

a display device having an information processing unit and an interactive program capable of interactively processing and displaying said digital data and said voice signal from said memory as well as camera images, messages and graphics;

a rechargeable battery circuit; and

a box housing said keyless lock, said communication device with an antenna, said processor, said display device and said battery circuit and having a handle operated by a keyless lock release mechanism to lock and unlock said lock system.

9. The lock system in claim 8

wherein said alphanumerically coded input control is a set of push button pins representing numerals and alphabets controlling a resettable push button keyless lock mechanism for locking and unlocking said keyless lock;

and

wherein said alphanumerically coded input control is an alphanumerical data code processed by said processor for controlling an electromagnetic keyless lock mechanism for locking and unlocking said keyless lock.

10. The lock system in claim 8

wherein said communication device consists of a cell phone communication receiver operable under wireless cell phone communication protocol standards of G1, G2, G2.5, G3, G3.5, G4, G5 and their compatible conventions to receive said cell phone calls and said dial tones;

whereas said communication device for its intended data communication purposes does not need microphone and speaker thus making its power consumption low, feasible for battery support.

11. The lock system in claim 8

wherein said communication device and said display device are mounted on the front half of said lock system and connected to a rechargeable battery circuit and an energy source such as a solar device mounted on the back half of said lock system to receive solar energy when the lock system is turned over with solar device exposed to the sun;

wherein said solar device is a built-in solar panel electrically connected to said communication device and said display device through said battery circuit and physically mounted on the back surface of said lock system having a surface protector on the edges to prevent being scratched when said lock system is turned facing front to be used while said solar panel facing the back.

12. The lock system in claim 8

wherein said communication device and said display device are mounted on the front half of said lock system and connected to a rechargeable battery circuit and an energy source such as a solar device mounted on the back half of said lock system to receive solar energy when the lock system is turned over with solar device exposed to the sun;

wherein said solar device is an external removable solar panel electrically connected to said communication device and said display device through said battery circuit and physically snapped on the back surface of said lock system having surface protectors on the edges to prevent being scratched when said lock system is turned facing front to be used while said solar panel facing the back.

13. The lock system in claim 8

Wherein said dial tone signal varies depending on the cell phone standards used by said cell phone according to country and according to maker, such as Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF), Touch Tone, MayField 4 (MF4), Bellcore FSK, secondary dial tone and express dial.

14. The lock system in claim 8

Wherein said lock release mechanism is electronically activated using a solenoid to release a spring according to said alphanumerically coded input control.

15. The lock system in claim 8

Wherein said lock release mechanism is activated by push pins according to said alphanumerically coded input control.

4. A method for operating a lock system comprising the following steps:

a caller calling the owner of said lock system to request access to a premise during a certain period of time by obtaining a lock id of said lock system and a communication number for a communication device housed in said lock system;

authenticating with said owner the caller identification of said caller;

upon caller identification confirmation, obtaining from said owner said lock id of said lock system and said communication number of said communication device housed in said lock system;

said caller initiating a cell phone call to said communication number having said caller identification of said caller to establish wireless communication with said lock system at the premise where said lock system is placed and at the time approved for access by said authenticating;

communicating with said lock system through said cell phone and interacting with said lock system via an interactive program residing in an information processing unit of said lock system by following instructions displayed on a display device;

inputting said caller identification and said lock id to said lock system via said cell phone;

wherein said caller identification comprises a legitimate id such as caller'"'"'s cell phone number and driver license number;

upon verification of said inputting personal caller identification and said lock id, said caller observing said display device and following instructions to obtain the lock code presented by said lock system;

wherein said lock code is displayed on the display screen of said display device; and

said caller using said lock code to unlock said lock system.

5. The method for operating said lock system in claim 4;

wherein said caller is a user who wishes to communicate with the owner of said lock system to obtain said lock id and said lock code of said lock system to gain access to said premise during said approved period of time by opening said lock system;

wherein said lock id and said lock code are selected by said owner for said caller;

wherein said lock id and said lock code are alphanumerical codes entered and represented, generated and transmitted by dial tone signals via said caller'"'"'s personal cell phone;

wherein said caller'"'"'s id is represented by said legitimate id of said caller, received by said owner, who transmitted said caller id via dial tone signals of said owner'"'"'s cell phone, and recognized and processed by said interactive program of said lock system and stored in said memory for user verification purpose; and

wherein said caller is observing said display device and completing identification confirmation and lock id verification with said lock system at the said premis.

6. The method for operating said lock system in claim 4;

wherein said caller is a repeat user, who had previously communicated with the owner of said lock system and had obtained the lock id and the communication number of said lock system, wishing to gain access to said premise again;

wherein said repeat user can omit communication with the owner of said lock system and communicates directly with said lock system to verify said caller'"'"'s previous approved access in order to obtain a new lock code assigned by said owner specifically for such repeat users;

wherein said repeat user'"'"'s caller id must be said caller'"'"'s said legitimate id which had been previously registered and stored in the communication device of said lock system for verifying said repeat user'"'"'s identification; and

wherein said repeat user'"'"'s direct communication with said lock system involves responding to said interactive program to verify said repeat user'"'"'s previous approved access.

7. The method in claim 4

Wherein said communication number can be shared by multiple units of said lock systems when the number is subscribed to a multiple phone service plan offered by a carrier.