Electronic lock box proximity access control
First Claim
1. A method for operating an electronic lock box system, said method comprising:
- (a) providing an electronic lock box having a first processing circuit, a first memory circuit, a first short range wireless communications device, a secure compartment having a movable opening element that is under the control of said first processing circuit, and a first data input device;
(i) periodically inspecting said first data input device to determine if it has been activated, and if so, determining a first input data value that is entered thereon by a user;
(ii) retrieving data stored in said first memory circuit, including a unique to lockbox identifier value;
(iii) constructing a hail message from said unique lockbox identifier value and from said first input data value, and transmitting said hail message using said first short range wireless communications device; and
(b) providing a portable transponder having a second processing circuit, a second memory circuit, and a second short range wireless communications device;
(i) retrieving data stored in said second memory circuit, including a user identifier data value; and
(ii) determining if said second short range wireless communications device has received said hail message from said electronic lock box; and
if so, based upon said user identifier data value, determining if said hail message contains information corresponding to the identity of said user;
(c) if said received hail message corresponds to the identity of said user, then at said portable transponder;
(i) retrieving data stored in said second memory circuit, including a second time sensitive encryption key value;
(ii) executing a second data encryption routine that uses said second time sensitive encryption key value and applies it to said user identifier data value, thereby creating a second encrypted data message;
(iii) transmitting a response message that includes said second encrypted data message, using said second short range wireless communications device; and
(d) at said electronic lock box;
(i) determining if said first short range wireless communications device has received said response message from said portable transponder, and if so;
(ii) retrieving data stored in said first memory circuit, including a first time sensitive encryption key value;
(iii) executing a first data decryption routine that uses said first time sensitive encryption key value and applies it to said response message, thereby generating a first identifier code value; and
(iv) comparing said first identifier code value to said first input data value, and if there is a match, then granting access to said secure compartment of the electronic lock box.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic lock box system includes a wireless portable transponder that communicates with an electronic lock box using a low power radio link. The portable transponder includes: a wide area network radio to communicate to a central clearinghouse computer, a motion sensor to activate its wide area network radio, and a connector to communicate with a secure memory device. The electronic lock box sends a hail message that is intercepted by the portable transponder; the hail message includes identification information. The portable transponder responds with a message that includes a time sensitive encryption key; the lock box authenticates this response message using its own time sensitive encryption key. If the messages are authenticated, the lock box sends an access event record to the portable transponder, and this access event record is stored in the secure memory device. If a wide area network is available, the portable transponder sends the access event record to the central clearinghouse computer.
44 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for operating an electronic lock box system, said method comprising:
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(a) providing an electronic lock box having a first processing circuit, a first memory circuit, a first short range wireless communications device, a secure compartment having a movable opening element that is under the control of said first processing circuit, and a first data input device; (i) periodically inspecting said first data input device to determine if it has been activated, and if so, determining a first input data value that is entered thereon by a user; (ii) retrieving data stored in said first memory circuit, including a unique to lockbox identifier value; (iii) constructing a hail message from said unique lockbox identifier value and from said first input data value, and transmitting said hail message using said first short range wireless communications device; and (b) providing a portable transponder having a second processing circuit, a second memory circuit, and a second short range wireless communications device; (i) retrieving data stored in said second memory circuit, including a user identifier data value; and (ii) determining if said second short range wireless communications device has received said hail message from said electronic lock box; and
if so, based upon said user identifier data value, determining if said hail message contains information corresponding to the identity of said user;(c) if said received hail message corresponds to the identity of said user, then at said portable transponder; (i) retrieving data stored in said second memory circuit, including a second time sensitive encryption key value; (ii) executing a second data encryption routine that uses said second time sensitive encryption key value and applies it to said user identifier data value, thereby creating a second encrypted data message; (iii) transmitting a response message that includes said second encrypted data message, using said second short range wireless communications device; and (d) at said electronic lock box; (i) determining if said first short range wireless communications device has received said response message from said portable transponder, and if so; (ii) retrieving data stored in said first memory circuit, including a first time sensitive encryption key value; (iii) executing a first data decryption routine that uses said first time sensitive encryption key value and applies it to said response message, thereby generating a first identifier code value; and (iv) comparing said first identifier code value to said first input data value, and if there is a match, then granting access to said secure compartment of the electronic lock box. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for operating an electronic lock box system, said method comprising:
- (a) providing a central computer that includes a first processing circuit, a first memory circuit, a system database, and a first wireless data link; and
(b) providing a portable transponder having a second processing circuit, a second memory circuit, a motion sensor, and a wide area network wireless communications device that acts as a second wireless data link;
(i) maintaining said wide area network wireless communications device in a low power state during inactive periods when a user is not handling said portable transponder;
(ii) activating said wide area network wireless communications device if said motion sensor provides an input state indicating that said portable transponder is being handled by said user; and
(iii) determining if said portable transponder has a need to communicate with said central computer, and if so, transmitting identification data to said central computer using said wide area network wireless communications device;wherein said step of determining if said portable transponder has a need to communicate with said central computer occurs if at least one of the following states exists;
(a) said portable transponder requires an updated time sensitive encryption key;
(b) said second memory circuit of the portable transponder contains at least one access event data set pertaining to a system electronic lock box that is to be stored in said database of the central computer; and
(c) said second memory circuit of the portable transponder contains at least one feedback response data set pertaining to a system electronic lock box that is to be stored in said database of the central computer. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
- (a) providing a central computer that includes a first processing circuit, a first memory circuit, a system database, and a first wireless data link; and
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14. An electronic lock box system, comprising:
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(a) an electronic lock box having a first processing circuit, a first memory circuit, a first short range wireless communications device, a secure compartment having a movable opening element that is under the control of said first processing circuit, and a first data input device, wherein said electronic lock box generally maintains said first short range wireless communications device in a sleep mode until becoming activated by user manipulation of said first data input device, and once activated, said first short range wireless communications device transmits a hail message; and (b) a portable transponder having a second processing circuit, a second memory circuit, a second short range wireless communications device, a second data input device for use by said user, and a motion sensor, wherein said portable transponder generally maintains said second short range wireless communications device in a sleep mode until becoming activated by said motion sensor undergoing a change in state indicating that said portable transponder is being handled by said user, and once activated, said second short range wireless communications device receives said hail message and acts upon it; (c) an attachable/detachable portable secure memory device having a plurality of memory elements; (d) mounted to said electronic lock box, a first data interface for communicating with said plurality of memory elements of the portable secure memory device, if said portable secure memory device is attached to said electronic lock box; and (e) mounted to said portable transponder, a second data interface for communicating with said plurality of memory elements of the portable secure memory device, if said portable secure memory device is attached to said portable transponder. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An electronic lock box system, comprising:
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(a) a first electronic lock box having a first processing circuit, a first memory circuit, a first short range wireless communications device, and a secure compartment having a movable opening element that is under the control of said first processing circuit, wherein once said first electronic lock box becomes activated, said first short range wireless communications device transmits a first hail message; and (b) a portable transponder having a second processing circuit, a second memory circuit, and a second short range wireless communications device, wherein once said second short range wireless communications device receives said first hail message, said portable transponder sends a response message to authenticate itself to said first electronic lock box; (c) after said first electronic lock box receives said response message, and verifies that it is authentic, said first short range wireless communications device begins to periodically transmit a PROMPT message at predetermined intervals; (d) if said portable transponder is within range, said second short range wireless communications device transmits an ACK message each time said portable transponder receives said periodic PROMPT message; (e) thereafter, said portable transponder, under control of said second processing circuit, waits for N seconds, and if no further periodic PROMPT message is received during said N seconds waiting interval, then said second processing circuit determines that a “
missing PROMPT”
status is in effect; and(f) said first electronic lock box, under control of said first processing circuit, waits for M seconds, and if no ACK message is received during said M seconds waiting interval, then said first processing circuit determines that a “
missing ACK”
status is in effect. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification