Remote access privileges renewal

• US 8,756,431 B1
• Filed: 11/11/2004
• Issued: 06/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: UTC Fire & Security Americas Corporation, Inc. (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: UTC Fire & Security Americas Corporation, Inc. (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Inventors: Despain, Jay, Petrizzi, James, Burge, Gregory L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zand, Kambiz
• Assistant Examiner(s): BAYOU, YONAS A
• Application Number:
  US10/986,560
• Time in Patent Office: 3,505 Days
• Field of Search: 713/182
• US Class Current: 713/182
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/305 by remotely controlling device operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly

Abstract

A secure access system includes at least one lock, at least one electronic key with stored information assigned to a user and a system administration for administering user access privileges. A method for remotely updating the user'"'"'s expired access privileges includes establishing communication between the user and the system administration from a location remote from the system administration, receiving a remote privilege code from the system administration, communicating the remote privilege code to the lock, and, if authorized, the lock validating the privilege code to renew the user'"'"'s access privileges. The validated privilege code can also be made effective to access other different locks within the system.

Claims

1. A method of remotely updating an expired privilege code of a user of a real estate secure access system, the system comprising at least one lock, at least one electronic key with stored information assigned to the user and a system administration for administering user access privileges, the method comprising:

establishing communication between the user and the system administrator from a location remote from the system administration;

receiving a remote privilege code from the system administration; and

communicating the remote privilege code from the user to the lock,

wherein the lock is configured to validate the remote privilege code to renew the user'"'"'s expired privilege code; and

provide to the user a validated privilege code for a current access transaction,

wherein the validated privilege code and expired privilege code are different from of the remote privilege code, and

the validated privilege code is effective to access said lock during the current access transaction, and to access other different locks within the system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic key is a solid state removable memory device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic key is a smart card.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing communication with the system administration includes specifying a lockbox identifier.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing communication between the user and the system administration includes establishing a telephone communications link with the system administration.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein establishing communication with the system administration includes establishing communication with the system administration via a mobile telephone.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the lock is configured to validate the privilege code using in part a challenge response exchange between the electronic key and the lock.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the lock is configured to validate the privilege code communicated to the lock based at least in part on the user'"'"'s communication of a PIN code to the lock and the lock'"'"'s determination of whether the PIN code is recognized and wherein the lock is configured to change from a locked state to an unlocked state as a result of determining the PIN code is recognized.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the validated privilege code on the electronic key.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the validated privilege code expires after a predetermined time period.

11. A method of remotely updating an expired privilege code of a user of a real estate secure access system, the system comprising at least one lock with a locking storage area and a radio receiver, at least one electronic key in the form of a portable solid state memory device with stored information assigned to the user and a system administration that administers privileges to access the system, the method comprising:

establishing communication between the user at a remote location and the system administration via a wireless communications link;

automatically issuing a remote privilege code from the system administration in response to a request by the user and communicating the remote privilege code from the system administration to the radio receiver,

wherein the lock is configured to determine whether the remote privilege code is valid and, as a result of the determination, allow the lock to change from a locked state to an unlocked state to grant the user access to the locking storage area;

wherein the lock is configured to provide to the user a validated privilege code for a current access transaction,

wherein the validated privilege code and the expired privilege code are different from the remote privilege code, and

the validated privilege code is effective to access said lock during the current access transaction, and to access other different locks within the system.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the request by the user is made by telephone from the remote location.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the lock generates the validated privilege code based on the remote privilege code.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the lock is responsive to input from the user at the lock and interfacing of the electronic key with the lock, the lock determining if the user'"'"'s input is consistent with the remote privilege code.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the lock is programmed to carryout a challenge response exchange with the user.

16. A lockbox comprising:

a locking compartment;

a wireless communication receiver; and

a controller configured to receive from a user'"'"'s electronic key, via the wireless communication receiver, a remote privilege code which causes the controller to generate a modified privilege code to replace an expired privilege code for the user to allow the user to access the locking compartment during a current access transaction,

wherein the modified privilege code and the expired privilege code are different from the remote privilege code, and

the modified privilege code is configured to renew expired access privileges for the user for another lockbox.

17. A method implemented by a wireless communication device, the method comprising:

wirelessly transmitting from the wireless communication device to an administration center a request to renew a user'"'"'s expired privilege code;

receiving from the administration center at the wireless communication device a remote privilege code for renewing the user'"'"'s expired privilege code;

transmitting the remote privilege code from the wireless communication device to a first lockbox; and

receiving from the first lockbox at the wireless communication device a validated privilege code for a current access transaction at the first lockbox,

wherein the remote privilege code is different from the validated privilege code and the expired privilege code, and

wherein the validated privilege code is configured for use by the wireless communication device to renew the user'"'"'s expired access privileges at a second lockbox.

18. A method of remotely updating expired access privileges of a user of a real estate secure access system, the system comprising at least one lock, at least one electronic key with stored information assigned to the user and a system administration for administering user access privileges, the method comprising:

establishing communication between the user and the system administration from a location remote from the system administration;

receiving from the user at the system administration an identification of a lock with which the user will interact;

receiving from the user at the system administration a credential indicating that the user is authorized to use the system administration;

receiving a remote privilege code from the system administration in response to the credential; and

communicating the remote privilege code from the user to the lock,

wherein the lock is configured to validate the remote privilege code to renew the user'"'"'s expired access privileges and provide to the user a validated privilege code for a current access transaction to the lock,

wherein the validated privilege code and expired privilege code are different from of the remote privilege code, and

the validated privilege code is effective to access the lock during the current access transaction and to access other different locks within the system.