Wireless access control system and related methods

• US 9,057,210 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2013
• Issued: 06/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Unikey Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Unikey Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Dumas, Philip C., Bennett, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): ALAM, MIRZA F
• Application Number:
  US13/734,671
• Publication Number:
  US 20130176107A1
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.61, 340/10.3, 340/10.33, 340/10.34, 340/5.1, 340/5.72, 340/539.21, 340/539.23, 340/5.27, 340/5.64, 340/5.71, 340/5.2, 340/426.28, 340/539.11, 340/542, 340/825.31, 340/572.9, 455/343, 455/404.1, 455/414.1, 455/556.1, 702/791, 702/24, 702/782, 702/77, 70/9, 70/21, 702/781, 726/17, 726/19
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/00 Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by electric or magnetic means electric permutation locks E05B49/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/04 Access control involving a hierarchy in access rights
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/64 using a proximity sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/21 having a variable access code
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

A wireless access control system includes a remote access device and an electronic lock. The electronic lock communicates with the remote access device. The electronic lock controls the ability to lock and unlock a door in which the electronic lock is disposed. The electronic lock determines when the remote access device is at a distance less than or equal to a predetermined distance from the lock to enable the lock to be unlocked.

Claims

1. A wireless access control system for a door, the wireless access control system comprising:

a lock assembly carried by the door and comprising

a lock,

wireless communications circuitry,

a lock controller coupled to said lock and said wireless communications circuitry, and configured to switch the lock between a locked position and an unlocked position, and

a proximity detector coupled to said lock controller and configured to detect presence of a user; and

a user access device remote from said lock and comprising

an accelerometer,

remote access wireless communications circuitry, and

a remote access controller coupled to said accelerometer and said remote access wireless communications circuitry, and configured to cooperate with said remote access wireless communications circuitry to wirelessly transmit a command to switch said lock between the locked and unlocked positions based upon a sensed acceleration;

said lock controller configured to switch said lock between the locked and unlocked positions based upon wirelessly receiving, via said wireless communications circuitry, the command directly from said user access device and cooperate with said wireless communication circuitry to wirelessly communicate at a higher communication rate based upon a detected presence of the user.

2. The wireless access control system of claim 1, wherein said user access device comprises a key fob.

3. The wireless access control system of claim 1, wherein said user access device comprises a smartphone.

4. The wireless access control system of claim 1, wherein said proximity detector comprises a touch-based proximity detector.

5. The wireless access control system of claim 1, wherein said proximity detector comprises a light sensor.

6. The wireless access control system of claim 1, wherein said proximity detector comprises a user-input device.

7. The wireless access control system of claim 1, wherein said proximity detector comprises an audio proximity detector.

8. The wireless access control system of claim 1, wherein said lock assembly further comprises a second lock coupled to said lock controller;

and wherein said lock controller is configured to cooperate with said wireless communication circuitry to wirelessly communicate at a higher communication rate based upon switching of said second lock between locked and unlocked positions.

9. The wireless access control system of claim 1, wherein said user access device further comprises a geographical positioning system coupled to said remote access controller;

wherein the command comprises geographical location data corresponding to a geographical location of said user access device; and

wherein said lock controller is configured to cooperate with said wireless communications circuitry to wirelessly communicate at a higher communication rate based upon the geographical location data.

10. The wireless access control system of claim 1, wherein said lock controller is configured to switch said lock between the locked and unlocked positions based upon a detected presence of the user.

11. The wireless access control system of claim 1, wherein said lock assembly further comprises a second lock coupled to said lock controller;

and wherein said lock controller is configured to switch said lock between the locked and unlocked positions based upon switching of said second lock between locked and unlocked positions.

12. The wireless access control system of claim 1, wherein said user access device further comprises a geographical positioning system coupled to said remote access controller;

wherein the command comprises geographical location data corresponding to a geographical location of said user access device; and

wherein said lock controller is configured to switch between the locked and unlocked positions based upon the geographical location data.

13. The wireless access control system of claim 1, wherein said lock assembly further comprises a power source coupled to said lock, wireless communications circuitry, and lock controller.

14. A lock assembly comprising:

a lock;

wireless communications circuitry;

a lock controller coupled to said lock and said wireless communications circuitry, and configured to switch the lock between a locked position and an unlocked position based upon wirelessly receiving, via said wireless communications circuitry, a command directly from a user access device remote from said lock and based upon a sensed acceleration of the user access device, the command comprising geographical location data corresponding to a geographical location of the user access device; and

a proximity detector coupled to said lock controller and configured to detect presence of a user;

said lock controller being configured to cooperate with said wireless communication circuitry to wirelessly communicate at a higher communication rate based upon a detected presence of the user and cooperate with said wireless communications circuitry to wirelessly communicate at a higher communication rate based upon the geographical location data.

15. The lock assembly of claim 14, wherein said proximity detector comprises a touch-based proximity detector.

16. The lock assembly of claim 14, wherein said proximity detector comprises a light sensor.

17. The lock assembly of claim 14, wherein said proximity detector comprises a user-input device.

18. The lock assembly of claim 14, wherein said proximity detector comprises an audio proximity detector.

19. The lock assembly of claim 14, wherein said lock assembly further comprises a second lock coupled to said lock controller;

and wherein said lock controller is configured to cooperate with said wireless communication circuitry to wirelessly communicate at a higher communication rate based upon switching of said second lock between locked and unlocked positions.

20. The lock assembly of claim 14, wherein said lock controller is configured to switch said lock between the locked and unlocked positions based upon a detected presence of the user.

21. The lock assembly of claim 14, wherein said lock assembly further comprises a clock and a memory coupled to said lock controller;

wherein said memory is configured to store a plurality of operational time periods; and

wherein said lock controller is configured to cooperate with said clock to selectively enable operation of said lock based upon said clock and the stored plurality of operational time periods.

22. The lock assembly of claim 21, wherein said memory is further configured to store an identifier associated with a respective user access device;

and wherein said lock controller is configured to selectively enable operation of said lock based upon an identifier associated with said user access device and the stored identifiers.

32. The lock assembly of claim 22, wherein said lock assembly further comprises a second lock coupled to said lock controller;

wherein said lock controller is configured to switch said lock between the locked and unlocked positions based upon switching of said second lock between locked and unlocked positions.

23. A lock assembly comprising:

a lock;

wireless communications circuitry;

a lock controller coupled to said lock and said wireless communications circuitry, and configured to switch the lock between a locked position and an unlocked position based upon wirelessly receiving, via said wireless communications circuitry, a command directly from a user access device remote from said lock and based upon a sensed acceleration of the user access device;

a clock coupled to said lock controller; and

a proximity detector coupled to said lock controller and configured to detect presence of a user;

said lock controller being configured to switch said lock between the locked and unlocked positions based upon a detected presence of the user and cooperate with said clock and said proximity detector to switch said lock between the unlocked and locked positions based upon a duration of a detected presence of the user being longer than a threshold time period.

24. The lock assembly of claim 23, wherein said proximity detector comprises a touch-based proximity detector.

25. The lock assembly of claim 23, wherein said proximity detector comprises a light sensor.

26. The lock assembly of claim 23, wherein said proximity detector comprises a user-input device.

27. The lock assembly of claim 23, wherein said proximity detector comprises an audio proximity detector.

28. The lock assembly of claim 23, further comprising a clock coupled to said lock controller;

wherein said lock controller is configured to cooperate with said clock and said proximity detector to determine a number of detected presences of the user within a time period; and

wherein said lock controller is configured to switch said lock between the unlocked and locked positions based upon the number of detected presences exceeding a threshold within the time period.

29. The lock assembly of claim 28, wherein said proximity detector comprises a touch-based proximity detector.

30. The lock assembly of claim 28, wherein said proximity detector comprises a light sensor.

31. The lock assembly of claim 28, wherein said proximity detector comprises a user-input device.

33. A wireless access control system for a door, the wireless access control system comprising:

a lock assembly carried by the door and comprising

a lock,

wireless communications circuitry,

a lock controller coupled to said lock and said wireless communications circuitry, and configured to switch the lock between a locked position and an unlocked position,

a clock coupled to said lock controller, and

a memory coupled to said lock controller and configured to store a plurality of operational time periods and an identifier associated with a respective user access device; and

a user access device remote from said lock and comprising

an accelerometer,

remote access wireless communications circuitry, and

a remote access controller coupled to said accelerometer and said remote access wireless communications circuitry, and configured to cooperate with said remote access wireless communications circuitry to wirelessly transmit a command to switch said lock between the locked and unlocked positions based upon a sensed acceleration;

said lock controller configured to switch said lock between the locked and unlocked positions based upon wirelessly receiving, via said wireless communications circuitry, the command directly from said user access device, cooperate with said clock to selectively enable operation of said lock based upon said clock and the stored plurality of operational time periods, and selectively enable operation of said lock based upon an identifier associated with said user access device and the stored identifiers.

34. The wireless access control system of claim 33, wherein said user access device comprises a key fob.

35. The wireless access control system of claim 33, wherein said user access device comprises a smartphone.

36. The wireless access control system of claim 33, wherein said lock assembly further comprises a second lock coupled to said lock controller;

and wherein said lock controller is configured to cooperate with said wireless communication circuitry to wirelessly communicate at a higher communication rate based upon switching of said second lock between locked and unlocked positions.

37. The wireless access control system of claim 33, wherein said user access device further comprises a geographical positioning system coupled to said remote access controller;

wherein the command comprises geographical location data corresponding to a geographical location of said user access device; and

wherein said lock controller is configured to cooperate with said wireless communications circuitry to wirelessly communicate at a higher communication rate based upon the geographical location data.

38. The wireless access control system of claim 33, wherein said lock assembly further comprises a proximity detector coupled to said lock controller and configured to detect presence of a user;

and wherein said lock controller is configured to switch said lock between the locked and unlocked positions based upon a detected presence of the user.

39. The wireless access control system of claim 38, wherein said proximity detector comprises a touch-based proximity detector.

40. The wireless access control system of claim 38, wherein said proximity detector comprises a light sensor.

41. The wireless access control system of claim 38, wherein said proximity detector comprises a user-input device.

42. The wireless access control system of claim 38, wherein said proximity detector comprises an audio proximity detector.

43. The wireless access control system of claim 33, wherein said lock assembly further comprises a second lock coupled to said lock controller;

and wherein said lock controller is configured to switch said lock between the locked and unlocked positions based upon switching of said second lock between locked and unlocked positions.

44. The wireless access control system of claim 33, wherein said user access device further comprises a geographical positioning system coupled to said remote access controller;

wherein the command comprises geographical location data corresponding to a geographical location of said user access device; and

wherein said lock controller is configured to switch between the locked and unlocked positions based upon the geographical location data.

45. The wireless access control system of claim 33, wherein said lock assembly further comprises a power source coupled to said lock, wireless communications circuitry, and lock controller.