Vehicle activity module

• US 9,208,456 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2012
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SentriLock, LLC
• Original Assignee: SentriLock, LLC
• Inventors: McGinn, Dennis, Suman, Cherukuri
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrahamson, Amanda
• Application Number:
  US13/719,583
• Publication Number:
  US 20130106569A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,084 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 19/0005 Key safes E05B35/086 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0067 Monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0072 Operation
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 35/086 using a pair of interlocked keys, one of the keys being non-removable; key-storing devices from which only one key can be removed at a time
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 49/00 Electric permutation locks; Circuits therefor ; Mechanical aspects of electronic locks; Mechanical keys therefor arrangements for sensing or reading record carriers G06K7/00; mechanisms including electronic locks actuated by nonmechanical keys such as passive and active electrical keys and other data carriers G07C9/00, G07F7/00; electronic switching H03K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 63/0065 Operating modes; Transformable to different operating modes
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/0075 for safes, strongrooms, vaults, fire-resisting cabinets or the like safes, closures and fastenings therefor E05G
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 1/01 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00174 Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys mechanical locks with electric permutation E05B49/00; arrangements for sensing or reading record carriers G06K7/00; electronic switching H03K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00912 for safes, strong-rooms, vaults or the like

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for maintaining security and data gathering for a number of vehicles. The systems include a vehicle activity module for each of the vehicles. The vehicle activity module has a wireless transmitter, a storage device, at least one sensor for receiving event information from identification devices, such as RFID cards, keypads, magnetic ID cards, and the like, a releasable key container, and a processor for accessing and analyzing information. The VAMs are wirelessly connected to a computer system. The VAMs control access to the keys, monitor information relating to access, and store and transmit information relating to sales events, non-sales events, and intrusion events. The VAMs are capable of autonomous operation, without the need to access the computer system to verify event information. The VAMs further include signal attenuating mechanisms to facilitate use of “smart keys.”

Claims

1. An electronic lockbox apparatus for storing a key proximate a remote location, said electronic lockbox comprising:

a microprocessor circuit, a memory circuit, an automatically-controlled locking device, and a user identifying device;

a housing having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion acting as a cover and said second portion acting as a key container, said key container being lockable in a first operating mode and being releasable in a second operating mode, under control of said microprocessor circuit;

wherein;

(a) said housing first portion is made of an electrically conductive material;

(b) said housing second portion is made of an electrically conductive material;

(c) if locked in said first operating mode, said housing becomes a secure enclosure that is configured to contain a remote location key;

(d) if locked in said first operating mode, said housing is physically configured such that said first and second portions are closed together to enclose an internal space, and then comprises a Faraday cage that attenuates a wireless signal emitted from said remote location key when disposed within said Faraday cage; and

(e) if released in said second operating mode, said housing is physically configured such that said first and second portions are separable so an authorized user may obtain physical access to said remote location key, and if in said released second operating mode, said housing does not comprise a Faraday cage.

2. The electronic lockbox apparatus of claim 1, wherein said secure enclosure is integral to said electronic lockbox apparatus.

3. The electronic lockbox apparatus of claim 1, wherein said secure enclosure comprises a solid metallic housing.

4. The electronic lockbox apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a wireless transmitter by which event information can be transmitted to a separate computer for storage and analysis; and

wherein, said wireless transmitter continues to operate whether said first and second portions of the housing are closed together in said first operating mode, or are separated in said second operating mode.

5. The electronic lockbox apparatus of claim 4, wherein said wireless transmitter is configured to communicate with said separate computer through a cellular communications facility.

6. The electronic lockbox apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an identification tag which is attached to and associated with one of:

(a) said remote location key, and (b) said secure enclosure.

7. The electronic lockbox apparatus of claim 6, wherein said identification tag is an RFID tag.

8. The electronic lockbox apparatus of claim 1, wherein said microprocessor circuit and said memory circuit all continue to operate, and said user identifying device is accessible, whether said first and second portions of the housing are closed together in said first operating mode, or are separated in said second operating mode.

9. The electronic lockbox apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first portion and said second portion are physically reusable, such that:

(i) after said housing has been locked in said first operating mode;

then

(ii) after said housing has been released in said second operating mode, said Faraday cage characteristics are still intact; and

then

(iii) if said housing is locked again by closing together said first portion and said second portion, then said internal space again comprises a Faraday cage.

10. An electronic lockbox apparatus for storing a key proximate a remote location, said electronic lockbox comprising:

a microprocessor circuit, a memory circuit, an automatically-controlled locking device, and a user identifying device;

a housing having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion acting as a cover and said second portion acting as a key container, said key container being lockable in a first operating mode and being releasable in a second operating mode, under control of said microprocessor circuit;

(a) said housing first portion is made of an electrically conductive material;

(b) said housing second portion is made of an electrically conductive material;

(c) if locked in said first operating mode, said housing becomes a secure enclosure that is configured to contain a remote location key;

(d) if locked in said first operating mode, said housing is physically configured such that said first and second portions are closed together to enclose an internal space, and then comprises an electromagnetically shielded container that attenuates a wireless signal emitted from said remote location key when disposed within said electromagnetically shielded container; and

(e) if released in said second operating mode, said housing is physically configured such that said first and second portions are separable so an authorized user may obtain physical access to said remote location key, and if in said released second operating mode, said housing does not comprise an electromagnetically shielded container.

11. The electronic lockbox apparatus of claim 10, wherein said secure enclosure is integral to said electronic lockbox apparatus.

12. The electronic lockbox apparatus of claim 10, wherein said secure enclosure comprises a solid metallic housing.

13. The electronic lockbox apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a wireless transmitter by which event information can be transmitted to a separate computer for storage and analysis; and

wherein, said wireless transmitter continues to operate whether said first and second portions of the housing are closed together in said first operating mode, or are separated in said second operating mode.

14. The electronic lockbox apparatus of claim 13, wherein said wireless transmitter is configured to communicate with said separate computer through a cellular communications facility.

15. The electronic lockbox apparatus of claim 10, further comprising an identification tag which is attached to and associated with one of:

(a) said remote location key, and (b) said secure enclosure.

16. The electronic lockbox apparatus of claim 15, wherein said identification tag is an RFID tag.

17. The electronic lockbox apparatus of claim 10, wherein said microprocessor circuit and said memory circuit all continue to operate, and said user identifying device is accessible, whether said first and second portions of the housing are closed together in said first operating mode, or are separated in said second operating mode.

18. The electronic lockbox apparatus of claim 10, wherein said first portion and said second portion are physically reusable, such that:

(i) after said housing has been locked in said first operating mode;

then

(ii) after said housing has been released in said second operating mode, said electromagnetically shielded container characteristics are still intact; and

then

(iii) if said housing is locked again by closing together said first portion and said second portion, then said internal space again comprises an electromagnetically shielded container.

19. An electronic lockbox apparatus for storing a smart key proximate a remote location, said electronic lockbox comprising:

a microprocessor circuit, a memory circuit, an automatically-controlled locking device, and a user identifying device;

a housing having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion acting as a cover and said second portion acting as a key container, said key container being lockable in a first operating mode and being releasable in a second operating mode, under control of said microprocessor circuit;

wherein a combination of said housing first portion and said housing second portion comprise a secure enclosure that is configured to receive a smart key, said smart key including a first wireless communication circuit, in which;

(a) said secure enclosure is openable for use in said second operating mode so an authorized user may obtain physical access to said smart key;

(b) said secure enclosure is closeable for use in said first operating mode, and (i) if said secure enclosure is closed and locked, then (ii) it comprises a physical structure that (A) is electrically conductive in composition and (B) is an electromagnetically shielded container that attenuates a wireless signal emitted from said smart key when said smart key is disposed within an internal space of said electromagnetically shielded container; and

(c) if opened in said second operating mode, said secure enclosure does not comprise an electromagnetically shielded container.

20. The electronic lockbox apparatus of claim 19, wherein said secure enclosure is integral to said electronic lockbox apparatus.

21. The electronic lockbox apparatus of claim 19, wherein said secure enclosure comprises a solid metallic housing.

22. The electronic lockbox apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

a second wireless communication circuit in said lockbox by which event information can be transmitted to a separate computer for storage and analysis; and

wherein, said wireless transmitter continues to operate whether said first and second portions of the housing are closed together in said first operating mode, or are separated in said second operating mode.

23. The electronic lockbox apparatus of claim 22, wherein said second wireless communication circuit is configured to communicate with said separate computer through a cellular communications facility.

24. The electronic lockbox apparatus of claim 19, further comprising an identification tag which is attached to and associated with one of:

(a) said smart key, and (b) said secure enclosure.

25. The electronic lockbox apparatus of claim 24, wherein said identification tag is an RFID tag.

26. The electronic lockbox apparatus of claim 19, wherein said microprocessor circuit and said memory circuit all continue to operate, and said user identifying device is accessible, whether said first and second portions of the housing are closed together in said first operating mode, or are separated in said second operating mode.

27. The electronic lockbox apparatus of claim 19, wherein said first portion and said second portion are physically reusable, such that:

(i) after said housing has been locked in said first operating mode;

then

(ii) after said housing has been released in said second operating mode, said characteristics for preventing said smart key from wirelessly communicating with an external device are still intact; and

then

(iii) if said housing is locked again by closing together said first portion and said second portion, then said internal space again comprises said structure that is electrically conductive in composition and prevents said smart key from wirelessly communicating with an external device.