Wireless access control system and related methods

• US 9,378,598 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2015
• Issued: 06/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Unikey Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Unikey Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Dumas, Philip C., Bennett, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): ALAM, MIRZA F
• Application Number:
  US14/681,263
• Publication Number:
  US 20150211259A1
• Time in Patent Office: 447 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.61, 340/5.64, 340/5.71, 340/5.2, 340/426.28, 340/539.11, 340/542, 340/825.31, 340/572.9, 455/414.1, 455/556.1, 70/9, 70/21, 702/77, 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. An access device for a wireless access control system for a door, the wireless access control system comprising a lock assembly carried by the door remote from the access device and comprising a lock, lock wireless communications circuitry, and a lock controller coupled to the lock and the lock wireless communications circuitry, the access device being remote from the door and comprising:

an accelerometer configured to sense an acceleration of the access device;

remote access wireless communications circuitry configured to communicate directly with the lock wireless communications circuitry;

a geographical positioning system configured to generate geographical location data corresponding to a geographical location of the access device; and

a remote access controller configured to cooperate with said remote access wireless communications circuitry and said geographical positioning system to

receive a lock signal from the lock controller when the access device is within a threshold distance from the lock assembly, and

wirelessly transmit, based upon receipt of the lock signal, a command comprising the geographical location data to switch the lock between the locked and unlocked positions based upon the sensed acceleration from said accelerometer and the geographical location data.

2. The access device of claim 1, wherein said remote access controller is configured to transmit the command for a threshold time period after the sensed acceleration.

3. The access device of claim 1, wherein the lock controller is configured to cooperate with the lock wireless communications circuitry to wirelessly communicate at a higher communication rate based upon the geographical location data.

4. The access device of claim 1, further comprising a housing carrying said accelerometer, said remote access wireless communications circuitry, and said remote access controller.

5. The access device of claim 4, further comprising a display carried by said housing and coupled to said remote access controller.

6. The access device of claim 4, further comprising an input device carried by said housing and coupled to said remote access controller.

7. The access device of claim 1, wherein said remote access controller is configured to cooperate with said remote access wireless communications circuitry to perform at least one cellular communication function.

8. An access device for a wireless access control system for a door, the wireless access control system comprising a lock assembly carried by the door remote from the access device and comprising a lock, lock wireless communications circuitry, and a lock controller coupled to the lock and the lock wireless communications circuitry, the access device being remote from the door and comprising:

a housing;

an accelerometer carried by said housing and configured to sense an acceleration of the access device;

remote access wireless communications circuitry carried by said housing and configured to communicate directly with the lock wireless communications circuitry;

a geographical positioning system configured to generate geographical location data corresponding to a geographical location of the access device; and

a remote access controller carried by said housing and configured to cooperate with said remote access wireless communications circuitry and said geographical positioning system to receive a lock signal from the lock controller when the access device is within a threshold distance from the lock assembly, and wirelessly transmit, based upon receipt of the lock signal, a command comprising the geographical location data to switch the lock between the locked and unlocked positions based upon the sensed acceleration from said accelerometer, the command being wirelessly transmitted for a threshold time period after the sensed acceleration and the geographical location data.

9. The access device of claim 8, wherein the lock controller is configured to cooperate with the lock wireless communications circuitry to wirelessly communicate at a higher communication rate based upon the geographical location data.

10. The access device of claim 8, wherein said remote access controller is configured to cooperate with said remote access wireless communications circuitry to perform at least one cellular communication function.

11. A method of wireless access for a wireless access control system for a door, the wireless access control system comprising a lock assembly carried by the door remote from the access device and comprising a lock, lock wireless communications circuitry, and a lock controller coupled to the lock and the lock wireless communications circuitry, the method comprising:

using remote access wireless communications circuitry of an access device remote from the door to

communicate directly with the lock wireless communications circuitry,

receive a lock signal from the lock controller when the access device is within a threshold distance from the lock assembly, and

wirelessly transmit a command comprising geographical location data corresponding to a geographical location of the access device based upon a geographical positioning system of the access device to switch the lock between the locked and unlocked positions based upon a sensed acceleration of the access device from an accelerometer of the access device and the geographical location data.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the command is wirelessly transmitted for a threshold time period after the sensed acceleration.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the lock controller is configured to cooperate with the lock wireless communications circuitry to wirelessly communicate at a higher communication rate based upon the geographical location data.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the remote access wireless communications circuitry comprises cellular communications circuitry.