Electronic key lockout control in lockbox system

• US 9,478,083 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2014
• Issued: 10/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SentriLock, LLC
• Original Assignee: SentriLock, LLC
• Inventors: Fisher, Scott R.
• Primary Examiner(s): GIRMA, FEKADESELASS
• Application Number:
  US14/563,165
• Publication Number:
  US 20150091696A1
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 1/00 Comparing elements, i.e. elements for effecting comparison directly or indirectly between a desired value and existing or anticipated values
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

An electronic lockbox system includes a wireless portable transponder that communicates with an electronic lockbox 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 lockbox 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 lockbox authenticates this response message using its own time sensitive encryption key. If an electronic key is used to access the lockbox, the improved system effectively disables the electronic key during a showing, so that the electronic key cannot be used to access another lockbox until the correct dwelling key has been placed back into the lockbox.

Claims

1. A method for operating an electronic lockbox system, said method comprising:

(a) providing a plurality of electronic lockboxes and a plurality of electronic keys;

(b) of said plurality of electronic lockboxes, providing a first electronic lockbox having;

a first processing circuit, a first memory circuit, a first short range wireless communications device, a first secure compartment having a first movable opening element that is under the control of said first processing circuit, and a first sensor for detecting whether a predetermined dwelling key security apparatus is present within said first secure compartment;

(c) of said plurality of electronic keys, providing a portable first electronic key having a second processing circuit, a second memory circuit, a data entry device, a display, and a second short range wireless communications device; and

(d) initiating a data exchange between said first electronic lockbox and said first electronic key, using said first and second short range wireless communications devices;

(i) at said first electronic lockbox, receiving a first data message from said first electronic key, said first data message containing at least one of;

(A) identity information for said first electronic key, and

(B) personal ID data regarding a specific human user;

(ii) if a user is attempting to access said first secure compartment, then allowing access if said first electronic key'"'"'s identity information and said specific user'"'"'s personal ID data are authorized to access the first secure compartment, so that said predetermined dwelling key security apparatus can be removed from the first secure compartment; and

(iii) temporarily disabling effective operation of said first electronic key from accessing any other of said plurality of electronic lockboxes except said first electronic lockbox, until said predetermined dwelling key security apparatus is returned to said first secure compartment, as determined by said first sensor.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first electronic key comprises one of:

(a) a smart phone; and

(b) a portable computer with a wireless communication circuit.

3. An electronic lockbox system, said system comprising:

(a) a plurality of electronic lockboxes and a plurality of electronic keys;

(b) of said plurality of electronic lockboxes, a first electronic lockbox having;

a first processing circuit, a first memory circuit, a first short range wireless communications device, a first secure compartment having a first movable opening element that is under the control of said first processing circuit, and a first sensor for detecting whether a predetermined dwelling key security apparatus is present within said first secure compartment; and

(c) of said plurality of electronic keys, a portable first electronic key having a second processing circuit, a second memory circuit, a data entry device, a display, and a second short range wireless communications device;

wherein said first and second processing circuits are programmed with computer code to perform functions of;

(d) initiating a data exchange between said first electronic lockbox and said first electronic key, using said first and second short range wireless communications devices;

(i) at said first electronic lockbox, receiving a first data message from said first electronic key, said first data message containing at least one of;

(A) identity information for said first electronic key, and

(B) personal ID data regarding a specific human user;

(ii) if a user is attempting to access said first secure compartment, then allowing access if said first electronic key'"'"'s identity information and said specific user'"'"'s personal ID data are authorized to access the first secure compartment, so that said predetermined dwelling key security apparatus can be removed from the first secure compartment; and

(iii) temporarily disabling effective operation of said first electronic key from accessing any other of said plurality of electronic lockboxes except said first electronic lockbox, until said predetermined dwelling key security apparatus is returned to said first secure compartment, as determined by said first sensor.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said first electronic key comprises one of:

(a) a smart phone; and

(b) a portable computer with a wireless communication circuit.

5. A method for operating an electronic lockbox system, said method comprising:

(a) providing a plurality of electronic lockboxes and a plurality of secure memory cards;

(b) of said plurality of electronic lockboxes, providing a first electronic lockbox having;

a first processing circuit, a first memory circuit, a data entry device, a first card reader circuit, a first secure compartment having a first movable opening element that is under the control of said first processing circuit, and a first sensor for detecting whether a predetermined dwelling key security apparatus is present within said first secure compartment;

(c) of said plurality of secure memory cards, providing a portable first secure memory card having a second memory circuit, and a card reader interface;

(d) initiating a data exchange between said first electronic lockbox and said first secure memory card, using said card reader circuit and said card reader interface;

(i) at said first electronic lockbox, retrieving first data from said first secure memory card, said data containing at least one of;

(A) identity information for said first electronic key, and

(B) personal ID data regarding a specific human user;

(ii) if a user is attempting to access said first secure compartment, then allowing access if said first secure memory card'"'"'s identity information and said specific user'"'"'s personal ID data are authorized to access the first secure compartment, so that said predetermined dwelling key security apparatus can be removed from the first secure compartment; and

(iii) temporarily disabling effective operation of said first secure memory card from accessing any other of said plurality of electronic lockboxes except said first electronic lockbox, until said predetermined dwelling key security apparatus is returned to said first secure compartment, as determined by said sensor.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said first electronic key comprises one of:

(a) a smart phone; and

(b) a portable computer with a wireless communication circuit.

7. A method for operating an electronic lockbox system, said method comprising:

(a) providing a plurality of electronic lockboxes and a plurality of electronic keys;

(b) of said plurality of electronic lockboxes, providing a first electronic lockbox having;

a first processing circuit, a first memory circuit, a first short range wireless communications device, a first secure compartment having a first movable opening element that is under the control of said first processing circuit, and a first sensor for detecting whether a predetermined dwelling key security apparatus is present within said first secure compartment;

(c) of said plurality of electronic keys, providing a portable first electronic key having a second processing circuit, a second memory circuit, a data entry device, a display, and a second short range wireless communications device; and

(d) initiating a data exchange between said first electronic lockbox and said first electronic key, using said first and second short range wireless communications devices;

(i) at said first electronic lockbox, receiving a first data message from said first electronic key, said first data message containing at least one of;

(A) identity information for said first electronic key, and

(B) personal ID data regarding a specific human user;

(ii) if a user is attempting to access said first secure compartment, then allowing access if said first electronic key'"'"'s identity information and said specific user'"'"'s personal ID data are authorized to access the first secure compartment, so that said predetermined dwelling key security apparatus can be removed from the first secure compartment to begin a showing;

(iii) at said first electronic key, receiving a second data message from said first electronic lockbox that contains first identification information about said first electronic lockbox, and storing said first identification information in said second memory circuit as “

opening identification data;

”

(iv) temporarily disabling effective operation of said first electronic key from accessing any other of said plurality of electronic lockboxes except said first electronic lockbox;

(v) at said first electronic lockbox, determining, by use of said first sensor, if said predetermined dwelling key security apparatus is returned to said first secure compartment to end a showing, and if so, then;

(vi) at said first electronic key, receiving a third data message from one of said plurality of electronic lockboxes, said third data message containing second identification information about the one of said plurality of electronic lockboxes, and storing said second identification information in said second memory circuit as “

closing identification data;

” and

(vii) at said first electronic key, comparing said opening identification data and said closing identification data, and;

(A) if said opening and closing identification data match, then automatically re-enabling said first electronic key to function in all normal ways, including for accessing the other of said plurality of electronic lockboxes; and

(B) if said opening and closing identification data do not match, then automatically leaving said first electronic key disabled.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said first electronic key comprises one of:

(a) a smart phone; and

(b) a portable computer with a wireless communication circuit.