Remote management of electronic products

• US 9,665,362 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2015
• Issued: 05/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC (Allegion PLC)
• Original Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC (Allegion PLC)
• Inventors: Coolidge, Frank L.
• Primary Examiner(s): St Leger, Geoffrey
• Application Number:
  US14/811,140
• Publication Number:
  US 20160026456A1
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• 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: G06F 16/2329 using versioning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/654 using techniques specially adapted for alterable solid state memories, e.g. for EEPROM or flash memories
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/012 Providing warranty services
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00841 by a portable device
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit

Abstract

A remote server may receive a data log with information regarding the status and/or a setting of an electronic product. The remote server may store information in the data log in a database. The remote server may process information in the database to determine whether a newer version of firmware is available for the electronic product.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

storing lock status information and settings in an electronic lock;

transmitting the lock status information and settings from the electronic lock to a mobile device;

storing the lock status information and settings in a lock data log in the mobile device;

transmitting the lock data log from the mobile device to a local computer;

storing the lock data log on the local computer;

appending facility and contact information to the lock data log;

transmitting a customer data log from the local computer to a remote server subsequent to appending the facility and contact information to the lock data log, wherein the customer data log comprises information from the lock data log;

storing information from the customer data log in an electronic product database in the remote server;

processing, with the remote server, information in the electronic product database to determine whether a newer version of firmware is available for the electronic lock;

automatically transmitting a firmware package from the remote server to the local computer;

transferring at least a portion of the firmware package from the local computer to the mobile device; and

updating the firmware in the electronic lock with the at least a portion of the firmware package via the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the lock status information and settings are transmitted from the electronic lock to the mobile device via a wireless connection.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

pushing the at least a portion of the firmware package from the local computer to the mobile device when a new version of firmware is available.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

processing, with the remote server, information in the electronic product database to determine whether any preventative maintenance should be performed on the electronic lock.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

transmitting a notification to the local computer indicating that preventative maintenance should be performed on the electronic lock, wherein the notification identifies a type of preventative maintenance to be performed.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least a portion of the firmware package is automatically transferred from the local computer to the mobile device without a user requesting the at least a portion of the firmware package.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the lock data log includes at least one of a serial number, model type, motor cycles, cycles since battery change, days since use, and firmware version.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing technical support for the electronic lock using information in the electronic product database.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

processing, with the remote server, the electronic product database to determine whether any warranty replacement parts should be distributed to a customer; and

notifying the customer of the warranty replacement parts based on customer contact information in the electronic product database.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the lock data log includes at least one of a device location, end user contact, hardware revision, date of manufacture, and days since installation.

11. A system, comprising:

an electronic lock configured to store lock status information and settings;

a mobile device configured to receive the lock status information and settings from the electronic lock and to store the lock status information and settings in a lock data log;

a local computer configured to receive the lock data log from the mobile device, to store the lock data log, and to append facility and contact information to the lock data log;

a remote server configured to receive a customer data log from the local computer subsequent to the local computer appending the facility and contact information to the lock data log, wherein the customer data log comprises information from the lock data log, wherein the remote server is configured to store information from the customer data log in an electronic product database in the remote server, wherein the remote server is further configured to process information in the electronic product database to determine whether a newer version of firmware is available for the electronic lock, wherein the remote server is further configured to automatically transmit a firmware update from the remote server to the local computer,

wherein the local computer is configured to automatically transfer at least a portion of the firmware update to the mobile device; and

wherein the mobile device is configured to update the firmware in the electronic lock with the at least a portion of the firmware update.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the lock status information and settings are transmitted from the electronic lock to the mobile device via a wireless connection.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the remote server is configured to process information in the electronic product database to determine whether any preventative maintenance should be performed on the electronic lock.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the remote server is configured to transmit a notification to the local computer indicating that preventative maintenance should be performed on the electronic lock, wherein the notification identifies a type of preventative maintenance to be performed.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the lock data log includes at least one of a serial number, model type, motor cycles, cycles since battery change, last sync time, born date, days since use, firmware version, PIN length, ignore keypad, device location, end user contact, power status, hardware revision, date of manufacture, and days since installation.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the remote server is configured to process the electronic product database to determine whether any warranty replacement parts should be distributed to a customer, and wherein the remote server is configured to notify the customer of the warranty replacement parts based on customer contact information in the electronic product database.

17. A remote server comprising:

a processor; and

a memory comprising a plurality of instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the remote server to;

receive a customer data log from a local computer, wherein the customer data log comprises information from a lock data log, wherein the lock data log includes status information and settings of an offline electronic lock, wherein the customer data log is received from the local computer subsequent to the local computer appending facility and contact information to the lock data log,

process information in the customer data log to determine whether a newer version of firmware is available for the offline electronic lock,

transmit a firmware update message to the local computer indicative of a necessity of the newer version of firmware, wherein the firmware update message is one of at least (i) a first message in response to a determination that the newer version of firmware is required or (ii) a second message, different from the first message, in response to a determination that the newer version of firmware is not required, and

transmit a firmware update for the offline electronic lock from the remote server to the local computer based on an update request in response to the firmware update message.

18. The remote server of claim 17, wherein the plurality of instructions further causes the remote server to:

process information in the electronic product database to determine whether any preventative maintenance should be performed on the offline electronic lock, and

transmit a notification to the local computer indicating that preventative maintenance should be performed on the offline electronic lock, wherein the notification identifies a type of preventative maintenance to be performed.

19. The remote server of claim 17, wherein the firmware update message is one of:

a first message in response to a determination that the newer version of firmware is related to a security issue that would arise without the firmware update,

a second message, different from the first message, in response to a determination that the newer version of firmware is related to new firmware features, or

a third message, different from the first message and the second message, in response to a determination that the newer version of firmware is related to a minor firmware improvement.