Providing wireless access to a secure lock based on various security data

• US 9,741,186 B1
• Filed: 09/01/2016
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AirBNB Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Lemke, William A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Garcia, Carlos E
• Application Number:
  US15/254,534
• Time in Patent Office: 355 Days
• Field of Search: 340 52, 340 528
• 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 2009/00388 code verification carried out according to the challenge/response method
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/08 With time considerations, e.g. temporary activation, valid time window or time limitations
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/63 Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle
• 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 9/00817 where the code of the lock can be programmed
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/215 the system having a variable access-code, e.g. varied as a function of time
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless network architectures or network communication protocols for wireless network security H04W12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0492 by using a location-limited connection, e.g. near-field communication or limited proximity of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/108 when the policy decisions are valid for a limited amount of time
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3234 involving additional secure or trusted devices, e.g. TPM, smartcard, USB or software token network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using an additional device in a packet data network H04L63/0853
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 using certificates or pre-shared keys

Abstract

A remote security access procedure for granting access to a wirelessly controlled lock may include one of receiving an address location at a server to setup a temporary access, receiving a security question at the server required to be answered prior to the temporary access being granted, receiving a time window at the server for the temporary access to be granted, encrypting via the server an access credential comprising the address location, the security question and the time window, and transmitting from the server the encrypted access credential to a guest device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving an address location at a server to setup a temporary access;

receiving a security question at the server required to be answered prior to the temporary access being granted;

receiving a time window at the server for the temporary access to be granted;

encrypting at the server an access credential based on the address location, the security question and the time window; and

transmitting from the server the encrypted access credential to a guest device, wherein the encrypted access credential is based on an answer to the security question and a serial number of the guest device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the encrypted access credential further comprises a concatenated string of the answer to the security question and the serial number of the guest device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising requiring a plurality of guest devices to be present at the address location prior to granting the temporary access to the guest device to access the address location.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein granting the temporary access to the guest device to access address location comprises at least one of unlocking and locking an electronic door lock using a wireless communication protocol.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the wireless communication protocol comprises at least one of BLUETOOTH, Wi-Fi, cellular and near field communication (NFC).

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting an encryption key to the guest device from the server responsive to the guest device transmitting a correct response to the security question.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the address location comprises global positioning system (GPS) coordinates.

8. An apparatus, comprising:

a receiver configured to;

receive an address location to setup a temporary access;

receive a security question required to be answered prior to the temporary access being granted; and

receive a time window for the temporary access to be granted;

a processor configured to encrypt an access credential based on the address location, the security question and the time window; and

a transmitter configured to transmit the encrypted access credential to a guest device wherein the encrypted access credential is based on an answer to the security question and a serial number of the guest device.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the encrypted access credential further comprises a concatenated string of the answer to the security question and the serial number of the guest device.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the processor requires a plurality of guest devices to be present at the address location prior to the temporary access being granted to the guest device to access the address location.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processor grants the temporary access to the guest device to access address location via access to perform at least one of unlock and lock an electronic door lock using a wireless communication protocol.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the wireless communication protocol comprises at least one of BLUETOOTH, Wi-Fi, cellular and near field communication (NFC).

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit an encryption key to the guest device responsive to the guest device having transmitted a correct response to the security question.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the address location comprises global positioning system (GPS) coordinates.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium configured to store instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform:

receiving an address location at a server to setup a temporary access;

receiving a security question at the server required to be answered prior to the temporary access being granted;

receiving a time window at the server for the temporary access to be granted;

encrypting via the server an access credential based on the address location, the security question and the time window; and

transmitting from the server the encrypted access credential to a guest device, wherein the encrypted access credential is based on an answer to the security question and a serial number of the guest device.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the encrypted access credential further comprises a concatenated string of the answer to the security question and the serial number of the guest device.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to perform requiring a plurality of guest devices to be present at the address location prior to granting temporary access to the guest device to access the address location.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein granting the temporary access to the guest device to access the address location comprises at least one of unlocking and locking an electronic door lock using a wireless communication protocol, and wherein the address location comprises global positioning system (GPS) coordinates.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the wireless communication protocol comprises at least one of BLUETOOTH, Wi-Fi, cellular and near field communication (NFC).

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to perform transmitting an encryption key to the guest device from an application server responsive to the guest device transmitting a correct response to the security question.