Wireless communication protocol based lock management

• US 9,754,432 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2015
• Issued: 09/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bender, Michael, Childress, Rhonda L., Kumhyr, David B., Spisak, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): EUSTAQUIO, CAL J
• Application Number:
  US14/943,450
• Publication Number:
  US 20170140589A1
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• 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: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

In an approach for enhancing physical security, a processor receives, via a wireless communication protocol, a first set of information from a first device associated with a first person. A processor compares the first set of information to a predefined rule, wherein the predefined rule specifies whether a lock can be engaged. A processor determines that the lock cannot be engaged, based on the first information and the predefined rule.

Claims

1. A method for enhancing physical security, the method comprising:

monitoring, by one or more processors, a location, associated with a disengaged lock, for a set of devices, wherein each device is associated with one person;

receiving, via a wireless communication protocol, a first set of information from a first device associated with a first person, wherein the first set of information includes that the first device is in the location associated with the disengaged lock;

comparing, by one or more processors, the first set of information to a predefined rule, wherein the predefined rule specifies whether the disengaged lock can be engaged;

determining, by one or more processors, that the disengaged lock cannot be engaged, based on the first set of information and the predefined rule.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device is an RFID tag.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request to engage the disengaged lock;

preventing, by one or more processors, the disengaged lock from being engaged.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the predefined rule further specifies that the disengaged lock cannot be engaged if a combination of a first set of information and a second set of information is received, further comprising:

receiving, via the wireless communication protocol, the second set of information from a second device associated with a second person, wherein the second set of information includes that the second device is in the first location associated with the disengaged lock;

comparing, by one or more processors, the second set of information to the predefined rule; and

wherein determining that the disengaged lock cannot be engaged is further based on the second set of information.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing, by one or more processors, a component of the disengaged lock to engage, wherein when the component of the disengaged lock is engaged, the disengaged lock is incapable of locking.

6. A computer program product for ensuring safety within a physical security system, the computer program product comprising:

one or more computer readable storage media and program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to monitor a location, associated with a disengaged lock, for a set of devices, wherein each device is associated with one person;

program instructions to receive, via a wireless communication protocol, a first set of information from a first device associated with a first person, wherein the first set of information includes that the first device is in the location associated with the disengaged lock;

program instructions to compare the first set of information to a predefined rule, wherein the predefined rule specifies that the disengaged lock cannot be engaged if the first set of information from the first device is associated with any person; and

program instruction to determine that the disengaged lock cannot be engaged, based on the first set of information and the predefined rule.

7. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the first device is an RFID tag.

8. The computer program product of claim 6, further comprising:

program instructions, stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, to receive a request to engage the lock;

program instructions, stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, to prevent the lock from being engaged.

9. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the predefined rule further specifies that the lock cannot be engaged if the first set of information from the first device is associated with any person.

10. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the predefined rule further specifies that the lock cannot be engaged if a combination of the first set of information and a second set of information is received, further comprising:

program instructions, stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, to receive, via the wireless communication protocol, the second set of information from a second device associated with a second person, wherein the second set of information includes that the second device is in the first location associated with the disengaged lock;

program instructions, stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, to compare the second set of information to the predefined rule; and

wherein program instructions to determine that the lock cannot be engaged are further based on the second set of information.

11. The computer program product of claim 6, further comprising:

program instructions, stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, to cause a component of the lock to engage, wherein when the component of the lock is engaged, the lock is incapable of locking.

12. A computer system for ensuring safety within a physical security system, the computer system comprising:

one or more computer processors, one or more computer readable storage media, and program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more processors, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to monitor a location, associated with a disengaged lock, for a set of devices, wherein each device is associated with one person;

program instructions to receive, via a wireless communication protocol, a first set of information from a first device associated with a first person, wherein the first set of information includes that the first device is in the location associated with the disengaged lock;

program instructions to compare the first set of information to a predefined rule, wherein the predefined rule specifies that the disengaged lock cannot be engaged if the first set of information from the first device is associated with any person; and

program instruction to determine that the disengaged lock cannot be engaged, based on the first set of information and the predefined rule.

13. The computer system of claim 12, wherein the first device is an RFID tag.

14. The computer system of claim 12, further comprising:

program instructions, stored on the one or more computer readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more processors, to receive a request to engage the lock;

program instructions, stored on the one or more computer readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more processors, to prevent the lock from being engaged.

15. The computer system of claim 12, wherein the predefined rule further specifies that the lock cannot be engaged if the first set of information from the first device is associated with any person.

16. The computer system of claim 12, wherein the predefined rule further specifies that the lock cannot be engaged if a combination of the first set of information and a second set of information is received, further comprising:

program instructions, stored on the one or more computer readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more processors, to receive, via the wireless communication protocol, the second set of information from a second device associated with a second person, wherein the second set of information includes that the second device is in the first location associated with the disengaged lock;

program instructions, stored on the one or more computer readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more processors, to compare the second set of information to the predefined rule; and

wherein program instructions to determine that the lock cannot be engaged are further based on the second set of information.