Systems and methods for redundant access control systems based on mobile devices and removable wireless buttons

• US 9,852,562 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2016
• Issued: 12/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acsys Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: Acsys Ip Holding, Inc.
• Inventors: Belhadia, Karim, Mouradian, Jean, Meganck, David, Fares, Ahmad
• Primary Examiner(s): ALUNKAL, THOMAS D
• Application Number:
  US15/147,759
• Publication Number:
  US 20170011573A1
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0095 Mechanical aspects of locks controlled by telephone signals, e.g. by mobile phones electronic locks G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0615 operated by handles, e.g. by knobs
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00174 Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys mechanical locks with electric permutation E05B49/00; arrangements for sensing or reading record carriers G06K7/00; electronic switching H03K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00563 using personal physical data of the operator, e.g. finger prints, retinal images, voicepatterns
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/23 by means of a password
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/25 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• 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

Systems and methods for providing redundant access control systems with removable wireless buttons are disclosed. According to some embodiments of the invention, the systems and methods include a smart lock with a button that is enabled to communicate to a network device, a central access server, or an administrator device. When a user requests access to the lock, the removable wireless button communicates the request to the network device, administrator device, or central access server. The removable wireless button is configured to communicate directly to the central access server and the administrator device, or indirectly through a network device. The button may be detached from the cylinder and docked onto a recharge station. In some embodiments, the removable wireless button includes an inertial module motion sensor that determines whether a door is open or closed.

Claims

1. A lock for providing redundant access control comprising:

a hardware processor;

a cylinder adaptable to fit a standard profile slot of a door, the cylinder comprising a cam to engage a bolt;

a button for engaging the cam to unlock the bolt, the button comprising a power source and a plurality of redundant access channels for receiving authentication information, the redundant access channels comprising a biometric scanner for receiving biometric information, a passcode keypad, and a wireless transceiver configured to communicate in near real-time with a mobile device, and with one of;

     1) a network device,

     2) a control access server, and

     3) an administrator device;

wherein the hardware processor is configured to;

validate authentication information received from the passcode keypad, biometric scanner, or mobile device based on communications received from the mobile device, network device, control access server, or administrator device,

unlock the bolt when a user is authenticated through a first channel of the plurality of redundant access channels, and

when the user cannot open the lock through the first channel, allow access through a second channel of the plurality of redundant access channels, and

wherein the button is removable, and the button further comprises a recharge interface and a storage medium for storing access information, wherein the recharge interface is configured to be coupled to a power outlet or recharge station for recharging power to the button, and wherein the storage medium is configured to transmit the access information when the button is recharging and the button is configured to be removed upon entry of valid credentials.

2. The lock of claim 1, further comprising a wireless modem configured to create a cellular broadband connection and communicate to an administrator device or a central access server in near real-time.

3. The lock of claim 1, further comprising a wireless modem configured to create a short range wireless connection and communicate to an administrator device or a central access server in near real-time.

4. The lock of claim 1, wherein the lock is configured to receive an instruction from the central access server or the administrator device over the cellular broadband connection to block access to a user based on the user'"'"'s biometric scan, passcode, or mobile device IMEI.

5. The lock of claim 1, wherein the lock is configured to:

receive a token, a biometric scan or a passcode,

transmit a request for access to the lock based on a set of configurable rules, and

receive an instruction to grant or deny the request for access from the administrator device or central access server in near real-time.

6. The lock of claim 1, wherein the button comprises an inertial module configured to determine a door status that indicates whether a door has been opened or closed, and communicate the door status to the administrator device or central access server in near real-time.

7. The lock of claim 1, wherein the lock is configured to determine a bolt status that indicates whether the bolt is in a locked or unlocked position, and communicate the bolt status to the administrator device or central access server in near real-time.

8. The lock of claim 1, wherein the button is a first button disposed on the interior face of the door and comprises a power source, and wherein the lock further comprises a second button coupled to the cylinder, the second button being disposed on the exterior face of the door and is powered by the power source of the first button.

9. The lock of claim 1, wherein the button further comprises an I/O port configured to receive power from an external device, and deliver access information to the external device.

10. A system for controlling a lock having redundant access channels, the system comprising:

the lock for providing redundant access channels according to claim 1; and

a network device, wherein the lock is coupled to the network device over a short-range wireless connection, and the network device is coupled to the administrator device or central access server over a network connection.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the network device is configured to receive a token, a biometric scan, or a passcode from the lock, and relay the token, biometric scan, or passcode to the administrator device or central access server.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the network device is configured to receive an instruction from the central access server or administrator device to block access to a user based on the user'"'"'s biometric scan, passcode, or mobile device IMEI.

13. The system of claim 10, further comprising an inter-connected hub of devices coupled to the network device over a short range wireless connection, wherein the network device is configured to communicate to the inter-connected hub of devices upon a triggering event.

14. A method for controlling access to a lock, the lock comprising a hardware processor, a cylinder comprising a cam to engage a bolt, a button for engaging the cam to unlock the bolt, the button comprising a power source, a recharge interface, a storage medium for storing access information, a plurality of redundant access channels and a wireless transceiver configured to communicate to a network device over a short range wireless connection, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving user authentication information from the lock over the short range wireless connection, the authentication information for obtaining access to a first redundant access channel of the plurality of redundant access channels, the plurality of redundant access channels comprising a biometric scan, a passcode, or a token;

transmitting the authentication information over a network connection to an administrator device or central access server for validation based on a set of configurable rules;

validating the authentication information at the administrator device or central access server;

receiving an instruction from the administrator device or central access server to grant or deny access to the user; and

transmitting to the lock the instruction to grant or deny access to the user, and when the instruction grants access to the user, unlocking the bolt,

allowing access through a second channel of the plurality of redundant access channels when the user cannot open the lock through the first channel,

receiving entry of valid credentials at the button that enable the button to be removed, and

coupling the recharge interface to a power outlet or recharge station to recharge power to the button, and transmitting the access information from the storage medium upon coupling the recharge interface to the power outlet or recharge station.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

registering a triggering event; and

sending an instruction to an interconnected hub of devices based on the triggering event.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising determining a user pattern based on access information maintained by the lock.

17. A method for controlling access to a lock, the lock comprising a hardware processor, a cylinder comprising a cam to engage a bolt, a button for engaging the cam to unlock the bolt, the button comprising a power source, a recharge interface, a storage medium for storing access information, a plurality of redundant access channels and a wireless transceiver configured to create a cellular broadband connection for communicating directly to an administrator device or a central access server, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving user authentication information for obtaining access to a first redundant access channel of the plurality of redundant access channels, the plurality of redundant access channels comprising a biometric scan, a passcode, or a token;

transmitting the authentication information to an administrator device or central access server for validation over the cellular broadband connection based on a set of configurable rules;

validating the authentication information at the administrator device or central access server;

receiving an instruction from the administrator device or central access server to grant or deny access to the user; and

engaging the cam to open or close the bolt of the lock based on the decision to grant or deny access to the user, and when the instruction grants access to the user, opening the bolt, allowing access through a second channel of the plurality of redundant access channels when the user cannot open the lock through the first channel, receiving entry of valid credentials at the button that enable the button to be removed, and coupling the recharge interface of the button to a power outlet or recharge station to recharge power to the button, and transmitting the access information from the storage medium upon coupling the recharge interface to the power outlet or recharge station.