Electronic locking systems, methods, and apparatus

• US 9,934,637 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2017
• Issued: 04/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digilock Asia Limited
• Original Assignee: Digilock Asia Limited
• Inventors: Ribas, Gabriel Bestard, Bakondi, Steven Thomas, Seliber, Lloyd
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): AKKI, MUNEAR T
• Application Number:
  US15/610,389
• Publication Number:
  US 20170270731A1
• Time in Patent Office: 307 Days
• Field of Search: 340542, 340 561, 3405456, 340 573, 70 14, 702782, 292 1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00825 remotely by lines or wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00865 remotely by wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/62 Comprising means for indicating the status of the lock
• 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

Abstract

Electronic locking devices, systems, and methods may employ an accelerometer to detect an acceleration associated with displacement of a portion of an electronic locking device, for example, displacement of a housing that includes a display of the electronic locking device. Responsive to such an acceleration being detected, a message is transmitted to a device remote from the locking device. The message may include a photograph and or audio signal. Concurrently with the transmission of the message, a greeting may be played and/or displayed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting, by an accelerometer, an acceleration associated with displacement of a portion of a locking device housing, wherein the locking device housing can be opened to expose a key cylinder housing and closed to hide the key cylinder housing;

transmitting, by the accelerometer, an indication of the acceleration to a processor communicably coupled to the accelerometer;

determining, by the processor, whether the acceleration associated with the displacement of the portion of the locking device housing is consistent with an acceleration profile associated with an event of opening the locking device housing to expose the key cylinder housing; and

, if so

initiating, by the processor, transmission of a first message to a device remote from the locking device, the first message providing information regarding the event of opening the locking device housing, the transmission being by a transceiver associated with the locking device and communicably coupled to the processor;

otherwise, not initiating the transmission.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

analyzing, by the processor, the indication of the acceleration to determine a characteristic of the acceleration associated with the displacement;

determining, by the processor, an action, other than an opening or closing of the locking device, to be executed by the locking device responsively to the determined characteristic;

instructing, by the processor, the locking device to perform the determined action; and

performing, by the locking device, the determined action responsively to the received instruction.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the action comprises displaying a second message on a display of the locking device.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the action comprises playing a second message via a speaker of the locking device.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the action comprises receiving audio via a microphone of the locking device.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the action comprises detecting, by an infrared sensor, whether an individual is sufficiently close to the locking device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the content of the first message is user configurable.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first message includes at least one of:

a photograph of an area proximate to the locking device taken at a time corresponding to the detected acceleration and an audio recording of an area proximate to the locking device taken at a time corresponding to the detected acceleration.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the content of the first message includes an indication of a likely cause of the detected acceleration.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

instructing, by the processor, the locking device to issue a greeting; and

providing, by the locking device, the greeting.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the greeting is provided via at least one of a display of the locking device and a speaker associated with the locking device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the displacement of the portion of the locking device housing corresponds to displacement of a display of the locking device.

13. An electronic locking device, comprising:

a bolt;

a locking device housing configured to translate between a first position and a second position, the locking device housing covering, when in the first position, a key cylinder housing;

an accelerometer configured to detect an acceleration associated with displacement of the locking device housing display between the first position and the second position; and

a processor communicably coupled to receive an input from the accelerometer, determine whether the acceleration is consistent with an acceleration profile associated with displacement of the locking device housing in connection with an event of translating the locking device housing to the second position in which the key cylinder housing is exposed, and configured to initiate transmission of a first message to a device remote from the locking device by a transceiver communicably coupled to the processor when the processor determines that the acceleration is consistent with the acceleration profile associated with the event of translating the locking device housing to the second position.

14. The electronic locking device of claim 13, wherein the locking device housing includes a display.

15. The electronic locking device of claim 14, wherein the electronic locking device is further configured to, responsive to the processor'"'"'s determination of the event of translating the locking device housing to the second position, display a second message on a display of the locking device.

16. The electronic locking device of claim 13, wherein the content of the first message is user configurable.

17. The electronic locking device of claim 13, wherein the first message includes at least one of:

a photograph of an area proximate to the locking device taken at a time corresponding to the detected acceleration and an audio recording of an area proximate to the locking device taken at a time corresponding to the detected acceleration.

18. The electronic locking device of claim 14, further configured to:

provide, by the display of the electronic locking device, a greeting.

19. The electronic locking device of claim 13, further configured to:

provide, by a speaker associated with the electronic locking device, a greeting.

20. The electronic locking device of claim 13, wherein the translation of the locking device housing between the first and second positions corresponds to displacement of a display of the locking device.