Methods, systems, and products for locking & unlocking a lock

• US 20050190900A1
• Filed: 04/22/2005
• Published: 09/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philips North America LLC (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Open Invention Network LLC
• Inventors: White, Isaac D. M., Dickens, James
• Granted Patent: US 8,503,631 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/102.06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/007 with remote control systems remote control in general G08C

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for locking and unlocking a lock. A lock service manager module stores in memory, and a processor communicates with the memory. The lock service manager module includes executable code for receiving a communication from a calling telephone number. A database is queried for at least one of i) a called telephone number and ii) a calling telephone number. The database stores telephone numbers of subscribers to a lock service. The lock service allows remote locking and unlocking of the lock. If the query is successful, the communication is processed.

Claims

1. A device for locking and unlocking a lock, the device comprising:

a lock service manager module stored in a memory device, and a processor communicating with the memory device;

the lock service manager module comprising executable code for receiving a communication from a calling telephone number;

querying a database for at least one of i) a called telephone number and ii) a calling telephone number, the database storing telephone numbers of subscribers to a lock service, the lock service allowing remote locking and unlocking of the lock; and

if the query is successful, processing the communication.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the communication includes bioinformatics information that identifies a calling party.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the bioinformatics information comprises at least one of fingerprint information, retinal information, voice information, audio information, DNA information, and RNA information.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the lock service manager module further comprises executable code for authenticating a user.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the lock service manager module further comprises executable code for identifying the lock to be locked or unlocked.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein the lock service manager module further comprises executable code for communicating the communication to the lock, the communication causing at least one of i) a locked condition and ii) an unlocked condition.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the communication comprises information identifying the lock.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the lock service manager module further comprises executable code for communicating the communication to a plurality of locks.

9. A communications device for locking and unlocking a lock, the communications device comprising:

a lock service manager module stored in a memory device, and a processor communicating with the memory device;

the lock service manager module comprising executable code for sending a message to remotely lock or unlock a lock, the message comprising information that identifies the lock.

10. A communications device according to claim 9, wherein the information that identifies the lock comprises in-band audio tones.

11. A communications device according to claim 9, wherein the message further comprises a user ID.

12. A communications device according to claim 9, wherein the message further comprises a personal identification number.

13. A communications device according to claim 9, wherein the message further comprises a combination of the lock.

14. A communications device according to claim 9, wherein the lock service manager module comprises executable code for authenticating a user.

15. A method for locking and unlocking a lock, the method comprising:

sending a message to remotely lock or unlock a lock; and

sending an in-band audio tone to identify the lock.

16. A method according to claim 15, further comprising sending a user identification using in-band audio tones.

17. A method according to claim 15, further comprising sending a personal identification number using in-band audio tones.

18. A method according to claim 15, further comprising sending a combination of the lock using in-band audio tones.

19. A method according to claim 15, further comprising wirelessly sending the message to remotely lock or unlock the lock.

20. A method according to claim 15, further comprising authenticating a user.