CONTEXTUAL DATA DELIVERY TO USERS AT A LOCKED PROPERTY

• US 20180047233A1
• Filed: 10/24/2017
• Published: 02/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SentriLock, LLC
• Original Assignee: SentriLock, LLC
• Inventors: Fisher, Scott R.
• Granted Patent: US 10,026,250 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00365 in combination with a wake-up circuit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0092 for cargo, freight or shipping containers and applications therefore in general
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/08 With time considerations, e.g. temporary activation, valid time window or time limitations
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

An electronic wireless controller remote locking system allows both sales agents and sales prospects to communicate either with the wireless controller, or with a central clearinghouse computer. Contextual data then is provided to the sales prospect while the prospect is visiting a specific property that is the site of a wireless controller and lock installation. Both the agent and the prospect use smart devices, such as smart phones, that have both wide area network capability and low power radio capability. In other situations, contextual data can be sent to a user having a smart device, in which that contextual data pertains to at least one human occupant of the specific property where that wireless controller and lock have been installed, which can be useful where a medical caregiver arrives to visit a human occupant of a specific property that is protected by the wireless controller and lock.

Claims

1. A wireless controller remote locking system, said system comprising:

(a) at least one wireless controller, said at least one wireless controller including a first processing circuit, a first memory circuit, and a first short range wireless communications circuit, wherein said at least one wireless controller is assigned to a specific property;

(b) at least one portable communicator, said at least one portable communicator including a second processing circuit, a second memory circuit, a display, a data entry circuit, and a second short range wireless communications circuit; and

(c) a lock used to protect said specific property;

(d) wherein said first and second processing circuits are programmed with computer code to perform functions of;

(i) using said first short range wireless communications circuit of said at least one wireless controller to send a first message containing contextual data that pertains to at least one human occupant of said specific property; and

(ii) after receiving said first message at said second short range wireless communications circuit of said at least one portable communicator, generating visual information on said display, wherein said visual information pertains to said at least one human occupant of said specific property.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a function of:

activating said at least one wireless controller by;

(a) an action performed by a person, or (b) an automatic function that is periodically performed by said at least one wireless controller.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein:

(a) said second memory circuit of said at least one portable communicator contains a time sensitive decryption key; and

(b) said first memory circuit of said at least one wireless controller contains a time sensitive encryption key; and

(c) said first and second processing circuits are programmed with computer code to perform the further functions of;

(i) said at least one wireless controller sends a periodic polling message to advertise its readiness to communicate with an authorized portable communicator;

(ii) said at least one portable communicator, after receiving said periodic polling message, sends a first response message that includes data that is representative of a present epoch time;

(iii) said at least one wireless controller then analyzes said first response message to determine if said at least one portable communicator is using a correct epoch time, and if so, then sends a second response message that contains an encrypted combination for said lock, wherein said encrypted combination depends upon said time sensitive encryption key; and

(iv) said at least one portable communicator, after receiving said second response message, uses said time sensitive decryption key to decrypt said encrypted combination, and if;

(A) said time sensitive encryption key, (B) said time sensitive decryption key, and (C) said epoch time

are all correct, then a decrypted combination is displayed on said display of said at least one portable communicator that is correct to unlock said lock.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein, said person comprises at least one of:

(a) an emergency medical technician;

(b) a routine medical caregiver;

(c) a police department officer;

(d) a fire department official;

(e) an administrative servicing person; and

(f) a repair servicing person.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein, said specific property comprises at least one of:

(a) a dwelling;

(b) a medical care facility; and

(c) a vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein:

said at least one portable communicator is used to provide a first level of authorization so that said second processing circuit of said at least one portable communicator is able to decipher said first message containing contextual data that pertains to said at least one human occupant of said specific property; and

said at least one portable communicator is used to provide a second level of authorization to said at least one wireless controller, which allows said person to open said lock.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second portable communicator of said at least one portable communicator, said second portable communicator including a third processing circuit, a third memory circuit, a second display, a second data entry circuit, and a third short range wireless communications circuit;

wherein;

(a) said at least one portable communicator is used to provide a first level of authorization so that said second processing circuit of said at least one portable communicator is able to decipher said first message containing contextual data that pertains to said at least one human occupant of said specific property; and

(b) said second portable communicator is used to provide a second level of authorization to said at least one wireless controller, which allows a second person to open said lock.

8. A wireless controller remote locking system, said system comprising:

(a) a first wireless controller, said first wireless controller including a first processing circuit, a first memory circuit, and a first short range wireless communications circuit, wherein said first wireless controller is assigned to a first specific property;

(b) a lock used to protect said first specific property;

(c) a first portable communicator including a second processing circuit, a second memory circuit, a first display, a first data entry circuit, a second short range wireless communications circuit, and a first WAN communications circuit used to communicate with a wide area network, said first portable communicator being assigned to a sales agent;

(d) a central computer including a third processing circuit, a third memory circuit containing at least one database, and a second WAN communications circuit used to communicate with said wide area network, wherein said at least one database includes a first database including a plurality of entries that store contextual data that pertains to at least one property in said wireless controller remote locking system; and

(e) a second portable communicator including a fourth processing circuit, a fourth memory circuit, a second display, a second data entry circuit, a GPS receiver circuit, and a third WAN communications circuit used to communicate with a wide area network, said second portable communicator being assigned to a sales prospect;

wherein said first, second, third, and fourth processing circuits are programmed with computer code to perform functions of;

(i) at said first wireless controller, granting access to open said lock if a sales agent correctly performs an authorized access procedure;

(ii) at said first wireless controller, using said first short range wireless communications circuit and said second short range wireless communications circuit, sending a first message that is received by said first portable communicator, said first message containing access event information that pertains to said first wireless controller;

(iii) at said first portable communicator, using said first WAN communications circuit and said second WAN communications circuit, sending a second message that is received by said central computer, said second message containing access event information that pertains to said first wireless controller;

(iv) at said second portable communicator, using said third WAN communications circuit and said second WAN communications circuit, sending a third message that is received by said central computer, said third message containing GPS coordinates information that specifies an approximate physical location of said second portable communicator;

(v) at said central computer, determining if said approximate physical location of said second portable communicator corresponds to a physical location of said first wireless controller, and if so, then;

(vi) at said central computer, using said second WAN communications circuit and said third WAN communications circuit, sending a fourth message that is received by said second portable communicator, said fourth message containing contextual data that pertains to said first specific property.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said first and third processing circuits are programmed with computer code to perform further functions of:

(a) at said central computer, using said second WAN communications circuit and said first WAN communications circuit, sending a fifth message that is received by said first portable communicator, said fifth message containing the same contextual data that was sent in said fourth message.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said first and third processing circuits are programmed with computer code to perform further functions of:

(a) at said central computer, using said second WAN communications circuit and said first WAN communications circuit, sending a fifth message that is received by said first portable communicator, said fifth message containing different contextual data from that sent in said fourth message, but that still pertains to said first specific property.

11. A wireless controller remote locking system, said system comprising:

(a) a first wireless controller, said first wireless controller including a first processing circuit, a first memory circuit, and a first short range wireless communications circuit, wherein said first wireless controller is assigned to a first specific property;

(b) a lock used to protect said first specific property;

(c) a first portable communicator including a second processing circuit, a second memory circuit, a first display, a first data entry circuit, a second short range wireless communications circuit, and a first WAN communications circuit used to communicate with a wide area network, said first portable communicator being assigned to a sales agent;

(d) a central computer including a third processing circuit, a third memory circuit containing at least one database, and a second WAN communications circuit used to communicate with said wide area network, wherein said at least one database includes a first database including a plurality of entries that store contextual data that pertains to at least one property in said wireless controller remote locking system; and

(e) a second portable communicator including a fourth processing circuit, a fourth memory circuit, a second display, a second data entry circuit, a third short range wireless communications circuit, and a third WAN communications circuit used to communicate with a wide area network, said second portable communicator being assigned to a sales prospect;

wherein said first, second, third, and fourth processing circuits are programmed with computer code to perform functions of;

(i) using said first short range wireless communications circuit of said first wireless controller, sending a first message containing first unique identification information that pertains to said first wireless controller;

(ii) at said first portable communicator, allowing said sales agent to login to said central computer, using said first WAN communications circuit and said second WAN communications circuit;

(iii) after receiving said first message at said second short range wireless communications circuit of said first portable communicator, using said first WAN communications circuit and said second WAN communications circuit to send a second message to said central computer, said second message containing said first unique identification information that pertains to said first wireless controller and identification information that pertains to said sales agent;

(iv) after receiving said first message at said third short range wireless communications circuit of said second portable communicator, using said third WAN communications circuit and said second WAN communications circuit to send a third message to said central computer, said third message containing said first unique identification information that pertains to said first wireless controller;

(v) after receiving said second and third messages at said central computer, using said second WAN communications circuit and said third WAN communications circuit to send a fourth message to said second portable communicator, said fourth message containing contextual data that pertains to said first specific property.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said first and third processing circuits are programmed with computer code to perform further functions of:

(a) at said central computer, using said second WAN communications circuit and said first WAN communications circuit, sending a fifth message that is received by said first portable communicator, said fifth message containing the same contextual data that was sent in said fourth message.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said first and third processing circuits are programmed with computer code to perform further functions of:

(a) at said central computer, using said second WAN communications circuit and said first WAN communications circuit, sending a fifth message that is received by said first portable communicator, said fifth message containing different contextual data from that sent in said fourth message, but that still pertains to said first specific property.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein said first and third processing circuits are programmed with computer code to perform further functions of:

(a) at said central computer, after receiving said second message and said third message, determining, using said third processing circuit, if said second message and said third message both pertain to said first wireless controller, and if so;

(b) at said central computer, after receiving said second message and said third message, determining, using said third processing circuit, if said second message and said third message were both received within a predetermined time interval, and if so;

(c) at said central computer, after receiving said second message and said third message, determining, using said third processing circuit, if said sales prospect has been linked to said sales agent in a prospect-agent database of said at least one database;

(i) if so, adding a property visit event to said agent-prospect database for said sales prospect and said sales agent;

(ii) if not, adding said sales prospect to said prospect-agent database for said sales agent to create a link between said sales prospect and said sales agent, and then adding a property visit event to said agent-prospect database for said sales prospect and said sales agent; and

(d) at said central computer, thereby automatically maintaining said agent-prospect database of property visits, without user intervention.

15. A wireless controller remote locking system, said system comprising:

(a) a first wireless controller, said first wireless controller including a first processing circuit, a first memory circuit, and a first short range wireless communications circuit, wherein said first wireless controller is assigned to a first specific property;

(b) a lock used to protect said first specific property;

(c) a first portable communicator including a second processing circuit, a second memory circuit, a first display, a first data entry circuit, a second short range wireless communications circuit, and a first WAN communications circuit used to communicate with a wide area network, said first portable communicator being assigned to an authorized user;

(d) a central computer including a third processing circuit, a third memory circuit containing at least one database, and a second WAN communications circuit used to communicate with said wide area network, wherein said at least one database includes a first database including a plurality of entries that store contextual data that pertains to at least one property in said wireless controller remote locking system; and

(e) a second portable communicator including a fourth processing circuit, a fourth memory circuit, a second display, a second data entry circuit, a third short range wireless communications circuit, and a third WAN communications circuit used to communicate with a wide area network, said second portable communicator being assigned to a second person;

wherein said first, second, and fourth processing circuits are programmed with computer code to perform functions of;

(i) at said first wireless controller, using said first short range wireless communications circuit and said second short range wireless communications circuit, sending a first message that is received by said first portable communicator, said first message containing first unique identification information that pertains to said first wireless controller;

(ii) at said first portable communicator, using said second short range wireless communications circuit and said third short range wireless communications circuit, and based upon said first unique identification information, sending a second message that is received by said second portable communicator, said second message containing contextual data that pertains to said first specific property; and

(iii) at said second portable communicator, after receiving said second message, then generating visual information on said second display, wherein said visual information pertains to said first specific property.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said second and third processing circuits are programmed with computer code to perform further functions of:

(a) at said first portable communicator, allowing said authorized user to login to said central computer, using said first WAN communications circuit and said second WAN communications circuit;

(b) at said central computer, based upon a request by said authorized user for contextual data that pertains to said first specific property, and before sending said second message, sending a third message from said central computer to said first portable communicator, using said second WAN communications circuit and said first WAN communications circuit, said third message containing said contextual data that pertains to said first specific property; and

(c) at said first portable communicator, after receiving said third message, then sending, in near real time, said second message.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein said second processing circuit is programmed with computer code to perform further functions of:

(a) at said first portable communicator, pre-storing contextual data that pertains to said first specific property in said second memory circuit;

(b) later, after receiving said first message, then sending, in near real time, said second message.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein said authorized user has the ability to open said first lock.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein said authorized user comprises a sales agent, and said second person comprises a sales prospect.

20. A wireless controller remote locking system, said system comprising:

(a) a plurality of wireless controllers, at least two of said wireless controllers including a first processing circuit, a first memory circuit, and a first short range wireless communications circuit, wherein a first one of said plurality of wireless controllers is assigned to a first specific property, and wherein a second one of said plurality of wireless controllers is assigned to a second specific property;

(b) a plurality of locks, at least two of said locks being used to protect said first specific property and said second specific property;

(c) a first portable communicator including a second processing circuit, a second memory circuit, a first display, a first data entry circuit, a second short range wireless communications circuit, and a first WAN communications circuit used to communicate with a wide area network, said first portable communicator being assigned to a sales prospect who is not authorized to open said plurality of locks;

(d) a central computer including a third processing circuit, a third memory circuit containing at least one database, and a second WAN communications circuit used to communicate with said wide area network, wherein said at least one database includes a first database including a plurality of entries that store visit history reports and contextual data that pertains to properties in said wireless controller remote locking system, including at least said first specific property and said second specific property;

wherein said first, second, and third processing circuits are programmed with computer code to perform functions of;

(i) at said first portable communicator, allowing said sales prospect to login to said central computer, using said first WAN communications circuit and said second WAN communications circuit;

(ii) at said first portable communicator, allowing said sales prospect to request a visit history report that pertains to property visits for at least one of said first specific property and said second specific property;

(iii) at said central computer, sending a visit history report that pertains to property visit activities of said sales prospect, and sending current contextual data that pertains to the specific properties included in said visit history report to said first portable communicator, using said second WAN communications circuit and said first WAN communications circuit;

(iv) at said first portable communicator, storing said current contextual data received from said central computer in said second memory circuit;

(v) at said first portable communicator, determining if existing contextual data is resident in said second memory circuit for at least one of said first specific property and said second specific property, and if so, then;

(vi) at said first portable communicator, updating said existing contextual data for said at least one of said first specific property and said second specific property.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the function of updating said existing contextual data for said at least one specific property comprises replacing said existing contextual data with said current contextual data.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the function of updating said existing contextual data for said at least one specific property comprises appending said existing contextual data.