Wireless network apparatus and method for lock indication

• US 8,334,765 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2010
• Issued: 12/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Keylockit, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Keylockit, Ltd.
• Inventors: Weinstein, Hillel, Strull, Yeshayahu
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Hai
• Assistant Examiner(s): NWUGO, OJIAKO K
• Application Number:
  US12/913,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20110285528A1
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.11, 340/5.1, 340/5.64, 340/3.9
• US Class Current: 340/539.11
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 19/22 Keys with devices for indicating whether the last operation was locking or unlocking
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/06 by tampering with fastening

Abstract

An apparatus for tracking the status of a lock, comprising: at least one lock tracking device for tracking a status of a lock; and at least one wireless key unit; wherein each of said at least one wireless key unit is connected to one of said at least one lock tracking device, and wherein said at least one wireless key unit includes a transceiver unit for transmitting information obtained from the at least one lock tracking device regarding the status of the lock.

Claims

1. An apparatus for tracking a status of a lock, comprising:

at least one lock tracking device for tracking the status of the lock, wherein said lock tracking device is attached to a standard key and comprises a movement sensing device for sensing movement of a key relative to said lock and providing movement information about said movement;

wherein said movement information enables tracking the movements of the key and determining the direction of rotation of the key relative to the lock;

at least one wireless key unit;

wherein each of said at least one wireless key unit is connected to one of the at least one lock tracking device, and wherein said at least one wireless key unit includes a transceiver unit for transmitting information obtained from the at least one lock tracking device regarding the status of the lock; and

a lock status control unit for receiving information regarding the status of the lock from the at least one wireless key unit and wherein the lock status control unit is tracking the status of the lock

wherein the lock status control unit is connected to a wireless network and wherein the lock status control unit receives information regarding the status of the lock from the at least one wireless key unit via said wireless network, thereby enabling the indication of the most recent status of the lock as relayed to a plurality key holders holding keys with attached key housings which correspond to said lock.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one wireless key unit is adapted to be attached to a standard key used to lock or unlock said lock.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transceiver unit receives information regarding the status of the lock.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lock status control unit further transmits information regarding the status of the lock to the at least one wireless key unit.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the information that is transmitted from the lock status control unit and is received by the at least one wireless key unit provides indication about the most recent status of the lock.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a monitoring unit that receives information regarding the status of the lock from the lock status control unit and provides a visual display of the status of the lock.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one wireless key unit transmits information obtained from the at least one lock tracking device regarding the status of the lock to the lock status control unit via a portable transceiver device.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the portable transceiver device is at least one of a mobile phone, or a cellular phone, or a portable computer, or any combination thereof.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wireless network is a data network.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the lock status control unit is further keeping updated records of each transmission that were received from each of the at least one wireless key unit.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one wireless key unit communicates with a remote controlled device.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the remote controlled device is a premises control system.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the remote controlled device is an alarm system.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the at least one wireless key unit activates or deactivates the remote controlled device responsive to detection of a locked or unlocked lock status by the at least one lock tracking device.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one wireless key unit communicates with a monitoring device.

16. A method for tracking a status of a lock, comprising

tracking the status of the lock with a lock tracking device that is attached to a standard key that is used for lock or unlock said lock;

wherein said lock tracking device comprises a movement sensing device for sensing movement of a key relative to said lock and providing movement information about said movement;

wherein said movement information enables tracking the movements of the key and determining the direction of rotation of the key relative to the lock;

transmitting information obtained from said lock tracking device by a wireless key unit that is connected to said lock tracking device,

wherein a lock status control unit receives information regarding the status of the lock from an at least one wireless key unit and wherein the lock status control unit is tracking the status of the lock,

and further wherein the lock status control unit further transmits information regarding the status of the lock to the at least one wireless key unit,

thereby enabling the indication of the most recent status of the lock as relayed to a plurality key holders holding keys with attached housings which correspond to said lock.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein a transceiver unit receives information regarding the status of the lock.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein a monitoring unit receives information regarding the status of the lock from the lock status control unit and provides a visual display of the status of the lock.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the at least one wireless key unit transmits information obtained from the at least one lock tracking device regarding the status of the lock to the lock status control unit via a portable transceiver device.