Electronic locker lock system

• US 9,672,673 B1
• Filed: 03/22/2016
• Issued: 06/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digilock Asia Limited
• Original Assignee: Digilock Asia Limited
• Inventors: Gokcebay, Asil T.
• Primary Examiner(s): SYED, NABIL H
• Application Number:
  US15/077,846
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0097 including means for monitoring voltage, e.g. for indicating low battery state
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/025 for lockers
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00841 by a portable device
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/29 the pass containing active electronic elements, e.g. smartcards

Abstract

In a system of locks, typically lockers for temporary use, but also including long-term lockers and locks in office furniture, each electronic lock has an access terminal for entry of a user'"'"'s code. The electronic locks each have a processor and a programmable memory to receive inputs for setting and resetting access codes for the lock. The system includes a smartphone or other hand-held computer device, with a program for control of lock access. When locks of the system are to be set as to permitted access, or operating parameters of locks are to be adjusted, or for downloading information from the lock, information is entered into the smartphone and downloaded to a portable electronic data key. The data key is then touched to contacts of each lock to be affected, whereby the locks are set or the locks provide audit data to the smartphones.

Claims

1. In a system of many lockers, each of which has an electronic lock on an openable door that provides ingress but no egress, with an access terminal on the lock for entry of a user'"'"'s code to allow the user to access and open the lock, the improvement comprising:

the system including, in addition to access by users via user'"'"'s codes, manager access via a plurality of electronic manager keys, each to be held by one of a plurality of managers to provide overriding access to lockers when a user cannot access a lock,

each lock of the system having a processor and a programmable memory capable of receiving inputs for setting and resetting access codes for the lock, a keypad or other code entry device on said access terminal and connected to the processor for access by users using the lockers, and a data port with communication contacts,

a data key comprising a portable electronic device with a processor and a programmable memory, the data key including data contacts to connect with one of said locks when desired by touching the data contacts to the lock'"'"'s communication contacts, and further including a data port to receive and make electronic contact with one of said manager keys,

a smartphone or other hand-held computer device, the smartphone having a program for entering a manager name or ID on the smartphone to be associated with each electronic manager key, and for communicating via the data key with each of the locks of the system to set and reset user or manager access codes that will operate locks of the system,

communication means connecting the smartphone or device and the data key,

each said electronic manager key having accessing contacts configured to mate with the communication contacts of the lock for manager access to the lock, and said accessing contacts also configured to mate with the data port of the data key to enable communication between the manager key and the data key including identity of a manager key touched to the data key, and

the data key when touched to the data port of a lock of the system being capable of sending data to the processor and programmable memory of the lock to set and change permitted user or manager access codes that can access the lock.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the smartphone and data key when connected to a lock of the system are capable of retrieving data from the programmable memory of the lock to reveal a history of events of access to the lock.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein each lock includes an LED indicator to show status of the lock, and wherein the smartphone when connected via the data key to a lock of the system is further capable of setting brightness of the LED indicators.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein each lock includes an audible tone generator to indicate lock status or code input, and wherein the smartphone when connected via the data key to a lock of the system is further capable of adjusting audible tone volume or type of tone.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the smartphone when connected via the data key to a lock of the system is further capable of setting operating parameters of the lock.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication means comprises a cable connected to the smartphone or device and to the data key.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication means comprises wireless communication.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the smartphone program enables entry into a registry of the smartphone of a manager name to be associated with a manager key after the manager key has been touched to the data contacts of the data key.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein each lock has an audible tone generator to emit a tone confirming a successful transfer of data from the data key to the lock.

10. A method for controlling access to a multiplicity of electronic locks on lockers, cabinets or office furniture, in a system that includes access to the lockers by locker users via individual locker user'"'"'s codes as a locker user level of access, and manager access via a plurality of electronic manager keys, each to be held by one of a plurality of managers to provide overriding access to locks when a user cannot access a lock, as a manager level of access, comprising the following steps, performed by a supervisor:

(a) connecting a smartphone to a portable electronic data key device, the smartphone having an app for setting and controlling access to the electronic locks,

(b) selecting an electronic manager key device and touching contacts of the manager key device to contacts of the data key device, to thereby provide identification of the manager key device,

(c) with the app running, monitoring the screen of the smartphone, and entering a name or identification of a manager or person to be assigned the manager key,

(d) repeating steps (b) and (c) for any additional manager keys and managers who are to be permitted access to a group of locks,

(e) using the app on the smartphone, loading the information regarding manager keys and managers into the data key, and

(f) taking the data key to each lock to be affected with information loaded into the data key, and touching contacts of the data key to contacts of each lock, whereby a programmable memory of each lock contacted by the data key receives inputs to control which manager keys are permitted access to the lock.

11. The method of claim 10, further including using the smartphone app to delete and add managers to have access to selected locks, downloading data regarding one or more deleted or added managers from the smartphone to the data key, and touching the data key to said selected locks, so that the selected locks will only allow access to authorized managers.

12. The method of claim 10, further including entering on the smartphone settings of parameters for locks, including operation settings of LEDs or audible tones, or time windows within which a lock is to be accessible by a particular manager.

13. The method of claim 10, further including entering on the smartphone using the app a time window within which a particular manager or key code or group of codes are to have access or no access to selected locks, including entering such manager key code or codes into the smartphone using the app, downloading data from the smartphone to the data key, and then touching the data key to said selected locks so that the selected locks will only allow access as input into the app on the smartphone.

14. A method for controlling access to a multiplicity of electronic locks, each having an access terminal, a processor and a programmable memory or data storage, comprising the following steps, performed by a supervisor:

(a) connecting a smartphone to a portable electronic data key device, the smartphone having an app for setting and controlling access to the electronic locks,

(b) selecting an electronic manager key device and touching contacts of the manager key device to contacts of the data key device, to thereby provide identification of the manager key device,

(c) with the app running, monitoring the screen of the smartphone, and entering a name or identification of a manager or person to be assigned the manager key,

(d) repeating steps (b) and (c) for any additional manager keys and managers who are to be permitted access to a group of locks,

(e) using the app on the smartphone, loading the information regarding manager keys and managers into the data key,

(f) taking the data key to each lock to be affected with information loaded into the data key, and touching contacts of the data key to contacts of each lock, whereby the programmable memory of each lock contacted by the data key receives inputs to control which manager keys are permitted access to the lock,

and further including using the smartphone app to delete and add managers to have access to selected locks, downloading data regarding one or more deleted or added managers from the smartphone to the data key, and touching the data key to said selected locks, so that the selected locks will only allow access to authorized managers.