SMART DOOR LOCK

A self-contained door locking apparatus is disclosed which collects, stores, displays, and/or transmits information each time the apparatus is opened, closed, or even merely handled. This information may include but is not limited to time, date, key ID, and the number of times the apparatus is used or handled. The functions and performance of the locking apparatus may be manually or remotely controlled and manipulated. The disclosed apparatus may be also manually or remotely interrogated and the information gathered by the apparatus may be locally stored and/or be transmitted to a remote receiver such as a cell phone or a computing device.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates generally to security devices, and more specifically relates to a door-locking device capable of keeping track of locking and unlocking activities.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the present disclosure is described with reference to several illustrative embodiments described herein, it should be clear that the present disclosure is not limited to such embodiments. Therefore, the description of the embodiments provided herein is only illustrative of the present disclosure and should not limit the scope of the disclosure as claimed. In addition, while the following description references particular types of locking apparatus, such as door locks, it will be appreciated that the disclosure may be used with other locks such as window locks, car-door locks, and the like.

Briefly described, a self-contained door lock is disclosed that is configured to acquire event data such as information about the number of times the lock is opened, closed, or even touched, date of use, key ID, time of use, location of use, type of use, picture or video of surrounding area at or around the time of use, and the like. The disclosed door lock may also include, in some embodiments, a receiver to receive remotely transmitted signals, for example from a smartphone, to interrogate the door lock and/or to control some functions of the door lock such as starting, stopping and resetting of some components of the door lock. In some embodiments the door lock may have a transmitter to transmit some of the gathered information to a user's smartphone or computing device. In other embodiments the door lock may include RFID (Radio-frequency identification) capabilities.

In various embodiments transmission of data from the door lock to another apparatus, or control and interrogation of the door lock, may be through a wire connection. Some embodiments may further include manual provisions to operate various functions of the door lock, such as different controls, settings, uploading of information, and downloading of control commands. In various embodiments, the door lock may include one or more of a power supply, a sensor, an event counter, a key ID reader, a clock, a GPS, a transmitter, a receiver, a transponder, a memory, a processor, a display, RFID, and a manual control panel. In other embodiments, a door lock processor may perform some analysis on the collected information and communicate the collected and/or analyzed data to a storage device and/or to an external host computer for future analysis and use.

On many occasions, such as when leaving a personal residence, an office, a closet, a storage room, a secured or restricted area, a rental storage space, or a shipping container, one may be suspicious of or may want to prevent unauthorized visits to the secured or restricted area or at least may want to keep a history of the visits for future audits. At the present time, to obtain surveillance information, for example from a private or commercial office building or facility or an industrial facility, the property owner must first show damages and then make a legal claim for recovery from the property. In many cases, such as high traffic areas in private or commercial office buildings or industrial facilities where many users have authorized access, this information may not even exist. In those cases in which a person decides to set up her own surveillance equipment, at home, at a private or commercial office building or industrial facility, the equipment and the set-up will be relatively expensive in addition to the fact that she may also need permission from the owner of the property. Such needs arise in many situations in which data and information about the openings, closings, or even touching a specific lock is of interest.

FIG. 1shows an example door lock100used on a commercial office building door110, which is configured to at least record information about the time, date, key ID, place, and the number of times the door lock is opened or closed. In this example, door lock100is both controlled and monitored using a smartphone120or a laptop130. In some embodiments door lock100may only be manually controlled, such as by mechanical manipulation or wired download of commands, or be controlled both manually and wirelessly. In the example ofFIG. 1, a user can remotely acquire information about the date, the time, key ID, and the place of each opening of the door lock. The user can also remotely prevent the door lock100from opening or limit its ability to be opened to desired times, dates, and geographic places.

In various embodiments the door locks may be opened and/or closed by customary or electronic keys or by different kinds of keycards, magnetic keys, transponder or chip keys, and the like.

FIG. 2shows components of an example door lock200installed on door205, which is shown partially and can be locked or unlocked by a mechanical, an electronic, or an RF key. As seen inFIG. 2, door lock200includes sensor210, event counter220, clock230, RFID, GPS240, processor250, receiver260, transmitter270, data memory280, and data bus290. Sensor210can be an optical, magnetic, proximity, or a pressure sensor, or the like, for sensing an opening, a closing, or a mere touching of the door lock. Sensor210may also acquire the key ID of the key used for opening the lock200. The key ID may include all or some of the information related to the key and/or the key user. For example sensor210may sense a movement of the shackle, bolt, cylinder, gear, or screw of the door lock200and/or the name of the key owner. The example event counter220keeps track of the number of events sensed by sensor210or keeps count of the number of signals it receives from processor250. The RFID can identify lock200remotely. Lock200may also have a display for displaying all or some of the acquired or generated information. In some embodiments event counter220can be manually or remotely reset. In yet other embodiments, output of the event counter220is stored in data memory280, which may itself be a part of processor250. In some embodiments data transfer and communication between the components of door lock200may be through data bus290and/or be managed by processor250. In still other embodiments, event counter220may be implemented in software on processor250and its data maintained in non-volatile memory, such as flash memory.

Some embodiments, such as the one shown inFIG. 2, may include a clock230, the output of which is used for time-stamping and dating an event such as an opening and/or closing of the door lock200. In various embodiments the time and/or date of an opening may be recorded separately from the time and/or date of a closing event, or only the data about the time and/or date of opening event or closing event be collected. In other embodiments the time and/or date of an event may be remotely acquired. For example, each time an event happens, the transmitter270requests time and/or date from a remote location and receives the corresponding time and date by receiver260. Such information and data may either be locally stored in data memory280and/or be wirelessly transmitted to a remote data storage device. Some embodiments of the door lock200may include a GPS240to gather information about the location of an event as well. In some embodiments, the location data may also be obtained remotely based on GPS coordinates

In some embodiments a wireless receiver260receives remotely-originated control and/or interrogation signals for setting or resetting the counter220or for interrogating the door lock for information and data. In these embodiments, a user can send a signal to a specific door lock200and request up-to-date information about events and/or, for example, reset the event counter220to zero. A user can also send a signal to start or stop collection of some event related information or to start collection of certain information at specific date and/or time. In various embodiments, the receiver260may receive control signals to override any manual control of the door lock200and to not allow, for example, manual opening of door lock200or manual setting of counter220. In some other embodiments a wireless transmitter270, such as an RF (Radio Frequency) or IR (Infra Red) transmitter, transmits at least a portion of the collected data and information to a remote receiver, such as to a computer130or to a smartphone120. The transmission may be initiated automatically, for example at a specific time, periodically, or upon manual or remote interrogation of the door lock200.

In various embodiments, the lock on door lock200may be controlled remotely to prevent local locking or unlocking of the door lock, while in other embodiments, the lock may be automatically disabled after a predetermined number of openings and closings to enforce an operational policy. Once the lock is automatically disabled, it can only be re-enabled by an external and/or remote command.

Various embodiments may include a display of some of the collected or analyzed data, such as display of the opening-closing count, the time and date of the opening-closing events or the key ID, on an LED screen. The display may either be ON at all times or be manually or remotely turned on by the user, or be turned on each time the door lock200is touched or opened and/or closed, etc. The display may be so configured to allow scrolling through some or all available data.

In different embodiments the door lock200may be connected to a power supply, use a rechargeable battery, a non-rechargeable battery, or use solar energy or be able to charge up mechanically. In other embodiments the battery space or the recharging inlet of door lock200may be opened manually, by a remote control signal, or require both manual and remote control. In some embodiments the battery space or the recharging inlet of door lock200may have a separate key or combination lock.

In various embodiments, door lock200may be opened and/or closed by a key, a combination-lock, by RF signals, etc. In some embodiments some or all manual manipulations of door lock200, such as extraction of event information, are only allowed after opening of the door lock200. In embodiments in which the door lock is opened and closed with a key, a keycard, etc., the “tags” stored in the key or the keycard (for example electronically or magnetically), may be read and stored or read and transferred to a receiver, by an RFID (Radio-frequency identification) subsystem of the door lock. RFID is widely known among those skilled in the art.

In various embodiments door lock200may include a camera310which may be activated by touching and/or opening door lock200. For example camera310may be set up to take a picture of a person opening door lock200or may be set up to take a video of its surrounding during the time between the opening and closing of door lock200.

In some embodiments some of the event information may be obtained from outside of the door lock200. In other embodiments door lock200may send request or command signals to outside devices. Such signals may be communicated by wire or wirelessly. For example a stand-alone camera may be wirelessly commanded by door lock200to take pictures anytime door lock200is manipulated. Similarly, in other embodiments door lock200may wirelessly set off a stand-alone alarm anytime an attempt is made to open door lock200. In some embodiments even the kinds of manipulation, upon which door lock200performs a function, may be specified by the user. For example, the user may send a control signal directing door lock200to take a picture any time door lock200is even slightly touched by someone, or when it is being opened, and the like. In another example, any time sensor210senses an event, door lock200requests time and date from a stand-alone source.

In various embodiments all or some of door lock200components such as electronics, wiring, etc. are sealed, waterproof and shock proof. The disclosed door lock200may be used as a stand-alone security system—independent of sophisticated and expensive alarm systems—or be used in conjunction with existing alarm systems.

While controls, synchronizations, storage, etc., in example door lock200can be implemented using processor250, same can be implemented without a processor. For example, upon detection of an event, such as opening of door lock200, a signal generated by sensor210can trigger transmission of the event data from counter220, key ID, clock230, GPS240, etc., to the user. Or, in various embodiments, receiver260can be hardwired to different door lock200components for controlling and resetting of those components each time a control signal is received by receiver260.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the components and modules used in event data collection and processing functions may be packaged, integrated, or coupled together in many different ways without departing from the spirit of the present disclosures.

Changes can be made to the claimed invention in light of the above Detailed Description. While the above description details certain embodiments of the invention and describes the best mode contemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, the claimed invention can be practiced in many ways. Details of the system may vary considerably in its implementation details, while still being encompassed by the claimed invention disclosed herein.

Particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the disclosure should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the disclosure with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the claimed invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Description section explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the claimed invention encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the claimed invention.

The above specification, examples, and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the claimed invention. Since many embodiments of the claimed invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended. It is further understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.