Abstract:
Electronic locks, electronic lock systems, and electronic lock networks are provided, and can include a latch, an interior unit including an interior handle operable to place the latch in the unlatched position, an interior user-interface, and an interior controller coupled to the interior user-interface; an exterior unit including an exterior handle having an active mode and a non-active mode, the exterior handle operable to place the latch in the unlatched position when in the active mode, an exterior user-interface, a fingerprint sensor configured to sense fingerprint data, and an exterior controller configure to receive the sensed fingerprint data, output the sensed fingerprint data, and place the exterior handle in the active mode upon receiving an active signal; and a main controller coupled to the interior controller and the exterior controller, the main controller configured to receive the sensed fingerprint data from the exterior controller, compare the sensed fingerprint data to a known fingerprint data, and output the active signal to the exterior controller based on the comparison.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 62/085,007, filed Nov. 26, 2014, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to electronic door lock systems and methods. 
     SUMMARY 
     Some embodiments of the present invention provide an electronic door lock system comprising a latch having a latched position and an unlatched position; an interior unit including an interior handle operable to place the latch in the unlatched position, an interior user-interface, and an interior controller communicatively coupled to the interior user-interface; an exterior unit including an exterior handle having an active mode and a non-active mode, the exterior handle operable to place the latch in the unlatched position when in the active mode, an exterior user-interface, a fingerprint sensor configured to sense fingerprint data, and an exterior controller configure to receive the sensed fingerprint data, output the sensed fingerprint data, and place the exterior handle in the active mode upon receiving an active signal; and a main controller communicatively coupled to the interior controller and the exterior controller, the main controller configured to receive the sensed fingerprint data from the exterior controller, compare the sensed fingerprint data to a known fingerprint data, and output the active signal to the exterior controller based on the comparison. 
     In some embodiments, an electronic door lock system is provided, and comprises a latch having a latched position and an unlatched position; an interior unit including an interior handle operable to place the latch in the unlatched position, and an interior user-interface having an interior display; an exterior unit including an exterior handle having an active mode and a non-active mode, the exterior handle operable to place the latch in the unlatched position when in the active mode, an exterior user-interface having an exterior display, a fingerprint sensor configured to sense fingerprint data and output the sensed fingerprint data; and a main controller communicatively coupled to the interior unit and the exterior unit, the main controller configured to receive the sensed fingerprint data, compare the sensed fingerprint data to a known fingerprint data, and place the exterior handle in the active mode based on the comparison. 
     Some embodiments of the present invention provide an electronic door lock system comprising a latch having a latched position and an unlatched position; an interior unit including an interior handle operable to place the latch in the unlatched position, and an interior user-interface having an interior display; an exterior unit including an exterior handle having an active mode and a non-active mode, the exterior handle operable to place the latch in the unlatched position when in the active mode, an exterior user-interface having an exterior display, a fingerprint sensor configured to sense fingerprint data and output the sensed fingerprint data; a wireless power supply module; a wireless network communications module; and a main controller communicatively coupled to the interior unit, the exterior unit, the wireless power supply module, and the wireless network communications module, the main controller configured to receive the sensed fingerprint data, compare the sensed fingerprint data to a known fingerprint data, and place the exterior handle in the active mode based on the comparison. 
     In some embodiments, an electronic lock network is provided, and comprises a plurality of lock systems each including a latch having a latched position and an unlatched position, an interior unit including an interior handle operable to place the latch in the unlatched position, an exterior unit including an exterior handle having an active mode and a non-active mode, the exterior handle operable to place the latch in the unlatched position when in the active mode, and a fingerprint sensor configured to sense fingerprint data and output the sensed fingerprint data, a wireless power supply, a wireless network communications module, and a controller communicatively coupled to the wireless power supply and the wireless network communication module, the main controller configured to receive the sensed fingerprint data, compare the sensed fingerprint data to a known fingerprint data, and place the exterior handle in the active mode based on the comparison; and an external computer including a second wireless network communications module, the external computer configured to send the known fingerprint data to at least one of the plurality of lock systems over a wireless mesh network comprising the plurality of lock systems. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an interior portion of a lock system according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an exterior portion of the lock system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the interior portion of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the exterior portion of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the interior portion of  FIG. 1  illustrating an input/output according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram of a control system of the lock system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of the exterior portion of  FIG. 2  illustrating a fingerprint sensor according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the lock system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 9  is a flowchart illustrating another operation of the lock system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 10  is a flowchart illustrating another operation of the lock system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 11  is a flowchart illustrating another operation of the lock system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 12  one embodiment of a mesh network of a plurality of lock systems of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a process, or communication protocol, for determining a communication path between nodes of the mesh network of  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 14  illustrates a software decision tree the lock system of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Before embodiments of the present invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. 
       FIGS. 1-5  illustrate an electronic door lock system  100 . The electronic lock system  100  includes an interior unit  105  and an exterior unit  110 . The electronic lock system  100  is configured to be installed in a variety of doors, such as but not limited to, door  115 , which may be an exterior door or an interior door. The interior unit  105  of the electronic door lock system  100  may be installed on the interior of the door  115 , while the exterior unit  110  may be installed on the exterior of the door  115 . In some embodiments, the lock system  100  may further include a latch  120  assembly. The latch assembly  120  may be a spring-biased latch system, which is known in the art. The illustrated latch assembly  120  includes latch  125 , which is biased in a first direction  130 . In other embodiments, the lock system  100  may include a deadbolt or other known lock mechanisms. 
     The interior unit  105  may include an interior handle  135 , an interior user interface  140 , an interior input/output (I/O) interface  145  (see  FIG. 5 ), and an interior controller  150  (see  FIG. 6 ). Although illustrated as a lever, in other embodiments the interior handle  135  may be a knob or other known door handle. When operated by a user, the interior handle  135  will cause the latch  125  to move in a second direction  150 , thus allowing opening of the door  115 . 
     The exterior unit  110  may include an exterior handle  155 , an exterior user interface  160 , a fingerprint sensor  165 , and an exterior controller  170  ( FIG. 6 ). Although illustrated as a lever, in other embodiments the exterior handle  155  may be a knob or other known door handle. In some embodiments, the exterior handle  155  is in a non-active mode in which actuation of the exterior handle  155  will not cause movement of the latch  125 . However, when in an active mode and actuated by a user, the exterior handle  155  will cause the latch  125  to move in the second direction  150 , thus allowing opening of the door  115 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a block diagram of a control system  200  of the electronic lock system  100 . The control system  200  includes a main controller  205 . The main controller  205  is electrically and/or communicatively connected to a variety of modules or components of the lock system  100 , including, among other things, the interior controller  150  and the exterior controller  170 . The main controller  205  can include any combination of hardware and software operable to, among other things, control operation of the lock system  100 . 
     In some embodiments, the main controller  205  includes a plurality of electrical and electronic components that provide power, operational control, and protection to the components and modules within the main controller  205  and/or lock system  100 . For example, the main controller  205  includes, among other things, a processing unit, or processor  210  (e.g., a microprocessor, a microcontroller, or another suitable programmable device) and a memory  215 . In some embodiments, the processor  210  and the memory  215 , as well as the various modules connected to the main controller  205  are connected by one or more control and/or data buses. The use of one or more control and/or data buses for the interconnection between and communication among the various modules and components would be known to a person skilled in the art in view of the invention described herein. In some embodiments, the main controller  205  is implemented partially or entirely on a semiconductor (e.g., a field-programmable gate array [“FPGA”] semiconductor) chip, such as a chip developed through a register transfer level (“RTL”) design process. 
     The memory  215  includes, for example, a program storage area and a data storage area. The program storage area and the data storage area can include combinations of different types of memory, such as read-only memory (“ROM”), random access memory (“RAM”) (e.g., dynamic RAM [“DRAM”], synchronous DRAM [“SDRAM”], etc.), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (“EEPROM”), flash memory, a hard disk, an SD card, or other suitable magnetic, optical, physical, or electronic memory devices. In the illustrated embodiment, the processor  210  is connected to the memory  215  and executes software instructions that are capable of being stored in a RAM of the memory  215  (e.g., during execution), a ROM of the memory  215  (e.g., on a generally permanent basis), or another non-transitory computer readable medium such as another memory. Software included in the implementation of the lock system  100  can be stored in the memory  215  of the main controller  205 . The software can include, for example, firmware, one or more applications, program data, filters, rules, one or more program modules, and other executable instructions. The main controller  205  of the illustrated embodiment is configured to retrieve from memory and execute, among other things, instructions related to the control processes and methods described herein. In other constructions, the main controller  205  includes additional, fewer, or different components. 
     The main controller  205  may be further communicatively coupled to a network communications module  220 . In some embodiments, the network communications module  220  is configured to connect to and communicate through a network  225 . In such embodiments, the network  225  can be configured to connect a plurality of lock systems  100  together. In other embodiments, the plurality of lock systems  100  connect and communicate with each other via respective individual network communications modules  220  (i.e., one for each lock system  100 ). As discussed in further detail below, in such embodiments, the plurality of lock systems  100  creates a mesh network. 
     In some embodiments, the network  225  is, for example, a wide area network (“WAN”) (e.g., a TCP/IP based network, a cellular network, such as, for example, a Global System for Mobile Communications [“GSM”] network, a General Packet Radio Service [“GPRS”] network, a Code Division Multiple Access [“CDMA”] network, an Evolution-Data Optimized [“EV-DO”] network, an Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution [“EDGE”] network, a 3GSM network, a 4GSM network, a Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications [“DECT”] network, a Digital AMPS [“IS-136/TDMA”] network, or an Integrated Digital Enhanced Network [“iDEN”] network, etc.). 
     In other embodiments, the network  225  is, for example, a local area network (“LAN”), a neighborhood area network (“NAN”), a home area network (“HAN”), or personal area network (“PAN”) employing any of a variety of communications protocols, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, Z-Wave, etc. Communications through the network  225  by the network communications module  220  or the main controller  205  can be protected using one or more encryption techniques, such as those techniques provided in the IEEE 802.1 standard for port-based network security, pre-shared key, Extensible Authentication Protocol (“EAP”), Wired Equivalency Privacy (“WEP”), Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (“TKIP”), Wi-Fi Protected Access (“WPA”), and the like. The connections between the network communications module  220  and the network  225  are, for example, wired connections, wireless connections, or a combination of wireless and wired connections. Similarly, the connections between the main controller  205  and the network  225  or the network communications module  220  are wired connections, wireless connections, or a combination of wireless and wired connections. 
     The lock system  100  and/or the main controller  205  receive electrical power from a power supply module  230 . The power supply module  230  supplies a nominal DC voltage to the main controller  205  and other components or modules of the lock system  100 . The power supply module  230  can also be configured to supply lower voltages to operate circuits and components within the main controller  205  or lock system  100 . The power supply module  230  is powered by, for example, one or more batteries or battery packs. In other embodiments, the power supply module  230  is powered by a capacitor, such as a super capacitor or a plurality of capacitors electrically connected in series and/or parallel. Also, in other embodiments, the power supply module  230  is powered by a power source having nominal line voltages between 100V and 240V AC and frequencies of approximately 50-60 Hz. In still other embodiments, the power supply module  230  is powered by Power over Ethernet (PoE), such as but not limited to, PoE 802.3. 
     In some embodiments, the interior controller  150  and/or the main controller  205  may monitor an electrical characteristic of the power supply. The interior controller  150  and/or the main controller  205  may monitor the voltage, current, and temperature of the batteries or battery pack of the lock system  100 . In such embodiments, the electrical characteristic can be used to determine a remaining battery life. The interior controller  150  and/or main controller  205  may also or instead monitor the nominal line voltage, or input voltage, of the power supply and determine if the power supply has been interrupted. 
     In some embodiments, the power supply module  230  receives power from a first power source (e.g., wired AC power supply, PoE, etc.), but additionally includes an uninterruptable power supply (“UPS”). In such embodiments, the first power source continually recharges the UPS, and if the first power source is interrupted, the UPS powers the main controller  205  and various components and modules of the lock system  100 . The UPS may be, but is not limited to, one or more batteries, battery packs, or capacitors. 
     As discussed above, the main controller  205  is communicatively coupled to the interior controller  150 . The interior controller  150  can be substantially similar to the main controller  205 , and can include similar components. The interior controller  150  is further communicatively coupled to the interior user-interface  140  and the interior I/O interface  145 . The interior user-interface  140  may include an interior display  235  and an interior keypad  240 . In some embodiments, the interior display  235  is an organic light-emitting diode (“OLED”) screen. In other embodiments, the interior display  235  may be, among other things, a liquid crystal display (“LCD”), a light-emitting diode (“LED”) display, an electroluminescent display (“ELD”), a surface-conduction electron-emitter display (“SED”), a field emission display (“FED”), and a thin-film transistor (“TFT”) LCD. Although illustrated as only having four keys, the interior keypad  240  may have less or more keys. In other embodiments, the interior user-interface  140  may further include one or more additional indicators, such as but not limited to, speakers. 
     The interior I/O interface  145  inputs and outputs data to an external device. The interior I/O interface  145  is located on the interior of the door  115  to prevent use from the exterior. In some embodiments, the interior I/O interface  145  is a universal serial bus (“USB”). In other embodiments, the interior I/O interface  145  may be, among other things, Ethernet, serial advanced technology attachment [“SATA”], and integrated drive electronics [“IDE”] interfaces. 
     As discussed above, the main controller  205  is communicatively coupled to the exterior controller  170 . The exterior controller  170  can be substantially similar to the main controller  205 , and can include similar components. The exterior controller  170  is further communicatively coupled to the exterior handle  155 , the exterior user-interface  160 , and the fingerprint sensor  165 . The exterior user-interface  160  may include an exterior display  245  and an exterior keypad  250 . In some embodiment, the exterior display  245  is an organic light-emitting diode (“OLED”) screen. In other embodiments, the exterior display  245  may be, among other things, a liquid crystal display (“LCD”), a light-emitting diode (“LED”) display, an electroluminescent display (“ELD”), a surface-conduction electron-emitter display (“SED”), a field emission display (“FED”), and a thin-film transistor (“TFT”) LCD. In the illustrated embodiment, the exterior keypad  250  is a numeral keypad, however, in other embodiments, the exterior keypad  250  may include more or less keys. Also, in other embodiments, the exterior user-interface  160  may further include one or more additional indicators, such as but not limited to, speakers. 
     The electronic lock system  100  having an interior user-interface  140  and an exterior user-interface  160  results in a plurality of benefits, including, but not limited to, simplicity of use and safety. The electronic lock system  100  is simpler than previously known lock system because a user does not have to do all the programming from the outside or the inside. Additionally, the electronic lock system  100  adds a safety component, in that the interior user-interface  140  must be used to add/remove users. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates the fingerprint sensor  165 . The fingerprint sensor  165  is a fingerprint recognition, or fingerprint authentication, device for sensing and recognizing, or authenticating, one or more fingerprints (e.g., the user&#39;s fingerprint). In the illustrated embodiment, the fingerprint sensor  165  is an optical sensor, and includes a touch surface  255 . The illustrated fingerprint sensor  165  captures a digital image of the fingerprint placed at the touch surface  255 . Beneath the touch surface  255  is a light-emitting phosphor layer which illuminates the surface of the finger. The light reflected from the finger passes through the phosphor layer to an array of solid state pixels (a charge-coupled device) which captures a visual image of the fingerprint. The visual image of the fingerprint is then sent to the exterior controller  170  and/or the main controller  205  for analysis. In other embodiments, the fingerprint sensor  165  may be, but is not limited to, an ultrasonic sensor, a resistive sensor, or a capacitance sensor. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates one embodiment of operation  300  of the electronic door lock system  100 , in which a user stores individual fingerprint data. Although illustrated as occurring in a sequential order, it should be understood that the order of the steps disclosed in operation  300  may vary. Furthermore, additional steps may be included in the operation  300 , and not all of the steps may be required. Operation  300  begins with the user turning on, or waking up, the lock system  100  by pressing a key of keypad  240  (Step  305 ). The user then accesses a main menu on one of the interior user-interface  140  or exterior user-interface  160  (Step  310 ). In some embodiments, the main menu is accessed via an administrator password entered via one of the interior keypad  240  or exterior keypad  250 . Once the user has accessed the main menu, the user must program his or her fingerprint data. This is performed by placing the user&#39;s finger onto the touch surface  255  when prompted by one of the interior display  235  and the exterior display  245  (Step  315 ). In some embodiments, the lock system  100  may prompt the user to place his or her finger onto the touch surface  255  a plurality of times and/or in a plurality of finger positions. The fingerprint data is sent from the fingerprint sensor  165  to the exterior controller  170  (Step  320 ), which stores the fingerprint data (Step  325 ). Alternatively, or in conjunction to Step  325 , the exterior controller  170  may send the fingerprint data to the main controller  205  for storage. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates another embodiment of operation  400 , in which a user operates the lock system  100  using the fingerprint sensor  165 . Although illustrated as occurring in a sequential order, it should be understood that the order of the steps disclosed in operation  400  may vary. Furthermore, additional steps may be included in the operation  400 , and not all of the steps may be required. Operation  400  begins with the user waking up the lock system  100  by pressing a key of keypad  250  (Step  405 ). The exterior display  245  prompts the user to place his or her finger on the touch surface  255  (Step  410 ). The fingerprint sensor  165  captures the visual image of the fingerprint and sends the visual image to the exterior controller  170  as fingerprint data (Step  415 ). The exterior controller  170  communicates with the main controller  205  to determine if the fingerprint data matches any stored finger print data (Step  420 ). If the fingerprint data does match stored fingerprint data, the exterior controller  170  receives an active signal from the main controller  205  and activates the exterior handle  155  (Step  425 ). The user may then operate the exterior handle  155  to gain access through the door  115  (Step  430 ). If the fingerprint data does not match any stored fingerprint data in Step  420  (or in some embodiments matches fingerprint data of users who are not authorized), then the exterior controller  170  sends a signal to the exterior display  245  notifying the user (Step  435 ). In other embodiments discussed in more detail below, after determining that the fingerprint data matched stored fingerprint data, the main controller  205  and/or exterior controller  170  may further determine if the user is allowed access at that specific time of day, based on a use-schedule. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates another embodiment of operation  500 , in which a user stores fingerprint data and/or use-schedules for a plurality of users. Although illustrated as occurring in a sequential order, it should be understood that the order of the steps disclosed in operation  500  may vary. Furthermore, additional steps may be included in the operation  500 , and not all of the steps may be required. Use-schedules may include a plurality of access times for a plurality of users. By way of example only, a use-schedule may include specific times of day, specific days, and/or specific dates in which individual users are allowed access. 
     Operation  500  begins with the user turning on, or waking up, the lock system  100  by pressing a key of keypad  240  or keypad  250  (Step  505 ). The user then connects an external device (e.g., a USB memory stick, an external computing device, etc.) to the interior controller  150  via the interior I/O interface  145  (Step  510 ). The user follows on-screen instructions on either the interior display  235  or the exterior display  245  (Step  515 ). The fingerprint data and/or use-schedules are received by the interior controller  150  via the interior I/O interface  145  (Step  520 ). The fingerprint data and/or use-schedules are then sent to the main controller  205  (Step  525 ). 
       FIG. 11  illustrates another embodiment of operation  600 , in which the lock system  100  receives fingerprint data and/or use-schedules via the network communications module  220 . Although illustrated as occurring in a sequential order, it should be understood that the order of the steps disclosed in operation  600  may vary. Furthermore, additional steps may be included in the operation  600 , and not all of the steps may be required. Operation  600  begins with a user entering fingerprint data and/or use-schedules at an external computer (Step  605 ). The user then sends the fingerprint data and/or use-schedules to the lock system  100  via the network  225  (Step  610 ). As discussed above, in some embodiments, the network  225  may include be a mesh network (e.g., a wireless mesh network, such as but not limited to a wireless network using a Z-Wave communications protocol), which includes a plurality of other lock systems  100 . In such embodiments, the network  225  may use an algorithm to determine the best path for transmitting the data (e.g., fingerprint data, use-schedules, etc.) between the lock systems in order to achieve faster communication, and/or conserve battery life of the individual lock systems  100 . In some embodiments, the algorithm is based at least in part upon the physical distance each individual lock system is away from one or more other lock systems  100  in the network. The algorithm may also or instead be based at least in part upon the remaining battery life of each individual lock system, which information is provided from individual lock systems  100  across the network as needed. In some embodiments, the algorithm is based at least in part upon both the physical distances between lock systems  100  in the network and the remaining battery lives of each of the lock systems  100 . The individual lock system  100  receives the fingerprint data and/or the use-schedules via the network communications module  220  (Step  615 ). The fingerprint data and/or use-schedules are stored by the main controller  205  (Step  620 ). 
       FIG. 12  illustrates one embodiment of a mesh network  700 . The mesh network  700  includes a plurality of nodes A-O. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of nodes A-O is an individual lock system  100  described and illustrated herein. In other embodiments, the plurality of nodes A-O include one or more external computing devices and one or more individual lock systems  100  described and illustrated herein. The plurality of nodes A-O is configured to communicate with each other through the mesh network  700 . By way of example only and with reference to  FIG. 12 , node A is configured to communicate with node K; node L is configured to communicate with node H; etc. In some embodiments, the communication path between nodes is determined using signal strength, which is indicative of distances between nodes. In these and other embodiments, the communication path between nodes is determined using signal strength and an error rate of a test signal sent between nodes. In such embodiments, the signal strength along with the error rate of a test signal are used to determine a wireless transmission efficiency between nodes. Typically, a higher error rate means more drain on a battery of an individual lock system  100  during wireless communication. Therefore, in some embodiments, although a first communication path may be physically shorter than a second communication path, the second communication path may have a lower error rate. Thus, efficiency may determine that the second communication path will be used. 
     By determining the communication path using signal strength and/or the efficiency between nodes, battery life of the individual lock systems  100  is increased. In some embodiments, battery life of the individual lock systems  100  is monitored. In such embodiments, if the remaining battery life of an individual lock system  100  is below a threshold, the individual lock system  100  will not be used for communication within the mesh network  700 . 
       FIG. 13  illustrates a process  800 , or communication protocol, for determining a communication path between nodes of the mesh network  700 . Although illustrated as occurring in a sequential order, it should be understood that the order of the steps disclosed in operation  800  may vary. Furthermore, additional steps may be included in the operation  800 , and not all of the steps may be required in some embodiments. In some embodiments, all of the nodes typically operate in a “sleep mode” until they are awoken by a user or by another node. The process  800  begins by a user waking a primary node (e.g., node A) (Step  805 ). The primary node sends out a query to a plurality of secondary nodes within range (e.g., node B, node C, node D, node E of  FIG. 12 ) (see Step  810  of  FIG. 13 ). The secondary nodes wake up and reply to the primary node with an identification number or other data. The reply with the identification number allows the primary node to know what nodes exist within range of the primary node. The process  800  determines if the target node is within range (Step  815 ). If the target node is in range, data communication occurs between the primary node and the target node (Step  825 ). If the target node is not in range, a communication is performed between the primary node and the secondary nodes to determine signal strengths (and/or in some embodiments, error rates) of each second node (Step  830 ). The primary node creates a table or other aggregation or listing of data of identification numbers of the secondary nodes with the respective signal strengths and/or error rates (e.g., efficiency between nodes) (Step  835 ). A leg of the communication path is then chosen based at least in part upon the efficiency between the primary node and secondary nodes (Step  840 ). Once a secondary node is chosen based at least in part upon efficiency, and thus a first leg of the communication path is chosen, the process returns to Step  810 , and the chosen secondary node becomes the primary node. 
     In other embodiments, the primary node outputs a query to a plurality of secondary nodes within range. The secondary nodes then output queries to a plurality of tertiary nodes within range. This occurs until all of the nodes are queried and reply back with respective identification numbers or other identification data. Communication through the mesh network is then performed between the primary node and the secondary nodes, tertiary nodes, etc., in order to determine the respective signal strengths and/or error rates as described above. A complete efficiency table (or other aggregation of this data) is then created for all of the nodes within the mesh network. The communication path between the primary node and the target node is then chosen using the complete efficiency table. 
       FIG. 14  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a software decision tree  900  for the electronic lock system  100 . In this illustrated embodiment, a user wakes up the electronic lock system  100  by activating the interior user-interface  140  or the exterior user-interface  160  (box  905 ). The electronic lock system  100  queries the user for a password and/or fingerprint data (box  910 ). The electronic lock system  100  determines if the password and/or fingerprint data is correct (box  915 ). If the password and/or fingerprint data is incorrect, an error message is displayed, and the software returns to Box  910 . If the password and/or fingerprint data is correct, the MAIN MENU is displayed (Box  920 ). The user can then select a plurality of options from the MAIN MENU, including but not limited to, LOCK SETUP (box  925 ), USER EDIT (box  930 ), UPLOAD USERS/SCHEDULES (Box  935 ), LOCK ACTIVITY (Box  940 ), and HARD RESET (Box  945 ). The LOCK SETUP (Box  925 ) allows the user to set up the lock (e.g., set the date and time of the lock, sensitivity of the fingerprint sensor  165 , brightness of interior display  235 , brightness of exterior display  245 , etc.). The USER EDIT (Box  930 ) allows the user to add, delete, and modify user information (e.g., user passwords, user fingerprint data, user schedules, etc.) of the electronic lock system  100 . The UPLOAD USERS/SCHEDULES (Box  935 ) allows a user to upload a plurality of user information (e.g., user passwords, user fingerprint data, user schedules, etc.) as discussed above in more detail. The LOCK ACTIVITY (Box  940 ) allows the user to view and/or download the activity of the electronic lock system  100  (e.g., activation dates/times of the electronic lock system  100 , usage occurrences, use dates and time, use dates and time of particular users, and the like). The HARD RESET (Box  945 ) resets the electronic lock system  100 . 
     In some embodiments, the lock system  100  only includes the main controller  205 , and not an interior controller  150  and/or an exterior controller  170 . In such embodiments, the main controller  205  may perform the functions of the internal controller  150  and/or the exterior controller  170  mentioned above. In some embodiments, the lock system  100  includes main controller  205 , interior controller  150 , and the exterior controller  170 , and at least two of the three controllers are part of a common controller, which performs all of the functions described above of at least two of the three controllers. 
     Thus, some embodiments of the invention provide, among other things, an electronic lock system having a fingerprint sensor, mesh network capability, and a wireless power supply. Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.