Patent Description:
An access control system is typically operated by encoding data on a physical key card that indicates access rights. Some access control systems are offline and the access rights are encoded as data that can be decoded and interpreted by the offline lock to retrieve the access rights. An example is a hotel locking system where a front desk encodes a guest card and an offline, battery powered lock on a guest room door has the means to decode the card and permit or deny access based on the encoded access rights.

Although effective to control access to a local such as a hotel room, it has been noticed that valuables of the guest can be readily removed from the local once access is gained. Although effective, hotel staff and maintenance have access to the guest rooms and enter the room for miscellaneous purposes regardless of the lock.

<CIT> discloses an asset protection device where an alarm is triggered if movement of an object exceeds an allowed movement time.

Viewed from a first aspect, the invention provides a security system, comprising: a fixture comprising an electromechanical lock; and a remote tracking device for tracking a valuable in wireless communication with the electromechanical lock, which includes a lock transceiver operable to wirelessly communicate with the remote tracking device in response to a disturbance of the remote tracking device; wherein the wirelessly communication includes usage of a Bluetooth Low energy wireless protocol; wherein the remote tracking device is operable to determine a relative position with respect to the fixture and communicate the position to the fixture; and wherein the disturbance includes movement and/or light.

Viewed from a second aspect, the invention provides a method of operating the security system, the method including determining a disturbance of the remote tracking device; and communicating the disturbance to the fixture.

The dependent claims define optional features.

It should be appreciated, however, the following description and drawings are intended to be exemplary in nature and non-limiting.

<FIG> schematically illustrates a security system <NUM>. The security system <NUM> generally includes a fixture <NUM> and one or more tracking devices <NUM> attached to the valuable. The fixture <NUM> is a wireless-capable electromechanical lock.

A user may submit a credential to an electromechanical lock to unlock it, and thereby gain access to a restricted area. A mobile device <NUM> such as a key card, smartphone, or other device may store credentials for one or all or other of the examples noted above, and in addition may store a plurality of credentials for each type of application at the same time.

It should be still further appreciated that although particular systems are separately defined, each or any of the systems may be otherwise combined or separated via hardware and/or software. The communication may be conveyed to one or more networks. For example, the communication may be transmitted to the Internet and/or a cellular network. The network(s) may include infrastructure that may be organized to facilitate cloud computing. For example, cloud computing may include one or more servers, such as a primary message server, a backup message server, etc..

With reference to <FIG>, a block diagram of the fixture <NUM> is schematically illustrated. The fixture <NUM> is an electromechanical lock system. A "fixture" as utilized is a device that is affixed to a building or other structure.

The fixture <NUM> generally includes a lock actuator <NUM>, a lock controller <NUM>, a lock antenna <NUM>, a lock transceiver <NUM>, a lock processor <NUM>, a lock memory <NUM>, a lock power supply <NUM>, a lock card reader <NUM> and a credential module <NUM>. The fixture <NUM> is responsive to credentials from a keycard or other mobile device <NUM>, and may, for example, be the lock of a lockbox, a door lock, or a lock core. Upon receiving and authenticating an appropriate credential, the lock controller <NUM> commands the lock actuator <NUM> to lock or unlock a mechanical or electromechanical lock. The lock controller <NUM> and the lock actuator <NUM> may be parts of a single electronic or electromechanical lock unit, or may be components sold or installed separately.

The lock transceiver <NUM> is operable to transmit and receive data to and from at least the mobile device <NUM>. The lock transceiver <NUM> utilizes Bluetooth and optionally other protocol such as NFC or WiFi. The lock antenna <NUM> is any antenna appropriate to the lock transceiver <NUM>. The lock processor <NUM> and lock memory <NUM> are, respectively, data processing, and storage devices. The lock processor <NUM> may, for instance, be a microprocessor that can process instructions to validate card data and determine the access rights contained in the card data or to pass messages from a transceiver to a credential module <NUM> and to receive a response indication back from the credential module <NUM> with card data. The lock memory <NUM> may be RAM, EEPROM, or other storage medium where the lock processor <NUM> can read and write data including but not limited to lock configuration options and the lock audit trail. The lock audit trail may be a unified audit trail that includes events initiated by accessing the lock via the lock card reader <NUM> or the mobile device <NUM>. The lock power supply <NUM> is a power source such as line power connection, a power scavenging system, or a battery that powers the lock controller <NUM>. In other embodiments, the lock power supply <NUM> may only power the lock controller <NUM>, with the lock actuator <NUM> powered primarily or entirely by another source, such as user work (e.g. turning a bolt).

The lock transceiver <NUM> is also operable to communicate with the tracking devices <NUM>. The tracking devices <NUM> may be initially paired to the lock transceiver <NUM>, via, for example, a 'learn' mode for learning a tracking device and associating therewith. Alternatively, or in addition, this may be based on proximity - i.e. the lock transceiver <NUM> will respond to a tracking device based on distance. The communication includes Bluetooth Low energy wireless protocol and optionally other wireless ISM band and protocol. The tracking device <NUM> may be of various configurations such as a hook and loop strap, a bankcard, sticking materials, a user's mobile device, and various tags that lock to an item. (valuable).

Each tracking device <NUM> may generally include a control module <NUM> with a processor <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, and an interface <NUM>. A power supply <NUM>, such as a battery, and a position module <NUM> operable to determine the position of the tracking device <NUM>, and transceiver module <NUM> are in communication with the processor <NUM> via the interface <NUM>. The position module <NUM> is operable to determine movement of the tracking device <NUM>. For example, the position module <NUM> may include an accelerometer 50A to identify movement, a global positioning system (GPS) 50B, and/or a triangulation system 50C that determines the position of the tracking device <NUM> with respect to the fixture <NUM> based, for example, on a signal strength thereof. Alternatively, or in addition, the position module <NUM> includes a light sensor 50D to identify when a bag is opened and luminosity would change for a tracking device <NUM> located within a bag.

With reference to <FIG>, a method <NUM> for operation of the security system <NUM> is disclosed in terms of functional block diagrams. It should be appreciated that these functions may be enacted in either dedicated hardware circuitry or programmed software routines capable of execution in various microprocessor based electronics control embodiments.

Initially, a guest physically attaches a tracking device <NUM> to his valuable (e.g. luggage) (step <NUM>) using for example a loop strap. Then fixture and tracking device are wirelessly attached by getting them paired and putting them into learning mode. These modes can be achieved by sequencing and timing the push buttons in tracking device and the fixture. Once pairing mode and learning mode is complete even when the authorized guest is in the room, the tracking device <NUM> is inoperative or in a safe condition.

Next, when the guest leaves the room, the guest arms the wirelessly connected tracking device <NUM> (step <NUM>) by, for example, pushing a button on the electromechanical lock <NUM>, via a mobile app on a smartphone, or other interface. This arming may be effectuated via an authentication procedure. For example, arm the tracking device, a mobile device may be used to authenticate the fixture <NUM> with a credential and also supply a command to 'arm' the tracking devices <NUM>. It should be appreciated that multiple tracking devices <NUM> may be so authenticated.

The tracking device <NUM> then sends a confirmation signal to the fixture <NUM> along with the current status (step <NUM>). The confirmation signal may be displayed on the mobile device or via an indicator on the fixture <NUM>. The relative position with respect to the fixture <NUM>, or a global position of the tracking device <NUM>, is then fixed in the armed condition (step <NUM>).

Should a thief disturb the valuable (step <NUM>), which creates motion, movement and potentially light should a bag be opened, the tracking device <NUM> then sends a notification signal to the fixture <NUM> (step <NUM>). Upon return of the guest, the guest can be notified by the fixture <NUM> that motion/movement of his valuable occurred. Alternatively, the guest may be alerted in real time via an app on a smartphone should the fixture <NUM> be connected through the Internet or other communication medium. The guest can then check his valuables to determine if any item is missing. Alternatively still, multiple fixtures <NUM> may be utilized to track the tracking device <NUM> such as should the bag be moved down a hallways with multiple fixtures <NUM>.

The fixture <NUM> can alternatively or additionally sound an alarm, show an indication, and/or send an alert to hotel security (step <NUM>). This may also be utilized to generate audits/access logs in the fixture <NUM> about the motion and movement for later investigation. That is, the open and movement audits may be sequenced with the access events in the fixture <NUM> along with timestamps to identify, for example, a cleaning crew entry access associated with the open and movement events in a sequence of timestamps. When there is a movement of the valuable, the audit would be logged with the time stamp, access information, and location, which can facilitate identification and location of the valuable. The timestamp will also facilitate investigation of the valuable's movement. One advantage usage with electromechanical locks is that the tagged valuable has to move through the door/lock which can create access, as well as facilitate movement audit trails.

The tracking device <NUM> can be unarmed in response to a valid and authenticated access event such as return of the owner so that the fixture <NUM> will unarm the tracking devices <NUM> when the guest returns to the room. Unarm operation can be made with preferences from guest, where the guest can unarm a few valuables and maintain some armed.

Increased security of valuables minimizes concern of guests when they leave their the hotel rooms. This will also facilitate in tracking and investigating of the valuables. This will increase customer satisfaction with electromechanical locks.

The elements disclosed and depicted herein, including in flow charts and block diagrams throughout the figures, imply logical boundaries between the elements. However, according to software or hardware engineering practices, the depicted elements and the functions thereof may be implemented on machines through computer executable media having a processor capable of executing program instructions stored thereon as a monolithic software structure, as standalone software modules, or as modules that employ external routines, code, services, and so forth, dynamically loaded or updated modules, or any combination of these, and all such implementations may be within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the claims.

It should be appreciated that like reference numerals identify corresponding or similar elements throughout the several drawings. It should also be appreciated that although a particular component arrangement is disclosed in the illustrated embodiment, other arrangements will benefit herefrom.

Although the different non-limiting embodiments have specific illustrated components, the embodiments are not limited to those particular combinations. It is possible to use some of the components or features from any of the non-limiting embodiments in combination with features or components from any of the other non-limiting embodiments, provided the combination remains within the scope of the claims.

Although particular step sequences are shown, disclosed, and claimed, it should be appreciated that steps may be performed in any order, separated or combined unless otherwise indicated and will still benefit from the present invention, as defined by the claims.

Claim 1:
A security system, comprising:
a fixture (<NUM>) comprising an electromechanical lock (<NUM>); and
a remote tracking device (<NUM>) for tracking a valuable in wireless communication with the electromechanical lock (<NUM>), which includes a lock transceiver (<NUM>) operable to wirelessly communicate with the remote tracking device in response to a disturbance of the remote tracking device;
wherein the wirelessly communication includes usage of a Bluetooth Low energy wireless protocol;
wherein the remote tracking device is operable to determine a relative position with respect to the fixture and communicate the position to the fixture; and
wherein the disturbance includes movement and/or light.