Patent Description:
Lock boxes are typically used to a provide a secured storage area for a key or other access aid at a location close to a locked property accessible by the key. In this way, an authorized user can unlock the secured storage area, obtain the key and then use the key to unlock the locked property.

The locked property may be a home or other property that is locked while unattended by a traditional lock that requires a key. In other situations, the locked property may be a commercial or industrial site, or other type of property.

The lock box is typically attached to a door handle or to another stationary object near the traditional lock. The lock box is typically configured to require the user to demonstrate that he is authorized to obtain access to the locked property before the secured storage area is unlocked to allow the user to obtain the key. In a mechanical lock box, the user might be required to enter a correct lock combination to access the secured storage area. In an electronic lock box, the user might be required to communicate a credential to the lock box (via a physical connection to the lock box or via a wireless link to the lock box) to access the secured storage area.

Conventional electronic lock boxes allow users to communicate their credentials wirelessly via the IrDA standard, i.e., by using infrared signals generated by the user's cellular telephone or personal digital assistant and directed toward the lock box. In addition, information is typically communicated in the other direction, i.e., from the lock box to the access device. Also, the lock box and/or the access device may have other communications links, such as with a central authorization authority that issues credentials to users and collects information from lock boxes on access activity. Infrared communications require line of sight alignment, which is often inconvenient.

<CIT> discloses a system and method of ensuring that a key is not removed or stolen from a property. <CIT> discloses a system to determine the approximate physical location of a lockbox, when in communication with the lockbox, using GPS.

According to one embodiment, a method of locating a lock box is provided according to claim <NUM>.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that automatically detecting that lock box was installed through the application further includes: detecting locking of a shackle of the lock box.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the location of the second cellular telephone when the lock box was installed is detected using a global position system in electronic wireless communication with the second cellular telephone.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the second cellular telephone is the first cellular telephone.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the second cellular telephone is not the first cellular telephone.

According to another embodiment, a computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium is provided according to claim <NUM>.

Technical effects of embodiments of the present disclosure include saving a GPS location of a lock box during installation and then finding the lock box using a combination of the GPS location and a Bluetooth advertisement transmitted from the lock box.

Described below is an apparatus and a method for locating a lock box after it has been locked in place or installed. In specific implementations, the lock box has a key storage area, which is typically positioned within or attached to a housing of the lock box and is sized to store a key or other access aid (e.g., a card). The key storage area has a cover (e.g., door) that is locked or secured with a lock mechanism. According to some implementations, the lock box has a circuit responsive to wireless communications from an access device within the working restricted range of the lock box. The circuit is configured to provide access to the stored key, such as by unlocking the lock mechanism or other action, when an authorized request for access is received from the access device.

The lock box includes a transceiver (if implemented for two-way communication) or a receiver (if implemented for one-way communication), and an appropriate antenna. The lock box circuit also includes logic or a controller that controls and coordinates the operation of the lock box and a lock mechanism activation portion operable to enable operation of the lock mechanism. One function of the logic or controller is to process information from the access device representing an identity of a user seeking access (such as a credential), determine whether access is authorized, and, depending upon that determination, either grant access (i.e., by unlocking the lock mechanism) or deny access (i.e., by maintaining the lock mechanism in a locked state). In some embodiments, the lock box circuit includes a real time clock and a battery for the real time clock. In some embodiments, the lock box circuit includes a processors, a memory and/or a display or other type of indicator.

The access device, also called a "key" or "electronic key," may be a cellular telephone, "smart" phone or other type of telephone (hereinafter "phone"), personal digital assistant (PDA) or other personal electronic device with restricted range communication capability. A dedicated access device, i.e., a device having a primary function of communicating with lock boxes, may also be used. Although this application is primarily concerned with Bluetooth wireless communications between the access device and the lock box not limited to Bluetooth communication, the lock box may also support other forms of communication, such as Wi-Fi, ZigBee, IrDA, etc., to allow other forms of access devices to be used in the system.

Embodiments disclosed herein relate utilizing a two-step process to locate a lock box. The two step process involves (<NUM>) using a cellular telephone to locate the general location of the lock box through a global positioning system (GPS) and then (<NUM>) utilizing a received signal strength indicator of a Bluetooth communication between the lock box and the cellular telephone to narrow down the location of the lock box.

Referring to <FIG>, a schematic view of a lock box <NUM> and access key system <NUM>. A lock box <NUM> with wireless communications capability is shown in relation to an access device, which in this example is a cellular telephone <NUM>. The restricted range of the lock box is shown schematically at <NUM>. Thus, the cellular telephone <NUM> as shown in <FIG> is outside of the lock box's operating range <NUM>, and would need to be moved within the range <NUM> to communicate with the lock box <NUM>.

Communications between the lock box <NUM> and the cellular telephone <NUM> may be two-way, as indicated by the two-way arrow representing a communications link <NUM>. In some cases, one-way communication from the cellular telephone <NUM> to the lock box <NUM> may be sufficient.

All of the conventional functions of the lock box <NUM> are supported. Thus, the communications from the cellular telephone <NUM> to the lock box <NUM> would include the ability for the user of the cellular telephone <NUM> to make an access request directed to the lock box <NUM>. This access request would include communication of a credential indicating that the user is authorized for access.

In response, the lock box <NUM> may communicate a message, either via a display on the lock box <NUM> or via a message transmitted to the cellular telephone <NUM>, denying access. Access may be denied, e.g., if the user is unauthorized, if the user's credentials have expired, or if the access privileges have been superseded (i.e., if the property owner has overridden access privileges or is invoking the call before showing feature).

If access is granted, the lock box <NUM> allows the user to gain access to a key storage area in the lock box <NUM> or open a shackle <NUM> for removing the lock box <NUM> from an object to which it is attached (e.g., a door). In specific implementations, the lock box <NUM> has a circuit that controls a lock mechanism that secures the key storage area <NUM> and shackle <NUM> in a locked condition when in use. When an access request is granted, the circuit unlocks the lock mechanism to provide the user access to the storage area <NUM>, the shackle <NUM>, or both.

The lock box <NUM> may use Bluetooth wireless communications, either instead of or in addition to the current IrDA communications capability. The lock box <NUM> may function with power received from a dedicated battery in the lock box <NUM>. The cellular telephone <NUM> may be any cellular telephone having a Bluetooth wireless communications capability.

Optionally, the system <NUM> may also include an authorization authority <NUM>, which can be linked to the lock box <NUM> (via a link <NUM>), or to the cellular telephone <NUM> (via the link <NUM>) or to both the lock box <NUM> and the cellular telephone <NUM>. The authorization authority <NUM> can administer granting credentials to users, collect information on usage and activity and provide for updates to devices (lock boxes and access devices) in the system <NUM>. Link <NUM> may be a one-time activity or connection that occurs during manufacturing of the lock box <NUM> when the lock box <NUM> is provisioned for the system <NUM> and programed to received credentials from a cellular telephone <NUM>.

The cellular telephone <NUM> may include a processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, a communication module <NUM>, and an application <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. The processor <NUM> can be any type or combination of computer processors, such as a microprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor, application specific integrated circuit, programmable logic device, and/or field programmable gate array. The memory <NUM> is an example of a non-transitory computer readable storage medium tangibly embodied in the cellular telephone <NUM> including executable instructions stored therein, for instance, as firmware. The communication module <NUM> may implement one or more communication protocols, such as, for example, short-range wireless protocols and long-range wireless protocols. Short-range wireless protocols <NUM> may include but are not limited to Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, HaLow (<NUM>. 11ah), zWave, ZigBee, or Wireless M-Bus. Long-range wireless protocols may include but are not limited to cellular, satellite, LTE (NB-IoT, CAT M1), LoRa, Satellite, Ingenu, or SigFox. The communication module <NUM> may be in communication with at least one of the lock box <NUM> and the authorization authority <NUM>.

The application <NUM> is configured to generate a graphical user interface on the cellular telephone <NUM>. A user of the cellular telephone <NUM> may interact with the application <NUM> through the graphical user interface. The application <NUM> may be computer software installed directly on the memory <NUM> of the cellular telephone <NUM> and/or installed remotely and accessible through the cellular telephone <NUM> (e.g., software as a service).

The cellular telephone <NUM> may also include a GPS module <NUM> configured to communicate with a GPS system <NUM>. The cellular telephone <NUM> is in wireless electronic communication with the GPS system via link <NUM>. The application <NUM> may utilized the GPS module <NUM> to detect a location of the cellular telephone <NUM>. The location of the cellular telephone <NUM> detected by the GPS module <NUM> may be accurate within a first selected radius. Currently, GPS modules <NUM> within cellular telephones are typically accurate to between <NUM> - <NUM> feet (<NUM>-<NUM> meters) and thus the first selected radius may be between <NUM> - <NUM> feet (<NUM>-<NUM> meters). However, it is understood that as GPS technology progresses the accuracy of the GPS modules <NUM> will improve and thus the embodiments described herein are also applicable to GPS modules <NUM> with first selected radii less than or greater than between <NUM> - <NUM> feet (<NUM>-<NUM> meters). The location of the cellular telephone <NUM> may also be determined using other location detection methods, including, but not limited to, cell triangulation, and/or detection of wireless signal strength (e.g., received signal strength (RSS) using Bluetooth, Wi-Fi,.

When an individual, such as, for example, a realtor installs the lock box <NUM> may through a user input on cellular telephone <NUM> may make note in the application <NUM> that the lock box <NUM> was installed. At the time the lock box <NUM> is installed, the application detects a location of the cellular telephone <NUM> through the GPS system <NUM> (or other means) and assigns the detected location to the lock box <NUM> in the application <NUM>. The locations of the lock box <NUM> may be saved in the authorization authority <NUM>, so that any individual (e.g., realtor) with authorization may be able to view the location of the lock box <NUM> using a cellular telephone <NUM>.

An individual may view the location of the lock box <NUM> in the application <NUM>, such as, for example on a map. When the individual desires to retrieve the lock box <NUM> they may view the location of the lock box <NUM> on a map through the application <NUM>. The location of the lock box <NUM> may be accurate within a first selected radius R1, thus when the individual is looking for the lock box <NUM> proximate or within that first selected radius R1 of the lock box <NUM> may still be difficult to find, thus the application <NUM> may begin to search for a Bluetooth advertisement <NUM> (see <FIG>) of the lock box <NUM> to further pinpoint the location of the lock box <NUM>. The first selected radius R1 may be inside or outside the Bluetooth range <NUM> of the lock box <NUM>. The first selected radius R1 is illustrated in <FIG> as being circumferentially around that the lock box <NUM> because the first selected radius R1 is established at the time that the lock box <NUM> is installed using the cellular telephone <NUM> and at this time of installation the cellular telephone <NUM> will be next to (i.e., proximate) the lock box <NUM>.

<FIG> is an embodiment of a hardware circuit that can be used in association with system <NUM> of <FIG>. A circuit <NUM> includes an antenna <NUM> and an Bluetooth transceiver <NUM>. The Bluetooth transceiver <NUM> can be coupled to a controller <NUM>, such as a microprocessor or microcontroller. A clock <NUM> can be coupled to the controller <NUM> in a well-known fashion. The controller <NUM> is coupled to the Bluetooth transceiver <NUM> for two-way communication there between. The controller <NUM> can also be coupled to one or more lock opening circuits associated with the lock box that open associated locking mechanisms. For example, a shackle opening circuit <NUM> opens a locking mechanism of shackle <NUM> in response to an activation signal <NUM> from the controller <NUM>. Likewise, the controller <NUM> can be coupled to a key storage opening circuit <NUM> to open a locking mechanism associated with the key storage area <NUM> in response to activation of a signal <NUM>. The circuits used at <NUM> and <NUM> are well-known in the art and generally include charge pumps and capacitors to raise the voltage levels needed to operate the locking mechanisms. A power source <NUM>, such as a battery, can be coupled to all of the components in the circuit <NUM> needing power, such as the clock <NUM>, the controller <NUM>, and the circuits <NUM> and <NUM>. The power source <NUM> may optionally also be coupled to the Bluetooth transceiver <NUM>.

The Bluetooth transceiver <NUM> through the antenna <NUM> periodically transmits a Bluetooth advertisement <NUM>. The communication module <NUM> of the cellular telephone is configured to detect the Bluetooth advertisement <NUM>. Once the Bluetooth advertisement <NUM> is detected, the cellular telephone <NUM> may determine a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) of the Bluetooth advertisement <NUM> and then determine an approximate distance between the cellular telephone <NUM> and the lock box <NUM> in response to the RSSI of the Bluetooth advertisement <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG> with continued reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. <FIG> shows a flow chart of a method <NUM> of locating a lock box <NUM>, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

At block <NUM>, a saved location of the lock box <NUM> is obtained using an application <NUM> operated via a first cellular telephone <NUM>, the saved location of the lock box <NUM> being accurate within a first selected radius R1.

At block <NUM>, the saved location of the lock box <NUM> is displayed on the first cellular telephone <NUM> via the application <NUM>. The saved location of the lock box <NUM> is displayed on the first cellular telephone <NUM> via the application <NUM> so that an individual (e.g., realtor) trying to find the lock box <NUM> may be able to narrow down the location of the lock box <NUM> to within the first selected radius R1.

At block <NUM>, a Bluetooth advertisement <NUM> of the lock box <NUM> using the first cellular telephone <NUM>. At block <NUM>, a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) of the Bluetooth advertisement <NUM> is determined. At block <NUM>, a distance between the first cellular telephone <NUM> and the lock box <NUM> is determined in response to the RSSI of the Bluetooth advertisement <NUM>. At block <NUM>, a distance indicator depicting the distance between the first cellular telephone <NUM> and the lock box <NUM> on the first cellular telephone <NUM> is displayed via the application <NUM>. The distance indicator may be a numerical number indicating an approximate distance between the first cellular telephone <NUM> and the lock box <NUM> or a general distance indication term depicting the distance, including, but not limited to, "near" indicating that the first cellular telephone <NUM> is near the lock box <NUM> or "far" indicating that the first cellular telephone <NUM> is far from the lock box <NUM>.

Prior to obtaining the saved location, the method <NUM> further comprises that a user input on a second cellular telephone <NUM> is received through an application <NUM> operated via the second cellular telephone <NUM>. The user input may be a touch, tap, click, button push on the second cellular telephone <NUM>. The user input may also be a voice command. The user input indicates that the lock box <NUM> was installed or the user input may be a command to install the lock box <NUM> by locking the shackle <NUM>. A location of the second cellular telephone <NUM> is detected when the lock box <NUM> was installed. The saved location of the lock box <NUM> is equated to the location of the second cellular telephone <NUM> when the lock box <NUM> was installed and the saved location of the lock box <NUM> is saved.

Alternatively, prior to obtaining the saved location, the method <NUM> may further comprise that it is automatically detected that lock box <NUM> was installed through an application <NUM>. The application <NUM> being operated via a second cellular telephone <NUM>. A location of the second cellular telephone <NUM> is detected when the lock box <NUM> was installed. The saved location of the lock box <NUM> is equated to the location of the second cellular telephone <NUM> when the lock box <NUM> was installed and the saved location of the lock box <NUM> is saved.

The lock box <NUM> may be automatically detected by detecting locking of a shackle <NUM> of the lock box <NUM>. The location of the second cellular telephone <NUM> may be detected when the lock box <NUM> was installed using a global position system in electronic wireless communication with the second cellular telephone <NUM>. In an embodiment, the second cellular telephone <NUM> is the first cellular telephone <NUM>, meaning that the same realtor installs the lock box <NUM> and is trying to find the lock box. Whereas, in another embodiment, the second cellular telephone <NUM> is not the first cellular telephone <NUM>, meaning that a seller's realtor may install the lock box <NUM> and a buyer's realtor may be looking for the lock box <NUM> in one example.

As described above, embodiments can be in the form of processor-implemented processes and devices for practicing those processes, such as processor. Embodiments can also be in the form of computer program code (e.g., computer program product) containing instructions embodied in tangible media, such as floppy diskettes, CD ROMs, hard drives, or any other non-transitory computer readable medium, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes a device for practicing the embodiments. Embodiments can also be in the form of computer program code, for example, whether stored in a storage medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, such as over electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via electromagnetic radiation, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes an device for practicing the exemplary embodiments.

Claim 1:
A method of locating a lock box (<NUM>), the method comprising:
obtaining a saved location of the lock box (<NUM>) using an application (<NUM>) operated via a first cellular telephone (<NUM>), the saved location of the lock box (<NUM>) being accurate within a first selected radius (R1); the lock box including a shackle and a key storage area;
displaying the saved location of the lock box (<NUM>) on the first cellular telephone (<NUM>) via the application (<NUM>);
detecting a Bluetooth advertisement (<NUM>) of the lock box (<NUM>) using the first cellular telephone (<NUM>);
determining a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) of the Bluetooth advertisement (<NUM>);
determining a distance between the first cellular telephone (<NUM>) and the lock box (<NUM>) in response to the RSSI of the Bluetooth advertisement (<NUM>); and
displaying a distance indicator depicting the distance between the first cellular telephone (<NUM>) and the lock box (<NUM>) on the first cellular telephone (<NUM>) via the application (<NUM>);
receiving at the lock box an access request from the first cellular telephone;
unlocking the shackle or the key storage area in response to the access request from the first cellular telephone;
wherein prior to obtaining the saved location, the method further comprises:
receiving a user input on a second cellular telephone (<NUM>) through an application (<NUM>) operated via the second cellular telephone (<NUM>), the user input indicating that the lock box (<NUM>) was installed;
detecting a location of the second cellular telephone (<NUM>) when the lock box (<NUM>) was installed;
equating the saved location of the lock box (<NUM>) to the location of the second cellular telephone (<NUM>) when the lock box (<NUM>) was installed; and
saving the saved location of the lock box (<NUM>).