(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2010/0148921 A1
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Jun. 17, 2010
`Bliding et al.
`
`US 20100l48921A1
`
`(54) LOCK ACTUATING DEVICE FOR A LOCK
`MECHANISM OF A LOCK, AND A METHOD
`OF PROVIDING WIRELESS CONTROL OF A
`LOCK
`
`(76)
`
`Inventors:
`
`Olle Bliding, Halmstad (SE);
`Johan Hiirberg, Halmstad (SE)
`
`Correspondence Address:
`HARNESS, DICKEY & PIERCE, P.L.C.
`P.O. BOX 8910
`
`RESTON, VA 20195 (US)
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`
`12/659,056
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Feb. 24, 2010
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(63) Continuation of application No. 11/886,527, filed on
`Sep. 17, 2007, filed as application No. PCT/SE2006/
`000345 on Mar. 17, 2006.
`
`(30)
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Mar. 18, 2005
`
`(SE) .................................. .. 0500616-8
`Publication Classification
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`G06F 7/04
`(2006.01)
`H04Q 5/22
`(52) U.S. Cl. ..................................... .. 340/5.7; 340/1033
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`In one embodiment of the present invention, a lock actuating
`device for a lock mechanism of a lock has a transceiver
`capable of interaction with a wireless key device, a controller
`coupled to the transceiver and capable of generating a control
`signal, and a lock actuator adapted for actuation of the lock
`mechanism upon receipt of the control signal from the con-
`troller. The controller has a sleep mode and an operational
`mode. The lock actuating device also has a wake-up arrange-
`ment including a sensor and associated circuitry. The sensor
`is positioned to detect the presence of a user in a vicinity ofthe
`lock actuating device. The circuitry is adapted to generate a
`wake-up control signal to the controller upon detection ofthe
`user, so as to cause the controller to switch from sleep mode
`to operational mode.
`
` (LD)
`
`(30
`
`Lock device
`
`p CO
`Key device
`
`(KB)
`
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`
`
`
`L29
`1 nternet
`
`
`
`. System DB
`
`ASSA 1014
`
`1
`
`ASSA 1014
`
`

`
`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jun. 17, 2010 Sheet 1 of 5
`
`US 2010/0148921 A1
`
`(LD)
`
`_.
`
`,—,—
`
`Lock device
`
`Ke device
`(KD)
`
`1 03
`
`108
`Administrator‘
`y (ADM)
`
` Mobile tele-
`
`
`
`communications
`
`network
`
`
`
`
`
`1_2Q'
`Internet
`
`2
`
`

`
`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jun. 17, 2010 Sheet 2 of 5
`
`US 2010/0148921 A1
`
`' 303
`
` Motor
`
`
`
`-
`
`controller
`
`30 '
`
`310
`
`T Radio
`Module
`Antenna
`.
`Buzzer '
`
`326
`§ LED indicator
`___________________'_________
`
`g
`
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`E §__O_Wake-up
`
`g
`
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`311
`a
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`
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`311b
`
`313
`
`CPU
`
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`
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`
`3120
`
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`
`EEPROM
`3110
`
`304
`
`305
`
`me
`
`
`
`3
`
`

`
`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jun. 17, 2010 Sheet 3 of 5
`
`US 2010/0148921 A1
`
`4
`
`

`
`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jun. 17, 2010 Sheet 4 of 5
`
`US 2010/0148921 A1
`
`5J2
`Optional
`initial
`wake-up
`stage
`
`
`
`Q;
`Check for BT-
`enabled KD within
`range of LD
`
`
`
`
`
`
`No
`
`__
`Timeout?
`
`No
`
`'
`F19 6
`
`_
`
`F.
`lg
`‘_>.(
`5_4Q
`Second
`authenti-
`cation
`stage
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`KD BT
`33%???
`
`640
`
`
`
`
`
`
`link between KD
`aPPF°Ved.
`
`and LD
`current time
`
`
`not in
`512.
`stage—1
`
`time slot
`R9°elVe data
`
`f'°"‘ KD
`"_'_.';'_'_.
`§4_4
`Extract KD
`
`verification data
`
`from received data
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`6—.2—0-
`authggdsgation
`Stage
`F th
`
`Yes
`
`T
`§2_8_
`Detect KD B
`address, and
`
`
`current time
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`§?&
`Perform check in
`LD's local DB using
`(KD BT address,
`current time)
`
`
`
`
`
`iOther actionk er
`l
`I
`'£e—'g—'—Ala-rT)—‘
`
`KD BT address
`. fully approved,
`current time within
`stage-1 ti e slot
`
`
`
`__
`
`'
`Unlock Door
`
`.
`(F’g 7)
`f
`:———6—é—8-—-I
`I Esfifiish I
`:
`31- link,
`3
`lreceive data:
`I
`from KD i
`—————— — —‘
`
`
`
`P rf
`53%.
`k’
`e orm c ec In
`LD's local DB using
`Ktgfigll
`V
`(KD BT address.
`' ' proved?
`current time, KD
`
`verification data)
`
`
`
`
`_fl)_
`Unlock Door
`
`Y
`
`9
`
`5
`
`

`
`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jun. 17, 2010 Sheet 5 of 5
`
`US 2010/0148921 A1
`
`I
`check'IBTLD DB _
`I
`‘ updating information In *
`I
`.
`I
`I data receIved from KD ,
`
`I'"'"7'13,““:
`/’712‘*~-..
`\\‘~—Y
`P rform DB
`’/ Updating
`"~\ information /’ es":
`e
`.
`.
`'
`‘ - cxists?, » ’
`|§¥.n.9Er9n'Zat'°ni
`2..-:u—
`
` I
`
`E
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`:
`‘generate statistics/I
`I
`log file data from [
`I
`LD DB
`I
`
`.
`
`I
`I
`:/1_8
`I
`I
`I Transmit
`I
`{ data to KD '
`I
`
`6
`
`

`
`US 2010/0148921 A1
`
`Jun. 17, 2010
`
`LOCK ACTUATING DEVICE FOR A LOCK
`MECHANISM OF A LOCK, AND A METHOD
`OF PROVIDING WIRELESS CONTROL OF A
`LOCK
`
`PRIORITY STATEMENT
`
`[0001] The present application is a continuation and claims
`priority under 35 USC §l20 ofpending prior U.S. application
`Ser. No. 11/886,527 filed on Sep. 17, 2007, which is the
`national phase under 35 U.S.C. §37l of PCT International
`Application No. PCT/SE2006/000345 which has an Interna-
`tional filing date of Mar. 17, 2006, which designates the
`United States ofAmerica, and which claims priority on Swed-
`ish patent application number SE 0500616-8 filed Mar. 18,
`2005, the entire contents of each of which are hereby incor-
`porated herein by reference.
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`[0002] The present invention generally relates to access
`control, and more specifically to a lock actuating device for a
`lock mechanism of a lock. The invention also relates to a
`
`method of providing wireless control of a lock.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0003] The most common way to lock and unlock an
`access-controlling object such as a door is probably by using
`a mechanical key. This solution is cost efficient and easy to
`use, and a sophisticated mechanical lock is hard to force.
`However, there are two drawbacks with this solution: the user
`always has to bring the key and the key does not have any
`restrictions, i.e. it always works.
`[0004] These drawbacks might seem like minor disadvan-
`tages, which might be true in situations with one user and one
`door, but in situations with a large number ofusers and a large
`number of doors the drawbacks are of considerable impor-
`tance. In more particular, if a large number ofusers must have
`access to a large number of doors, a large number of keys has
`to be made for the different doors. This is not only unhandy
`but also a considerable security risk and costly.
`[0005]
`Firstly, in order to reduce the security risk, some sort
`of key administration is necessary. This type of administra-
`tion is costly.
`[0006]
`Secondly, a user who receives a key might abuse it,
`and even if the user is a responsible person, the key might be
`stolen or lost. Since there are no built-in restrictions in a
`
`mechanical key the security risk becomes significant. Conse-
`quently, handing out a large number of keys is a security risk.
`[0007] Thirdly, if one of the keys is lost or stolen the cor-
`responding lock has to be substituted, as well as all the other
`corresponding keys, in order to maintain the security. The
`administration costs, locksmith costs and all interruptions
`due to these key substitutions imply considerable costs for a
`lost key.
`[0008] A mechanical key system is hence not suitable for
`situations with a large number of users and a large number of
`doors. An example of such a situation is the elderly home
`care, where the domestic help personnel has a key to each of
`the caretakers. In order to solve this problem another type of
`locking system is necessary.
`[0009]
`In WO 02/31778 A1 a wireless lock system is pre-
`sented. When the lock of the system detects a nearby elec-
`tronic key carried by a user, a random signal is generated. The
`key encrypts the signal and returns it to the lock. The lock
`
`decrypts the signal and compares it to the original to deter-
`mine if the lock should be unlocked.
`
`In order to function, the wireless lock system men-
`[0010]
`tioned above must always establish a two-way wireless com-
`munication link between the key and the lock. This is a
`drawback, since the establishment of a two-way communica-
`tion link is not made instantly. Hence, a user has to wait for a
`period of time until the establishment of the two-way com-
`munication link is completed, and thereafter the user has to
`wait until the comparison is completed. The present inventors
`have realized that ifthe wireless lock system in WO 02/3 l 778
`Al is to be implemented with the de facto standard for short-
`range wireless data communication for mobile devices,
`namely RF communication in accordance with the Blue-
`toothTM standard on e.g. the 2.45 GHZ ISM band, one must
`expect at least about 10 seconds, and possibly up to as much
`as 30 seconds, for the establishment of the two-way Blue-
`toothTM link alone; to this one must add the time required for
`performing the data exchange and comparison. Another
`drawback with the approach described in WO 02/3 l 778 Al is
`that the key will have to be implemented as a rather advanced,
`programmable wireless communication device, such as a
`high-end mobile telephone.
`[0011] Users who are used to mechanical keys are not used
`to wait at the door, which will make the aforementioned
`waiting period into a source of irritation. In addition, if a large
`number of doors is to be opened every day the unlocking
`process must be smooth and easy.
`[0012] Hence, it must be regarded as a qualified technical
`problem to reduce the time that lapses from the lock’s detec-
`tion of a nearby electronic key until the unlocking ofthe lock,
`or more particularly the delay that a user may experience
`waiting in front of the lock for it to unlock.
`[0013] A natural way for the skilled person to solve this
`problem would be to increase the transmission power of the
`BluetoothTM transceivers in the lock and key, since this would
`broaden the operating range thereof and allow earlier detec-
`tion of an approaching key by the lock (such that the key will
`be detected already when the approaching user is at e.g. a 20
`meter distance from the lock instead of e.g. a 10 meter dis-
`tance), wherein the two-way link establishment may be ini-
`tiated sooner and possibly be completed at the time when the
`user has reached the lock.
`
`[0014] However, this solution has two pronounced draw-
`backs. First of all, the increased transmission power has an
`immediate penalty in the form of an increase in electric power
`consumption, which is particularly disadvantageous for bat-
`tery-powered locks and keys. Secondly, the broadened oper-
`ating range invites also other locks than the intended one to
`detect and interact with the key—in other words, the risk of
`cross-talk is increased.
`
`In summary, there is a need for a flexible lock system
`[0015]
`arranged to work in situations with many users and many
`doors, and with a faster unlocking process.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`In view of the above, an objective of the invention is
`[0016]
`to solve or at least reduce one or more of the problems dis-
`cussed above.
`
`[0017] This is generally achieved by the attached indepen-
`dent patent claims.
`[0018] A first aspect of the invention is a lock actuating
`device for a lock mechanism of a lock, the lock actuating
`device comprising:
`
`7
`
`

`
`US 2010/0148921 A1
`
`Jun. 17, 2010
`
`a transceiver capable of interaction with a wireless
`[0019]
`key device,
`[0020]
`a controller coupled to the transceiver and capable
`of generating a control signal, and
`[0021]
`a lock actuator adapted for actuation of the lock
`mechanism upon receipt of the control signal from the con-
`troller.
`
`[0022] The controller has a sleep mode and an operational
`mode.
`
`[0023] The lock actuating device further comprises a wake-
`up arrangement including a sensor and associated circuitry,
`the sensor being positioned to detect the presence of a user in
`a vicinity of the lock actuating device, and the circuitry being
`adapted to generate a wake-up control signal to the controller
`upon detection of said user, so as to cause the controller to
`switch from sleep mode to operational mode.
`[0024] A second aspect of the invention is a method of
`providing wireless control of a lock, the method involving:
`[0025]
`providing a battery-powered, wirelessly control-
`lable lock device as a stand-alone installation at a lock;
`[0026]
`operating said lock device in a sleep mode with
`negligible power consumption during periods of inactivity;
`[0027]
`detecting the presence of a user in a vicinity of said
`lock device;
`[0028]
`in response to said detecting, exiting the sleep mode
`and entering an operational mode for said lock device; and
`[0029]
`in said operational mode, interacting with a wireless
`key device within operative range of said lock device to cause
`unlocking of said lock.
`[0030] Other objectives, features and advantages of the
`present invention will appear from the following detailed
`disclosure, from the attached dependent claims as well as
`from the drawings.
`[0031] Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be
`interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the tech-
`nical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. All
`references to “a/an/the [element, device, component, means,
`step, etc]” are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least
`one instance of said element, device, component, means, step,
`etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any
`method disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the
`exact order disclosed, unless explicitly stated.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0032] The above, as well as additional objectives, features
`and advantages of the present invention, will be better under-
`stood through the following illustrative and non-limiting
`detailed description of embodiments ofthe present invention,
`with reference to the appended drawings, where the same
`reference numerals will be used for similar elements.
`
`FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a telecommuni-
`[0033]
`cation system, including a wireless key device implemented
`by a mobile terminal, an embodiment of a wireless lock
`device for a lock in a door, a wireless administrator device
`implemented by a mobile terminal, an administrator server, a
`mobile telecommunications network and a couple of other
`elements, as an example of an environment in which the
`present invention may be applied.
`[0034]
`FIG. 2 is a schematic front view illustrating the
`wireless key device of FIG. 1, and in particular some external
`components that are part of a user interface towards a user of
`the wireless key device.
`
`FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating
`[0035]
`internal components and modules of the embodiment of the
`wireless lock device shown in FIG. 1.
`
`FIG. 4 is a perspective sectional view of the lock
`[0036]
`device of FIG. 1, mounted to the door of FIG. 1.
`[0037]
`FIG. 5 is a perspective and exploded view ofthe lock
`device of FIG. 4.
`
`FIGS. 6 and 7 are flowchart diagrams of a method
`[0038]
`performed by the lock device for unlocking the lock by actu-
`ating a lock mechanism thereof.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
`
`invention is advantageously imple-
`[0039] The present
`mented in a mobile telecommunications system, one example
`ofwhich is illustrated in FIG. 1. Central elements in FIG. 1 are
`
`a wireless key device (KD) 100 and a wireless lock device
`(LD) 140. The purpose of the lock device 140 is to control
`some sort of lock mechanism in a lock, which in the illus-
`trated example is a door lock on a door 150. In turn, the lock
`device 140 is operated by the key device when brought in the
`vicinity of the lock device. In more particular, both the key
`device 100 and the lock device 140 are enabled for short-
`
`range wireless data communication in compliance with a
`communication standard. In the preferred embodiment, this
`communication standard is BluetoothTM. Having been the de
`facto standard for short-range wireless data communication
`for mobile devices during several years already, BluetoothTM
`is believed to be very well known to the skilled person, and no
`particulars about BluetoothTM as such are consequently given
`herein.
`
`[0040] As with most other contemporary mobile telecom-
`munications systems, the system of FIG. 1 provides various
`telecommunications services such as voice calls, data calls,
`facsimile transmissions, music transmissions, still
`image
`transmissions, video transmissions, electronic message trans-
`missions and electronic commerce for mobile terminals in the
`
`system, such as aforementioned mobile terminal 1 00, another
`mobile terminal 106, personal digital assistants (PDA) or
`portable computers. It is to be noticed that these various
`telecommunications services are not central to the invention,
`and for different embodiments, different ones ofthe telecom-
`munications services may or may not be available.
`[0041]
`In FIG. 1, the key device 100 is implemented by any
`commercially available, BluetoothTM-enabled mobile termi-
`nal 100, one embodiment 200 ofwhich is shown in FIG. 2.As
`seen in FIG. 2, and as is well known in the art, the mobile
`terminal 200 comprises an apparatus housing 201, a loud-
`speaker 202, a display 203, an input device 204a-c, and a
`microphone 205. In the disclosed embodiment, the input
`device 204a-c includes a set of keys 204a arranged in a
`keypad of common ITU-T type (alpha-numerical keypad), a
`pair of soft keys or function keys 204b, and a biometrical data
`reader 204c in the form of a fingerprint sensor. Hence, a
`graphical user interface 206 is provided, which may be used
`by a user of the mobile terminal 200 to control the terminal’s
`functionality and get access to any ofthe telecommunications
`services referred to above, or to any other software applica-
`tion executing in the mobile terminal. With particular refer-
`ence to one embodiment of the present invention, the keypad
`204a may be used for entering a PIN code to be used for
`authenticating the key device 100 in the lock device 140 in
`order to decide whether or not to unlock the lock controlled by
`the lock device. In another embodiment, the biometrical data
`reader 204c is used correspondingly to produce a digital
`
`8
`
`

`
`US 2010/0148921 A1
`
`Jun. 17, 2010
`
`fingerprint sample from the user, said fingerprint sample
`being used for authenticating the key device 100 in the lock
`device 140 by matching with prestored fingerprint templates.
`[0042]
`In addition, but not shown in FIG. 2, the mobile
`terminal 200 of course comprises various internal hardware
`and software components, such as a main controller (imple-
`mented e. g. by any commercially available Central Process-
`ing Unit (CPU), Digital Signal Processor (DSP) or any other
`electronic programmable logic device); associated memory,
`such as RAM memory, ROM memory, EEPROM memory,
`flash memory, hard disk, or any combination thereof; various
`software stored in the memory, such as a real-time operating
`system, a man-machine or user interface, device drivers, and
`one or more various software applications, such as a tele-
`phone call application, a contacts application, a messaging
`application, a calendar application, a control panel applica-
`tion, a camera application, a mediaplayer, a video game, a
`notepad application, etc; various I/O devices other than the
`ones shown in FIG. 2, such as a vibrator, a ringtone generator,
`an LED indicator, volume controls, etc; an RF interface
`including an internal or extemal antenna as well as appropri-
`ate radio circuitry for establishing and maintaining an RF link
`to a base station; aforementioned BluetoothTM interface
`including a BluetoothTM transceiver; other wireless interfaces
`such as WLAN, HomeRF or IrDA; and a SIM card with an
`associated reader.
`
`[0043] The mobile terminals 100, 106 are connected to a
`mobile telecommunications network 110 through RF links
`103, 108 via base stations 104, 109. The mobile telecommu-
`nications network 110 may be in compliance with any com-
`mercially available mobile telecommunications standard,
`such as GSM, UMTS, D-AMPS or CDMA2000.
`[0044] The mobile telecommunications network 110 is
`operatively connected to a wide area network 120, which may
`be Internet or a part thereof Various client computers and
`server computers, including a system server 122, may be
`connected to the wide area network 120.
`
`[0045] A public switched telephone network (PSTN) 130 is
`connected to the mobile telecommunications network 110 in
`
`a familiar manner. Various telephone terminals, including a
`stationary telephone 132, may be connected to the PSTN 130.
`[0046] Referring now to FIGS. 3-5, the lock device 140 will
`be described in more detail. In FIG. 4, the door 150 is shown
`in more detail. In a well-known manner the door has a lock
`160 which includes an internal lock mechanism and which is
`
`only schematically indicated in FIG. 4. A door handle 161, a
`lock knob 162 and a lock catch 163 are also provided. The
`lock knob 162 is mounted to one end of a rotatable axle 164
`
`which is coupled to or engages with the internal lock mecha-
`nism ofthe lock 160. The lock device 140 is mounted to a base
`
`plate 154 which is attached to the door leaf 152 next to the
`lock 160.
`
`[0047] A user may manually unlock the door lock 160,
`from the inside of the premises which are protected by the
`door 150, by turning the lock knob 162. This will cause
`rotation of the axle 164, actuation ofthe internal lock mecha-
`nism of the lock 160, and, ultimately, retraction of the lock
`catch 163 from its extended locking position in FIG. 4 to a
`retracted releasing position.
`[0048]
`In addition to this, and in accordance with the inven-
`tion, the door lock 160 may also be automatically unlocked by
`the lock device 140 by the following arrangements. To this
`end, a first gear wheel 166 is provided for actuation of the
`rotatable axle 164 via disengageable carrier means (not
`
`shown in FIG. 5). The first gear wheel 166 engages with a
`second, smaller gear wheel 308b which in turn is fixedly
`mounted to a rotatable axle 308a of an electric motor 308
`
`inside a protective casing 144 of the lock device 140. A motor
`controller 307 (FIG. 3) is coupled to the motor 308 and is
`adapted to provide a control signal 307b for engaging or
`disengaging the motor 308 and the aforementioned carrier
`means.
`
`In turn, the motor controller 307 is controlled by a
`[0049]
`control signal 307a from a CPU 313 in the lock device 140.
`An encoder 306 is provided to assist the CPU 313 in moni-
`toring the current angular position ofthe gear wheel 166 so as
`to select appropriate duration of the control signal 307a and
`achieve sufficient retraction of the lock catch 163 by the
`mechanical power provided by the motor 308 and translated
`into turning of the rotatable axle 164 via the first and second
`gear wheels 166, 308b and the carrier means. Thus, these
`elements form a lock actuator 170 which is controllable by the
`motor controller 307 and CPU 313.
`
`[0050] The CPU 313 is programmed to read and execute
`program instructions stored in a memory 311 so as to perform
`a method for wireless automatic unlocking of the lock 160 in
`response to the appearance and proper authentication of the
`key device 100. An embodiment of this method is illustrated
`in FIGS. 6 and 7 and will be described in more detail later.
`
`[0051] The lock device 140 is a stand-alone, autonomously
`operating device which requires no wire-based installations,
`neither for communication nor for power supply. Instead, the
`lock device 140 is powered solely by a local battery power
`unit 303 and interacts with the key device, as already men-
`tioned, by BluetoothTM-based activities. To this end, the lock
`device 140 has a BluetoothTM radio module 309 with an
`antenna 310.
`
`[0052] The lock device 140 of the present embodiment
`further includes a real-time clock 304 capable of providing
`the CPU 313 which an accurate value of the current time. A
`
`detector 312b is positioned to detect that the door 150 is in a
`properly closed position, so that the CPU 313 may command
`locking of the lock 160 a certain time after a user has opened
`the door through the key device 100 and passed therethrough.
`The detector 312b may be a conventional magnetic switch
`having a small magnet mounted to the door frame and a
`magnetic sensor mounted at a corresponding position on the
`door leaf 152.
`
`[0053] At the same time, preferably, the carrier means is
`disengaged, so that the lock knob 162 may be actuated manu-
`ally from the inside of the premises to lock or unlock the door
`lock 160 without mechanical resistance from the electrome-
`chanical elements of the lock actuator 170. In an alternative
`
`embodiment, these elements may be replaced by an electric
`step motor positioned and adapted to actuate the axle 164
`directly. Thus, in such an embodiment, on condition that the
`electric step motor provides only little mechanical resistance,
`the aforesaid carrier means may be dispensed with.
`[0054] The lock device 140 may have a simple user inter-
`face involving button(s) 305, a buzzer 312a and LED indica-
`tor(s) 312c. In some embodiments, an authorized administra-
`tor (ADM) may configure the lock device 140 through this
`user interface. In other embodiments, though, configuration
`of the lock device 140—including updating the contents of a
`local database (LD-DB) 142 stored in memory 311 and con-
`taining i.a. key device authentication data—occurs wirelessly
`either directly from a proximate mobile terminal 106 over a
`BluetoothTM link 116, or by supplying a key device, for
`
`9
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`
`instance key device 100, with authentication data updating
`information from a system database 124 at the system server
`122 over the mobile telecommunications network 110.
`
`device replace the entire circuitry 322, such that the wake-up
`control signal 326 is generated directly from a door bell
`button switch.
`
`Since the lock device 140 is a stand-alone, battery-
`[0055]
`powered installation which is intended to be operative for
`long time periods without maintenance, it is important to keep
`power consumption at a minimum. Therefore, the present
`embodiment is designed to put itself in a sleep mode after a
`certain period of inactivity. In the sleep mode, the elements of
`the lock device 140 are inactive and consume negligible
`power. The way to exit the sleep mode and enter operational
`mode is by applying a wake-up control signal 326 on a par-
`ticular control input on the CPU 313. To this end, the lock
`device 140 is provided with a wake-up arrangement 320
`having a proximity sensor 324 and associated circuitry 322.
`[0056] The proximity sensor 324 is positioned to detect the
`presence of a user in a vicinity of the lock device 140, and in
`response the circuitry 322 is adapted to generate the wake-up
`control signal 326. The proximity sensor 324 may for
`instance be an IR (Infra-Red) sensor, an ultra-sound sensor,
`an optical sensor, an RF (Radio Frequency) sensor or a pres-
`sure sensor. Such types of sensors are all well known to the
`skilled person and are commercially available. For instance,
`when the proximity sensor 324 is an RF sensor, it may advan-
`tageously be adapted to detect mobile telecommunications
`trafiic, such as GSM trafiic, to or from the mobile terminal
`which implements the key device 100. Thus, in this case the
`proximity sensor 324 does not detect the user himself but the
`key device 100 he carries. When the proximity sensor 324 is
`a pressure sensor, it may advantageously be located at floor
`level somewhere near the door 150, so as to detect pressure
`variations caused by the user when stepping on the floor.
`[0057] Alternatively,
`the proximity sensor 324 may be
`positioned on or at the door handle 161 and be adapted to
`generate a detection signal by electrically detecting interac-
`tion from the user on the door handle, for instance by capaci-
`tive means or by detecting the closure of an electric circuit.
`[0058]
`In one embodiment, the wake-up arrangement 320
`has an acoustic or vibration sensor 324 which is adapted to
`detect door knocks on the door leaf 152. Such a sensor may be
`provided in the form of a microphone which is attached via a
`spacer to the door leaf 152. The spacer will transfer vibrations
`caused by door knocks to the microphone. The circuitry 322
`may be programmed or designed to apply predetermined
`wake-up criteria when decided whether or not to generate the
`wake-up control signal 326. Such wake-up criteria may for
`instance be the detection of more than one door knock within
`
`a certain time frame. This may prevent an accidental wake-up
`because of a spurious detection of a non-related sound from
`the environment. Even more advanced wake-up criteria may
`be used, such as a given sequence of short and long door
`knocks, much like a code of Morse signals.
`[0059]
`In one embodiment, a door bell device is integrated
`with the lock device 140. Making use of the real-time clock
`304, the CPU 313 may determine whether or not an acoustic
`door bell sound is to be generated (for instance during mom-
`ing, day and evening times) or not (for instance during night
`time) when a door bell button of the door bell device is
`pressed. In addition, the door bell device may be used as the
`sensor 324 of the wake-up arrangement 320, such that an
`input signal is supplied to the circuitry 322 when the door bell
`button is pressed. It is alternatively possible to let the doorbell
`
`[0060] Additionally, means such as a depressible button
`may be provided on or at the door 150 on the inside of the
`premises in question. The user may avail himself of such
`means to cause forced unlocking ofthe door lock 160 when he
`desires to leave the premises. To this end, such means will be
`coupled to the CPU 313, and the latter will be adapted to
`perform the forced unlocking of the door lock 160 by gener-
`ating the control signal 307b to the motor controller 307 so as
`to control the motor 308 in the manner previously described.
`[0061] Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, an operational
`method performed by the lock device 140 for wireless auto-
`matic unlocking of the lock 160 will now be described in
`detail.
`
`[0062] On a general level, the method consists of two main
`authentication stages 620 and 640, and,
`in the present
`embodiment but optionally, an initial wake-up stage 610. The
`first authentication stage 620 is designed to be fast and there-
`fore does not involve any establishment of a two-way Blue-
`toothTM communication link between lock device and key
`device, in contrast to the prior art approach described in the
`introductory section of this document. Experiments have
`indicated that the first authentication stage, resulting in the
`opening of a door, may be completed in as little time as 2-4
`seconds, which is considerably faster than in the prior art.
`[0063]
`In the first authentication stage, authorization is
`based solely on the key device’s BluetoothTM address and the
`current time, both of which are detected automatically by the
`lock device 140 and require no interaction from the user
`(other than bringing the key device 100 near the door 150).
`Certain prioritized users are entrusted to unlock the door 150
`simply through this first authentication stage 620, whereas
`other users must be authorized during the following, second
`and more extensive authentication stage 640 which requires
`establishment of a two-way BluetoothTM communication link
`and involves additional verification data from the key device
`100—in the form of a PIN code in the present embodiment.
`[0064] The lock device 140 bases its operation upon the
`authentication data stored in LD-DB 142. In the present
`embodiment, the record structure of the LD-DB 142 includes
`the following data fields for authentication data:
`
`Field
`LD ID
`User name
`Bluetooth TM ID
`Stage-1 time slot (1)
`Stage-1 time slot (2)
`
`Stage-1 time slot (n)
`Stage-2 time slot -
`single
`Stage-2 time slot -
`scheduled
`code
`Administrator
`
`Contents example #1
`121
`Olle
`0x00223af3
`2005-03-24: 19-22
`Mon-Fri: 07-15
`
`Contents example #1
`121
`Johan
`0x002e5af4
`
`00-24
`****
`No
`
`Sat-Sun: 10-18
`****
`No
`
`In the example given above, it is thus configured that
`[0065]
`user Olle is authorized to open the door 150, through the lock
`device 140 having ID 121, by using his key device 100 having
`BluetoothTM ID 0x00223af3 by fast stage-1 authentication
`during working days between 07:00 and 15:00. He is also
`
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`granted a temporary stage-1 authority on 24 Mar. 2005
`between 19:00 and 22:00. If he arrives at the door outside of
`
`these stage-1 time slots, he may still access the door 150 at
`any time (00-24), but in such a case he must go through a more
`complex stage-2 authentication which involves additional
`authorization, namely by providing a PIN code from the key
`device 100 and having it communicated to the lock device 140
`over a two-way BluetoothTM communication link. Stage-2
`authentication requires a special software in the key device
`100, since data exchange is involved. Therefore, if mobile
`terminals are used as key devices, they are preferably of an
`advanced model provided with a suitable operating system,
`such as Symbian, at least for users that require stage-2 authen-
`tication. As regards the PIN code, it may eitherbe prestored in
`memory in the key device 100 and fetched by the software
`therein upon communication to the lock device, or the soft-
`ware may invite the user