111111
`
`1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`USO 1 0825273B2
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Marcinkowski et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.: US 10,825,273 B2
`(45) Date of Patent:
`*Nov. 3, 2020
`
`(54) SMART THERMOSTAT HUB
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`(71) Applicant: EDST, LLC, Lubbock, TX (US)
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`(72)
`
`Inventors: Dave Marcinkowski, Lubbock, TX
`(US); Thomas Mandry, Lubbock, TX
`(US)
`
`(73) Assignee: EDST, LLC, Lubbock, TX (US)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis-
`claimer.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 16/162,262
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Oct. 16, 2018
`
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2020/0118370 Al
`Apr. 16, 2020
`
`(65)
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`H04W 4100
`G07C 9100
`
`(2018.01)
`(2020.01)
`(Continued)
`
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`CPC ....... G07C 9100182 (2013.01); G06F 310484
`(2013.01); G07C 9100904 (2013.01);
`(Continued)
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`CPC ........... G07C 2009/00317; G07C 2009/00769;
`G07C 9/00309; G07C 9/00904; G07C
`9/27; G07C 2209/08; G07C 9/00571;
`G07C 9/00817; G07C 2009/00865; G07C
`2009/00412; G07C 2009/00476; G07C
`2009/00587; G07C 2009/00825;
`(Continued)
`
`User Device(s)
`
`Third Party Device(s)
`
`10/2016 Robinson
`9,478,084 B1
`2012/0179802 A1 * 7/2012 Narasimhan .......... H04L 67/125
`709/223
`
`(Continued)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`EP
`wo
`
`0533507 A1
`W0-2014107196 A1
`
`3/1993
`7/2014
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`International Search Report and Written Opinion issued for PCT
`Application No. PCT/IB2019/057876, dated Dec. 10, 2019, 30
`pages.
`
`Primary Examiner- Dionne Pendleton
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm- Norton Rose Fulbright
`US LLP
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`A smart thermostat hub and a management platform for
`controlling and securing smart devices in a multi-family
`residential property are disclosed. Smart thermostat hubs
`may bi-directionally communicate with the management
`platform using a LoRa WAN communication link and com-
`municate with smart devices present within an apartment of
`the multi-family residential property via a non-LoRaWAN
`communication link. Smart thermostat hub may provide a
`gateway or bridge between the management platform and an
`ofl.line door lock, thereby enabling access credentials for an
`ofl.line door lock to be disabled from the management
`platform, and may serve to facilitate remote configuration of
`other smart devices, such as thermostats and smart light
`fixtures, for example.
`
`33 Claims, 10 Drawing Sheets
`
`\30
`
`iApartments Ex. 1017
`
`Page 1 of 29
`
`

`

`US 10,825,273 B2
`Page 2
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`
`(58)
`
`(2009.01)
`(2013.01)
`
`Int. Cl.
`H04W 12104
`G06F 310484
`U.S. Cl.
`CPC ........ H04W 12104 (2013.01); G07C 9/00309
`(2013.01); G07C 2009/00198 (2013.01); G07C
`2009/00333 (2013.01); G07C 2009/00357
`(2013.01); G07C 2009/00507 (2013.01); G07C
`2009/00769 (2013.01); G07C 2009/00825
`(2013.01)
`
`Field of Classification Search
`CPC .. G07C 2009/00841; G07C 2009/0088; G07C
`9/00563; G07C 9/0069; G07C 9/23;
`G07C 9/257; G07C 9/28; H04L 67/02;
`H04L 67/06; H04L 67/1023; H04L
`67/104; H04L 67/12; H04L 63/08; YlOT
`70/70; YlOT 24/45717; H04W 4/021;
`H04W 4/80; H04W 12/0602; H04W 4/00;
`H04W 4/027; H04W 4/70; H04W 4/90;
`H04W 84/12; H04W 84/18; H04W
`12/0608; H04W 12/08; H04W 4/21;
`AOlD 34/008; AOlD 69/10; AOlF
`15/042; A01F 15/08; AOlF 15/0841;
`A47B 57/10; A47B 96/027; A47F 7/30;
`A47L 2201/02; B25J 9/0003; B60L
`1/003; B60L 2200/40; B60L 2260/32;
`
`B60L 50/16; B60L 50/52; B60L 53/14;
`B60L 53/30; E05B 19/0005; E05B 67/22;
`F16B 21/06; G05B 15/02; G05B 19/02;
`G05D 1/0225; G05D 1/0265; G05D
`2201/0208; HOlR 13/6675; H01R 27/00;
`HOlR 31/065; H02J 50/20; H02J 50/80;
`Y02T 10/70; Y02T 10/7005; Y02T
`10/7072; Y02T 10/7077; Y02T 90/12;
`Y02T 90/121; Y02T 90/14; YlOS 901/01;
`G06F 3/0481; G06F 3/0484
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`2013/0305319 A1 * 1112013 Matthews, III ... H04W 12/0608
`726/4
`2016/0005247 A1
`112016 Mehl et a!.
`2016/0124401 A1
`5/2016 Li
`2016/0239001 A1
`8/2016 Chin et a!.
`2017/0046893 A1 *
`212017 Tseng . ... ... ... ... .... ... ... G07C 9/28
`4/2018 Deros et al.
`2018/0110093 A1
`2018/0234489 A1 *
`8/2018 Hannnons ............... H04L 67/02
`2018/0350170 A1 *
`12/2018 Wang ..................... G07C 9/215
`2019/0371096 A1 *
`12/2019 Fisher ...................... G07C 9/27
`* cited by examiner
`
`iApartments Ex. 1017
`
`Page 2 of 29
`
`

`

`-....l w = N
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`Communication lntertace(s) ~ 138
`
`Credential Managernent interface
`
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`
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`
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`
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`
`iApartments Ex. 1017
`
`Page 3 of 29
`
`

`

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`
`FIG~ 2
`
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`Input/Output Device(s)
`
`,
`
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`I
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`i
`1
`
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`
`iApartments Ex. 1017
`
`Page 4 of 29
`
`

`

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`
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`
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`216'~~ ...... r--·
`
`FIG~ 3
`
`input/Output Devlce(s)
`
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`
`--------
`
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`
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`'
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`
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`
`-----______ ___,j
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`~-------~ .
`
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`
`300 \.._~
`
`iApartments Ex. 1017
`
`Page 5 of 29
`
`

`

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`
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`
`~--········--------------------·
`
`~-"1-.J412
`
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`
`"Smart Hub" Interface
`
`r..,--.,._ri·--... ../225
`
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`
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`
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`
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`M~L~_?ry ---
`
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`ommunication lnterfa~
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`·-... . ....-'/ -'\
`\
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`
`iApartments Ex. 1017
`
`Page 6 of 29
`
`

`

`-....l w = N
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`'"= 00
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`
`iApartments Ex. 1017
`
`Page 7 of 29
`
`

`

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`
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`
`iApartments Ex. 1017
`
`Page 8 of 29
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 3, 2020
`
`Sheet 7 of 10
`
`US 10,825,273 B2
`
`800 \ .. /"'-,
`
`-'~(
`
`Receive, by one or more processors of a smart thermostat hub, control information
`810 ··,f associated with an offline door iock from a property management p!atform via a Long
`Rage (LoRa)-based communication !ink
`
`820 ",..._/
`
`Generate, by the one or more processors of the smart thermostat hub, a command
`configured to disable one or more access credentials identified in the control
`information
`
`830 ,'"_,r"' Transmit, by the one or more processors, the command to the offline door lock via a
`non-LoRa-based communication !ink
`
`Transmit by one or more processors of a smart thermostat hub, an access log
`request to an offline door lock via a non-Long Rage (LoRa)-based
`communication link
`
`r .... ----~-------,
`
`~-
`Receive, by the one or more processors, at least a portion of an access log
`information from a iock processor of the offline door lock via the non-LoRa-based
`communication !ink
`' '
`Transmit, by the one or more processors, at least the portion of the access log
`information to a property management platform via a LoRa-based communication
`link
`
`930
`
`FIG~ 9
`
`iApartments Ex. 1017
`
`Page 9 of 29
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 3, 2020
`
`Sheet 8 of 10
`
`US 10,825,273 B2
`
`1000
`
`\ .. ·""~
`
`Receive, by a lock processor of an offline door lock, a command via a non-Long
`Rage (LoRa}-based communication link
`
`1020
`
`~_.>'
`
`l :::::·::: '--~
`
`:::: :::::::: =::
`-~-= .... ::
`Modify, by the lock processor, access cr.edentia! validation information stored at a ]·
`memory of the offline door lock to disable the one or more access credentials based
`on the command
`~--~-~ ....
`. :::I:::::::
`:::
`Receive, by a sensor of the offline door !ock, access cr.edent.ia. l.in. !orma~~~fmm a. I
`credential device placed in proximity to the sensor
`::: :::: ::::::::: :: ,: : =--"--:::: . ,
`~~,---~---" "'"'"'" ... : ~:::: ::: :I
`
`::
`
`::: .
`
`:: ~:~:::::~: :~ ., =-
`
`1040
`
`'· ·~ Determine, by the lock processor, a validity of the access credential information
`' · " based on whether the access credential validation information indicates the access
`credential information is valid or disabled
`""-----~----
`
`1050
`
`.·"-
`"-"
`
`i'
`
`Engage, in response to a determination that the access credential is valid, a locking
`mechanism of the offline door lock such that the locking mechanism is configurable
`,___-~--~ change between locked state and an unlocked state
`
`1100 \ ·--../"~
`
`Fl
`
`~ 10
`
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`iApartments Ex. 1017
`
`Page 10 of 29
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`

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`Page 11 of 29
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`iApartments Ex. 1017
`
`Page 12 of 29
`
`

`

`US 10,825,273 B2
`
`2
`dential property. For example, if a resident's access creden-
`tial (e.g., fob, smartcard, etc.) is lost or stolen, the access
`device may be used to gain entry into the resident's apart-
`ment before the appropriate personnel can visit the resi-
`dent's apartment and use an external device to disable the
`lost or stolen access credential. As another example, if a
`resident gives an access credential to a non-resident and then
`has a falling out with the non-resident, the resident cannot
`prevent the non-resident from using access credential to gain
`10 entry into the resident's apartment and must wait until the
`appropriate personnel can visit the resident's apartment to
`disable the access credential provided to the non-resident.
`
`1
`SMART THERMOSTAT HUB
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`The present disclosure is directed to an intelligent ther-
`mostat. In particular, the present disclosure is directed to an
`intelligent thermostat that can function as a hub having
`multi-band/multi-radio communication capabilities and can
`be implemented in a system for controlling and securing
`offline door locks and other smart devices within a multi-
`family property.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`SUMMARY
`
`Technology and the benefits it provides often plays an 15
`important role with respect to how many consumers make
`decisions. This has become increasingly so in the real-estate
`industry, and more specifically in the multi-family residen-
`tial property market. To illustrate, Class A multi-family
`residential properties (e.g., apartments, etc.) may have key- 20
`less entry systems installed that allow residents to gain entry
`into their respective apartments by placing a fob, smart-
`phone, or smartcard in proximity to a door lock. As another
`example, these Class A multi-family residential properties
`may have been constructed with infrastructure, such as 25
`Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) access points and/or wired net-
`works (e.g., Ethernet), for providing Internet access to
`residents. While the security and convenience these tech-
`nologies provide are attractive to residents, deploying such
`technologies in older multi-family residential properties, 30
`such as Class B and C multi-family residential properties,
`can be cost prohibitive and/or present challenges with
`respect to the security of residents of the multi-family
`residential property.
`For example, keyless entry systems may utilize online 35
`door locks or offline door locks. Online door locks may be
`controlled (e.g., locked and unlocked) remotely through an
`Internet-accessible network connection and locally by a
`device (e.g., a fob, smartphone, smartcard, etc.) that is
`placed in proximity to a sensor of the online door lock, while 40
`offline door locks can only be controlled (e.g., locked and
`unlocked) by a device (e.g., a fob, smartphone, smartcard,
`etc.) that is placed in proximity to a sensor of the offline door
`lock. The cost to deploy an online door lock-based keyless
`entry system in a multi-family residential property can be 45
`significantly higher than offline door lock-based keyless
`entry systems due to the requirement that network commu-
`nication infrastructure (e.g., a mesh network, a Wi-Fi net-
`work, etc.) be provided to facilitate network-based control of
`the door lock.
`While less expensive to deploy, the offline door lock-
`based keyless entry systems present challenges with respect
`to security. For example, in addition to being controlled
`remotely, online door locks can be managed remotely, such
`as to authorize and disable new access credentials. For
`offline door locks, new access credentials for controlling an
`offline door lock may be created via a network-based appli-
`cation (e.g., a cloud-based application or website); however,
`offline door locks require an individual, such as a property
`manager or property maintenance personnel, to connect
`(e.g., via a universal serial bus (USB) connection) an exter-
`nal device (e.g., a laptop, tablet, or other electronic device)
`to the offline door lock and then use software or another
`utility provided by the external device to disable access
`credentials. The requirement that access credentials for
`offline door locks be disabled in person presents risks with
`respect to the security of residents of a multi-family resi-
`
`Embodiments described herein provide a system that
`comprises smart thermostat hubs and a management plat-
`form for controlling and securing smart devices in a multi-
`family residential property. Smart thermostat hubs may
`comprise a first communication interface that facilitates
`bi-directional communication between smart thermostat hub
`and the management platform and a second communication
`interface
`that
`facilitates bi-directional communication
`between the thermostat smart hub and the smart devices
`present within a unit of the multi-family residential property.
`Smart thermostat hub may provide a gateway or bridge
`between the management platform and an offline door lock,
`thereby enabling access credentials for an offline door lock
`to be disabled from the management platform via the
`bi-directional communication links provided by the first and
`second communication interfaces of smart thermostat hub.
`In addition to providing enhanced the security for offline
`door lock-based keyless entry systems, smart thermostat hub
`may also provide functionality for automating and improv-
`ing various property management tasks. For example, the
`management platform may be configured to automatically
`detect (e.g., based on a database) when a unit of a multi-
`family residential property becomes vacant and may trans-
`mit control information to smart thermostat hub of the
`vacant unit. The control information may include informa-
`tion that identifies various smart devices within the unit, as
`well as parameters for configuring the identified smart
`devices. Upon receiving the control information via first
`communication interface, smart thermostat hub may trans-
`mit commands to each of the identified smart devices via
`second communication interface, where the commands con-
`figure the identified smart devices in accordance with
`parameters specified in the control information. Similar
`operations may be performed when the management plat-
`50 form detects that a resident is scheduled to move in to a
`vacant unit of the multi-family residential property.
`The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and
`technical advantages of the present invention in order that
`the detailed description of the invention that follows may be
`55 better understood. Additional features and advantages of the
`invention will be described hereinafter which form the
`subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appre-
`ciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and
`specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a
`60 basis for modifying or designing other structures for carry-
`ing out the same purposes of the present invention. It should
`also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equiva-
`lent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of
`the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The novel
`65 features which are believed to be characteristic of the
`invention, both as to its organization and method of opera-
`tion, together with further objects and advantages will be
`
`iApartments Ex. 1017
`
`Page 13 of 29
`
`

`

`US 10,825,273 B2
`
`3
`better understood from the following description when con-
`sidered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to
`be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is
`provided for the purpose of illustration and description only
`and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present
`invention.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`4
`accessing a multi-family residential property using smart
`devices in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure
`is shown as a system 100. As described in more detail below,
`system 100 provides functionality that improves the manner
`in which access to multi-family residential properties is
`managed and secured. Additionally, system 100 may reduce
`the cost of deploying various technologies in a multi-family
`residential property, thereby enabling such technologies to
`be utilized in certain multi-family residential properties for
`10 which previous technologies were deemed cost prohibitive,
`such as Class B and Class C properties.
`In FIG. 1, system 100 is illustrated as comprising smart
`hub 110, one or more smart devices 120, and server 130. As
`shown in FIG. 1, server 130 may include one or more
`15 processors 132, memory 133, credential management mod-
`ule 137, and one or more communication interfaces 138.
`Memory 133 may include random access memory (RAM),
`read only memory (ROM), hard disk drives(s) (HDDs ), solid
`state drive(s) (SSDs), network attached storage (NAS)
`20 devices, or other types of memory devices for storing data
`in a persistent or non-persistent state. Memory 133 may
`store instructions 134 that, when executed by the one or
`more processors 132, cause the one or more processors 132
`to perform the operations of server 130 described with
`25 reference to FIGS. 1-6. Additionally, one or more databases
`135 may be stored at memory 133. Exemplary types of
`information that may be stored at the one or more databases
`135 are described in more detail below. It is noted that
`although FIG. 1 illustrates server 130 as a standalone device,
`30 it is to be understood that server 130 and the functionality
`described herein with respect to the server 130, may be
`implemented using more than one server or via a collection
`of computing resources (e.g., processors, memory, commu-
`nication interfaces, and the like) deployed in the cloud.
`Credential management interface 137 may be configured
`to manage (e.g., create and disable) access credentials pro-
`vided to residents of a multi-family residential property. For
`example, credential management interface 137 may be con-
`figured to generate access credentials that enable a resident
`40 to access one or more areas of a multi-family residential
`property, such as the resident's apartment, a workout facility,
`a pool, a parking garage, and the like. Access credentials
`may be stored on a device, such as a fob, a smartcard, or a
`resident's smartphone and may be used to control (e.g., lock
`45 and unlock) an of!Iine door lock installed on a door of the
`resident's apartment. In an embodiment, each of the of!Iine
`door locks of the multi-family residential property may
`comprise logic configured to process access credentials
`presented for authentication. For example, when a resident
`50 places a device having the resident's access credential in
`proximity to a sensor (e.g., a near field communication
`(NFC) device, a Bluetooth device, etc.) of the of!Iine door
`lock, access credential may be received by the logic for
`processing, which may include applying a hash function or
`55 other data processing technique. If the processing is suc-
`cessful (e.g., a result of the hash function or other processing
`technique satisfies a criterion), a lock control mechanism
`may be engaged, thereby enabling the resident to tum a knob
`that controls a deadbolt or other form of locking device to
`60 either lock or unlock the of!Iine door lock. If the processing
`is not successful (e.g., the result of the hash function or other
`processing technique does not satisfy the criterion), the lock
`control mechanism may not be engaged. When the lock
`control mechanism is not engaged, the knob that controls the
`65 deadbolt may spin freely (or not move at all), thereby
`preventing the deadbolt from being placed in a locked state
`or an unlocked state. Additional features provided by an
`
`For a more complete understanding of the disclosed
`methods and apparatuses, reference should be made to the
`embodiments illustrated in greater detail in the accompany-
`ing drawings, wherein:
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary system for
`managing and securing access credentials for accessing a
`multi-family residential property using smart devices in
`accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a smart thermostat hub in
`accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram of another smart hub in
`accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;
`FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a modular smart thermostat
`hub in accordance with embodiments of the present disclo-
`sure;
`FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating aspects of an
`intelligent property management system configured in
`accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;
`FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating additional aspects of
`an intelligent property management system configured in
`accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;
`FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating additional aspects of
`an intelligent property management system configured in
`accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;
`FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method
`for securing smart devices within an apartment of a multi-
`family residential property in accordance with embodiments 35
`of the present disclosure;
`FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method for
`retrieving access log data from an of!Iine door lock in
`accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;
`FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary
`method for securing an of!Iine door lock of an apartment of
`a multi-family residential property in accordance with
`embodiments of the present disclosure;
`FIG. 11 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary
`method for securing an of!Iine door lock of an apartment of
`a multi-family residential property in accordance with
`embodiments of the present disclosure;
`FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating exemplary features
`of an of!Iine door lock configured in accordance with
`embodiments of the present disclosure; and
`FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of
`a smart thermostat in accordance with embodiments of the
`present disclosure.
`It should be understood that the drawings are not neces-
`sarily to scale and that the disclosed embodiments are
`sometimes illustrated diagrammatically and in partial views.
`In certain instances, details which are not necessary for an
`understanding of the disclosed methods and apparatuses or
`which render other details difficult to perceive may have
`been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that this
`disclosure is not limited to the particular embodiments
`illustrated herein.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`Referring to FIG. 1, a block diagram of an exemplary
`system for managing and securing access credentials for
`
`iApartments Ex. 1017
`
`Page 14 of 29
`
`

`

`US 10,825,273 B2
`
`5
`offline door lock in accordance with embodiments are
`described in more detail below with respect to FIG. 12.
`In an embodiment, rather than generating access creden-
`tials, the credential management interface 137 may interface
`with a system of a third party service provider that is
`configured to generate access credentials. In such an
`embodiment, the credential management interface 137 may
`enable property management personnel and/or a resident to
`request an additional access credential that may be utilized
`to unlock an ofl.line door lock be generated by the system of
`the third party service provider. As a result of the request, the
`system of the third party service provider may generate the
`requested access credential (assuming appropriate authenti-
`cation of the request and/or requestor has been performed).
`Where the access credential is to be utilized by a user device, 15
`such as a smart phone, the system of the third party may
`provide the newly generated access credential to the user
`device directly, such as by downloading the access creden-
`tial to the user device via an access credential management
`application installed on the user device, or indirectly, such 20
`via a message (e.g., a text message, e-mail message, etc.)
`provided to the user device that includes information that
`enables the user device to retrieve or otherwise obtain or
`download the newly generated access credential, or via
`another technique. In an embodiment, if an access credential
`that is to be disabled corresponds to an access credential that
`was generated by the system of the third party and that is
`stored on a user device, such as a smart phone, the server 130
`may be configured to interact with the system of the third
`party to disable such access credentials, such as by providing 30
`information the user device to disable further use of the
`access credential. If, however, the access credential is stored
`on a third party device 160, such as a fob or smartcard,
`disabling of the access credential may be accomplished via
`communication of control information to smart hub 110, as
`described in more detail below.
`In an embodiment, one or more databases 135 may
`include a credential database storing information associated
`with the ofl.line door locks installed at the multi-family
`residential property. When an access credential for a par- 40
`ticular offline door lock is to be generated, credential man-
`agement module 137 may access the credential database to
`obtain information associated with the particular of door
`lock, and then use the obtained information to create access
`credential. For example, the information stored in access 45
`credential database 135 may co