IP Library Granted Patent US 12684343
Granted Patent B2
US 12684343 · App. 18/574,993 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Transferring responsibility of a physical key from a transferer to a transferee

Inventors: John Bishop (Concord, NC); Monica Holman (Bedford, GB); Duncan Winner (Olney, GB)
Assignee: ASSA ABLOY Limited
H04W12/033H04W4/80H04W12/069
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12684343
App. No.
18/574,993
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

It is provided method of transferring responsibility of a physical key ( 3 ) from a transferer ( 5 a ) to a transferee ( 5 b ). The method is performed by a transferee device ( 2 b ), being a user device ( 2 b ) of the transferee ( 5 b ). The method comprises: establishing ( 40 ) a local communication channel ( 4 ) with a user device ( 2 a ) of the transferer ( 5 a ): receiving ( 42 ), over the local communication channel ( 4 ), a request to register that the responsibility of the physical key ( 3 ) is transferred from the transferer ( 5 a ) to the transferee ( 5 b ): receiving ( 44 ) user input indicating that the responsibility of the physical key ( 3 ) is accepted by the transferee ( 5 b ); and transmitting ( 46 ) a confirmation of registration of transferring the responsibility of the physical key ( 3 ) to the transferee ( 5 b ).

Claims (31)

1 . A method of transferring responsibility of a physical key to reflect a transfer of the physical key from a transferer to a transferee, the method being performed by a transferee device, being a user device of the transferee, the method comprising:

establishing a local communication channel with a user device of the transferer;

receiving, over the local communication channel, a request to register that the responsibility of the physical key is transferred from the transferer to the transferee;

verifying that the transferee is a valid receiver of the physical key, which comprises verifying against locally stored data that is cryptographically signed by a trusted third party;

receiving user input indicating that the responsibility of the physical key is accepted by the transferee; and

transmitting a confirmation of registration of transferring the responsibility of the physical key to the transferee to reflect the transfer of the physical key from the transferer to the transferee.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein receiving user input comprises receiving accelerometer data, from the transferee device, indicating a bump against an object and correlating the accelerometer data with corresponding accelerometer data from the user device of the transferer.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the local communication channel is based on at least one of Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy, Near-Field Communication, or ZigBee.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the transferee is a valid receiver when the transferee is licensed to drive a vehicle associated with the physical key.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the transferee is a valid receiver when the transferee belongs to an organisation associated with an asset secured by the physical key.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

authenticating the transferee.

7 . A transferee device being a user device of a transferee when transferring responsibility of a physical key to reflect a transfer of the physical key from a transferer to the transferee, the transferee device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the transferee device to:

establish a local communication channel with a user device of the transferer;

receive, over the local communication channel, a request to register that the responsibility of the physical key is transferred from the transferer to the transferee;

verify that the transferee is a valid receiver of the physical key, which comprises verifying against locally stored data that is cryptographically signed by a trusted third party;

receive user input indicating that the responsibility of the physical key is accepted by the transferee; and

transmit a confirmation of registration of transferring the responsibility of the physical key to the transferee to reflect the transfer of the physical key from the transferer to the transferee.

8 . The transferee device according to claim 7 , wherein the instructions to receive user input comprise instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the transferee device to receive accelerometer data, from the transferee device, indicating a bump against an object and correlate the accelerometer data with corresponding accelerometer data from the user device of the transferer.

9 . The transferee device according to claim 8 , wherein the local communication channel is based on at least one of Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy, Near-Field Communication, or ZigBee.

10 . The transferee device according to claim 7 , wherein the transferee is a valid receiver when the transferee is licensed to drive a vehicle associated with the physical key.

11 . The transferee device according to claim 7 , wherein the transferee is a valid receiver when the transferee belongs to an organisation associated with an asset secured by the physical key.

12 . The transferee device according to claim 7 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the transferee device to: authenticate the transferee.

13 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program for transferring responsibility of a physical key to reflect a transfer of the physical key from a transferer to a transferee, the computer program comprising computer program code which, when executed on a transferee device being a user device of the transferee, causes the user device of the transferee to:

establish a local communication channel with a user device of the transferer;

receive, over the local communication channel, a request to register that the responsibility of the physical key is transferred from the transferer to the transferee;

verify that the transferee is a valid receiver of the physical key, which comprises verifying against locally stored data that is cryptographically signed by a trusted third party;

receive user input indicating that the responsibility of the physical key is accepted by the transferee; and

transmit a confirmation of registration of transferring the responsibility of the physical key to the transferee to reflect the transfer of the physical key from the transferer to the transferee.