IP Library Granted Patent US 11,104,297
Granted Patent B2
US 11,104,297 · App. 16/858,324 · Granted Aug 31, 2021

Systems and methods for multi-keyholder digital lockout

Inventors: David P. Gengler (Draper, UT); Sean Louis Calkins (Midvale, UT); Kenneth Richard Goldthorpe (Eagle Mountain, UT); Kyle Blackburn Johnson (Spanish Fork, UT)
Assignee: NOKE, INC.
B60R25/01B60R25/24G07C9/00571
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,104,297
App. No.
16/858,324
Granted
Aug 31, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

This disclosure provides systems and methods for lockout-tagout procedures and systems supporting the same, including, without limitation, lockout devices that can store and maintain digital locks simultaneously by multiple keyholders. In various embodiments, a single user can add multiple keyholders to a digital lock. The user may not be able to remove anyone as a keyholder except herself. Thus, the digital lock may remain in a locked state until each of the added keyholders applies their digital key, password, pin, and/or other personal identifying information to unlock the digital by removing themselves as a keyholder.

Claims (37)

1. A computer-implemented method for actuating, controlling, and configuring a multi-user digital locking device for preventing operation of a machine, the method comprising:

receiving, from a first of a plurality of mobile devices and by the digital locking device, first input enabling a locking operation on the machine by the first of the plurality of mobile devices, wherein the first input specifies at least a second of the plurality of mobile devices, each of the plurality of mobile devices having access to a digital key for enabling an unlocking operation, the digital key of each of the plurality of mobile devices being distinct from one another;

performing, by the digital locking device, the locking operation to prevent the operation of the machine;

receiving, by the digital locking device, second input from the first mobile device and third input from the second mobile device enabling an unlocking operation to disable the prevention;

confirming, by the digital locking device, whether to perform the unlocking operation based on the received second input and third input; and

performing, by the digital locking device and in response to the confirmation, the unlocking operation on the machine.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the second input comprises the digital key of the first mobile device and the third input comprises the digital key of the second mobile device.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein confirming whether to perform the unlocking operation comprises confirming that the digital keys of the first and second mobile devices are authorized.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , further comprising, in response to determining that the digital key of the second mobile device is unauthorized, returning an error.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the second and third inputs is a physical input pattern.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein confirming whether to perform the unlocking operation comprises confirming that the physical input pattern matches a stored pattern.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising maintaining, by the locking device, a logged history of a plurality of events associated with unlocking and unlocking operations associated with the machine.

8. A multi-user digital locking device, comprising:

a processor; and,

a memory storing program code, which, when executed on the processor, performs an operation for actuating, controlling, and configuring the multi-user digital locking device for preventing a machine from operating, the operation comprising:

receiving, from a first of a plurality of mobile devices and by the digital locking device, first input enabling a locking operation on the machine by the first of the plurality of mobile devices, wherein the first input specifies at least a second of the plurality of mobile devices, each of the plurality of mobile devices having access to a digital key for enabling an unlocking operation, the digital key of each of the plurality of mobile devices being distinct from one another;

performing, by the digital locking device, the locking operation to prevent the machine from operating;

receiving, by the digital locking device, second input from the first mobile device and third input from the second mobile device enabling an unlocking operation to disable the prevention;

confirming, by the digital locking device, whether to perform the unlocking operation based on the received second input and third input; and

performing, by the digital locking device and in response to the confirmation, the unlocking operation on the machine.

9. The multi-user digital locking device of claim 8 , wherein the second input comprises the digital key of the first mobile device and the third input comprises the digital key of the second mobile device.

10. The multi-user digital locking device of claim 9 , wherein confirming whether to perform the unlocking operation comprises confirming that the digital keys of the first and second mobile devices are authorized.

11. The multi-user digital locking device of claim 10 , wherein the operation further comprises, in response to determining that the digital key of the second mobile device is unauthorized, returning an error.

12. The multi-user digital locking device of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the second and third inputs is a physical input pattern.

13. The multi-user digital locking device of claim 12 , wherein confirming whether to perform the unlocking operation comprises confirming that the physical input pattern matches a stored pattern.

14. The multi-user digital locking device of claim 8 , wherein the operation further comprises maintaining, by the locking device, a logged history of a plurality of events associated with unlocking and unlocking operations associated with the machine.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions, which, when executed on a processor, perform an operation for actuating, controlling, and configuring a multi-user digital locking device for preventing a machine from operating, the operation comprising:

receiving, from a first of a plurality of mobile devices and by the digital locking device, first input enabling a locking operation on the machine by the first of the plurality of mobile devices, wherein the first input specifies at least a second of the plurality of mobile devices, each of the plurality of mobile devices having access to a digital key for enabling an unlocking operation, the digital key of each of the plurality of mobile devices being distinct from one another;

performing, by the digital locking device, the locking operation to prevent the machine from operating;

receiving, by the digital locking device, second input from the first mobile device and third input from the second mobile device enabling an unlocking operation to disable the prevention;

confirming, by the digital locking device, whether to perform the unlocking operation based on the received second input and third input; and

performing, by the digital locking device and in response to the confirmation, the unlocking operation on the machine.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the second input comprises the digital key of the first mobile device and the third input comprises the digital key of the second mobile device.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein confirming whether to perform the unlocking operation comprises confirming that the digital keys of the first and second mobile devices are authorized.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the operation further comprises, in response to determining that the digital key of the second mobile device is unauthorized, returning an error.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein at least one of the second and third inputs is a physical input pattern, and wherein confirming whether to perform the unlocking operation comprises confirming that the physical input pattern matches a stored pattern.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the operation further comprises maintaining, by the locking device, a logged history of a plurality of events associated with unlocking and unlocking operations associated with the machine.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 8, 2023
From: JANUS INTERNATIONAL GROUP, LLC; NOKE, INC.
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA
Reel/Frame 064517/0781 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 8, 2023
From: JANUS INTERNATIONAL GROUP, LLC; NOKE, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 064519/0151 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 23, 2021
From: CALKINS, SEAN LOUIS; GOLDTHORPE, KENNETH RICHARD; JOHNSON, KYLE BLACKBURN; GENGLER, DAVID P.
To: NOKE, INC.
Reel/Frame 056962/0338 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62839394 · Apr 26, 2019
Related Publication 20200339064A1 · Oct 29, 2020