IP Library Granted Patent US 11,798,327
Granted Patent B2
US 11,798,327 · App. 17/145,952 · Granted Oct 24, 2023

Universal smart interface for electronic locks

Inventors: Michael Brian Jones (New York, NY); Luke Andrew Schoenfelder (New York, NY); Sarah Margaret Plis (New York, NY); John Thomas Jacobsen (New York, NY); Euan Scott Foster Abraham (San Francisco, CA); Sage Wright (Brooklyn, NY); Tracy Van Dyk (New York, NY); Tim Stonelake (New York, NY); Anna Petruczynik (Hoboken, NJ)
Assignee: Latch Systems, Inc.
G07C9/00309H04W4/80G07C2009/00412G07C2009/00603G07C2209/62
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,798,327
App. No.
17/145,952
Granted
Oct 24, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A smart module configured to control electronic locking devices may include a plurality of wireless interfaces configured to operate in accordance with at least one of a plurality of wireless protocols. The smart module may include a communications interface having a plurality of pins to couple to an electronic locking device. The smart module may include a memory coupled with the plurality of wireless interfaces, processing circuitry, the communications interface, and a touch display. The memory may include instructions, that when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to receive, via the touch display, a request to cause an action on the electronic locking device, and transmit a command to the electronic locking device via the communications interface to cause the action on the electronic locking device.

Claims (60)

1. An apparatus to electronic control locking devices, comprising:

a plurality of wireless interfaces, wherein each of the plurality of wireless interfaces are configured to operate in accordance with at least one of a plurality of wireless protocols;

a communications interface comprising a plurality of pins to couple to a plurality of electronic locking devices, the plurality of electronic locking devices including a first electronic locking device;

a touch display;

a wireless charging component;

processing circuitry coupled with the plurality of wireless interfaces, the touch display, and the communications interface; and

a memory coupled with the plurality of wireless interfaces, the processing circuitry, the communications interface, and the touch display, the memory comprising a firmware, that when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to:

receive, from a mobile device, power via the wireless charging component;

receive, from the mobile device based on the receipt of power via the wireless charging component, an access credential to access the first electronic locking device;

determine a first pin of the plurality of pins of the communications interface to transmit a command to unlock the first electronic locking device, the first pin determined according to a configuration specifying a mapping of pins of the first electronic locking device; and

transmit, based on the receipt of the access credential and the configuration for the first electronic locking device, the command to the first electronic locking device via the first pin of the communications interface to unlock the first electronic locking device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , the firmware comprising instructions, that when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to:

determine the first pin of the plurality of pins of the communications interface corresponding to the command based on a validation of the access credential.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the configuration of the firmware comprises a configuration of the plurality of pins of the communications interface, wherein the configuration of the plurality of pins is based on a type of the first electronic locking device, wherein the plurality of electronic locking devices comprise different types of electronic locking devices.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , the firmware comprising instructions, that when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to:

receive, via the touch display, a request to cause an action on a second electronic locking device of the plurality of electronic locking devices;

determine, based on a type of the second electronic locking device, a second pin of the plurality of pins corresponding to the action; and

transmit a second command to the second electronic locking device via the second pin of the communications interface to cause the action on the second electronic locking device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , the firmware comprising instructions, that when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to, prior to transmitting the command to the first electronic locking device:

compare the access credential to a list of valid access credentials stored in the memory to validate the access credential.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , the firmware comprising instructions, that when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to:

receive, via the communications interface, a response from the first electronic locking device; and

determine, based on the response, that the first electronic locking device was unlocked.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of wireless interfaces are configured to support at least one wireless protocol, the at least one wireless protocol to comprise a near-field communication (NFC) protocol, a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) protocol, or an 802.11 protocol.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , the firmware comprising instructions, that when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to:

receive, from a mobile device via one of the plurality of wireless interfaces, a firmware update; and

update a firmware of the apparatus using the firmware update.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus does not include batteries, wherein the wireless charging component is the sole source of power for the apparatus.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , the wireless charging component configured to wirelessly provide power to a mobile device, the firmware comprising instructions, that when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to:

receive, from the mobile device via one of the plurality of wireless interfaces, an access credential and a second request to modify a setting on the first electronic locking device;

validate the access credential; and

transmit a second command to the first electronic locking device via the communications interface to cause the setting to be modified on the first electronic locking device.

11. A method, comprising:

receiving power by a wireless charging component of a smart module from a mobile device;

receiving, by a firmware executing on a processor of the smart module and from the mobile device based on the receipt of power via the wireless charging component, an access credential to access a first electronic locking device of a plurality of electronic locking devices, wherein the smart module comprises a plurality of wireless interfaces, wherein each of the plurality of wireless interfaces are configured to operate in accordance with at least one of a plurality of wireless protocols, wherein the smart module further comprises a communications interface comprising a plurality of pins suitable to couple to any one of a plurality of electronic locking devices via a cable, the plurality of electronic locking devices including the first electronic locking device;

determining a first pin of the plurality of pins of the communications interface to transmit a command to unlock the first electronic locking device, the first pin determined according to a configuration specifying a mapping of pins of the first electronic locking device; and

transmitting, by the firmware of the smart module based on the receipt of the access credential and the configuration for the first electronic locking device specified in the firmware, the command to the first electronic locking device via the first pin of the communications interface to unlock the first electronic locking device.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

determining, by the firmware, the first pin of the plurality of pins of the communications interface corresponding to the command based on a validation of the access credential.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the configuration of the firmware comprises a configuration of the plurality of pins of the communications interface, wherein the configuration of the plurality of pins is based on a type of the first electronic locking device, wherein the plurality of electronic locking devices comprise different types of electronic locking devices.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the firmware is configured to control a plurality of electronic locking devices including the first electronic locking device, wherein the plurality of electronic locking devices comprise different types of electronic locking devices, wherein at least one type of electronic locking device comprises an electromagnetic locking device, wherein the plurality of wireless protocols comprise a near-field communication (NFC) protocol, a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) protocol, and an 802.11 protocol.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

receiving, via a touch display of the smart module, a request to cause an action on a second electronic locking device of the plurality of electronic locking devices;

determining, by the firmware based on a type of the second electronic locking device, a second pin of the plurality of pins corresponding to the action; and

transmitting, by the processor, a second command to the second electronic locking device via the second pin of the communications interface to cause the action on the second electronic locking device.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

receiving, by the processor via the communications interface, a response from the first electronic locking device; and

determining, by the processor based on the response, that the first electronic locking device was unlocked.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

receiving, by the processor and from the mobile device via one of the plurality of wireless interfaces, an access credential and a request to cause an action on the first electronic locking device;

validating, by a cryptographic processor of the smart module, the access credential; and

transmitting, by the processor, a second command to the first electronic locking device via the communications interface to cause the action on the first electronic locking device.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

receiving, by the processor from the mobile device via one of the plurality of wireless interfaces, input specifying to modify a parameter of the smart module; and

modifying, by the processor, the parameter of the smart module based on the received input.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the smart module does not include batteries, wherein the wireless charging component is the sole source of power for the smart module.

20. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

receiving, from the mobile device via one of the plurality of wireless interfaces, an access credential and a second request to modify a setting on the first electronic locking device;

validate the access credential; and

transmit a second command to the first electronic locking device via the communications interface to cause the setting to be modified on the first electronic locking device.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 1, 2021
From: LATCH, INC.
To: LATCH SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 058293/0075 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 28, 2021
From: JONES, MICHAEL BRIAN; SCHOENFELDER, LUKE ANDREW; PLIS, SARAH MARGARET; JACOBSEN, JOHN THOMAS; ABRAHAM, EUAN SCOTT FOSTER; WRIGHT, SAGE; VAN DYK, TRACY; STONELAKE, TIM; PETRUCZYNIK, ANNA
To: LATCHABLE, INC.
Reel/Frame 055063/0894 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 28, 2021
From: LATCHABLE, INC.
To: LATCH, INC.
Reel/Frame 055159/0703 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62962365 · Jan 17, 2020
Related Publication 20210225100A1 · Jul 22, 2021