Method to detect lock box shackle breakage or attempted breakage and activate alert
A method of monitoring a lock box. The method includes detecting a magnitude of a force being applied to a shackle of the lock box using a shackle force sensor; determining whether the magnitude of the force exceeds a selected magnitude, the selected magnitude being a predetermined force that indicates an individual is tampering with the shackle; and generating an alert if the magnitude of the force exceeds the selected magnitude.
1. A method of monitoring a lock box, the method comprising:
detecting a magnitude of a force being applied to a shackle of the lock box using a shackle force sensor;
determining whether the magnitude of the force exceeds a selected magnitude, the selected magnitude being a predetermined force that indicates an individual is tampering with the shackle; and
generating an alert if the magnitude of the force exceeds the selected magnitude;
wherein the shackle force sensor is a strip sensor attached to the shackle via an adhesive.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transmitting the alert to a mobile computing device.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
detecting when a mobile computing device is within a short-range wireless transmission range of the lock box; and
transmitting the alert to the mobile computing device when the mobile computing device is within the short-range wireless transmission range of the lock box.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transmitting the alert to a home computing device, the home computing device being configured to relay the alert to a mobile computing device via the internet.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
adjusting an indicator light on the lock box based on the alert.
6. A method of monitoring a lock box, the method comprising:
detecting a magnitude of a force being applied to a mounting location of the lock box using a mounting location force sensor;
determining whether the magnitude of the force exceeds a selected magnitude, the selected magnitude being a predetermined force that indicates an individual is tampering with the mounting location; and
generating an alert if the magnitude of the force exceeds the selected magnitude;
wherein the mounting location force sensor is a strip sensor attached to the mounting location via an adhesive.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
transmitting the alert to a mobile computing device.
8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
detecting when a mobile computing device is within a short-range wireless transmission range of the lock box; and
transmitting the alert to the mobile computing device when the mobile computing device is within the short-range wireless transmission range of the lock box.
9. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
transmitting the alert to a home computing device, the home computing device being configured to relay the alert to a mobile computing device via the internet.
10. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
adjusting an indicator light on the lock box based on the alert.
11. The method of claim 6 , wherein the mounting location is a door handle.
12. A breakage detection system for a lock box, the breakage detection system comprising:
a shackle force sensor attached to a shackle of the lock box, the shackle force sensor being configured to detect a magnitude of a force being applied to a shackle of the lock box;
a controller configured to determine whether the magnitude of the force exceeds a selected magnitude, the selected magnitude being a predetermined force that indicates an individual is tampering with the shackle,
wherein the controller is configured to generate an alert if the magnitude of the force exceeds the selected magnitude;
wherein the shackle force sensor is a strip sensor attached to the shackle via an adhesive.
13. The breakage detection system of claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to transmit the alert to a mobile computing device.
14. The breakage detection system of claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to detect when a mobile computing device is within a short-range wireless transmission range of the lock box and transmitting the alert to the mobile computing device when the mobile computing device is within the short-range wireless transmission range of the lock box.
15. The breakage detection system of claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to transmit the alert to a home computing device, the home computing device being configured to relay the alert to a mobile computing device via the internet.
16. The breakage detection system of claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to adjust an indicator light on the lock box based on the alert.