US5654696A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for transferring auxillary data using components of a secure entry system
Assignee: SUPRA GROUP Inc
•
Filing: 1995-06-07
•
Granted: 1997-08-05
•
Expires: 2015-06-07
Abstract
Abstract Improvements to access control systems include the provision of a database in an access control device (i.e. key) and procedures assuring that the database, and a master database, are kept up to date. In the particular context of a real estate lockbox system, the keys are provided with a database detailing houses listed for sale in the local area. Updates to this personal database are conditioned on users first uploading to a master database data that their keys have collected in the course of their interactions with lockboxes. Additional features include the provision of statistical data on listing and agent data, a menu by which the access device solicits user feedback on a property just visited, and scheduling appointments to show certain listed properties. Radio communications are used in certain embodiments for updating the database and exchanging other data between the access devices (i.e. keys) and a clearinghouse.
Inventors
- 👤 Martin A. Barrett
- 👤 Wayne F. Larson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 22:15
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M11/00; H04M11/02; H04M11/022; G; G07; G07C; G07C5/00; G07C5/08; G07C5/0841; G07C5/085; G07C9/00; G07C9/00174; G07C9/00309; G07C9/00571; G07C9/00817; G07C9/00857; G07C9/00896; G07C9/20; G07C9/215; G07C9/27; G07C9/28; E; E05; E05B; E05B19/00; E05B19/0005; G07C2009/00753; G07C2009/00769; G07C2009/00793; G07C2009/00825; G07C2009/00865; G07C2209/00; G07C2209/08; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T70/00; Y10T70/50; Y10T70/5009; Y10T70/5031; Y10T70/70; Y10T70/7441; Y10T70/7446
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
In a method of operating an electronic lockbox system, the system including a central station, an electronic lockbox mounted on a house and containing a key thereto, and an electronic key, the central station including a database of information related to houses having lockboxes associated therewith, the electronic lockbox comprising an electromechanical lock device, the electronic key including a keypad and a memory, the method including using the electronic key to access the electronic lockbox and store data related to said access in the electronic key memory, an improvement comprising establishing a communications link between the electronic key and the central station, and using the keypad on the electronic key as an interface to said database of information maintained at the central station, wherein the electronic key serves both as an access device to an electromechanical locking device, and as a user interface to a remote database.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
In a method of operating an electronic lockbox system, the system including a central station, an electronic lockbox mounted on a house and containing a key thereto, and an electronic key, the central station including a database of information related to houses having lockboxes associated therewith, the electronic lockbox comprising an electromechanical lock device, the electronic key including a keypad and a memory, the method including using the electronic key to access the electronic lockbox and store data related to said access in the electronic key memory, an improvement comprising establishing a communications link between the electronic key and the central station, and using the keypad on the electronic key as an interface to said database of information maintained at the central station, wherein the electronic key serves both as an access device to an electromechanical locking device, and as a user interface to a remote database.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 1 in which the database includes schedule information detailing time periods during which the house associated with said lockbox can be shown, the method further including using the electronic key in conjunction with said database to schedule an appointment during which a user of the electronic key can show said house.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 which the database includes showing instructions associated with said house, the method further including using the electronic key in conjunction with said database to obtain showing instructions associated with said house.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 in which the step of establishing a communications link includes establishing a radio communications link.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
147 words
In a method of operating an electronic lock system, the system including a central station, and first and second units, one of said units being an electronic lock, the other of said units being an electronic key, the central station including a database of information related to the system, the electronic lock comprising an electromechanical lock device, the first unit having a battery therein, the method including using the electronic key to access the electronic lock, an improvement comprising relaying data between the first unit and the central station, said data relating to the state of the battery in the first unit, said data being relayed without explicit instructions to do so by a user, said data accompanying other data relayed to the central station that does not relate to battery state, wherein the database maintains information concerning battery states throughout the system transparently to users thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
147 words
In a method of operating an electronic lock system, the system including a central station, and first and second units, one of said units being an electronic lock, the other of said units being an electronic key, the central station including a database of information related to the system, the electronic lock comprising an electromechanical lock device, the first unit having a battery therein, the method including using the electronic key to access the electronic lock, an improvement comprising relaying data between the first unit and the central station, said data relating to the state of the battery in the first unit, said data being relayed without explicit instructions to do so by a user, said data accompanying other data relayed to the central station that does not relate to battery state, wherein the database maintains information concerning battery states throughout the system transparently to users thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 5 in which the data is relayed from the first unit to the central station through the second unit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 5 in which the data is relayed by radio transmission.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of operating an electronic lockbox system, the system including an electronic lockbox, an electronic key, and a central station, the electronic key including a keypad, a memory and a display, the method comprising: using the display on the electronic key to display a message soliciting user feedback on a real estate property with which an electronic lockbox recently accessed by the electronic key is associated; accepting user feedback entered via the keypad, and storing said feedback in the memory of the electronic key; and relaying said feedback back to the central station.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of operating an electronic lockbox system, the system including an electronic lockbox, an electronic key, and a central station, the electronic key including a keypad, a memory and a display, the method comprising: using the display on the electronic key to display a message soliciting user feedback on a real estate property with which an electronic lockbox recently accessed by the electronic key is associated; accepting user feedback entered via the keypad, and storing said feedback in the memory of the electronic key; and relaying said feedback back to the central station.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 8 in which the relaying step includes relaying by radio.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 5 in which the first unit is the electronic lock.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 5 in which the first unit is the electronic key.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3337992A
Cited
US3812403A
Cited
US3801742A
Cited
US3927263A
Cited
US4209782A
Cited
US4157534A
Cited
US4268721A
Cited
US4218690A
Cited
US4415893A
Cited
US4958632A
Cited
US4236068A
Cited
US4275385A
Cited
US4531237A
Cited
US4491843A
Cited
WO1982004169A1
Cited
US4436958A
Cited
US4514729A
Cited
US4469917A
Cited
US4543995A
Cited
US4831374A
Cited
FR2542792A1
Cited
GB2144249A
Cited
US4609780A
Cited
US4808993A
Cited
US4525865A
Cited
US4600829A
Cited
US4727369A
Cited
US4594637A
Cited
US4713661A
Cited
US4947163A
Cited
US5475375A
Cited
US5280518A
Cited
US4916443A
Cited
US4914732A
Cited
US4713808A
Cited
US4760393A
Cited
US4721954A
Cited
US4896246A
Cited
US4727368A
Cited
US4988987A
Cited
US5046084A
Cited
US4887292A
Cited
US4929880A
Cited
US4766746A
Cited
US4755799A
Cited
US4829296A
Cited
US4800255A
Cited
US4864115A
Cited
US4777556A
Cited
FR2604808A1
Cited
WO1988003294A1
Cited
US4910510A
Cited
US5020135A
Cited
EP0307485A1
Cited
US5113427A
Cited
US4905003A
Cited
US4972182A
Cited
US4962522A
Cited
US4974253A
Cited
US4962449A
Cited
US4851652A
Cited
US4887078A
Cited
US5016273A
Cited
WO1990013096A1
Cited
WO1990013080A1
Cited
EP0393784A1
Cited
US5014049A
Cited
US5124696A
Cited
WO1991018169A1
Cited
WO1991020026A1
Cited
US5134869A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-08-04 | 2001-02-03 | 2001-08-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-08-04 | 2005-02-03 | 2005-08-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-08-04 | 2009-02-03 | 2009-08-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |