US 10,030,418 B2Granted

Shielded electronic lock box

AssigneeSentriLock, LLC

InventorsDennis McGinn, Suman Cherukuri

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

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Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for maintaining security and data gathering for a number of vehicles. The systems include a vehicle activity module for each of the vehicles. The vehicle activity module has a wireless transmitter, a storage device, at least one sensor for receiving event information from identification devices, such as RFID cards, keypads, magnetic ID cards, and the like, a releasable key container, and a processor for accessing and analyzing information. The VAMs are wirelessly connected to a computer system. The VAMs control access to the keys, monitor information relating to access, and store and transmit information relating to sales events, non-sales events, and intrusion events. The VAMs are capable of autonomous operation, without the need to access the computer system to verify event information. The VAMs further include signal attenuating mechanisms to facilitate use of “smart keys.”

Claims27

Dependent claims

An electronic lockbox for storing a key proximate a remote location, said electronic lockbox comprising:

a computer circuit, a memory circuit, an automatically-controlled electronic lock, and a user identifier circuit;
a housing having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion acting as a cover and said second portion acting as a key container, said key container being lockable in a first operating mode and being releasable in a second operating mode, under control of said computer circuit;
wherein:
(a) said housing first portion is made of an electrically conductive material;
(b) said housing second portion is made of an electrically conductive material;
(c) if locked in said first operating mode, said housing becomes a secure enclosure that is sized and shaped to contain a remote location key;
(d) if locked in said first operating mode, said housing is physically sized and shaped such that said first and second portions are closed together to enclose an internal space, and then comprises a Faraday cage that attenuates a wireless signal emitted from said remote location key when disposed within said Faraday cage;
and
(e) if released in said second operating mode, said housing is physically sized and shaped such that said first and second portions are separable so an authorized user may obtain physical access to said remote location key, and if in said released second operating mode, said housing does not comprise a Faraday cage.

6 more elements

An electronic lockbox for storing a key proximate a remote location, said electronic lockbox comprising:

a computer circuit, a memory circuit, an automatically-controlled electronic lock, and a user identifier circuit;
a housing having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion acting as a cover and said second portion acting as a key container, said key container being lockable in a first operating mode and being releasable in a second operating mode, under control of said computer circuit;
(a) said housing first portion is made of an electrically conductive material;
(b) said housing second portion is made of an electrically conductive material;
(c) if locked in said first operating mode, said housing becomes a secure enclosure that is sized and shaped to contain a remote location key;
(d) if locked in said first operating mode, said housing is physically sized and shaped such that said first and second portions are closed together to enclose an internal space, and then comprises an electromagnetically shielded container that attenuates a wireless signal emitted from said remote location key when disposed within said electromagnetically shielded container;
and
(e) if released in said second operating mode, said housing is physically sized and shaped such that said first and second portions are separable so an authorized user may obtain physical access to said remote location key, and if in said released second operating mode, said housing does not comprise an electromagnetically shielded container.

5 more elements

An electronic lockbox for storing a smart key proximate a remote location, said electronic lockbox comprising:

a computer circuit, a memory circuit, an automatically-controlled electronic lock, and a user identifier circuit;
a housing having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion acting as a cover and said second portion acting as a key container, said key container being lockable in a first operating mode and being releasable in a second operating mode, under control of said computer circuit;
wherein a combination of said housing first portion and said housing second portion comprise a secure enclosure that is sized and shaped to receive a smart key, said smart key including a first wireless communication circuit, in which:
(a) said secure enclosure is openable for use in said second operating mode so an authorized user may obtain physical access to said smart key;
(b) said secure enclosure is closeable for use in said first operating mode, and (i) if said secure enclosure is closed and locked, then (ii) it comprises a physical structure that (A) is electrically conductive in composition and (B) is an electromagnetically shielded container that attenuates a wireless signal emitted from said smart key when said smart key is disposed within an internal space of said electromagnetically shielded container;
and
(c) if opened in said second operating mode, said secure enclosure does not comprise an electromagnetically shielded container.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/453,203Filed 8 Mar 2017 · continuation
Priority: 12 Dec 2002
Published: US 2017/0241165 A124 Aug 2017
Granted: 24 Jul 2018
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification18 codes

E05B 63/0065
Locks or fastenings with special structural characteristics: operating modes; Transformable to different operating modes
B60R 25/00
Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of
E05B 19/0005
Keys; Accessories therefor: key safes
E05B 49/00
Electric permutation locks

Family

Application60/319,773Us provisional application · filed 12 Dec 2002
Application10/734,513Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 12 Dec 2003
Application11/703,829Parent of this continuation · filed 8 Feb 2007
US 7,340,400 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 8 Mar 2008
Application13/113,806Parent of this continuation · filed 23 May 2011
US 7,949,541 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 24 May 2011
US 2017/0241165 A1Pre-grant publication · published 24 Aug 2017
Application11/703,829Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2004/0128159 A1Published application
US 2007/0273534 A1Published application
US 2012/0019360 A1Published application
US 10,030,418 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.