# US 11,898,371 B2 · Tamper alarm for electronic lock > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,898,371 B2 - Document ID: US11898371B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/508,454 - Filed: 2021-10-22 - Published: 2022-07-21 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2018-05-29 - Assignees: ASSA ABLOY Americas Residential Inc. - Applicants: ASSA ABLOY Americas Residential Inc. - Inventors: James Lin; Matthew Lovett - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11898371B2 ## CPC - E05B 45/06: Electric alarm locks {(E05B45/005 takes precedence)} - E05B 47/0001: {with electric actuators; Constructional features thereof (for vehicles E05B81/04)} - G07C 9/00571: {operated by interacting with a central unit} - G08B 13/06: by tampering with fastening - E05B 2047/0095: {Mechanical aspects of locks controlled by telephone signals, e.g. by mobile phones} - G07C 9/0069: {actuated in a predetermined sequence} - G07C 2209/62: Comprising means for indicating the status of the lock - H04L 67/10: in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network (software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46) - H04L 67/12: specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks - E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS - G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract An electronic lock includes a latch assembly that includes a bolt that is movable between an extended position and a retracted position. The electronic lock includes a keypad for receiving a keypad input event. The electronic lock includes a processing unit being configured to control the movement of the bolt between the extended position and the retracted position responsive to receiving a valid keypad input event. The processing unit is configured to capture the keypad input event. Based at least in part on a characteristic of the keypad input event, the processing unit indicates if a tampering event exists. The characteristic includes at least one of an input location on the keypad, an input duration on the keypad, and an input timestamp. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic lock comprising: a latch assembly including a bolt movable between an extended position and a retracted position; a keypad for receiving a keypad input event; and a processing unit configured to control movement of the bolt between the extended position and the retracted position responsive to receiving a valid keypad input event, wherein the processing unit is configured to capture the keypad input event; wherein, based at least in part on a characteristic of the keypad input event, the processing unit detects and indicates if a tampering event exists, wherein the characteristic includes at least one of an input location on the keypad, an input duration on the keypad, and an input timestamp; and wherein the processing unit detects the tampering event by comparing the input duration on the keypad to an acceptable input duration value, the acceptable input duration value based, at least in part, on a normal use profile created based on analysis of historic keypad input events that indicate patterns during a plurality of authorized actuations of the electronic lock. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronic lock of claim 1, wherein the processing unit detects the tampering event when the input duration on the keypad exceeds the acceptable input duration value. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electronic lock of claim 1, wherein the processing unit includes a processor and a memory, wherein the processing unit stores the keypad input event in the memory, and wherein the processor compares at least one characteristic of the keypad input event to the normal use profile stored in the memory, the normal use profile containing characteristics of historic keypad input events, the characteristics being determined based on patterns in the usage of the electronic lock. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The electronic lock of claim 3, wherein the processing unit determines the tampering event exists if the at least one characteristic of the keypad input event does not match the known use profile. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electronic lock of claim 1, wherein the processing unit detects the tampering event by comparing the input location on the keypad to an acceptable input location, wherein if the input location on the keypad does not match the acceptable input location, the processing unit indicates that the tampering event exists. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The electronic lock of claim 5, wherein the acceptable input location is based, at least in part, on the valid keypad input event. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electronic lock of claim 1, wherein the historic keypad input events include keypad input events from a predetermined number of historical days. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The electronic lock of claim 1, wherein the processing unit communicates the keypad input event with a distributed computing network, wherein the processing unit determines if the tampering event exists based at least in part on a received indication of the tampering event from the distributed computing network. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The electronic lock of claim 8, wherein the distributed computing network compares at least one characteristic of the keypad input event to at least one known characteristic of a keypad input event indicative of the tampering event, wherein the at least one known characteristic of the keypad input event indicative of the tampering event is maintained remotely from the electronic lock. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The electronic lock of claim 9, wherein the at least one characteristic of the keypad input event indicative of the tampering event is generated based on an aggregate of keypad input events. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The electronic lock of claim 1, wherein the processing unit activates a tamper alarm if the tampering event is detected and outputs the tamper alarm to a remote device, and wherein the remote device is a mobile device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The electronic lock of claim 1, wherein the processing unit renders the keypad inoperable if the tampering event is detected. ### Claim 13 A method of operating an electronic lock, comprising: receiving a keypad input event via a keypad, wherein upon receipt of a valid keypad input event, a bolt is moved between an extended position and a retracted position; detecting a tampering event based at least in part on a characteristic of the keypad input event, wherein the characteristic includes at least one of an input location on the keypad, input duration on the keypad, and an input timestamp, the tampering event being determined to exist by comparing the input duration on the keypad to an acceptable input duration value, wherein the acceptable input duration value is based, at least in part, on a normal use profile created based on analysis of historic keypad input events that indicate patterns during a plurality of authorized actuations of the electronic lock; and activating a tamper alarm to indicate the tampering event if the input duration on the keypad exceeds the acceptable input duration value. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising outputting the tamper alarm from the electronic lock via a wireless communication unit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising rendering the keypad inoperable if the tampering event is detected. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the historic keypad input events include a predetermined number of keypad events that occurred most recently. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising: communicating the keypad input event with a distributed computing network; receiving a tampering event indication from the distributed computing network; and activating the tamper alarm based at least in part on the tampering event indication. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising: comparing at least one characteristic of the keypad input event to at least one known characteristic of a keypad input event indicative of the tampering event, wherein the at least one known characteristic of the keypad input event indicative of the tampering event is maintained remotely from the electronic lock. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the at least one characteristic of the keypad input event indicative of the tampering event is generated based on an aggregate of keypad input events. ### Claim 20 An electronic lock comprising: a latch assembly including a bolt movable between an extended position and a retracted position; an exterior assembly including a tamper sensing device; and a processing unit configured to control movement of the bolt between the extended position and the retracted position responsive to receiving a valid input at a user input device; wherein the processing unit is configured to capture an input event; and wherein, based at least in part on a characteristic of the input event, the processing unit detects and indicates if a tampering event exists, wherein the characteristic includes at least one of an input type, an input location, an input duration, and an input timestamp on the tamper sensing device, the tampering event being determined to exist by comparing the input duration to an acceptable input duration value, the acceptable input duration value based, at least in part, on a normal use profile created based on analysis of historic input events that indicate patterns during a plurality of authorized actuations of the electronic lock.