# US 2014/0360232 A1 · Wireless ultra-low power portable lock > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0360232 A1 - Document ID: US20140360232A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/271,963 - Filed: 2014-05-07 - Published: 2014-12-11 - Earliest claimed: 2013-06-07 - Assignees: Velo Labs, Inc. - Applicants: Velo Labs, Inc. - Inventors: Jack AL-KAHWATI; Gerardo Barroeta PEREZ - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140360232A1 ## CPC - E05B 47/0012: {with rotary electromotors (actuators with rotary electromotors per se H02K7/06, H02K23/68)} - E05B 47/0004: {said core being linearly movable} - E05B 67/063: {Padlocks with removable shackles} - G07C 9/00571: {operated by interacting with a central unit} - E05B 47/0603: {the detent moving rectilinearly} - E05B 47/0607: {the detent moving pivotally or rotatively} - E05B 2047/0094: {Mechanical aspects of remotely controlled locks} - E05B 2047/0095: {Mechanical aspects of locks controlled by telephone signals, e.g. by mobile phones} - G07C 2009/00634: {Power supply for the lock} - G07C 2209/08: With time considerations, e.g. temporary activation, valid time window or time limitations - G07C 2209/62: Comprising means for indicating the status of the lock - Y10T 70/40: Portable - 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 - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A wireless ultra-low power portable lock may be realized as a lock apparatus including: a locking mechanism having at least locked and unlocked states, the locking mechanism operable to provide physical resistance to being unlocked when in the locked state; an actuator operable to move the locking mechanism from the locked state to the unlocked state in response to a received signal; and a controlling unit configured to control the actuator and to receive one or more signals from one or more devices external to the lock apparatus. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A portable lock apparatus, comprising: a locking mechanism having at least locked and unlocked states, the locking mechanism operable to provide physical resistance to being unlocked when in the locked state; an actuator operable to move the locking mechanism from the locked state to the unlocked state in response to a received signal; and a controlling unit configured to control the actuator and to receive one or more signals from one or more devices external to the lock apparatus; wherein the portable lock apparatus is self-contained such that the locking mechanism, actuator, and controlling unit are components of the portable lock apparatus; and wherein the portable lock apparatus is portable. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The lock apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a power source configured to provide power for operation of the lock apparatus, wherein the controlling unit is further configured to determine a state of charge of the power source. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The lock apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: a power-scavenging unit configured to draw power from one or more environmental sources to provide to the power source; and a power inlet configured to draw power from an external source other than an environmental source to provide to the power source. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The lock apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controlling unit is further configured to: establish a wireless connection with a mobile device; authenticate a user of the mobile device; and control the actuator to unlock the locking mechanism based on instructions sent over the established wireless connection. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The lock apparatus of claim 4, wherein the controlling unit is further configured to authenticate a user via a secondary authentication process other than through a wireless connection with a mobile device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The lock apparatus of claim 5, wherein the secondary authentication process includes establishing a wired data connection between the controlling unit and another device through an access port disposed on the lock apparatus. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The lock apparatus of claim 5, wherein the secondary authentication process includes manipulating a secured mechanical element disposed on the lock apparatus. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The lock apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a sensor in communication with the controlling unit, the sensor configured to detect contextual information associated with the lock apparatus. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The lock apparatus of claim 8, wherein the controlling unit is further configured to process data received from the sensor and determine that a tampering condition exists. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The lock apparatus of claim 9, wherein the controlling unit is further configured to issue at least one alert in response to determining that a tampering condition exists. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The lock apparatus of claim 10, wherein issuing the at least one alert comprises wirelessly transmitting a notification to a mobile device in communication with the controlling unit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The lock apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a user interface disposed on an exterior surface of the lock apparatus, the user interface configured to send input to the controlling unit based on interaction with a user. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The lock apparatus of claim 12, wherein the user interface includes at least one button element. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The lock apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a display element disposed on an exterior surface of the lock apparatus, the display element displaying one or more visual outputs to a user based on signals received from the controlling unit. ### Claim 15 A computer-implemented method, comprising: establishing a wireless connection with a lock apparatus; submitting credentials to the lock apparatus in order to authenticate a user; and in response to user input, sending instructions to control a locking mechanism of the lock apparatus. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The computer-implemented method of claim 15, further comprising: in response to user input, sending instructions to control one or more configuration settings of the lock apparatus. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein the submitted credentials are first retrieved from a database. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein the submitted credentials are retrieved from a cloud database. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The computer-implemented method of claim 15, further comprising: prior to submitting credentials, prompting the user to input one or more credentials authenticating the user. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The computer-implemented method of claim 19, wherein the credentials submitted to the lock apparatus are different than the credentials input by the user. ### Claim 21 A portable lock apparatus comprising: a lock having at least locked and unlocked states; an actuator operable to move the lock from the locked state to the unlocked state in response to a received signal; and a controller configured to receive one or more signals from one or more devices external to the lock apparatus over a wireless link and to control the actuator to unlock the lock based on instructions from the one or more signals.