Wireless access control system including lock assembly generated magnetic field based unlocking and related methods

A lock assembly to be mounted to a door for a wireless access control system comprising a remote access wireless device to be carried by a user and comprising a remote housing, remote access wireless device wireless communications circuitry carried by the remote housing, a magnetic sensor carried by the remote housing, and a remote access wireless device controller coupled to the remote access wireless device wireless communications circuitry and the magnetic sensor, the lock assembly comprising:

• a lock;
• lock wireless communications circuitry;
• a magnetic field generator;
• and
• a lock controller coupled to said lock, said lock wireless communications circuitry, and said magnetic field generator, said lock controller configured to
• communicate, via said lock wireless communications circuitry, at least one magnetic field characteristic with the remote access wireless device wireless communications circuitry, and
• cooperate with said magnetic field generator to generate a magnetic field based upon the at least one magnetic field characteristic, the magnetic field, upon being sensed by the magnetic sensor, causing the remote access wireless device controller to compare the sensed magnetic field to the at least one magnetic field characteristic, and communicate, via the remote access wireless device wireless communications circuitry and said lock wireless communications circuitry to enable unlocking of said lock when the sensed magnetic field has a sensed magnetic field characteristic that matches the at least one magnetic field characteristic.

A remote access wireless device to be carried by a user and for a wireless access system comprising a lock assembly to be mounted on a door and comprising a lock, lock wireless communications circuitry, a magnetic field generator, and a lock controller coupled to the lock, the lock wireless communications circuitry, and the magnetic field generator, the lock controller configured to communicate, via said lock wireless communications circuitry, at least one magnetic field characteristic with the remote access wireless device, and cooperate with said magnetic field generator to generate a magnetic field based upon the at least one magnetic field characteristic, the remote access wireless device comprising:

• a remote housing;
• remote access wireless device wireless communications circuitry carried by said remote housing;
• a magnetic sensor carried by said remote housing;
• and
• a remote access wireless device controller coupled to said remote access wireless device wireless communications circuitry and said magnetic sensor, said remote access wireless device controller configured to
• cooperate with said magnetic sensor to sense the magnetic field,
• compare the sensed magnetic field to the at least one magnetic field characteristic, and
• communicate, via said remote access wireless device wireless communications circuitry and the lock wireless communications circuitry to enable unlocking of said lock when the sensed magnetic field has a sensed magnetic field characteristic that matches the at least one magnetic field characteristic.

A wireless access control method for a wireless access control system comprising a remote access wireless device to be carried by a user and comprising a remote housing, remote access wireless device wireless communications circuitry carried by the remote housing, a magnetic sensor carried by the remote housing, and a remote access wireless device controller coupled to the remote access wireless device wireless communications circuitry and the magnetic sensor, and a lock assembly to be mounted on a door and comprising a lock, lock wireless communications circuitry, a magnetic field generator, and a lock controller coupled to the lock, the lock wireless communications circuitry, and the magnetic field generator, the method comprising:

• using the lock controller to
• communicate, via the lock wireless communications circuitry, at least one magnetic field characteristic with the remote access wireless device wireless communications circuitry, and
• cooperate with the magnetic field generator to generate a magnetic field based upon the at least one magnetic field characteristic;
• and
• using the remote access wireless device controller to
• cooperate with the magnetic sensor to sense the magnetic field,
• compare the sensed magnetic field to the at least one magnetic field characteristic, and
• communicate, via the remote access wireless device wireless communications circuitry and the lock wireless communications circuitry to enable unlocking of the lock when the sensed magnetic field has a sensed magnetic field characteristic that matches the at least one magnetic field characteristic.