# US 2018/0025564 A1 · Electronic combination lock with different levels of access control > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0025564 A1 - Document ID: US20180025564A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/700,502 - Filed: 2017-09-11 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2015-12-11 - Assignees: The Sun Lock Company Ltd. - Applicants: The Sun Lock Company Ltd. - Inventors: Karl LAI - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180025564A1 ## CPC - G07C 9/00309: {operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks} - E05B 17/226: {Displays on locks, e.g. LED or LCD screens (on handles E05B1/0084; on keys E05B19/0088)} - E05B 37/0034: {actuated by either} - E05B 37/0068: {in padlocks (E05B37/025, E05B37/10 and E05B37/14 take precedence)} - E05B 47/0004: {said core being linearly movable} - E05B 47/06: Controlling mechanically-operated bolts by electro-magnetically-operated detents - E05B 67/24: with built- in cylinder locks - G07C 9/00944: {Details of construction or manufacture} - G07C 9/21: having a variable access code - E05B 2047/0024: {Cams} - E05B 2047/0058: {by batteries} - E05B 2047/0086: {Emergency release, e.g. key or electromagnet (E05B63/0073 takes precedence)} - G07C 2009/00769: {with data transmission performed by wireless means} - G07C 2009/00841: {by a portable device} - G07C 2209/04: Access control involving a hierarchy in access rights - G07C 2209/08: With time considerations, e.g. temporary activation, valid time window or time limitations - 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 - E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS ## Abstract A mobile device, such as a mobile phone, is configured with an application icon on the device display for communications with a combination lock through a wireless signal. The wireless signal includes information indicative of a combination code for operating the combination lock at one of a plurality of access levels, wherein the access levels define the number of access times for unlocking the combination lock. The display is arranged to allow a user to enter a password to unlock the combination lock and, if the user is an administrator, to change the combination codes and the access levels. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A mobile device, comprising: a display configured with an application icon arranged for communications with a combination lock, and an electronic circuit configured to provide a wireless signal when the application icon is activated, the wireless signal indicative of a combination code for operating the combination lock at one of a plurality of access levels, the access levels comprising at least a first level and a second level, wherein the combination code for the second level is indicative of a permission to access the combination lock, and the combination code for the first level is indicative of a permission to access the combination lock an unlimited number of times and a permission to change the combination code for all access levels. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The mobile device according to claim 1, where the combination code for the second level is further indicative of a permission to access the combination lock an unlimited number of access times, and wherein the plurality of access levels further comprise a third level, wherein the combination code for the third access level is indicative of a permission to access the combination lock a limited number of access times. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The mobile device according to claim 2, wherein the wireless signal comprises a communication signal for electronically linking the combination lock to the mobile device in a pairing process, and the mobile device further comprises a non-transitory memory unit configured for storing an identity of the combination lock that has been electronically linked to the electronic device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The mobile device according to claim 3, wherein the wireless signal comprises a communication range, and wherein the display is arranged to show a list of one or more combination locks found in the communication range that have been electronically linked to the electronic device, and the display is further configured to allow deletion from the memory unit of one or more combination locks shown on the list. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The mobile device according to claim 3, wherein the combination lock comprises a plurality of preset codes stored therein to be matched with the combination code, and wherein the wireless signal comprises a communication range, and wherein the display is arranged to show a list of one or more combination locks found in the communication range that have been electronically linked to the mobile device, and the display is configured to provide a graphic keypad to allow entry from the display of information indicative of the combination code for operating the combination lock, and wherein if the combination code matches the preset code for said combination lock, the display is arranged to allow making a gesture on the display for unlocking the combination lock. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The mobile device according to claim 5, wherein when the preset code comprises a code for the first level, the display is arranged to allow entry from the display of a new code for replacing the preset code in said combination lock. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The mobile device according to claim 5, wherein when the preset code comprises a code for the first level, the display is arranged to allow entry from the display of information indicative of assignment of one or more users of the second and/or third levels for said combination lock. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The mobile device according to claim 7, wherein the information comprises the number of access times for the users of the third levels. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The mobile device according to claim 7, wherein the combination lock comprises an electronic keypad having a plurality of numeral keys arranged for entering a combination code, and wherein the assignment of a user of the second and/or third levels includes entry from the display of a number associated with one of the plurality of numeral keys. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The mobile device according to claim 1, comprising a mobile phone configured for communications in Bluetooth wireless channels. ### Claim 11 A method, comprising: providing a mobile device comprising a display, an electronic circuit and a non-transitory memory unit; configuring the display with an application icon for communications with a combination lock, and configuring the electronic circuit to provide a wireless signal when the application icon is activated, the wireless signal indicative of a combination code for operating the combination lock at one of a plurality of access levels, the access levels comprising at least a first level and a second level, wherein the combination code for the second level is indicative of a permission to access the combination lock, and the combination code for the first level is indicative of a permission to access the combination lock an unlimited number of times and a permission to change the combination code for all access levels. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein the combination code for the second level is further indicative of a permission to access the combination lock an unlimited number of access times, and wherein the plurality of access levels further comprise a third level, wherein the combination code for the third access level is indicative of a permission to access the combination lock a limited number of access times. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the wireless signal comprises a communication signal for electronically linking the combination lock to the electronic device in a pairing process, said method further comprising: storing in the non-transitory memory unit an identity of the combination lock that has been electronically linked to the electronic device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the wireless signal comprises a communication range, said method further comprising: arranging the display to show a list of one or more combination locks found in the communication range that have been electronically linked to the electronic device, and configuring the display to allow deletion from the memory unit of one or more combination locks shown on the list. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the combination lock comprises a plurality of preset codes stored therein to be matched with the combination code, and wherein the wireless signal comprises a communication range, said method further comprising: arranging the display to show a list of one or more combination locks found in the communication range that have been electronically linked to the electronic device, providing on the display a graphic keypad to allow entry of information indicative of the combination code for operating the combination lock, wherein if the combination code matches the preset code for said combination lock, the display is arranged to allow making a gesture on the display for unlocking the combination lock, arranging the display to allow entry from the display of a new code for replacing the preset code in said combination lock, when the preset code comprises a code for the first level and arranging the display to allow entry from the display of information indicative of assignment of one or more users of the second and/or third levels for said combination lock, when the preset code comprises a code for the first level, wherein the information comprises the number of access times for the users of the third levels. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein the combination lock comprises an electronic keypad having a plurality of numeral keys arranged for entering a combination code, and wherein the assignment of a user of the second and/or third levels includes entry from the display of a number associated with one of the plurality of numeral keys. ### Claim 17 An electronic combination lock, comprising: an electronic circuit configured to communicate with a mobile device via wireless signals, the wireless signals comprising a communication signal from the mobile device indicative of a combination code for operating the electronic combination lock at one of a plurality of access levels, the plurality of access levels comprising at least a first level and a second level, a non-transitory memory configured to store a plurality of preset codes, the plurality of preset codes comprising at least a present code for the first level and a preset code for the second level, and a processor configured to compare a received combination code from the mobile device with the plurality of preset codes and to allow access of the combination lock if the combination code is indicative of one of the preset codes, wherein the preset code for the second level is indicative of a permission to access the combination lock, and the preset code for the first level is indicative of a permission to access the combination lock an unlimited number of times and a permission to change the preset code for all access levels. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The electronic combination lock according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of access levels further comprises a third level and the plurality of preset codes further comprises a preset code for the third level, and wherein the preset code for the second level is further indicative of a permission to access the combination lock an unlimited number of times, and wherein the present code for the third level is indicative of a permission to access the combination lock a limited number of times. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The electronic combination lock according to claim 17, wherein the wireless signals further comprise a communication signal for linking the combination lock to the mobile device in a pairing process, and wherein the non-transitory memory unit is further configured for storing an identity of the mobile device that has been electronically linked to the combination lock. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The electronic combination lock according to claim 17, further comprising a keypad for receiving information indicative of the combination code.