Method and system for facilitating use of an electronically controlled lock

A method for an authorised device to effect unlocking of a lock, the authorised device initially being an unverified device, the method comprising:

• a lock controller operatively interfaced to the lock communicating to a verified device a lock ID of the lock controller via a local communication channel;
• the verified device generating encrypted data comprising the lock ID;
• the verified device communicating the encrypted data to the authorised device via a data communication channel;
• the authorised device obtaining a decryption key for decrypting the encrypted data;
• the authorised device determining the lock ID by decrypting the encrypted data using the decryption key;
• the authorised device generating with the lock ID a response to a challenge by the lock controller;
• the lock controller determining that the response is a correct response;
• and
• in response, the lock controller causing unlocking of the lock.

A locking system comprising:

• a plurality of authorised devices comprising:
• one or more verified devices and
• one or more unverified devices, and
• a lock controller operatively interfaced with a lock and configured to cause unlocking of the lock,
• wherein the authorised devices are configured for communication with the lock controller via a local communication channel and
• wherein the authorised devices are configured for communicating with one another via a data communication channel,
• wherein:
• at least one verified device is configured to receive a lock ID from the lock controller via the local communication channel;
• the one or more unverified devices are configured to receive from a verified device having the lock ID encrypted data comprising the lock ID;
• the one or more unverified devices are configured to:
• obtain a decryption key and further configured to decrypt received encrypted data to thereby obtain the lock ID;
• generate a response in accordance with the lock ID and a challenge key received from the lock controller via the local communication channel;
• and
• communicate the response to the lock controller;
• the lock controller configured to identify a correct response when a response is received from a unverified device and in response to cause unlocking of the lock.

A method for an authorised device to effect unlocking of a lock, the authorised device initially being an unverified device, the method comprising:

• a lock controller operatively interfaced to the lock communicating to a verified device a lock ID of the lock controller via a local communication channel;
• the authorised device receiving from the verified device encrypted data comprising the lock ID;
• the authorised device obtaining a decryption key for decrypting the encrypted data;
• the authorised device determining the lock ID by decrypting the encrypted data using the decryption key;
• the authorised device generating with the lock ID a response to a challenge by the lock controller;
• the lock controller determining that the response is a correct response;
• and
• in response, the lock controller causing unlocking of the lock.