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US 8,571,471 B2Granted
Batteryless lock with trusted time
OwnerAdam Kuenzi, Ron Chapininventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electronic lock controller comprises a trusted time provider, a near field communication transceiver, and a logic processor. The trusted time provider provides a trusted time value. The near field communication transceiver receives power and a digital credential from an operator-side interface device. The logic processor produces an open or close command for an electromechanical lock based on the trusted time value and the digital credential. The electronic lock controller is powered solely by the near field communication transceiver.
Claims26
An electromechanical lock assembly, comprising:
- a mechanical lock;
- and
- an actuator capable of locking and unlocking the mechanical lock;
- and
- an electronic lock controller for controlling the actuator, the lock controller comprising:
- a trusted time provider for supplying a trusted time value;
- a near field communication transceiver capable of communicating with and inductively receiving power from an operator-side interface device;
- and
- a logic processor capable of producing an open command for the actuator based on the trusted time value and a digital credential sent by an operator;
- wherein—
- the electronic lock controller is primarily powered by the near field communication transceiver, and not by a battery or wired grid connection;
- and wherein—
- the digital credential is time-stamped and valid only during a bounded time window, and the operator receives the digital credential from a central server during the bounded time window, and
- the trusted time provider comprises a register which updates a date/time reference based on each digital credential received, thereby providing a trusted “high water mark” time which increases monotonically with each operator interaction with the electromechanical lock assembly.
11 more elements
An electronic lock controller, comprising:
- a trusted time provider capable of providing a trusted time value;
- a near field communication transceiver capable of communicating with and inductively receiving power from an operator-side interface device;
- and
- a logic processor capable of producing an open command for an electromechanical lock based on the trusted time value and a digital credential sent by an operator;
- wherein the lock controller is primarily powered by the near field communication
- transceiver, and not by a battery or wired grid connection;
- and wherein—
- the digital credential is time-stamped and valid only during a bounded time window, and the operator receives the digital credential from a central server during the bounded time window, and
- the trusted time provider comprises a register which updates a date/time reference based on each digital credential received, thereby providing a trusted “high water mark” time which increases monotonically with each operator interaction with the electromechanical lock controller.
6 more elements
A method for operating an electromechanical lock, the method comprising:
- inductively powering the electromechanical lock from an operator-side near field communication capable interface device placed in proximity with the electromechanical lock;
- connecting with and receiving a digital credential from the interface device;
- determining a trusted time using power received from the interface device;
- evaluating the digital credential in light of the trusted time, wherein the digital credential is time-stamped and valid only during a bounded time window, and the operator receives the digital credential from a central server during the bounded time window,
- engaging or disengaging the lock if evaluation of the digital credential indicates that the credential is valid;
- and
- updating a date/time reference in a register based on each digital credential received, thereby providing a trusted “high water mark” time which increases monotonically with each operator interaction with the electromechanical lock.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.