Electronic lock authentication method and system

An electronic lock authentication system, comprising:

• an electronic lock, wherein the electronic lock has a low power sleep state;
• a cellular phone in communication with a network and in wireless communication with the electronic lock, wherein the cellular phone is operable in a low power scan mode and the electronic lock is configured to advertise its presence to the cellular phone while in the low power sleep state, and further wherein the cellular phone is configured to scan for the electronic lock in wireless communication range while in the low power scan mode and to initiate wireless communication with the electronic lock that are determined to be in wireless communication range;
• wherein the electronic lock has a lock identification and is configured to encrypt the lock identification and transmit the encrypted lock identification wirelessly to the cellular phone after the cellular phone initiates wireless communication with the electronic lock;
• wherein the cellular phone has a phone identification and is configured to encrypt the phone identification and transmit the encrypted lock identification and the encrypted phone identification to the network;
• wherein the network is configured to make a decision in real time whether the cellular phone is permitted access to the electronic lock based at least in part on the encrypted lock identification and the encrypted phone identification, wherein the network is configured to transmit a message to the cellular phone indicative of a requirement for additional credential information in order to make the decision;
• wherein a user of the cellular phone is prompted to input the additional credential information into the cellular phone in response to the message from the network;
• wherein the network is further configured to determine whether the additional credential information is correct and transmit an encrypted grant/deny message to the cellular phone based on the decision;
• and
• wherein the cellular phone is configured to transmit the encrypted grant/deny message to the electronic lock.