# US 9,437,063 B2 · Methods and systems for multi-unit real estate management

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- Number: US 9,437,063 B2
- Document ID: US9437063B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/589,805
- Filed: 2015-01-05
- Published: 2015-07-09
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2014-01-04
- Assignees: Latchable, Inc.
- Applicants: Latchable, Inc.
- Inventors: Luke Andrew Schoenfelder; Dhruva Rajendra; Michael Brian Jones
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9437063B2

## CPC

- G07C 9/00309: {operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks}
- G07C 9/00571: {operated by interacting with a central unit}
- G07C 2009/00865: {remotely by wireless communication}
- 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

## Abstract

Systems and methods for access control management designed for multi-unit buildings are provided. The disclosed systems can use mobile devices, a local mesh network, access control devices, and wireless communication to facilitate multi-unit real estate management. Mobile devices can download and use credentials to access appropriate areas and units in a building through local wireless communications with access control devices.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for access control management comprising:
a plurality of access control devices installed in a building, each comprising a wireless transceiver and a wireless transmitter and configured to
construct a mesh network; and
an access manager device configured to provide first credentials to a first mobile device of a first user associated with the building;
wherein the first credentials are configured to enable the first mobile device to join the mesh network, when the mobile device of the first user is within range of at least one access control device;
wherein the first credentials are configured to enable the first mobile device to provide access to the first user to areas of the building by controlling a first set of the access control devices based on the first credentials;
wherein the first credentials are configured to enable the first user to provide second credentials to a second mobile device of a second user; and
wherein the second mobile device is configured to provide access to the second user to areas of the building by controlling a second set of the access control devices based on the second credentials.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the second set of the access control devices is a subset of the first set of the access control devices.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the building is a multi-unit building and the first user is at least one of a tenant and an owner of a unit in the multi-unit building.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the first mobile device is a smartphone and wherein the first user is enabled to provide the second credentials to the second mobile device through an application running on the first mobile device.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein an application running on the first mobile device is configured to provide notifications to the first user when the second mobile device has provided access to the second user to the areas of the building controlled by the second set of the access control devices.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the second credentials enable the second mobile device to provide access to the second user to the areas of the building controlled by the second set of the access control devices only during a predetermined time period.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the first credentials enable authentication for the first user based on at least one of authentication through proximity, authentication through entry of a personal identification number, and authentication through biometrics.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein a software running on at least one access control device is updated through a software update transmitted from the first mobile device, when the mobile device is in proximity to the at least one access control device.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to generate a record with activity information from at least one access control device.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein an application running on the first mobile device displays at least one of tracking information for the first user within the building and the second user within the building and information about an event within the building.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the second credentials are provided in response to a request by the first user for a service provided by the second user.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the second credentials enable the second mobile device to provide access to the second user to the areas of the building controlled by the second set of the access control devices for the duration of the service.

### Claim 13

A method for managing access to a building comprising:
providing a plurality of access control devices that construct a mesh network, each access control device comprising a wireless transceiver and providing access to a corresponding area of the building;
providing, by an access manager device, first credentials to a first mobile device of a first user associated with the building;
enabling the first mobile device to join the mesh network, when the mobile device of the first user is within range of at least one access control device;
enabling the first mobile device to provide access to the first user to areas of the building by controlling a first set of the access control devices based on the first credentials;
enabling the first user to provide second credentials to a second mobile device of a second user; and
enabling the second mobile device to provide access to the second user to areas of the building by controlling a second set of the access control devices based on the second credentials.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the second set of the access control devices is a subset of the first set of the access control devices.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the building is a multi-unit building and the first user is at least one of a tenant and an owner of a unit in the multi-unit building.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the first mobile device is a smartphone and wherein the first user is enabled to provide the second credentials to the second mobile device through an application running on the first mobile device.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising providing notifications to the first user when the second mobile device has provided access to the second user to the areas of the building controlled by the second set of the access control devices.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the second credentials enable the second mobile device to provide access to the second user to the areas of the building controlled by the second set of the access control devices only during a predetermined time period.

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the first credentials enable authentication for the first user based on at least one of authentication through proximity, authentication through entry of a personal identification number, and authentication through biometrics.

### Claim 20 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein a software running on at least one access control device is updated through a software update transmitted from the first mobile device, when the mobile device is in proximity to the at least one access control device.

### Claim 21 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising generating a record with activity information from at least one access control device.

### Claim 22 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein an application running on the first mobile device displays at least one of tracking information for the first user within the building and the second user within the building and information about an event within the building.

### Claim 23 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the second credentials are provided in response to a request by the first user for a service provided by the second user.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The method of claim 23, wherein the second credentials enable the second mobile device to provide access to the second user to the areas of the building controlled by the second set of the access control devices for the duration of the service.
