EP2958084A1 - Method for actuating a door lock - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for actuating a door lock (1), comprising at least one door lock (1) and a mobile terminal (2) carried by a user, an access code for the door lock (1) being received on the terminal (2). which in the terminal (2) in one of a data communication interface (10) with short-distance radio technology of the terminal (2) usable data format is converted, wherein then in the case of a data communication link (8) via short-distance radio technology with the door lock (1) of Access code is used to configure and / or open the door lock (1).

Description

The invention relates to a method for actuating a door lock, in particular an electronic door lock.

Such methods are known per se. In the case of mechanical door locks, a key having a beard is inserted and turned in a keyhole of the door lock.

In an electronic door lock, it is known to either input a pin in an input device associated with the door lock ( DE 20 2012 101 168 U1 ) or to use a transponder or a smart card to operate the door lock.

The input devices for typing a pin have the disadvantage from a safety point of view that anyone who knows the pin, can operate the door lock. It is therefore desirable for safety reasons that the door lock can only be operated using a key carried by the user.

However, this has the disadvantage, for example in hotel rooms, that the user must first obtain the key before he can gain access to the hotel room.

Against this background, it is the object of the present invention, a further develop generic method to the effect that at high security against unauthorized operation of the door lock at the same time a simplified provision of a key is possible.

To solve the invention proposes a method for actuating a door lock, with at least one door lock and a mobile device entrained by a user, wherein on the terminal configuration data, in particular an access code for the door lock is received, which in the terminal in one of a data communication interface be used with short-range radio technology of the terminal usable data format, then in the case of a data communications link via short-distance radio technology with the door lock, the configuration data, in particular the access code for configuring and / or opening the door lock is used.

If an access code is mentioned below, this also includes the configuration data received on the user's terminal. The access code is a special form of such configuration data.

In other words, a core idea of the invention lies in the fact that a mobile terminal, which may possibly be carried by the user anyway, is misused and used as a kind of key for the door lock. The mobile terminal may be a smartphone, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a palmtop, a notebook and / or the like. A mobile terminal according to the invention is characterized in particular by the fact that it has its own power supply. It is thus not just a passive transponder and / or the like. The access code can be received on the terminal by means of a wide area network. This may be a mobile network, for example, according to the standard GSM. The access code can alternatively also be received via a (wireless) local area network, for example in the entrance area of a hotel. Accordingly, the mobile terminal has a communication interface for mobile radio networks, WLAN, LAN and / or the like.

The access code can be transmitted in the form of an email, for example as an attachment to an email and / or the like. But he can also by an individual from the operator the door lock provided application can be received on the mobile terminal. The access code can be stored in a memory of the door lock. It can also be provided that the user communicates with his entrained mobile terminal with the door lock and agree on the mobile terminal and the door lock on configuration data to be used, in particular an access code. As a result, then this configuration data can be used to operate the door lock. The configuration data can be used in addition or as an alternative to the configuration of the door lock. This configuration can be carried out automatically in the case of a communication connection between the door lock and the mobile terminal. This procedure can be used in hotels, for example. The hotel guest can receive the configuration data on his mobile device. As a result, an access by means of the mobile terminal to a specific hotel room is basically possible. If the user now, in particular, for the first time establishes a communication connection between terminal and door lock of the hotel room, the configuration data are used to configure the door lock. This configuration includes, for example, a basic assignment of the hotel room / door lock to the user, information about the in the place of residence, ie a time limit on the use of the door lock, and / or the like.

Subsequently, the received in the terminal access code for the door lock within the terminal is further processed. For this purpose, the terminal may have a microprocessor, a memory, corresponding interfaces and / or the like. The access code is converted by the terminal into another data format. This data format is a data format usable by a communication interface using short-range wireless technology. This communication interface can be a Bluetooth, an NFC, an RFID and / or the like interface. It is, in particular, a communication interface different from the communication interface for receiving the access code in the mobile terminal. The purpose of this conversion is, from a technical point of view, to be able to use the mobile terminal as an electronic key via the data communications interface with short-range wireless technology. The short-distance radio technology is advantageous in this case, since door locks equipped with a corresponding communication interface save energy can be operated. In the case of an NFC interface, it is even possible, for example, to passively design the corresponding interface on the electronic door lock, ie the energy required for data transmission is generated by the terminal itself by induction in the NFC interface of the door lock.

The inventive method can ensure that only the authorized user can operate a door lock. This is because he urgently needs his mobile terminal to operate the door lock, i. open or close, to be able to. This is from a safety point of view, a significant advantage over methods in which an access code is transmitted only to the mobile device and read from there only and must be entered by hand, for example, on a numeric keypad. In this method, any third party who also gets to the access code, the door lock also open.

With the method according to the invention, therefore, the safety compared to conventional methods is significantly increased. It can be ensured that the door lock can be actuated exclusively with a mobile terminal provided for this purpose.

The invention further has the advantage that a user of the door lock, i. For example, a hotel guest, no longer check in at the front desk and have a room key handed over. For example, the hotel guest can book the hotel room over the internet and when he arrives at the hotel can immediately go to his hotel room. There he uses his mobile terminal in the manner described above to open the door lock. For the user or hotel guest this has the advantage of eliminating waiting times at check-in. At the same time, the hotel has the advantage of reducing the cost of caring for the hotel guests.

In addition, it can be provided that a user must enter an individually assigned authorization code in the mobile device before pressing the door lock, so that a communication is authorized by short-range radio technology with the door lock. This can prevent that an unauthorized user with a stolen mobile device operates the door lock. Just before an operation of the door lock is rather ensured that the user his authorization confirmed by entering the individually assigned authorization code. This further increases safety. It can be provided that the access code is decrypted only by entering the authorization code.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the access code is encrypted received on the terminal. The access code must therefore first be decrypted for its intended use. As a result, it can be ruled out that a user who receives an access code not intended for him / her on his mobile terminal will use it unauthorized. The access code can be decrypted on the terminal itself. This can be done automatically, for example by comparison with the user's mobile phone number and / or manually by the user. The user can use an individually assigned authorization code for decryption. This further increases safety.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a proper conversion of the access code in the mobile terminal is signaled by the same. The mobile terminal can output information on a display, flash a lighting device and / or the like. Thus, the user can advantageously already verify immediately after receiving the access code that the access code is valid and can be further processed on his mobile device. If the conversion fails, the user can immediately take countermeasures, such as visiting a hotel reception and / or the like. He does not notice this in other words, not only if he is already in front of the operated door lock. This further improves handling and ease of use.

The converted access code can be transmitted automatically from the terminal to the door lock in the case of a data communication link. This facilitates handling for the user. He does not have to pick out the mobile device and actively operate, but it is rather automatically initiated a communication link and data transmission at an entry of the mobile terminal in a monitor through a communication interface of the door lock room. The user can, for example, without a piece of luggage from the hand to have to lay open his hotel room directly.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the door lock is automatically closed again when the user leaves with his terminal secured by the door lock room. Leaving the room can be detected that the user's mobile terminal leaves the range of the communication interface with short-circuit radio technology of the door lock. Additionally or alternatively, the exit can be detected by the fact that in the door lock and / or the door a rotation rate sensor and / or acceleration sensor is provided. From a corresponding measurement signal can be concluded by an electronics, whether the door has been pulled and / or slammed. Additionally or alternatively, it can be provided that the communication interface with short-range radio technology of the door lock selectively monitors exclusively the space in front of the room to be closed by the door lock. So now if a closing of the door is detected, depending on the detection of the mobile terminal in front of the door can be concluded whether the user is after closing the door in the room in front of the door or in the room. It can be provided that a reopening of the door lock after a closing is possible only after a predetermined period of time. This prevents a door lock from accidentally reopening automatically when the user is still in the monitored room in front of the door some time after closing the door.

The invention further relates to the use of a method described above for picking up in particular large-volume shipments such as parcels by a logistics service provider from one of the person issuing the consignment person receiving device.

The receiving device may be a mailbox, a parcel box and the like. The receiving device is used to accommodate in particular large-volume shipments such as parcels, parcels and / or the like. The receiving device is associated with a person giving a consignment. This means that the receiving device is arranged in the (exclusive) sphere of influence of the person. This includes, for example, the arrangement of the receiving device on the property of the person. A special feature of such a recording device is therefore, that it is a recording device assigned to a specific person. In other words, the receiving device is permanently assigned to one or a finite number of consignee-receiving persons.

The logistics service provider can be a delivery person who usually delivers the goods and does not pick them up. However, it may also be a service provider, which specifically operates only the collection of consignments placed in reception facilities for shipping consignments.

The receiving device can usually be provided to receive consignments. According to the invention, however, it can be used in addition to abandon consignments, i. to send. As a result, the person issuing a consignment can save the way to the post office or to a central collection point for consignments of goods such as parcels and / or the like. Rather, the consignment can be inserted in a simple manner in, for example, the household of the person directly associated receiving device. A feature of the receiving device is namely that this is in the immediate vicinity of the apartment, the operation and / or the like. The person issuing the consignment. Thus, according to the invention, a pick-up device can perform a dual function, i. both for receiving and for sending consignments.

Such use is not obvious since the problem of access authorization to the receiving device exists. If the logistics service provider receives a mechanical key for the receiving device, he can access the receiving device at any time, ie even if this is not desired by the person operating the receiving device. The invention provides a remedy. The logistics service provider is provided a key to access the receiving device only as needed. As a result, it can be achieved according to the invention that the logistics service provider can only open the receiving device in a targeted manner whenever the person issuing a consignment wishes to do so. For example, it may be provided that the logistics service provider automatically after the insertion of a consignment to be shipped in the receiving device, the key is delivered. The logistics service provider can be notified automatically about the shipping request by inserting a consignment to the receiving device. For this purpose, for example, an email, SMS and / or the like. Be sent.

The use according to the invention brings with it the surprising effect that a receiving device provided only for receiving consignments of goods can now also be used to send consignments of goods. In synergetic manner, the functionality of a recording device can thus be extended by the use according to the invention, so that two diametrically opposite functions (receiving of broadcasts and sending of broadcasts) can be realized with one and the same device.

• Fig. 1 schematischer Ablauf einer Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens;
• Fig. 2 schematisch ein gemäß einer Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens betriebenes Türschloss zum Verschließen eines Raumes.

Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the figures.

• Fig. 1 schematic sequence of an embodiment of the method according to the invention;
• Fig. 2 schematically a operated according to an embodiment of the method according to the invention door lock for closing a room.

An unillustrated user has a mobile terminal 2. This is, for example, a smartphone. The mobile terminal 2 has a computer unit 3, a memory 11, a first communication interface 9 and a second communication interface 10. The first communication interface 9 is used for communication with a mobile radio network. Additionally or alternatively, a communication with a WLAN and / or the like. Be provided. The second communication interface 10 is used for communication via short-distance radio technology. These are in the present case Bluetooth, RFID and / or NFC.

The communication interfaces 9, 10 differ in particular in that the second communication interface 10 for short-distance radio technology consumes significantly less energy from the first communication interface 9.

The user who wants to operate, for example, a door lock 1 of a hotel room, has to perform the embodiment of a method according to the invention described below.

In the mobile terminal 2, an access code for the door lock 1 is received. This access code is generated by a server 4. The server 4 may be a computer of the hotel, a booking portal on the Internet and / or the like. From the server 4, the access code is transmitted via communication links 5, 6 by means of a wide area network to the mobile terminal 2. There, the access code is received by means of the first communication interface 9. The access code is stored in the mobile terminal 2 in the memory 11.

In order to operate the door lock 1, the access code must be transmitted via the communication interfaces 10 by means of a communication link 8. For this purpose, the access code in the mobile terminal 2 is converted into a usable from the second communication interface 10 data format. This conversion can be performed by the computer unit 3. The access code can then be stored in the memory 11 or, alternatively, transmitted immediately after the conversion via the communication interface 10.

The communication interfaces 10 of the mobile terminal 2 and / or the door lock 1 can be designed such that, for example in a polling operation, they wait to automatically form a connection with a corresponding counterpart. However, the communication connection 8 can also be initiated only by a corresponding connection request of the user.

Fig. 2 schematically shows a closed with the door lock 1 space 14. The door lock 1 is attached to a door 12. The door 12 can be pivoted about an axis and thus opened and closed.

On the door lock 1 or on the door 12, an acceleration sensor 15 is provided. This is electronically coupled to the door lock 1. By the acceleration sensor 15 can be detected whether the door 12 is closed. The communication interface 10 of the door lock 1 is also designed such that it emits electromagnetic signals exclusively in a monitoring area 13 and receives. The monitoring area 13 may be formed exclusively on one of the two sides of the door 12. In other words, the communication interface 10 has directional signal propagation. If a closing of the door 12 has now been detected by the acceleration sensor 15, the door lock 1 can also determine whether a mobile terminal 2 (and thus also a user) is located in the monitoring area 13 in front of the door 12. If so, the user has evidently left room 14. The door lock 1 then automatically closes the door 12. If, however, after closing the door 12 no mobile terminal 2 detected in the monitoring area 13, it can be concluded that the user is still within the room 14. The door 12 is then not closed.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Locks

2

mobile terminal

3

computer unit

4

server

5

communication link

6

Wide Area Network

7

communication link

8th

communication link

9

Communication Interface

10

Communication Interface

11

Storage

12

door

13

monitoring area

14

room

15

accelerometer

Claims (14)

Method for actuating a door lock (1), with at least one door lock (1) and a mobile terminal (2) carried by a user, in particular having its own power supply, wherein configuration data, in particular an access code for the door lock, is provided on the terminal (2) (1) is received, which in the terminal (2) in one of a data communication interface (10) with short-distance radio technology of the terminal (2) usable data format can be converted, in which case in the case of a data communications link (8) via short-distance radio technology the door lock (1) the configuration data, in particular the access code for configuring and / or opening the door lock (1) can be used. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the door lock (1) is automatically closed again when the user leaves with his terminal (2) through the door lock (1) secured space (14). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the configuration data, in particular the access code on the terminal (2) by means of a wide area network (6) is received. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the configuration data, in particular the access code in a computer unit (3) of the mobile terminal (2) is converted. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the configuration data, in particular the converted access code via Bluetooth and / or NFC to the door lock (1) is transmitted. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the configuration data, in particular the converted access code in a communication interface (10) with short-range radio technology of the door lock (1) is received. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the configuration data, in particular the access code in the terminal (2) is stored. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a smartphone, a tablet computer, a palmtop or a notebook as a mobile terminal (2) is used. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a proper conversion of the configuration data, in particular the access code in the mobile terminal (2) is signaled by the same. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the configuration data, in particular the converted access code in the case of a data communication link (8) is automatically transmitted from the terminal (2) to the door lock (1). Method according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the configuration data, in particular the converted access code in the case of a data communication link (8) only after a release by the user from the terminal (2) to the door lock (1) is transmitted. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the configuration data, in particular the access code is received encrypted on the terminal (2). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the configuration data, in particular the access code on the terminal (2) is decrypted. Use of a method according to one of the preceding claims for picking up in particular large-volume consignments such as packages by a logistics provider from one of the goods consigning person assigned receiving device, wherein the logistics provider, the configuration data, in particular the access code for the door lock is transmitted, in which case in the case of a data communications link short-circuit radio technology with the door lock of the receiving device, the configuration data, in particular the access code to open the door lock can be used.

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