Pairable secure-access facilities

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11475724-B2
Application number	US-202117169135-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 5, 2021
Priority date	Dec 1, 2014
Publication date	Oct 18, 2022
Grant date	Oct 18, 2022

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for providing access to secure-access facilities based on pairing of the secure-access facilities with a user device such as a wearable device. A pairable secure-access facility may be a public storage facility or device such as a locker that includes communications circuitry for pairing with the user device. Once paired with the user device, the locker may operate a locking mechanism to lock the locker when the user device is away from the locker and to unlock the locker when the user device is in the vicinity of the locker. The locker may include a beacon for detecting and pairing with the user devices. Pairing the user device and the locker may include entering a locker identifier into the user device to ensure that the intended user device is paired with the intended locker.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method of controlling aspects of a secure-access facility, the computer-implemented method comprising:
transmitting, via a communication channel, information associated with a locking mechanism, and wherein the locking mechanism includes an actuator for controlling the locking mechanism;
receiving, via the communication channel, data for pairing the locking mechanism with an electronic device, the data comprising payment information associated with using the locking mechanism and further comprising a pairing duration;
transmitting, via the communication channel, a response associated with completion of the pairing and a payment process;
receiving, via the communication channel and from the electronic device, a command passed upon an interactive selection including one of a first option for unlocking the locking mechanism or a second option for locking the locking mechanism, wherein the command is received within the pairing duration;
actuating, based on the interactive selection including the first option, the locking mechanism, causing the locking mechanism to unlock;
actuating, based on the interactive selection including the second option, the locking mechanism, causing the locking mechanism to lock; and
unpairing the locking mechanism with the electronic device based at least in part on an elapsed time since completion of the pairing exceeding the pairing duration.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the communication channel is a Wifi channel.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the interactive selection includes a passcode associated with controlling the locking mechanism.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the data for pairing is received via a near-field communication (NFC) channel.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , the computer-implemented method further comprising:
determining the electronic device is outside of a predetermined distance of the secure-access facility; and
actuating, based on the determining that the electronic device is outside of the predetermined distance of the secure-access facility, the locking mechanism, causing the locking mechanism to lock.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , the computer-implemented method further comprising:
determining the electronic device being in a proximity of the locking mechanism; and
when the electronic device is within the proximity, automatically actuating the locking mechanism to cause the locking mechanism to unlock.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device includes a digital assistant.

8. A electronic locking apparatus, the electronic locking apparatus comprising:
at least one processor;
a locking mechanism; and
a memory comprising computer-executable instructions that when executed by the at least one processor cause the at least one processor to:
receive, via a communication channel, data for pairing the locking mechanism with an electronic device, the data comprising payment information associated with using the locking mechanism and further comprising a pairing duration;
transmit, via the communication channel, a response associated with completion of the pairing of the locking mechanism with the electronic device and a payment process;
receive, via the communication channel and from the electronic device, a command based upon an interactive selection of commands comprising one of a first option to unlock the locking mechanism or a second option to lock the locking mechanism, wherein the command is received within the pairing duration;
actuate, based on the interactive selection including the first option, the locking mechanism, causing the locking mechanism to unlock;
actuate, based on the interactive selection including the second option, the locking mechanism, causing the locking mechanism to lock; and
unpairing the locking mechanism with the electronic device based at least in part on an elapsed time since completion of the pairing exceeding the pairing duration.

9. The electronic locking apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the communication channel is one of Wi-Fi or a cellular network.

10. The electronic locking apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the interactive selection includes a passcode associated with controlling the locking mechanism.

11. The electronic locking apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the communication channel is a near-field communication (NFC) channel.

12. The electronic locking apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:
determine the electronic device is outside of a predetermined proximity from the locking mechanism; and
when the electronic device is outside the predetermined proximity, actuate the locking mechanism causing the locking mechanism to lock.

13. The electronic locking apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:
determine the electronic device being in a proximity of the locking mechanism; and
when the electronic device is within the proximity, automatically actuating the locking mechanism to cause the locking mechanism to unlock.

14. The electronic locking apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the electronic device includes a digital assistant.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that when executed by at least one processor cause a computer system to:
receive, via a communication channel, data for pairing a locking mechanism of a secure-access facility and an electronic device, the data comprising payment information associated with using the locking mechanism and further comprising a pairing duration;
transmit, via the communication channel, a response associated with completion of the pairing and a payment process;
receive, via the communication channel and from the electronic device, a command based upon an interactive selection including one of a first option for unlocking the locking mechanism or a second option for locking the locking mechanism, wherein the command is received within the pairing duration;
actuate, based on the interactive selection including the first option, the locking mechanism, causing the locking mechanism to unlock;
actuate, based on the interactive selection including the second option, the locking mechanism, causing the locking mechanism to lock; and
unpairing the locking mechanism with the electronic device based at least in part on an elapsed time since completion of the pairing exceeding the pairing duration.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the communication channel is one of Wi-Fi or a cellular network.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the interactive selection includes a passcode associated with controlling the locking mechanism of the secure-access facility.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
unpairing the locking mechanism with the electronic device based at least in part on determining the electronic device is outside of a predetermined distance of the secure-access facility.

Assignees

• Ebay Inc

Inventors

• O'Toole Christopher Diebold
• Luk Bryant Genepang
• He Robert
• Bates Richard Chapman
• Brenner Jennifer T
• Tang Yu

Classifications

• H04W12/33

  using wearable devices, e.g. using a smartwatch or smart-glasses · CPC title

• G07C9/00658

  operated by passive electrical keys · CPC title

• G07C2009/00769

  with data transmission performed by wireless means · CPC title

• G07C9/00182

  operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks · CPC title

• G07C2009/00809

  with data transmission through the human body · CPC title