Modifying access to an electronic lock based on movement of an electronic key

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices relating to administration of a portable electronic key are disclosed. The portable electronic key is configured for controlling access to an electronic locking device. A motion detection sensor detects a movement of the portable electronic key. Based on the movement of the key corresponding to a disabling movement, access to the electronic locking device is modified. A wireless communications link between the portable electronic key and an access administration device can facilitate an exchange of messages related to a status of the portable electronic key.

It is claimed: 
     
         1 . A portable electronic key for initiating an unlocking event at an electronic locking device, the portable electronic key comprising:
 a memory for storing an access credential associated with the electronic locking device, the access credential including scheduling information defining a period in which the portable electronic key is authorized to initiate the unlocking event;   a motion detection sensor configured to measure acceleration along at least one of a plurality of axes to detect a movement of the portable electronic key and further configured to capture motion data related to the movement; and   at least one processor programmed to:   receive, from the motion detection sensor, the motion data related to the movement of the portable electronic key;   determine, based on the motion data, whether the movement corresponds to a predefined disabling movement; and   in response to determining that the movement of the portable electronic key corresponds to the predefined disabling movement, cause the portable electronic key to change from a normal access mode to a restricted access mode, the restricted access mode characterized by the portable electronic key foregoing an attempt to initiate the unlocking event regardless of the scheduling information, and the normal access mode characterized by the portable electronic key making the attempt, according to the scheduling information, by delivering a data signal based on the access credential to the electronic locking device so as to cause an occurrence of the unlocking event.   
     
     
         2 . The portable electronic key of  claim 1 , wherein the motion detection sensor is an accelerometer. 
     
     
         3 . The portable electronic key of  claim 1 , wherein the predefined disabling movement comprises an acceleration of the portable electronic key exceeding, along at least one of the plurality of axes, a threshold acceleration. 
     
     
         4 . The portable electronic key of  claim 1 , wherein the predefined disabling movement comprises a change in acceleration of the portable electronic key, the change in acceleration corresponding to an impact between the portable electronic key and an object. 
     
     
         5 . The portable electronic key of  claim 1 , further comprising a battery configured to energize circuitry of the electronic locking device through one of an electrical contact or inductive coupling circuitry. 
     
     
         6 . The portable electronic key of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to cause the portable electronic key to change from the restricted access mode to the normal access mode after a predetermined time period has elapsed since the portable electronic key entered the restricted access mode. 
     
     
         7 . The portable electronic key of  claim 1 , further comprising wireless communication circuitry configured to use a wireless networking standardized communication protocol for establishing a wireless communications link between the portable electronic key and a networking device operatively associated with an access administration device for exchanging messages related to access control information. 
     
     
         8 . The portable electronic key of  claim 7 , wherein the processor is further programmed to:
 initiate, in response to the portable electronic key changing from the normal access mode to the restricted access mode, establishment of the wireless communications link; and   exchange, with the access administration device, messages related to access control information, the access control information including an indication that the portable electronic key has entered the restricted access mode.   
     
     
         9 . The portable electronic key of  claim 7 , wherein the wireless networking standardized communication protocol is selected from the group consisting of a Bluetooth protocol, an IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi) protocol, an IEEE 802.16 (WiMax) protocol, an IEEE 802.15.4 (ZigBee) protocol, a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) protocol, a Long Term Evolution (LTE) protocol, a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) protocol, and a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) protocol. 
     
     
         10 . The portable electronic key of  claim 7 , wherein the access administration device is a remote server device located away from the portable electronic key and the electronic locking device. 
     
     
         11 . The portable electronic key of  claim 10 , wherein the networking device comprises a wireless transceiver of a cellular phone, the wireless transceiver configured to provide wireless network communications including at least wireless ad hoc network communications, and wherein the networking device is operatively associated with the access administration device via Internet. 
     
     
         12 . A method, performed by a portable electronic key, for modifying scheduled access to an electronic locking device, the method comprising:
 maintaining, in memory sites of the portable electronic key, an access credential including a schedule defining a period in which the portable electronic key is authorized to initiate an unlocking event at the electronic locking device;   capturing, at a motion detection sensor, motion data related to a movement of the portable electronic key;   determining, based on the motion data, whether the movement of the portable electronic key corresponds to a predefined disabling movement; and   in response to the movement corresponding to the predefined disabling movement, causing the portable electronic key to change from a normal access mode to a restricted access mode, the restricted access mode characterized by the portable electronic key foregoing an attempt to initiate the unlocking event regardless of whether the attempt is authorized by the schedule, and the normal access mode characterized by the portable electronic key making the attempt, according to the schedule, by delivering a data signal based on the access credential to the electronic locking device so as to cause an occurrence of the unlocking event.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the motion detection sensor is an accelerometer, and wherein the motion data comprises acceleration data captured by the accelerometer. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the predefined disabling movement comprises an acceleration of the portable electronic key exceeding a threshold acceleration. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the predefined disabling movement comprises an impact between the portable electronic key and an object. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 causing the portable electronic key to change from the restricted access mode to the normal access mode after a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the restricted access mode.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 establishing, in response to the portable electronic key changing from the normal access mode to the restricted access mode, a wireless communications link, based on a wireless networking standardized communication protocol, between the portable electronic key and a networking device operatively associated with an access administration device; and   transmitting, from the portable electronic key through the wireless communications link, an alert message including an indication of the change from the normal access mode to the restricted access mode.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 receiving, at the portable electronic key through the wireless communications link, an instruction for configuring the portable electronic key to change from the restricted access mode to the normal access mode; and   causing the portable electronic key to change to the normal access mode in accordance with the instruction.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the wireless communications link is established over a network selected from the group consisting of a wireless local area network, a wireless personal area network, a wireless mesh network, a wireless wide area network, a wireless ad hoc network, a cellular network, and Internet. 
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor of a portable electronic key configured to unlock, based on an access credential, an entry point controlled by an electronic locking device associated with the access credential, cause the portable electronic key to perform operations to temporarily disable access to the entry point, the operations comprising:
 maintaining, in memory sites of the portable electronic key, the access credential including scheduling information defining a period in which the portable electronic key is authorized to unlock the entry point;   capturing, at a motion detection sensor operatively associated with the processor, motion data related to a movement of the portable electronic key;   determining, based on the motion data, whether the movement of the portable electronic key corresponds to a predefined disabling movement; and   in response to the movement corresponding to the predefined disabling movement, changing from a normal access mode to a restricted access mode for a predetermined time period and changing from the restricted access mode to the normal access mode upon expiration of the predetermined time period, the restricted access mode characterized by the portable electronic key foregoing an attempt to unlock the entry point regardless of whether the attempt is authorized by the scheduling information, and the normal access mode characterized by the portable electronic key making the attempt, in accordance with the scheduling information, by delivering a data signal based on the access credential to the electronic locking device so as to unlock the entry point.