Methods and systems for access control and awareness management

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.

1 . A system, comprising:
 an access control device that is not persistently connected to the Internet; a   mobile device comprising a memory and a wireless interface; and   a server configured to communicate with the mobile device via the wireless interface;   wherein, the mobile device is configured to receive a notification from the server regarding a software update for the access control device;   wherein, the server is configured to send the software update for the access control device to the mobile device;   wherein, the mobile device is configured to download and store the software update in the memory; and   wherein, the mobile device is configured to transmit the software update to the access control device via a wireless communication protocol.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a mobile application running on the mobile device is configured to notify a user of the mobile device about the software update. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , where the wireless communication protocol is one of at least: Bluetooth, Z-Wave, ZigBee, or NFC. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile device is configured to transmit the software update to the access control device when the mobile device is within a certain distance of the access control device. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile device is configured to download, store, and transmit the software update without any action by a user of the mobile device. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile device is configured to determine whether the access control device requires the software update. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the software update is encrypted during transmission from the server to the mobile device and from the mobile device to the access control device. 
     
     
         8 . A system, comprising:
 a plurality of access control devices that are not persistently connected to the Internet; a   plurality of mobile devices, each comprising a memory and a wireless interface; and   a server configured to communicate with the plurality of mobile devices via the wireless interfaces;   wherein, the plurality mobile devices are configured to receive a notification from the server regarding a software update for the plurality access control devices;   wherein, the server is configured to send the software update for the plurality access control device to the plurality mobile devices; and   wherein, the plurality of mobile devices are configured to transmit the software update a subset of the plurality of access control devices via a wireless communication protocol.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein a mobile application running each of the mobile devices is configured to notify a user of each mobile device about the software update. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , where the wireless communication protocol is one of at least: Bluetooth, Z-Wave, ZigBee, or NFC. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the plurality mobile devices is configured to transmit the software update to at least one of the plurality of access control devices when the at least one of the plurality of mobile devices is within a certain distance of the at least one of the plurality of access control device. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the mobile devices are configured to download, store, and transmit the software without any action by a user. 
     
     
         13 . system of  claim 8 , wherein the mobile devices are configured to determine whether at least one of the plurality of access control devices requires the software update. 
     
     
         14 . A method, comprising:
 transmitting, via a server, a software update for an access control device to a mobile device, wherein the access control device is not persistently connected to the Internet;   downloading and storing, by the mobile device, the software update,   transmitting, by the mobile device, the software update to the access control device using a wireless communication protocol.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising: notifying, via a mobile application running on the mobile device, a user of the mobile device about the software update. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , where the wireless communication protocol is one of at least: Bluetooth, Z-Wave, ZigBee, or NFC. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising: transmitting, via the mobile device, the software update to the access control device when the mobile device is within a certain distance of the access control device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the mobile device is configured to download, store, and transmit the software update without any action by a user of the mobile device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising: determining, via the mobile device, whether the access control device requires the software update. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the software update is encrypted during transmission from the server to the mobile device and from the mobile device to the access control device.