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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 an access control device storing a first access credential, wherein the access control device is not persistently connected to the Internet;   a mobile device comprising a memory and a wireless interface; and   a server storing an instance of the first access credential and configured to communicate with the mobile device via the wireless interface;   wherein the mobile device is configured to receive the first access credential from the server via the wireless interface;   wherein the mobile device is configured to transmit the first access credential to the access control device via a wireless communication protocol; and   wherein the access control device is configured to permit access to an area based on the first access credential.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first access credential is pre-installed on the access control device and mirrored in a database of the server. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the server is configured to generate a second access credential for the access control device and transmit the second access credential to the mobile device, wherein the mobile device is configured to transmit the second access credential to the access control device. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the access control device is configured to be updated based on receipt of the second access credential. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the access control device is configured to permit access to the area based on receiving a second instance of the second access credential from the mobile device subsequent to the access control device being updated. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the first access credential comprises a key that is pre-installed on the access control device and mirrored a database of the server. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the server is configured to generate the second access credential based on the key. 
     
     
         8 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, by a mobile device from a server, a first access credential for an access control device that is not persistently connected to the Internet, wherein the first access credential is pre-installed on the access control device; and   transmitting, by the mobile device via a wireless communication protocol, the first access credential to the access control device to cause the access control device to grant access to an area.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first access credential is mirrored in a database of the server. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the mobile device from the server, a second access credential for the access control device; and   transmitting, by the mobile device, the second access credential to the access control device to cause the access control device to be updated based on the second access credential.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising subsequent to updating the access control device:
 transmitting, by the mobile device, the second access credential to the access control device to cause the access control device to grant access to the area based on the second access credential.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first access credential comprises a key that is pre-installed on the access control device and mirrored a database of the server. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the server is configured to generate the second access credential based on the key. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the server is configured to generate a plurality of additional access credentials based on the key. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , where the wireless communication protocol is one of at least: Bluetooth, Z-Wave, ZigBee, or NFC. 
     
     
         16 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable storage medium including instructions that when executed by a processor of a mobile device, cause the processor to:
 receive, from a server, a first access credential for an access control device that is not persistently connected to the Internet, wherein the first access credential is pre-installed on the access control device; and   transmit, via a wireless communication protocol, the first access credential to the access control device to cause the access control device to grant access to an area.   
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:
 receive a second access credential for the access control device from the server; and   transmit the second access credential to the access control device to cause the access control device to be updated based on the second access credential.   
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to, subsequent to updating the access control device:
 transmit, by the mobile device, the second access credential to the access control device to cause the access control device to grant access to the area based on the second access credential.   
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the first access credential comprises a key that is pre-installed on the access control device and mirrored a database of the server. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein the server is configured to generate the second access credential based on the key.