Self-powered closing and manual opening system with permissions managed in a remote server

Abstract

The present invention relates to a self-powered closing and manual opening system (1) with permissions managed in a remote server (3) comprising a knob (1a1), a handle or the like, an interchangeable mechanical cylinder (1a2) operable by means of a mechanical key (1c), an antenna (1f), a lock actuator (1a) operated by means of the knob (1a1) or by means of the interchangeable mechanical cylinder (1a2) and connected to a mechanical adapter (1d), an electric motor (1b) controlled by a microcontroller (1g) by means of a signal adaptation electrical circuit (1h), and an integrated circuit (1e) for NFC interface management that is configured to receive activation energy (2a), via NFC communication, from a device with connectivity (2) through the antenna (1f) and communicate through intermediation of the device with connectivity (2) to a remote server (3). The present invention discloses that the remote server (3) queries the database (3c) through its permissions manager (3b), transmitting the operation data (4) to the integrated circuit (1e) for NFC interface management via the application (5) installed on the device with connectivity (2).

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] Autonomous power shut-off system and manual opening with permissions managed on a remote server.

[0003] Field of Invention

[0004] This invention relates to a self-powered, manually opened locking system with permissions managed on a remote server, transmitted to the locking device via a mobile application, and used in small locks such as those used to restrict access to small spaces, such as lockers, drawers, mailboxes, etc., or those used in bicycle locks, skate locks, etc., or in boxes for exchanging items.

[0005] State of the art

[0006] Currently, and as a benchmark for the state of the art, small locks that are activated by a mechanical key for opening or closing are well known. Advantageously, these small locks are provided with interchangeable mechanical cylinders so that only the cylinder can be replaced in case of loss or theft of the key.

[0007] Locks are also known that, to avoid the need to have a key at the user's disposal, replace the mechanical key with other means of identification, such as numeric encryption or a keypad. However, in the event of a power failure or malfunction, they are unable to grant access.

[0008] The increase in connectivity and the need to provide additional security features has led to the development of small electronic locks that, to avoid relying on batteries, are powered by harvestable energy sources such as mechanical energy, photovoltaic energy, thermal energy, or electromagnetic energy generated, for example, by the near-field NFC produced by portable devices such as smartphones. These devices, in addition to powering the device, are also capable of transmitting data to identify the user. These locks are well-known for identifying the user using the smartphone's SIM card (i.e., they decide whether or not a user can open the lock based on the SIM card connected).Locks that identify the user based on data entered into their database are also known and must establish communication and interrogate the mobile device's database and decide whether this data grants them permission to perform the required operation, for example, if a user has permission to close a lock, but not to open it, etc., the lock upon receiving the opening order must communicate with the smartphone's database, interrogate the smartphone's database to receive the user's permissions and decide whether to deny opening because the user does not have the appropriate permissions or, on the contrary, proceed with the operation and execute the cycle.

[0009] Most of these models on the market have certain drawbacks. On the one hand, the locks either use portable batteries, which incur maintenance costs and generate chemical waste, etc., or they usually use a wired power supply, which requires costly installation and maintenance. Or they have energy harvesting systems to optimize or avoid the use of batteries, but they use locking systems with complex designs and assembly, thus incurring additional product costs.

[0010] For example, in these models without active power supply, on the one hand, the lock always has to interrogate a smartphone or similar and decide if the user is authorized regardless of where the user data is located, this requires a higher usage of the lock's microcontroller, resulting in slower operation and higher power consumption, limiting the battery life of the portable device that supplies it with power.On the other hand, by making these decisions and operations internally in the lock, a remote administrator must update all the locks it manages every time the connection protocols and / or the lock's operating modes are modified, thus making it difficult to manage several locks at the same time and preventing a quick update in the case of managing locks in very remote locations or with poor coverage, as may be the case when managing locks for rental items such as bicycle locks.

[0011] Explanation of the invention and advantages

[0012] In contrast to this state of the art, the present invention refers to a self-powered locking system with manual opening and permissions managed on a remote server, comprising a knob, handle or similar, an interchangeable mechanical cylinder that can be activated by means of a mechanical key, an antenna, a lock actuator, actuated by manual turning of the knob, or actuation of the handle or similar, or by actuating the mechanical key of the interchangeable cylinder and connected to a mechanical adapter that can be connected to locking elements that have different endings, an electric motor controlled by means of an electric signal adaptation circuit by a microcontroller, and a dedicated integrated circuit for managing the NFC interface configured to, by NFC communication, receive activation energy from a device with Internet connectivity such as a smartphone, tablet, smart watch, etc.through the antenna embedded in the locking system and communicate through the device's connectivity with a remote server. The remote server has a permissions manager through which it queries a database that stores the granted permissions and transmits the operating data through the application installed on the device with connectivity to the integrated circuit for managing the NFC interface.

[0013] The operational data, consisting of operable commands, is generated by the remote server. This is preferably a cloud server, although it may be a server installed on another computer or device, not on the handheld device itself, depending on the user's permissions (open / close if authorized, deny if unauthorized, etc.). The operational data received from the remote server is then transmitted via the app to the locking system's NFC interface management chip for storage.

[0014] Thanks to this configuration, the locking system is exempted from decision-making and only needs to store operating data consisting of executable commands (for example, to execute opening, a command is transmitted to supply power to the motor in a specific polarity for a certain time, and to execute closing, a similar command is transmitted with reversed polarity). Since the locking system only requires temporary storage of commands (it only stores the received operating data until a sufficient activation energy level is reached), it does not require energy storage elements such as batteries or capacitors that can supply activation energy after executing the operation.

[0015] When the locking system has sufficient activation energy, transmitted via NFC by the connected device along with the operating data transmitted by the remote server through the app, the microcontroller reads the operating data and executes it. To actuate the motor, activation energy is passed to the motor via a signal matching circuit (such as an H-bridge), which is responsible for directing this activation energy according to the required motor polarity (based on the direction of rotation).This execution is carried out as soon as the required activation energy level is reached, thus achieving a rapid opening by not requiring user authentication, credential verification or decision-making by the closing system, since these operations have been previously carried out by the remote server and also achieving a reduction in the required activation energy by not requiring the energization of a microcontroller for decision-making.

[0016] During the opening / closing operation, the microcontroller activates the motor via the signal adaptation electrical circuit to unlock and enable the drive by, for example, manually turning the knob. Having a manual opening knob and using the activation energy only to lock / unlock its turn allows, on the one hand, a significant reduction in the activation energy required by not having to move large elements such as the lock actuator. On the other hand, it separates the movement of the motor from the lock actuator, thus allowing the lock actuator to be activated by the mechanical cylinder. Interchangeable with the use of a mechanical key without damaging the motor, thus extending its useful life.

[0017] The remote server and the connected device communicate through an app installed on the connected device. This app sends the lock's identification data from the connected device to the remote server, and from the remote server, the lock's operating data is sent to the connected device. This way, even if a connected device, such as a smartphone, is lost or their phone number (or SIM card) changes, the user can access the same permissions simply by downloading the app. If the battery is dead, they can use another connected device that has the app by simply registering with the remote server.As a result, the loss of permissions is avoided if the device with connectivity linked to the SIM card with which they were obtained is no longer available, as user permissions are not linked to a SIM card.

[0018] To obtain permissions, the remote server has a license and user manager that receives permission requests from the connected device via an application. The license and user manager compares the requested permissions with the authorizations issued by the lock manager for the locks for which the permissions are requested and stores these permissions, once encrypted, in the database. This way, the data can be protected in a secure environment. In addition to user permissions linked to a specific lock, locking system, or group of locks, the database stores the operating data issued to each lock. This operating data can be consulted by the remote manager or administrator to check the events occurring for each specific lock, such as opening hours, users, access denials, etc.

[0019] Additionally, the self-powered locking system and manual opening with permissions managed on the remote server can be incorporated into elements of variable thickness, thus being able to be incorporated into various elements such as locker doors or drawer fronts of different thicknesses and allowing the use of the locking system in different mechanical assemblies for applications such as wheel locks (bicycles, electric scooters, etc.) or object exchange spaces such as key exchange boxes present in lodgings, or temporary lockers.

[0020] Furthermore, as the self-powered closing system is fitted with a manual opening and a mechanical adapter connected to the closing system's actuator, it can be installed to replace another pre-existing closure, allowing the mechanical adapter, available in various finishes, to be connected to different previously incorporated closing elements (pins, latches, or cams, etc.).

[0021] If a connection to the remote server cannot be established, either due to a coverage failure or connection problems with the connected device itself, the locking system itself determines whether the connected device is authorized to operate the lock. When the lock has sufficient activation energy, transmitted via NFC by the connected device along with the operating data, the microcontroller (or control electronics) reads the operating data and executes it. To activate the motor, activation energy is passed to the motor via a signal adaptation circuit, which is responsible for directing this activation energy based on the required motor polarity (depending on the direction of rotation). This execution is carried out as soon as the required activation energy level is reached.

[0022] Drawings and references

[0023] In order to better understand the nature of the Invention, the attached drawings show an industrial embodiment that is merely illustrative and not limiting in nature. Figure 1 shows an operating diagram of a self-powered, manual-opening locking system (1) with permissions managed on a remote server, showing the interaction between the remote server (3) composed of a license and user manager (3a), a permission manager (3b) and a database (3c) and the device with connectivity (2) through the application (5) and the device with connectivity (2) with the locking system (1) (symbolic representation) placed on a locker door, to which it transmits the activation energy (2a) together with the operating data (4) through NFC communication.The sequence followed by the operating data (4) in the closing system (1), antenna (1f), integrated circuit (1e) for managing the NFC interface, microcontroller (1g), electrical signal adaptation circuit (1h) and motor (1b) is also shown.

[0024] Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the locking system (1) in which a lock actuator (1a) can be seen which is connected to a knob (1a1) and to an interchangeable mechanical cylinder (1a2) at its actuatable end facing a mechanical key (1c) and a mechanical adapter (1d) at its opposite end, a motor (1b) and an Integrated circuit (1e) on whose external face the antenna (1f) is arranged and on its internal face, as shown in detail, the microcontroller (1g) and the electrical signal adaptation circuit (1h) are arranged.

[0025] 1 Closing system

[0026] 1a - Lock actuator

[0027] 1 to 1 - Knob

[0028] 1a2 - Interchangeable mechanical cylinder

[0029] 1 b - Engine

[0030] 1c - Mechanical key

[0031] 1d - Mechanical adapter

[0032] 1e - Integrated circuit

[0033] 1f - Antenna

[0034] 1g - Microcontroller

[0035] 1h - Signal adaptation electrical circuit

[0036] 2.- Device with connectivity

[0037] 2a - Activation energy

[0038] 3.- Remote server

[0039] 3a - License and User Manager 3b - Permission Manager 3c - Databases

[0040] 4.- Operation data

[0041] 5.- Application

[0042] Exhibition of a preferred embodiment

[0043] With regard to the drawings and references listed above, the attached drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the object of the invention, relating to a locking system (1) with autonomous power supply and manual opening with permissions managed on a remote server (3) in the cloud comprising a knob (1 a1), handle or similar, an interchangeable mechanical cylinder (1a2) actuatable by means of a mechanical key (1c), an antenna (1f), a lock actuator (1a), actuated by manual turning of the knob (1a1), handle or similar, or by actuating the mechanical key (1c) of the interchangeable mechanical cylinder (1a2) and connected to a mechanical adapter (1 d) capable of being connected to locking elements having different terminations, an electric motor (1b) controlled by means of an electrical signal adaptation circuit (1h) by a microcontroller (1 g), and an Integrated circuit (1e) for managing the NFC interface.The integrated circuit (1e) for managing the NFC interface is configured to receive activation energy (2a) from a device with connectivity (2) by NFC communication through the antenna (1f) and communicate through the intermediation of the device with connectivity (2) with a remote server (3) in the cloud through the application (5). The remote server (3) in the cloud has a permission manager (3b) through which it interrogates a database (3c) in which the granted permissions are stored and transmits the operation data (4) through the application (5) to the device with connectivity (2).

[0044] The operation data (4) is composed of operable commands, just like those produced in a locking system (1) with internal decision making, but in this invention, they are produced in the remote server (3) in the cloud, that is, the decision making is external to the remote server (3) in the cloud and based on the permissions available to the user in the cloud. The remote server (3) in the cloud stores this operation data together with the time and the identification of the user and the locking system (1) in its database (3c).

[0045] Then, the device with connectivity (2) in connection with the remote server (3) in the cloud through the application (5) transmits the operation data (4) to the integrated circuit (1e) of the closing system (1) for storage via the NFC connection. The closing system (1) temporarily stores the operation data (4) composed of executable commands, for example, to execute the opening, the command to supply power to the motor (1b) in a specific polarity for a certain time is transmitted and to execute the closing, a command to supply power to the motor (1b) in an inverted polarity is transmitted for a certain time. The operation data (4) are stored in the integrated circuit (1 e) for managing the NFC interface until sufficient activation energy (2a) is available (supplied by the device with connectivity (2) via NFC together with the operation data (4)) to execute them.Since the closing system (1) only requires temporary storage of executable commands (it only stores the received operation data (4) until it reaches a sufficient activation energy level (2a)) it does not require energy storage elements such as batteries or capacitors that can supply activation energy after executing the operation, and can remain in a state of zero energy consumption between operations.

[0046] When the locking system (1) has sufficient activation energy (2a), obtained through NFC by the device with connectivity (2) together with the operating data (4) through the application (5), the microcontroller (1 g) reads the operating data (4) emitted by the device with connectivity and executes them. To actuate the motor (1b), it allows the passage of activation energy (2a) to the motor (1b) by means of an electrical signal adaptation circuit (1 h), responsible for guiding this activation energy (2a) according to the required polarity (corresponding to the direction of rotation). This execution is carried out as soon as the required activation energy level (2a) preset in the microcontroller (1g) is reached, thus avoiding the need and energization of a microcontroller for decision making in the locking system itself (1).

[0047] During the opening operation, the microcontroller (1g) actuates the motor (1b) by means of the signal adaptation electrical circuit (1h) as described above, to unlock and preferably enable the manual turning of the knob (1a1), (during the closing operation the turning of the knob (1a1) would be blocked). By having a manual opening knob (1a1), the activation energy (2a) is used only to block / unlock the turning of the knob (1a1) reducing the activation energy (2a). In addition, the movement of the motor (1b) is made independent of the lock actuator (1a) allowing the activation of the lock actuator (1a) by means of the interchangeable mechanical cylinder (1a2) with the use of a mechanical key (1c) without damaging the motor (1b) since the rotation of the motor (1b) is independent of the rotation of the interchangeable mechanical cylinder (1a2).The remote server (3) preferably in the cloud and the device with connectivity (2) communicate by means of an application (5), to send the Identification data (4) of the locking system (1) and of the user from the device with connectivity (2) to the remote server (3) and to send, from the remote server (3), the operation data (4) of the lock (1) to the device with connectivity (2). In this way, the use of a specific device with connectivity (2) is made independent and can be replaced by any other device with connectivity (2) or device capable of connecting via NFC with the locking system (1) and capable of installing the application (2b), such as tablets, laptops, etc.

[0048] In order to obtain permissions, the remote server (3) has a license and user manager (3a) that receives the permission request through the application (5) in communication with the device with connectivity (2). The license and user manager (3a) of the remote server (3) compares the requested permissions with the authorizations issued by the manager of the closing system(s) (1) for which the permission(s) are requested and stores them, once encrypted, in the database (3c). In this way, the data can be protected in a secure environment.

[0049] In addition to the user permissions, linked to a specific locking system (1) or group of locking systems (1), the database (2b) allows the storage of the operating data (4) issued to each locking system (1). These operating data (4) can be consulted by the remote manager or administrator to check the events produced in each specific locking system (1). In this type of use, such as queries to the locking system (1), the activation energy is used to obtain said data about the query to the lock (configuration, registered events, etc.) or to update data in the lock, and not to activate a motor.

[0050] The locking system (1) with autonomous power supply and manual opening with permissions managed on a remote server (3) can be incorporated into elements of variable thickness, thus being able to be incorporated into various elements such as locker doors or drawer fronts of different thicknesses and allowing the use of the locking system (1) in different mechanical assemblies for exterior locking applications, such as wheel locks (bicycles, electric scooters, etc.) or key exchange boxes present in lodgings.

[0051] Furthermore, since the locking system (1) has a mechanical adapter (1 d), connected to the lock actuator (1a), it can be installed to replace another pre-existing locking system, allowing the mechanical adapter (1 d), available in various finishes, to be connected to different locking elements (pins, latches, or cams, etc.) previously incorporated.

[0052] In the event that the connection with the remote server (3) or the cloud cannot be established, the application (5) would issue a connection failure to the device with connectivity (2), which would be transmitted to the closing system (1). In this case, the closing system (1) would internally determine whether the device with connectivity (2) has permission to operate the closure. When the closing system (1) has sufficient activation energy, transmitted via NFC by the device with connectivity (2) together with the operating data (4), the microcontroller (1g) reads the operating data and executes them. To operate the motor (1b), the passage of activation energy to the motor (1b) is allowed by means of an electrical signal adaptation circuit (1h), responsible for guiding this activation energy according to the required motor polarity (depending on the opening / closing rotation direction) as soon as the required activation energy level is reached.

[0053] The essentiality of this invention is not altered by variations in materials, shape, size and arrangement of the component elements, described in a non-limiting manner, which is sufficient for its reproduction by an expert.

Claims

CLAIMS 1 a .- Autonomous feeding and manual opening closing system (1) with permissions managed on a remote server (3) that includes: - a knob (1a1), handle or similar, - an interchangeable mechanical cylinder (1a2) activated by a mechanical key (1c), - an antenna (1f), - a lock actuator (1a), actuated by the knob (1a1) or by the interchangeable mechanical cylinder (1 a2) and connected to a mechanical adapter (1 d), - an electric motor (1 b) controlled by means of an electrical signal adaptation circuit (1 h) by a microcontroller (1 g), and - an integrated circuit (1e) for managing an NFC interface, configured to, by NFC communication, receive activation energy (2a) from a device with connectivity (2) via the antenna (1f) and communicate through the device with connectivity (2) with a remote server (3). characterized in that the remote server (3) by means of its permission manager (3b) interrogates the database (3c) transmitting the operation data (4) to the integrated circuit (1e) for managing the NFC interface through the application (5) installed in the device with connectivity (2). 2 a .- Locking system (1) with autonomous power supply and manual opening with managed permissions according to claim 1, characterized in that when the lock (1) has sufficient activation energy (2a) from the device with connectivity (2), the microcontroller (1g) reads the operating data (4) emitted by the device with connectivity and executes them. 3 a .- Closing system (1) with autonomous power supply and manual opening with managed permissions according to claim 1, characterized in that the microcontroller (1g) is capable of activating the motor (1 b) by means of the signal adaptation electrical circuit (1 h) to unlock and enable the manual turning of the knob (1 a1), handle or similar. 4 a .- Closing system (1) with autonomous power supply and manual opening with managed permissions according to claim 1, characterized in that the remote server (3) communicates with the device with connectivity (2) by means of an application (5). 5 a.- Closing system (1) with autonomous power supply and manual opening with managed permissions according to claim 1, characterized in that the remote server (3) has a license and user manager (3a) that receives the request for permissions from the application (5) installed in the device with connectivity (2) and stores these permissions in the database (3c) of the remote server (3). 6 a .- Closing system (1) with autonomous feeding and manual opening with managed permits according to claim 1, characterized in that it can be incorporated into elements of variable thickness.

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