Acoustic Lock Programming via Mobile Phone Encryption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Programming self-standing locks with access rights is complex and requires specialized equipment and professional intervention, limiting their deployment, especially in residential applications where users want to manage their own locks without professional help.
Innovation Solution
A method using encrypted acoustic accreditations transmitted from a remote management site to a mobile phone, allowing users to program locks by reproducing coded tones picked up by the lock's microphone, enabling simple, secure, and flexible access right management without specific equipment or training.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If specialized programming equipment and professional intervention are used, then programming precision and reliability are improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mobile phone as an intermediary device that mediates between the user and the lock device. The mobile phone transmits acoustic codes containing programming instructions to the lock, eliminating the need for specialized programming equipment. This intermediary approach maintains programming reliability while dramatically improving ease of operation for ordinary users.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical or electronic programming interfaces with an acoustic communication system. Instead of requiring physical connection or complex button sequences, the system uses sound waves transmitted through the mobile phone's speaker and captured by the lock's microphone, substituting a simple acoustic mechanism for complex programming hardware.
2Manufacturing precision
If specialized programming equipment is used, then manufacturing precision is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the mobile phone universal by utilizing its existing multifunctional capabilities (speaker, microphone, processor) for lock programming. This eliminates the need to manufacture specialized programming devices, as any standard mobile phone can serve this purpose, dramatically improving ease of manufacture and deployment while maintaining programming precision through the phone's sophisticated processing capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service programming where users can program their own locks using their personal mobile phones without requiring professional intervention. This eliminates the need for manufacturers to provide or maintain specialized programming equipment, simplifying the manufacturing and deployment process while ensuring accurate programming through the phone's built-in capabilities.
3Adaptability or versatility
If centralized network management is implemented, then access rights management is improved, but device complexity and adaptability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the access rights management functionality from the centralized network and embeds it directly in the lock device. The lock stores multiple acoustic codes locally, each representing different access rights for different users. This extraction eliminates the need for continuous network connectivity and complex centralized management infrastructure, reducing system complexity while maintaining full adaptability for managing multiple users and access permissions locally.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables non-professionals to easily program and update lock access rights using a conventional mobile phone, enhancing security and flexibility, and allowing for widespread adoption in residential settings without the need for professional intervention.
Implementation Method 1
the phone comprises an electroacoustic transducer capable of reproducing the acoustic accreditations; the lock device comprises an electroacoustic transducer capable of picking up the acoustic accreditations reproduced by the phone's transducer
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a system implementing a mobile telephone (20) to which a master user authorized to program a lock (22) has access. A remote management site (10) includes a database (12) of locks and authorized users, having, for each lock, a list of authorized users with corresponding access rights, as well as an accreditation data generator (14). The accreditations are encrypted acoustic accreditations in the form of single-use audio signals, suitable for programming locks indexed in the database by the access rights indexed in the database and/or by additional data. The system includes a means for securely transmitting the encrypted acoustic accreditations from the management site to the mobile telephone of the master user. The lock (22) includes an electro-acoustic transducer (54) that is suitable for picking up acoustic accreditations reproduced by the telephone placed beforehand near the lock, as well as a means for recognizing, analyzing and authenticating the picked-up acoustic accreditations, and for programming access rights and/or additional data upon recognizing a compliant accreditation.