Electronic Lock Alerts for Open Latch Storage Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
In electronic lock systems, tenants may forget to physically lock the latch after accessing a storage space, posing a security risk as they leave, especially when they are at a distance from the storage area.
Innovation Solution
An electronic locking system that includes a sensing unit to detect user departure, monitors the latch status, and sends real-time notifications via a mobile device when the latch is open, using Bluetooth or Ultra-Wideband communication to ensure the latch is closed before the user is out of range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the tenant manually locks the latch bolt, then the security of the storage space is maintained, but the tenant may forget to lock it leading to security risks
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically monitors latch status and sends notifications to the tenant's mobile device, enabling the locking process to serve itself through automated detection and alerting rather than requiring continuous manual attention
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides real-time feedback to the tenant about the latch status through mobile notifications, allowing the tenant to be informed and take corrective action if the latch is left open, creating a closed-loop security system
2Reliability
If the tenant leaves the storage area and realizes the lock is not physically locked, then security risk is identified, but by then it is too late to prevent potential unauthorized access
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary monitoring of the latch status and proactively sends notifications to the tenant before they leave or while they are still nearby, enabling preventive action rather than reactive response after the fact
Solution Approach 2:
Real-time feedback through mobile notifications alerts the tenant immediately when the latch is detected as open, providing timely information to take corrective action before leaving the premises or during the exit process
3Reliability
If the system continuously monitors latch status and user location, then security risks are reduced, but device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system leverages existing multi-functional mobile devices that already possess sensors, communication capabilities, and processing power, avoiding the need for dedicated specialized hardware and reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile device serves as an intermediary between the simple latch mechanism and the tenant, handling the complexity of continuous monitoring, location tracking, and notification management while keeping the electronic lock itself relatively simple
Data Source
AI summary
A method of providing automatic real-time notifications to at least one user by an electronic locking system includes detecting whether the user is leaving a storage space secured by the electronic lock. The method further includes determining whether a latch of the electronic lock is open upon detecting the user is leaving the storage space. The method includes monitoring a change in location of a device of the user with respect to the electronic lock and displaying a first alert notification on the device if the location of the device is at a threshold level of a communication range and the latch status is open. Subsequently, the method includes determining whether the location of the device is outside of a geofence range in presence or absence of any user response to the first alert notification and displaying a second alert notification if the latch status is still open.