Wireless Door Lock Credential Provisioning via Mobile Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional door lock systems in hotels require guests to obtain physical key cards from the front desk, which is inconvenient and can lead to key loss or misplacement, and do not offer a seamless self-service option for accessing rooms.
Innovation Solution
A system that allows guests to use their portable consumer electronic devices, such as smartphones, to acquire and wirelessly communicate security credentials to a door lock system, enabling secure access to their rooms without the need for traditional key cards, by integrating a low power wireless receiver with the lock controller and utilizing existing door lock credentials for verification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If physical key cards are used for door access, then security credentials can be verified by the door lock system, but guests must obtain them from the front desk which is inconvenient and can lead to key loss or misplacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical key card system with a wireless communication system. The mobile device uses wireless protocols (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC) to communicate security credentials to the door lock system, eliminating the need for physical key cards that can be lost or misplaced.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital copy of the key card functionality within the mobile device. The security credential stored in the mobile device is a digital equivalent that performs the same access function as the physical key card, allowing guests to access their rooms without carrying physical cards.
2Productivity
If physical key cards are distributed from the front desk, then guests can access their rooms, but staff involvement is required which reduces efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables guests to self-provision access credentials through the mobile application. Guests can automatically receive their room access credentials when they check in or when they approach their room, without requiring front desk staff to manually issue key cards. The system autonomously manages credential distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring the mobile device with the necessary application and credentials before the guest needs them. The system can pre-provision access rights when the reservation is made or when the guest checks in remotely, so that guests have immediate access upon arrival without waiting at the front desk.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a wireless receiver is integrated with the lock controller, then mobile devices can communicate credentials wirelessly, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the door lock system with multi-functionality by integrating a wireless receiver that can handle multiple wireless communication protocols (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC) in addition to the existing key card reader functionality. This universal approach allows the same hardware platform to support both traditional and modern access methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a wireless receiver as an intermediary component between the mobile device and the lock controller. This mediator translates wireless signals from the mobile device into the credential format that the lock controller can process, maintaining compatibility with the existing key card verification system while adding new functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
Some embodiments comprises methods of providing a guest with security credentials to gain access to a guest room, the methods comprise: identifying a user; identifying a guest room of multiple guests rooms at a property and with which the user is intended to occupy; acquiring a first security credential intended to be validated by a door lock system of a door to the identified guest room; and causing the first security credentials to be communicated, over a distributed network, to a portable consumer electronic user device associated with the user to be stored on the user device such that the user device is configured to wirelessly communicate the first security credential to the door lock system to gain access to the guest room.