US-20260127924-A1 - TRANSLATOR FOR ACCESS TO SMART LOCKS

Abstract

A wireless translator and a method for controlling a locking device using a wireless translator are provided. The wireless translator includes a wireless receiver configured to receive at least one wireless signal from a mobile device, and a processor connected to the wireless receiver. The wireless translator includes a memory system including one or more computer-readable media that include instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the wireless translator to perform the following operations: (i) receiving access credentials and a lock command for the locking device from the mobile device via a first wireless signal; (ii) verifying the access credentials; and (iv) transmitting the lock command to the home automation system via a second wireless signal, the home automation system paired with the locking device, the home automation system configured to transmit the lock command to the locking device via a third wireless signal.

Inventors

• Teri L. Briskey
• Adam Kuenzi
• Aswin S. Nair

Assignees

• HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20251230

Claims (20)

1. 1 . (canceled)
2. 2 . A wireless translator configured for controlling operation of a locking device, the wireless translator comprising: a wireless communications circuit configured to receive at least one wireless signal from a mobile device and one or more home systems, the wireless communications circuit configured for communicating with the mobile device and/or the one or more home systems via a plurality of communication protocols; a processor connected to the wireless communications circuit; and a computer-readable media comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the wireless translator to: receive access credentials and a lock command from the mobile device; verify the access credentials; and in response to verifying the access credentials, transmit a lock control signal for the locking device, wherein the wireless translator is separate from the locking device, and located remotely from the locking device.
3. 3 . The wireless translator of claim 2 , wherein the processor and wireless communications circuit are further configured to receive the access credentials and the lock command as a first wireless signal transmitted using at least one of: Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), infrared, and near-field communication.
4. 4 . The wireless translator of claim 2 , wherein the access credentials and lock command are received via a first communications protocol, and the lock control signal is transmitted using a second communications protocol.
5. 5 . The wireless translator of claim 2 , wherein the locking device is configured to actuate from a locked position to an unlocked position in response to receiving the lock control signal.
6. 6 . The wireless translator of claim 2 , wherein the locking device is configured to actuate from an unlocked position to a locked position in response to receiving the lock control signal.
7. 7 . The wireless translator of claim 2 , wherein: the one or more home systems include a home automation system device configured to: communicate with the wireless translator; and communicate with the locking device; and the lock control signal is transmitted to the home automation system for retransmission to the locking device.
8. 8 . The wireless translator of claim 2 , wherein: an alarm panel is one of the one or more home systems; and the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the wireless translator to transmit a deactivation signal for the alarm panel in response to receiving the lock command.
9. 9 . The wireless translator of claim 2 , wherein: the home systems include a home automation system device configured to: communicate with the wireless translator; communicate with the locking device; and communicate with the alarm panel; the lock control signal is transmitted to the home automation system for retransmission to the locking device; and the deactivation signal is transmitted to the home automation system for retransmission to the alarm panel.
10. 10 . The wireless translator of claim 9 , wherein the alarm panel is configured to switch from an activated mode to a deactivated mode in response to receiving the deactivation signal.
11. 11 . The wireless translator of claim 2 , further comprising a compartment for storing a key to the locking device, the compartment operably coupled with a lock actuator, the lock actuator operably coupled with the processor, the lock actuator configured to release the compartment in response to verification of the access credentials.
12. 12 . A method for using a wireless translator, the wireless translator capable of communicating with a plurality of home automation devices, the method comprising: receiving, at a wireless communication circuit of the wireless translator, access credentials and a command from the mobile device; verifying the access credentials in a processor of the wireless translator; transmitting a command signal from the wireless translator to a selected one of the home automation devices; and modifying operation of the selected one of the home automation devices in response to the transmitted command signal.
13. 13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the selected one of the plurality of home automation devices is a light fixture, and the command from the mobile device is for the light fixture, and the step of modifying operation of the selected one of the home automation devices includes modifying operation of the light fixture.
14. 14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of transmitting a command signal is performed by issuing an audible command to the light fixture.
15. 15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the selected one of the plurality of home automation devices is a thermostat for a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, and the command from the mobile device is for the HVAC system, and the step of modifying operation of the selected one of the home automation devices includes modifying operation of the thermostat.
16. 16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the selected one of the plurality of home automation devices is an alarm panel, and the command from the mobile device is for the alarm panel, and the step of modifying operation of the selected one of the home automation devices includes modifying operation of the alarm panel.
17. 17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the selected one of the plurality of home automation devices is a lock, and the command from the mobile device is for the lock, and the step of modifying operation of the selected one of the home automation devices includes modifying operation of the lock.
18. 18 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the step of transmitting a command signal is performed by issuing an audible command to the selected one of the plurality of home automation devices, wherein the audible command is a pre-recorded voice recording.
19. 19 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the step of transmitting a command signal is performed by wireless transmission to a home automation system, which is further configured to issue a communication to the selected one of the plurality of home automation devices.
20. 20 . A wireless translator configured for controlling operation of a selected one of a plurality of home automation devices, the wireless translator comprising: a wireless communications circuit configured to receive at least one wireless signal from a mobile device and one or more of the plurality of home automation devices, the wireless communications circuit configured for communicating with the mobile device and/or one or more of the plurality of home automation devices via a plurality of communication protocols; a processor connected to the wireless communications circuit; and a computer-readable media comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the wireless translator to: receive access credentials and a home automation command from the mobile device; verify the access credentials; and in response to verifying the access credentials, transmit a home automation control signal for a selected one of the plurality of home automation devices, wherein the wireless translator is separate and located separately from the selected one of the plurality of home automation devices.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION The application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/761,263, filed Jul. 1, 2024, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/650,910, filed Feb. 14, 2022, now U.S. Pat. No. 12,051,291, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/200,140 filed Feb. 17, 2021, each titled TRANSLATOR FOR ACCESS TO SMART LOCKS, the contents of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety. BACKGROUND This invention relates to access control devices. More particularly, the invention relates to the use of a translator to unlock a locking device (e.g., a smart lock, which may be installed on the front door to a home). Access control devices (e.g., access control readers, lockboxes, etc.) can be used to control various types of protected environments. For example, lockboxes can be used to control access to one or more items inside the lockbox (e.g., a key to the front door of a home). Lockboxes, sometimes referred to as “keyboxes”, are commonly used in the real estate industry. These lockboxes are commonly placed on a doorknob or porch of a house listed for sale. These lockboxes are used to protect a key for a door to the house (e.g., by storing the key within the lockbox). These lockboxes allow a real estate agent to access and show a house when the owner is unavailable. However, more and more homeowners are beginning to install and utilize smart locks to secure the front door to their house, which may affect the way real estate agents gain access. A smart lock is an electromechanical lock that is designed to lock/unlock when it receives instructions (via a wireless signal) from an authorized device (e.g., a mobile device, such as a smartphone). Many of these smart locks still retain the ability of being unlocked with a traditional key, but there are some newly developed smart locks that do not include a keyhole and as such are not able to be unlocked with a traditional key. As such, this presents a potential problem for the real estate market as the traditional means of accessing the house (i.e., using a lockbox to obtain a key to unlock the front door of the home) will not be viable for smart locks that do not include a keyhole. Additionally, since there are a variety of different smart locks on the market, each of which may include their own mobile app and/or communication protocols, it is increasingly difficult for real estate agents to obtain access to homes with smart locks when the homeowner is unavailable. This is largely due to the fact that today there are only apps that integrate on a one-to-one relationship with particular smart locks (i.e., there does not appear to be one mobile app that can provide authorized access credentials across multiple smart lock platforms). Although many of these smart locks are capable of being integrated with Alexa or Google, nothing allows a service provider (e.g., a real estate agent, delivery person, or home cleaner) to use one mobile app to access smart locks from multiple different manufacturers. Accordingly, there remains a need for an invention that makes it possible for services providers to obtain access to smart locks from multiple, different manufacturers. BRIEF DESCRIPTION According to one embodiment a wireless translator capable of communicating with a home automation system to control a locking device is provided. The wireless translator includes a wireless receiver, a process, and a memory system. The wireless receiver is configured to receive at least one wireless signal from a mobile device. The processor is connected to the wireless receiver. The memory system includes one or more computer-readable media. The computer-readable media include instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the wireless translator to perform operations including: (i) receiving access credentials and a lock command for the locking device from the mobile device via a first wireless signal; (ii) verifying the access credentials; and (iii) transmitting the lock command to the home automation system via a second wireless signal, the home automation system paired with the locking device, the home automation system configured to transmit the lock command to the locking device via a third wireless signal. In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the wireless translator is separate from the locking device and the home automation device, and located remotely from the locking device and the home automation device. In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the first wireless signal is transmitted using at least one of: Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and infrared. In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, at least one of the second wireless signal and the third wireless signal are transmitted over at least one of: a wireless personal area network (WPAN), Wi-Fi, Zigbee, LoRaWAN, 5G, Cellular, Sub-gigahertz, and ultra-wideband. In accordance