US 12,243,364 B2
Method and means for virtual property keys
Tomi Karjalainen, Oulu (FI)
Assigned to ILOQ OY, Oulu (FI)
Filed by iLOQ Oy, Oulu (FI)
Filed on Nov. 14, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/508,469.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/499,622, filed on May 2, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0371218 A1, Nov. 7, 2024
Int. Cl. G07C 9/00 (2020.01)
CPC G07C 9/00182 (2013.01) [G07C 2009/00277 (2013.01)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for locking and unlocking at least one door to a property unit or a vehicle, comprising a cloud server, a mobile device used by a user and a communication network,
wherein the mobile device has a mobile application connected to the cloud server configured to store a virtual key for facilitating the locking or unlocking a lock of a door,
wherein the virtual key is configured to be sent to a second mobile application also connected to the cloud server,
wherein the mobile application is arranged to be used by a permanent user of the property unit or vehicle to configure a restricted virtual key,
wherein the restricted virtual key will at least one of: (i) only open a restricted set of doors from all doors in the property unit or vehicle, or (ii) only open one or more doors for a restricted period of time,
wherein the restricted virtual key is configured to be sent by the permanent user to another user via a communication network to a messaging inbox of a second mobile device associated with the other user, and
the restricted virtual key from the messaging inbox is configured to allow the other user to open the restricted set of doors during the restricted period of time at the property unit or vehicle by user activation of the restricted virtual key in a message or an email received in the messaging inbox, causing the restricted virtual key to be transmitted via near field communication (NFC) to a lock, wherein user activation of the restricted virtual key comprises tapping an icon integrated into the message or the email, the icon being representative of the restricted virtual key,
wherein the restricted virtual key is a code that comprises both an access key to the property unit or vehicle, and a block list listing blocked locations and blocked times for locations,
wherein the door has an NFC reader which is configured to read the restricted virtual key, and open the lock in the door if the restricted virtual key grants access through the door at the time of use, and
wherein the lock is a self-powered lock deriving its operating power from insertion of the virtual key via an NFC connection from the messaging inbox.