Remote notification of phone for home security

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/684,086 filed on Aug. 16, 2012, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

The disclosed embodiments generally pertain to locks, and particularly to smart lock systems.

A lock system is provided with a lock and a wireless device. In one form the wireless device is a smart phone. The lock may be capable of sending and receiving BLE messages to and from the wireless device, and the wireless device may be capable of sending and receiving BLE messages to and from the lock.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the following illustrations.

FIG. 1 is schematic of a wireless device receiving a message from a door lock.

Referring now to FIG. 1 , a schematic of a wireless device, such as a smart phone, receiving a message from a door lock is provided. The lock system can have NCAR capabilities through BLE. In one form a lock is provided with Bluetooth or Bluetooth low energy (“BLE”) capabilities. A customizable BLE message could be sent to the phone from the lock. For example, the lock could send a message to the phone anytime a door is opened, closes, either handle on either side of the door moves, or a shock event, such as someone trying to kick in the door.

The lock could be programmed with alarms, text messages, emergency phone calls, and the like with “Nexia-like” back end already available in a house.

A doorbell could be connected to the lock that would send a message wirelessly to the wireless device. The lock may also be capable of triggering another wireless BLE device, such as a wireless door chime that could be triggerable by the lock (e.g. Schlage button).

In one form the wireless device includes a microphone that can be used to create audio memos that could then be sent to the lock. In one form the wireless device is a smart phone. The lock could then replay these audio memos to a person having the proper credentials, such as another specific smart phone associated with the lock. A speech to text feature could also be incorporated to create grocery lists, to do lists, and the like, and store it in the lock for retrieval later such as before heading out the door or for leaving a reminder when coming home. A parent could, for example, leave a to do list for a child when they come home from school.

The lock system would incorporate any number of wireless devices and particularly any number of smart phones. The lock could be installed, then an appropriate app could be installed on the phone to be associated that particular lock. The lock manufacturer would not have to supply any particular wireless device.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the inventions are desired to be protected.

It should also be understood that while the use of words such as preferable, preferably, preferred or more preferred utilized in the description above indicate that the feature so described may be more desirable, it nonetheless may not be necessary and embodiments lacking the same may be contemplated as within the scope of the invention, the scope being defined by the claims that follow. In reading the claims, it is intended that when words such as “a,” “an,” “at least one,” or “at least one portion” are used there is no intention to limit the claim to only one item unless specifically stated to the contrary in the claim. When the language “at least a portion” and/or “a portion” is used item can include a portion and/or the entire item unless specifically stated to the contrary.