A method for outputting a notification about the existence of a status of a locking system that is to be avoided, with the locking system having an electronic knob and a locking device which may be actuated with the electronic knob, with a force being transmitted from the electronic knob to the locking device in order to transfer the locking system from a bolted to an unbolted status and/or from an unbolted status to a bolted status. The method includes: detecting an actual status of the locking system, determining a target status of the locking system depending on predefined criteria, comparing the actual status with the target status of the locking system and determining whether there is a discrepancy between the actual status and target status of the locking system, and outputting at least one notification if there is a discrepancy between the actual status and target status.

A method for outputting a notification about the existence of a status of a locking system that is to be avoided, with the locking system having an electronic knob and a locking device which may be actuated with the electronic knob, with a force being transmitted from the electronic knob to the locking device in order to transfer the locking system from a bolted to an unbolted status and/or from an unbolted status to a bolted status. The method includes: detecting an actual status of the locking system, determining a target status of the locking system depending on predefined criteria, comparing the actual status with the target status of the locking system and determining whether there is a discrepancy between the actual status and target status of the locking system, and outputting at least one notification if there is a discrepancy between the actual status and target status.

A system for securely depositing an item includes: a deposit box with a door configured to provide selective access to an interior space in the deposit box; a lock mechanism configured to attach to the deposit box to selectively block the door from opening; a first proximity sensor operatively connected to the lock mechanism to operate the lock mechanism to block the door or allow the door to open; a second proximity sensor configured to be attached to at least one of: a delivery person and a piece of delivery equipment; a third proximity sensor; and a first transmitter operatively connected to the lock mechanism and configured to transmit a signal indicative of operating information regarding the lock mechanism, and wherein the deposit box is at least 18 inches wide and 24 inches long.

A system for securely depositing an item includes: a deposit box with a door configured to provide selective access to an interior space in the deposit box; a lock mechanism configured to attach to the deposit box to selectively block the door from opening; a first proximity sensor operatively connected to the lock mechanism to operate the lock mechanism to block the door or allow the door to open; a second proximity sensor configured to be attached to at least one of: a delivery person and a piece of delivery equipment; a third proximity sensor; and a first transmitter operatively connected to the lock mechanism and configured to transmit a signal indicative of operating information regarding the lock mechanism, and wherein the deposit box is at least 18 inches wide and 24 inches long.

A system for securely depositing or retrieving an item includes: a deposit box with a door configured to provide selective access to an interior space in the deposit box; a lock mechanism configured to attach to the deposit box to selectively block the door from opening; and a proximity sensor operatively connected to the lock mechanism to operate the lock mechanism to allow the door to open.

A system for securely depositing or retrieving an item includes: a deposit box with a door configured to provide selective access to an interior space in the deposit box; a lock mechanism configured to attach to the deposit box to selectively block the door from opening; and a proximity sensor operatively connected to the lock mechanism to operate the lock mechanism to allow the door to open.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for interaction with a connected outdoor gate lock. The methods, systems, and apparatus include actions of detecting, by a control unit, that a gate of a fence that encloses a building has opened, in response to detecting that the gate of the fence that encloses the building has opened, determining, by the control unit, whether (i) a pet is in the building and (ii) a pet door of the building is unlocked, and in response to determining (i) that the pet is in the building and (ii) that the pet door of the building is unlocked, locking, by the control unit, the pet door of the building.

An electromechanical lock includes a main housing and a lock housing. The lock housing includes a locking element such as a bolt or a latch that can be translated between a locked position and an unlocked position by an actuator. The lock housing can be mounted to the main housing in more than one orientation. The main housing can include a circuit board on which multiple receivers are mounted, and the lock housing can include a connector, such that the connector will engage one of the receivers in any of the multiple orientations to provide power to the actuator. The electromechanical lock can also include a wireless reader and capacitive sensor to conserve power, where the only time the wireless reader emits interrogating signals is after the capacitive sensor is triggered by the user.

Systems and methods for a tamper-evident cargo container seal bolt lock are disclosed herein. The device can include a receiving member, a conductive bolt member adapted to be snap-locked into the receiving member, and a plastic encapsulant which tethers the bolt member to the receiving member. The encapsulant can contain an electrically conductive medium, such as a wire, which runs from the receiving member to the second end of the bolt. A sensory circuit disposed within the receiving member can be configured to sense whether the circuit has been interrupted (e.g., if the bolt has been cut). In the event of an interruption, the circuit can record the present time and/or date in memory. An RFID transponder disposed within the encapsulant or the receiving member can then transmit the recorded date/time to an RFID interrogator if a dispute subsequently arises as to when the lock had been broken.

Systems and methods for a tamper-evident cargo container seal bolt lock are disclosed herein. The device can include a receiving member, a conductive bolt member adapted to be snap-locked into the receiving member, and a plastic encapsulant which tethers the bolt member to the receiving member. The encapsulant can contain an electrically conductive medium, such as a wire, which runs from the receiving member to the second end of the bolt. A sensory circuit disposed within the receiving member can be configured to sense whether the circuit has been interrupted (e.g., if the bolt has been cut). In the event of an interruption, the circuit can record the present time and/or date in memory. An RFID transponder disposed within the encapsulant or the receiving member can then transmit the recorded date/time to an RFID interrogator if a dispute subsequently arises as to when the lock had been broken.