Secure smartphone-operated locking device

Abstract

A battery-powered locking device, such as a trigger-lock which is configured to be disposed on a gun with a trigger for firing, includes a data receiver, a data memory and a logic device for determining whether data received by the receiver is the same, or substantially the same, as data stored in the memory. If a data match is indicated, the logic device causes an electromagnetic device to move a trigger-locking member to an unlocked position, permitting the gun to be fired. A separate electronic gun key is provided to transmit gun unlock data to the data receiver of the trigger-locking device. This gun unlock data may be a password, a long pseudo-random number or biologic data identifying the gun owner or some other person who is licensed or otherwise authorized to fire the gun.

Claims

1. Locking apparatus which is unlocked only by an authorized person, said apparatus comprising: (a) a locking device, configured to be installed on an item to be secured to prevent the unauthorized use of the item, having a first source of electrical power and including, in combination: (1) a locking member, movable between a locked position and an unlocked position; (2) an electromechanical device coupled to the first source of power and to the locking member for moving the locking member from the locked position to the unlocked position in response to at least one first electric signal; (3) a wireless receiving (“R”) device, coupled to the first source of power, for receiving second unlock data; (4) a first data memory, coupled to the first source of power, for storing first unlock data pertaining to an authorized person who is authorized to unlock the locking device, said first unlock data representing biologic identifying information (“bioID”) about at least one person who is authorized to unlock the locking device; and (5) a first logic device, coupled to the first source of power, to the R device and to the first data memory, for comparing said second unlock data received by the R device with said first unlock data stored in the first data memory and for producing said at least one first electric signal to cause the electromechanical device to move the locking member from the locked position to the unlocked position, when the first unlock data stored in said first data memory and the second unlock data received by the R device are substantially the same; (b) a phone app for a portable smartphone which includes a second source of electrical power and comprises the following components: (1) a wireless transmitting (“T”) device coupled to said second source of power for transmitting said second unlock data to said R device; (2) a second data memory, coupled to said second source of power, for storing said second unlock data; (3) a second logic device, coupled to said second source of power, to said T device and to said second data memory; and (4) an input device, coupled to said second logic device and to said second source of power, for producing digital data representing biologic identifying information (“bioID”) pertaining to a putative authorized person who wishes to unlock the locking device, said phone app being operative to control said second logic device (i) to generate said second unlock data from said bioID, (ii) to store said second unlock data in said second data memory and (iii) to cause said T device to transmit said second unlock data to said R device; thereby to unlock said locking device when said second unlock data stored in said second data memory and transmitted to said locking device is substantially the same as said first unlock data stored in said first data memory.

2. The locking apparatus of claim 1, wherein said input device includes a camera, coupled to said second logic device, for inputting an image of a bodily aspect of said putative authorized person as said biologic identifying information, and wherein the second logic device is operative to receive said digital data representing said image as said biologic identifying information and to generate said second unlock data therefrom.

3. The locking apparatus of claim 1, wherein said input device includes a microphone, coupled to said second logic device, for inputting a voice of said putative authorized person as said biologic identifying information, and wherein the second logic device is operative to receive said digital data representing said voice as said biologic identifying information and to generate said second unlock data therefrom.

4. The locking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the portable smartphone further includes a keypad, coupled to said second logic device, for inputting alphanumeric data, and wherein the second logic device is further operative to process a password entered into the keypad by the putative authorized person and to generate said second unlock data therefrom for transmission by said T device to said R device, thereby to unlock the locking device when enhanced security in not required.

5. The locking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the portable smartphone further includes a keypad, coupled to said second logic device, for inputting alphanumeric data whereby a person may enter a lock command, and wherein the second logic device is further operative in response to said input to generate a lock signal representing said lock command, said data receiver as further operative to receive said lock signal, and said first logic device, upon receipt of said lock signal, is operative to produce at least one second electric signal to cause the electromechanical device to move the locking member from the unlocked position to the locked position.

6. The locking apparatus of claim 1, wherein said phone app is further operative to control said second logic device to determine whether the bioID of said putative authorized person is the bioID of a living person, and to cause said T device to transmit said second unlock data to said R device only if the bioID is determined to be that from a living person.

7. The locking apparatus of claim 6, wherein said input device includes a camera, coupled to said second logic device, for inputting an image of a bodily aspect of said putative authorized person as said biologic identifying information, wherein said smartphone includes a light, and wherein said phone app is further operative (i) to cause said light to illuminate, thereby to cause said putative authorized person to move involuntarily, causing a change in said image, and (ii) to recognize said change in said image as a determination that said image was made from a living person.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a representational diagram showing a smartphone and a gun that is equipped with a gun-lock according to the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a close-up view of the trigger region of the gun of FIG. 1 with the gun-lock installed.

(3) FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a preferred embodiment of the gun-lock apparatus according to the present invention.

(4) FIG. 4 is a detailed, representational diagram showing a preferred embodiment of the trigger-locking device of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 5, comprising FIGS. 5A and 5B, is a representational diagram showing an alternative embodiment of the electromechanical apparatus used in the trigger-locking device.

(6) FIG. 6 is a flowchart explaining the operation of a smartphone-enabled lock with enhanced security in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(7) The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1-6 of the drawings. Identical elements in the various figures are identified with the same reference numerals.

(8) Briefly in overview, a battery-operated trigger-locking device is permanently attached to/installed in a gun in a recess behind the trigger in the lower receiver mechanism. In its default condition, a movable member is in a forward position, blocking rearward movement of the trigger. When unlocked, the movable member is drawn rearward to allow movement of the trigger.

(9) The trigger-locking device has a Bluetooth (or other type) receiver and a stored number. When this particular number is received from a smartphone or similar device, the trigger-locking device moves the movable member rearward releasing the trigger

(10) FIG. 1 illustrates this configuration. A smartphone 10 has an App 11 called “Gunlock” that presents a separate button called “Gun Unlock” for each gun the smartphone owner owns or is licensed to use. By pressing the button on the App, the owner sends a password, a pseudo-random number or biologic ID data by a Bluetooth wireless connection to a trigger-locking device 12 installed permanently in a gun, e.g. by a strong adhesive.

(11) FIG. 2 shows the trigger-locking device 12 with a movable member 14. When the device receives a data packet that matches the corresponding data stored in its memory, it draws the movable member 14 back, allowing the trigger to fire the weapon.

(12) The smartphone can be made secure in any number of ways. It can be password protected or, preferably, it can use of its camera to verify the ID of the person holding this device. For example, the security App may use face recognition or iris recognition software to identify the owner from the camera image.

(13) When the trigger lock 12 is first used, the Gunlock App can generate a pseudo-random number and send it to the trigger-locking device for storage in its permanent memory. Once stored, this number can be changed only by an authorized person, such as the gun owner, or a “registration person” that is duly licensed to perform this function, e.g. by a local or national government. Thereafter, whenever the smartphone sends this number again, the trigger-locking device releases the trigger so the gun may be fired. Before sending the unlock number, the user of the smartphone may be required to identify himself/herself by entering biologic identifying information into the phone for a recognition algorithm. Alternatively, the biologic ID information may be sent to the trigger-locking device for matching with corresponding biologic identifying data stored therein. In this case, the biologic identifying data, rather than an unlock number must be originally sent and stored in the data memory.

(14) Firing the gun is therefore a two-step process for the gun owner or authorized user:

(15) (1) Verify his/her identity with the smartphone; and

(16) (2) Press the Gun Unlock button to enable the trigger lock to release the trigger.

(17) The trigger remains unlocked until the gun user presses another button on the Gunlock app, appropriately called “Gun-lock,” or until the trigger lock times out and automatically locks itself by restoring the movable member to the locked position.

(18) The trigger-locking device 12 is preferably powered by a replaceable and/or rechargeable battery (not shown).

(19) FIG. 3 shows the individual elements of the gun-lock apparatus. The smartphone 10 transmits to a receiver 16 in the trigger-locking device 12, preferably via a wireless Bluetooth connection. Alternatively, the smartphone may be coupled to the receiver by a wire connection, for example through a USE port. The receiver 16 and a data memory 18 are both coupled to a logic device 20 that compares the data received from both the receiver and the memory and sends an electric signal to an electromechanical device 22 when and if there is a match.

(20) If biologic ID data has been sent to the receiver by the smartphone 10, the data may not be an exact match; however, the received signature data may be sufficiently close to the stored signature data to satisfy the requirement that the person holding the smartphone is indeed the owner of the gun.

(21) The electromechanical device is preferably a micro-motor 22 that turns a shaft 23 through a speed reduction gear mechanism. In this way, a very small motor may generate sufficient torque to move the movable member 14 between a locked position, adjacent the gun trigger, and an unlocked position which permits the trigger to fire the gun. The relatively large forces that may be applied against the movable member by the trigger when in the locked position are taken up by a rotatable cam 24, that presses against the movable member against the force of a spring 28. The spring 28, which is connected to a stationary member attached to the gun, biases the movable member 14 toward the unlocked position. The cam 24 abuts a cam surface on the underside of the movable member 14 and, as it rotates, it moves the movable member toward the locked position adjacent the trigger.

(22) FIG. 4 illustrates this electromechanical mechanism in greater detail. The cam 24 is arranged on the reduction gear 23 which is driven by a small gear on the shaft of the motor 22. The spring 26, which is attached at 28 to the trigger guard 30, biases the moveable member in the unlocked position. The cam presses against a flat surface 32 on the inside of the moveable member 14 to move the member 14 to the locked position.

(23) Alternatively, a servo-motor can be substituted for the motor and cam mechanism to move the movable member 14.

(24) The movable member 14 surrounds the trigger guard 30 of the gun in such a way as to prevent tampering. Preferably a tamper detecting device is provided which signals the logic device 20 when it detects tampering so that this device can (1) signal the motor 22 to move the movable member 14 into the locked position, and (2) sound or transmit a warning signal.

(25) FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the electromechanical apparatus for locking and unlocking the trigger-locking device. FIG. 5A shows a movable armature 40 in the locked posit (i.e., moved linearly to the left in the figure). This armature presses against the moveable member 14 of the locking device, preventing actuation of the gun trigger. Sections 44 and 46 of the armature contain magnetic material that is actuated by coils 48 and 50. The armature is held in position by a locking pin 56 that is selectively pressed by a third coil 54 into receptacles or detents 52A and 52B in the armature to fix the armature in the unlocked and locked positions, respectively.

(26) FIG. 5B shows the armature in the unlocked position (moved to the right in the figure).

(27) FIG. 6 is a flowchart detailing the operation of the smartphone-enabled lock. The left-hand side of the chart is an exemplary algorithm for the phone-app, whereas the right-hand side illustrates the operation of the lock.

(28) When someone wishes to unlock the lock, the first step is to select a mode on the smartphone as shown by the block 100. The person can select between a “normal mode,” in which only a passcode is used to unlock the lock, or an “enhanced security mode,” in which biologic identifying information is captured by the smartphone and compared with the prestored bioIDs of any number of authorized persons to unlock the lock.

(29) In the normal mode the person enters an alphanumeric code, such as a four-digit number, in block 102, which code is compared to pre-stored passcodes in the smartphone memory at block 104. If there is a match with one of the stored passcodes, the same or a different passcode is transmitted to the lock by transmitter 106. If there is no match, a “trial counter,” which has been initialized to zero at the start of the process, is incremented by one at block 108. The trial count is then compared in block 110 to a number, such as five, which will be the number of times the person is allowed to try to open the lock with a passcode. If the count is less than or equal to five, the person is prompted to enter another passcode. It the count in the trial counter exceeds five, the unlocking process in the normal mode ceases.

(30) If enhanced security is desired, the smartphone can be set to accept only the enhanced security mode. In this case, the person who wishes to unlock the lock must enter biologic identification information (“bioID”) in the smartphone, for example by taking a “selfie” (facial image or iris image) using the smartphone camera or by speaking into the smartphone microphone, in block 112. This bioID is compared with pre-stored bioIDs of persons authorized to open the lock in block 114. If no match is found, a second trial counter is incremented in block 116 and the trial count is compared to a maximum number of tries, such as three, in block 118. If the count is less than or equal to three, the person as allowed to enter another bioID (either the same or of a different type). If the count exceeds three, the process is stopped.

(31) If a match with the bioID is found, the smartphone may cause its light to flash in block 120 to involuntarily reduce the person's iris size, or it may take a video to detect a persons facial movement, such as eye's blinking, to detect movement, in block 122, to ensure that the person is real (not a photograph). If movement is detected, a signal representing the bioID is transmitted to the lock via transmitter 124.

(32) As shown in the right side of the flowchart, a receiver 126 or 128 in the lock receives the passcode or bioID, respectively, and this information is compared, in blocks 130 and 132, to pre-stored passcodes or bioIDs, respectively, associated with those persons who are authorized to unlock the lock.

(33) Once an authorized person has been identified, that person is authorized not only to unlock the lock, but also lock it as well.

(34) The lock is instructed to respond to either the normal mode or the enhanced security mode from a signal received from a transmitter 134 which actuates a toggle swatch 136. When operating in the normal mode the switch 136 maintains an enable signal on the receiver 126 and removes it from receiver 128. Conversely, when in the enhanced security mode the switch 136 maintains an enable signal on the receiver 218 and removes it from receiver 126.

(35) It will be understood that the transmitters 106, 124 and 134 may be one in the same transmitter.

(36) There has thus been shown and described a novel secure smartphone-operated lock which fulfills all the objects and advantages sought therefor. Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the subject invention will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering this specification and the accompanying drawings which disclose the preferred embodiments thereof. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention, which is to be limited only by the claims which follow.