Handle Arrangement with User Authentication

Abstract

The present invention relates to a handle arrangement (1) comprising a locking mechanism (10), a blocking mechanism (20), a handle (30), a display unit (50), and a control unit (40) communicatively connected to a remote server (80) and configured to display a QR code on the display unit for a user to read, wherein the QR code is unique for the handle arrangement and the time period during which the QR code is displayed, receive, from a remote server, information that the user has communicated, to the remote server, a reading of the displayed QR code together with an identification of the user, and that the identified user is authorized to open the door, and either operate the blocking mechanism enabling opening of the door by means of the handle, or enabling a second level authorization function for the user to verify its authorization, and if access is granted, operating the blocking mechanism enabling opening of the door by means of the handle.

Claims

1. A handle arrangement for arrangement on a door, window, gate or hatch openable relative a frame, the arrangement comprising a locking mechanism configured to provide, in a locking state, a locking the door, window, gate or hatch to the frame, a blocking mechanism configured to, in a blocking state, prevent the locking mechanism to be moved from the locking state, a handle operative by a user and configured to, when operated, move the locking mechanism from the locking state, characterized in that the handle arrangement further comprises a control unit communicatively connected to a remote server and capable of controlling the blocking mechanism, and a display unit controlled by the control unit and configured to display information to a user, wherein the control unit is configured to display a QR code on the display unit for a user to read by means of a mobile device capable of reading a QR code, wherein the QR code is unique for the handle arrangement and the time period during which the QR code is displayed, receive, from a remote server, information that the user has communicated, to the remote server, a reading of the displayed QR code together with an identification of the user, and that the identified user is authorized to open the door, window, gate or hatch, and in response to the received information from the remote server, enable a second level authorization function for the user to verify its authorization, and if access is granted, operate the blocking mechanism from the blocking state to an unblocking state, thereby enabling opening of the door, window, gate or hatch by means of the handle.

2. The handle arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the step of enabling a second level authorization function comprises displaying a keypad on the display unit for the user to enter a pin code, and when the correct pin code is entered, operating the blocking mechanism from the blocking state to an unblocking state, thereby enabling opening of the door, window, gate or hatch by means of the handle.

3. The handle arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the handle arrangement further comprises a tag reader, and the step of enabling a second level authorization function comprises the step of the control unit activating the tag reader, and when tag is read authorizing the user, operating the blocking mechanism from the blocking state to an unblocking state, thereby enabling opening of the door, window, gate or hatch by means of the handle.

4. The handle arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the QR code is generated on the remote server, and the control unit is further configured to receive the QR code from the remote server and then display the received QR code on the display unit.

5. The handle arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the handle arrangement further comprises a housing in which the blocking mechanism and the control unit are mounted, in which the display unit is integrated, and to which the handle is arranged.

6. The handle arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is a touch-sensitive display.

7. The handle arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to display the QR code on the display unit as a response to an initiation of an authorization procedure.

8. The handle arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the display unit is a touch-sensitive display, and the initiation is provided by a user touching the display unit.

9. The handle arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the handle arrangement further comprises an authentication activation button, and wherein an activation of said button provides said initiation of the authorization procedure.

10. The handle arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the QR code is generated as a response to the initiation of an authorization procedure.

11. The handle arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the blocking mechanism further comprises an electric motor configured to operate the blocking mechanism between the blocking state and the unblocking state, and wherein the control unit is configured to control the electric motor to operate the blocking mechanism.

12. The handle arrangement according to claim 10, wherein after said predetermined time period, the control unit is configured to either stop the displaying of the QR code, or to replace the QR code with a new QR code that is valid for authorization of a user during a new time period starting from the displaying of the new QR code.

13. A method of opening a door, window, gate or hatch provided with a handle arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, the method comprising the steps of reading a QR code displayed on the display unit of the handle arrangement by means of a mobile device capable of reading a QR code, communicating the read QR code to a remote server together with identification data of the user, in response to the remote server verified that the identified user is authorized to open the door, window, gate or hatch and the QR code has been read, enable a second level authorization function for the user to verify its authorization, in response to a verification of the second level authorization function that the user is authorized, operate the blocking mechanism from the blocking state to an unblocking state, thereby enabling opening of the door, window, gate or hatch by means of the handle such that the blocking mechanism is operated from the blocking state to an unblocking state.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein after communicating the read QR code to a remote server, receiving, to the mobile device, a pin code from the remote server as a response to the communicated QR code together with identification data, the step of enabling a second level authorization function comprises displaying a keypad on the display unit, and entering the pin code on the keypad displayed on the display unit to verify the user's authorization in the second level authorization function.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] The invention will in the following be described in more detail with reference to the enclosed drawings, wherein:

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a handle arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] FIG. 2 shows a handle arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] FIG. 3 shows a handle arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] FIG. 4 shows a handle arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] FIG. 5 shows a schematic block scheme of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0037] FIG. 6 shows a flow chart of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0038] FIG. 7 shows a flow chart of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0039] FIG. 8 shows a flow chart of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0040] FIG. 9 shows a flow chart of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0041] The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements.

[0042] FIG. 1 illustrates a handle arrangement 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The handle arrangement 1 comprises a locking mechanism 10 configured to be rotated to unlock a door, window, gate or hatch on which the handle arrangement 1 is arranged relative to a frame. The locking mechanism 10 is rotatable by means of a handle 30. The handle arrangement 1 further comprises a blocking mechanism (not shown in FIG. 1) that can be moved between a blocking state and an unblocking state. In the blocking state operation of the locking mechanism from a locking state to an unlocking state may be prevented by the blocking mechanism 20. Hence, the handle 30 may not be turned to rotate the locking mechanism 10 when the blocking mechanism 20 is in the blocking state. When the blocking mechanism 20 is in the unblocking state the locking mechanism 10 may be rotated by means of the handle 30 and the door, window, gate or hatch may be opened.

[0043] The handle 30 and the locking mechanism 10 are arranged to a housing 2 of the handle arrangement 1. Integrated in the housing is a display unit 50. As seen in FIG. 2, a control unit 40 of the handle arrangement 1 is configured to display a QR code 52 on the display unit.

[0044] With further reference to FIG. 5, the handle arrangement 1 may be configured to operate as presented below. The control unit 40 is in communicative connection with a remote server 80. The connection may be a wireless connection over a local network and/or via an internet connection. In a step S2, the control unit 40 receives a QR code 52 from the remote server 80. The QR code 52 is unique for the specific handle arrangement 1 and for the time at which it is displayed. The control unit 40 controls the display unit 50 to display S3 the QR code 52. A user may use a mobile device 70 to read T1 the QR code 52. The mobile device 70 comprises means 72 capable of reading a QR code 52. The mobile device 70 may be a mobile phone comprising a camera and a suitable application to read the QR code 52.

[0045] The control unit 40 further receives S4 information from the remote server 80 that the user has communicated T2 the read QR code 52 together with an identification of the user, and that the identified user is authorized to open the door, window, gate or hatch.

[0046] In one embodiment, the control unit 40 thereby operates S5 the blocking mechanism 20 to be moved from a blocking state to an unblocking state. The user is thereby enabled to open the door, window, gate or hatch.

[0047] In another embodiment, with further reference to FIG. 3, the control unit 40 displays S7 a keypad 54 on the display unit 50 in response to the received S4 information. Further, in response to the communication T2 of the read QR code and identification information from the mobile device 70 to the remote server 80, the user may have received T3 a pin code from the remote server 80. When the control unit 40 has displayed S7 the keypad 54 on the display unit 50, the user may enter the pin code thereon. In response to the correct pin code have been entered, the control unit 40 then operates S5 the blocking mechanism 20 to be moved from the blocking state to the unblocking state. The control unit 40 may comprise information about the correct pin code, or it may receive information about the correct pin code when receiving S4 information about the authorization of the user's reading of the QR code 52.

[0048] In one embodiment, as an alternative to the second level authorization function of the keypad 54 and pin code, the handle arrangement 1 may comprise a tag reader 42, as illustrated in FIG. 4. When the control unit 40 has received S4 information from the remote server 80 that the user has communicated a read QR code together with an approved identification, the control unit 40 enables a second level authorization function in the form of the tag reader 42 being activated to read a tag 90. The user may then use the tag 90 to further verify authorization for opening the door, window, gate or hatch. Once the control unit 40 has received a reading by the tag reader 42 verifying the user's authorization, the control unit 40 operates S5 the blocking mechanism 20 to the unblocking state. The control unit 40 may comprise information about authorization of the tag 90, or it may receive information about the tag 90 when receiving S4 information about the authorization of the user's reading of the QR code 52.

[0049] With further reference to FIG. 5, the control unit's 40 display S3 of a QR code 52 and/or receiving S2 of generated QR code 52 may be initiated by an initiation S1 of an authorization procedure. The initiation S1 may be provided by the user by touching the display unit 50 or a separate initiation button (not shown), or in another way activating the control unit to display S3 the QR code 52.

[0050] In any of the embodiments, the QR code 52 may either be generated in the remote server 80, or in the control unit 40. If the QR code is generated in the control unit 40, the step of receiving S2 a generated QR code from the remote server 80 may be avoided. The control unit 40 and the remote server 80 may in such embodiment be synchronized in order to determine the same QR code as the valid one at a specific point of time.

[0051] FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart of the method 100a according to an embodiment of the present invention as discussed above in relation to FIG. 5.

[0052] FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart of the method 100b according to an embodiment comprising the second level authorization function as discussed above. The second level authorization function may be enabled S6 by either display S7 of the keypad and receiving an entered pin code, or the reading of a tag using the tag reader.

[0053] FIG. 8 illustrates a flowchart of a method 110a of opening a door, window, gate or hatch according to an embodiment of the present invention. The method 110a comprises a first step of initiating S1 the authorization procedure. The step of initiating S1 the authorization procedure may in some embodiments be excluded, if the control unit 40 constantly displays a QR code valid at the present point of time. Next, the displayed QR code is read T1 using a mobile device 70, for instance by means of a camera 72 on the mobile device 70. The read QR code 52 is communicated T2 to the remote server 80 together with an identification of the user. The identification information may be prestored in the mobile device 70, for instance in an application in the mobile device 70 dedicated to the authorization procedure of access to doors, windows, gates or hatches having handle arrangements 1 according to the present invention. When the remote server has verified that the identified user is authorized to open the door, window, gate or hatch, such that the blocking mechanism 20 in the handle arrangement 1 has been operated to the unblocking state, the door, window, gate or hatch may be opened T5.

[0054] FIG. 9 illustrates a flowchart of a method 110b according to an embodiment. Further to the method 110a in FIG. 8, when the read QR code and identification information has been communicated S4 to the remote server 80, a pin code is received T3 from the remote server 80 to the mobile device 70. Next, the pin code is entered T4 on the display unit 50 of the handle arrangement 1. When it has been verified, either by the remote server 80 or the control unit 40, that the pin code is correct, the door, window, gate or hatch may be opened T5 following the blocking mechanism 20 have been operated to the unblocking state.

[0055] In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed preferred embodiments and examples of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purpose of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.