METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REMOTELY CONTROLLING ACCESS TO AN ACCESS POINT

A system for remotely controlling access to an access point is disclosed. The system comprises a lock (60); a radio-frequency mesh network gateway device (50); a server (44) and a remote communication device (30, 80) in operative communication with the server. The lock (60) comprises a locking mechanism (60F), a radio-frequency mesh network transceiver (60A) operatively coupled to the lock, a power source (60B), and at least one of a keyed entry system (60G) and a keyless entry system (60C) operatively coupled to the locking mechanism. The lock is positioned adjacent the access point and the locking mechanism is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The radio-frequency mesh network gateway device (50) comprises a housing, a radio-frequency transceiver (50A), an Internet Protocol transceiver (50C) operatively coupled to the radiofrequency transceiver, a first power supply (50B), a second power supply (50B), and a logic and memory unit (60E). The Internet Protocol transceiver is operatively connected to a computer network (40) and the radio-frequency mesh network gateway device is configured to communicate with the lock using radio frequency communications. The first power supply is operable to provide power to the mesh network gateway device and the gateway device is detached from an A/C power source and to provide power to the gateway device when integrating the lock into a mesh network, and the second power supply is operable to provide AC power from a source external to the network gateway device. The server (44) is operatively connected to the computer network; and the remote communication device is configured to remotely monitor and operate the lock. A method of remotely operating a door lock (60) is also disclosed. The method comprises moving a mesh network gateway (50) to a first position adjacent the door lock (60); powering the mesh network gateway device (50) using a battery to integrate the door lock into a mesh network; moving the mesh network gateway (50) to a second position different from the first position to provide AC power to operate the mesh network gateway (50); transmitting a first signal from a remote device to a router via a network (40); transmitting the signal from the router to the mesh network gateway; translating the signal from a network protocol to a mesh network protocol to produce a second signal; transmitting the second signal from the mesh network gateway to the door lock using radio frequency signall