Intelligent key system
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- an electronic key comprising;
a key memory configured to store (1) a key identifier for the electronic key, and (2) an access code;
a power source;
a key wireless communication interface; and
a button;
an electronic lock comprising;
a lock memory configured to store (1) an access code, and (2) audit data that describes a plurality of access attempts with respect to the electronic lock;
a processor; and
a lock wireless communication interface; and
a computer system that is external to the electronic key and the electronic lock;
wherein the electronic key, in response to user selection of the button with the electronic key being within wireless range of the electronic lock, is configured to wirelessly communicate with the electronic lock via the key wireless communication interface and the lock wireless communication interface to permit a comparison between the access code from the key memory and the access code from the lock memory;
wherein the electronic lock is further configured to unlock contingent on the comparison resulting in a determination that the access code from the key memory matches the access code from the lock memory;
wherein the electronic key is further configured to wirelessly transmit the key identifier in the key memory via the key wireless communication interface in response to user selection of the button;
wherein the lock wireless interface is further configured to receive the transmitted key identifier in response to user selection of the button with the electronic key and the electronic lock being within wireless range of each other;
wherein the processor is configured to record the received key identifier in the audit data in the lock memory as an access attempt with respect to the electronic lock;
wherein, contingent on the electronic key being within wireless range of the electronic lock, the electronic lock is further configured to transfer the audit data from the lock memory to the electronic key for storage of the audit data in the key memory; and
wherein the computer system is further configured to receive the audit data from the key memory of the electronic key.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques for using wireless electronic keys with devices are disclosed. For example, a computer system can program an access code into a programmable wireless electronic key. An action or function of the device can then be made contingent on there being a match between the access code from the key and an access code known by the device. Further still, other operational control parameters (such as time limits) can be programmed into the key to restrict the ability of the key to control an action or function of the device. Also, audit data such as device access history can be wirelessly transferred from a device to an electronic key, whereupon the key can later transfer this audit data to a computer for analysis.
338 Citations
70 Claims
-
1. A system comprising:
-
an electronic key comprising; a key memory configured to store (1) a key identifier for the electronic key, and (2) an access code; a power source; a key wireless communication interface; and a button; an electronic lock comprising; a lock memory configured to store (1) an access code, and (2) audit data that describes a plurality of access attempts with respect to the electronic lock; a processor; and a lock wireless communication interface; and a computer system that is external to the electronic key and the electronic lock; wherein the electronic key, in response to user selection of the button with the electronic key being within wireless range of the electronic lock, is configured to wirelessly communicate with the electronic lock via the key wireless communication interface and the lock wireless communication interface to permit a comparison between the access code from the key memory and the access code from the lock memory; wherein the electronic lock is further configured to unlock contingent on the comparison resulting in a determination that the access code from the key memory matches the access code from the lock memory; wherein the electronic key is further configured to wirelessly transmit the key identifier in the key memory via the key wireless communication interface in response to user selection of the button; wherein the lock wireless interface is further configured to receive the transmitted key identifier in response to user selection of the button with the electronic key and the electronic lock being within wireless range of each other; wherein the processor is configured to record the received key identifier in the audit data in the lock memory as an access attempt with respect to the electronic lock; wherein, contingent on the electronic key being within wireless range of the electronic lock, the electronic lock is further configured to transfer the audit data from the lock memory to the electronic key for storage of the audit data in the key memory; and wherein the computer system is further configured to receive the audit data from the key memory of the electronic key. - View Dependent Claims (2)
-
-
3. A system comprising:
-
a programmable electronic key comprising; a processor; a key memory; a power source; a key wireless communication interface configured to communicate via optical or radio frequency (RF) signals; an indicator; and a button; a device for securely holding a product, the device comprising; a device memory; a device wireless communication interface configured for communication with the key wireless communication interface; and a circuit configured to selectively control a function for the device; and a computer system that is external to the device and the programmable electronic key; wherein the computer system is configured to (1) generate an access code for use with the programmable electronic key and the device, and (2) provide the access code to the programmable electronic key; wherein the programmable electronic key is configured to receive the access code from the computer system and store the access code in the key memory; wherein the programmable electronic key and the device are further configured to be operatively cooperative in response to a user selection of the button with the programmable electronic key and the device being within wireless range of each other such that (1) the programmable electronic key and the device will wirelessly communicate via the key wireless communication interface and the device wireless communication interface to permit a comparison between the access code from the key memory and an access code from the device memory, and (2) the circuit will change a control state of the function contingent on the comparison resulting in a determination that the access code from the key memory matches the access code from the device memory; wherein the key memory is further configured to store temporal limit data that temporally limits an ability of the programmable electronic key to cause a change in the control state of the device function; wherein the computer system is further configured to update the temporal limit data for the programmable electronic key in response to the programmable electronic key being in communication with the computer system; wherein the computer system is further configured to communicate with the programmable electronic key to update the temporal limit data for the programmable electronic key in response to user selection of the button when the programmable electronic key is within wireless range of the computer system; and wherein the indicator is configured to indicate an operational status for the programmable electronic key with respect to the temporal limit data. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 68, 69, 70)
-
-
17. A system comprising:
-
a programmable electronic key comprising; a processor; a key memory; a power source; a key wireless communication interface configured to communicate via optical or radio frequency (RF) signals; an indicator; and a button; an electronic lock comprising; a lock memory; and a lock wireless communication interface configured for communication with the key wireless communication interface; and a computer system that is external to the electronic lock and the programmable electronic key; wherein the computer system is configured to (1) generate an access code for use with the programmable electronic key and the electronic lock, and (2) provide the access code to the programmable electronic key; wherein the programmable electronic key is configured to receive the access code from the computer system and store the access code in the key memory; and wherein the programmable electronic key and the electronic lock are further configured to be operatively cooperative in response to a user selection of the button with the programmable electronic key and the electronic lock being within wireless range of each other such that (1) the programmable electronic key and the electronic lock will wirelessly communicate via the key wireless communication interface and the lock wireless communication interface to permit a comparison between the access code from the key memory and an access code from the lock memory, and (2) the electronic lock will unlock contingent on the comparison resulting in a determination that the access code from the key memory matches the access code from the lock memory; wherein the key memory is further configured to store temporal limit data that temporally limits an ability of the programmable electronic key to unlock the electronic lock; wherein the computer system is further configured to update the temporal limit data for the programmable electronic key in response to the programmable electronic key being in communication with the computer system; wherein the computer system is further configured to communicate with the programmable electronic key to update the temporal limit data for the programmable electronic key in response to user selection of the button when the programmable electronic key is within wireless range of the computer system; and wherein the indicator is configured to indicate an operational status for the programmable electronic key with respect to the temporal limit data. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67)
-
-
21. A system comprising:
-
a programmable electronic key comprising; a processor; a key memory; a power source; a first key wireless communication interface; a second key wireless communication interface; and a button; a device for securely holding a product, the device comprising; a device memory; a device wireless communication interface; and a circuit configured to selectively control a function for the device; and a computer system that is external to the device and the programmable electronic key; wherein the computer system is configured to (1) generate an access code for use with the programmable electronic key and the device, and (2) provide the access code to the programmable electronic key; wherein the programmable electronic key is configured to receive the access code from the computer system and store the access code in the key memory; wherein the programmable electronic key and the device are further configured to be operatively cooperative in response to a user selection of the button with the programmable electronic key and the device being within wireless range of each other such that (1) the programmable electronic key and the device will wirelessly communicate via the first key wireless communication interface and the device wireless communication interface to permit a comparison between the access code from the key memory and an access code from the device memory, and (2) the circuit will change a control state of the function contingent on the comparison resulting in a determination that the access code from the key memory matches the access code from the device memory; wherein the programmable electronic key and the device are further configured to be operatively cooperative in response to the user selection of the button with the programmable electronic key and the device being within wireless range of each other such that the programmable electronic key and the device will wirelessly communicate via the first key wireless communication interface and the device wireless communication interface to create audit trail data in the key memory that includes data indicative of an access history for the programmable electronic key with respect to the device; and wherein the programmable electronic key is further configured to wirelessly communicate the audit trail data from the key memory to the computer system via the second key wireless communication interface. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
-
Specification