Electronic key device a system and a method of managing electronic key information

• US 20020180582A1
• Filed: 05/21/2002
• Published: 12/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smart Lock, LLC (East Texas Patent Management LLC)
• Original Assignee: Bording Data A/S (Hans Holger Therp, PhD)
• Inventors: Nielsen, Ernst Lykke
• Granted Patent: US 7,012,503 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.6
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00261 the keyless data carrier having more than one function
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00785 by light
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/21 having a variable access code
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security

Abstract

An efficient method and a system for controlling access to a location secured by a lock mechanism controlled by a lock control unit, which may provide a high degree of flexibility and a high level of security; the method comprises the steps of storing a first access code in the lock control unit, the first access code being indicative of a predetermined access right to the location; storing a second access code in a second storage means; using an electronic key device for requesting access to the location by initiating transmitting the access code from the second storage means to the lock control unit; comparing the transmitted second access code with the first access code; and if the first access code corresponds to the second access code, initiating operating the lock mechanism; the invention further relates to a method of managing a predetermined access right to a location.

Claims

1. A method of controlling access to a location secured by a lock mechanism (231) controlled by a lock control unit (3,121,221,621,721,821) including first storage means (223,871), the method comprising the steps of

storing (685,699) a first access code in the first storage means, the first access code being indicative of a predetermined access right to the location;

storing (683,696) a second access code in a second storage means (507) of an electronic key device (2,201,501,601,701,801);

using the electronic key device for requesting access to the location by transmitting (688) the second access code from the electronic key device to the lock control unit;

comparing (689) the transmitted second access code with the first access code stored in the first storage means; and

if the first access code corresponds to the second access code, initiating operating (690) the lock mechanism;

c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n

that the method further comprises the step of storing (683,696) a plurality of access codes for a plurality of respective locations in the second storage means, enabling a user to initiate transmitting a selected one of the stored access codes to the lock control unit.

2. A method according to claim 1, characterised in that the electronic key device is a mobile communications device (2,201,501).

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the second storage means is a removable storage module (507) adapted to be removably inserted into the electronic key device.

4. A method according to any one of the claims 1 through 3, characterised in that the step of transmitting the second access code from the electronic key device to the lock control unit comprises the step of transmitting the second access code via wireless data communication.

5. A method according to claim 4, characterised in that the wireless data communication utilises infrared data communication.

6. A method according to any one of the claims 1 through 5, characterised in that the method further comprises the step of transmitting, via a communications network, at least one access code from an access code management system to a selected one of the electronic key device and the lock control unit.

7. A method according to any one of the claims 1 through 6, characterised in that the method further comprises the step of storing (685,699) a plurality of valid access codes corresponding to a plurality of respective access rights in the first storage means.

8. A method according to any one of the claims 1 through 7, characterised in that the method further comprises the step of storing (389,679) in a third storage means (223,815) information about attempts to access the location.

9. A method according to any one of the claims 1 through 8, characterised in that the predetermined access right comprises a first attribute (406,407,408) specifying a property of the predetermined access right, and wherein the first access code comprises information about the first attribute.

10. A method according to any one of the claims 1 through 9, characterised in that the predetermined access right has a validity period and wherein the first access code comprises information (410,411,412) about the validity period.

11. A method according to any one of the claims 1 through 10, characterised in that the method further comprises the step of invalidating the first access code.

13. A system according to claim 12, characterised in that the electronic key device further comprises first input means (203,204,865,860) for receiving data items identifying predetermined access rights.

12. An access control system for controlling access to a location secured by a lock mechanism (231), the access control system comprising

an electronic key device (2,201,501,601,701,801) including first transmitting means (204,209,504,509,863) adapted to transmit a first control signal indicative of a request for granting a predetermined access right;

and

a lock control unit (3,121,221,621,721,821) including first receiving means (225,227,873) adapted to receive said first control signal from the electronic key device, first processing means (222,872) adapted to perform a verification of the received request, and control means (224,874) adapted to initiate operating the lock mechanism depending on the result of the verification;

c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n

that the electronic key device further comprises first storage means (507,861) adapted to store a plurality of access codes identifying a plurality of predetermined access rights, enabling a user to initiate transmitting a selected one of the stored access codes to the lock control unit.

14. A system according to any one of the claims 12 through 13, characterised in that the electronic key device further comprises second input means (203) for receiving data items input by a user, the data items identifying predetermined access rights.

15. A system according to any one of the claims 12 through 14, characterised in that the electronic key device further comprises third input means (203) adapted to receive input from a user indicating a selection of a first one of the plurality of access rights stored in the first storage means;

and display means (202,502) for displaying information about at least one of the plurality of access rights stored in the first storage means.

16. A system according to any one of the claims 12 through 15, characterised in that the first control signal comprises a first access code for the requested access right.

17. A system according to any one of the claims 12 through 16, characterised in that the electronic key device is a portable communications device (2,201,501).

18. A system according to any one of the claims 12 through 17, characterised in that the first control signal is a wireless data communications signal.

19. A system according to any one of the claims 12 through 18, characterised in that the first transmitting means is an infrared communications port (209,509).

20. A system according to any one of the claims 12 through 19, characterised in that the lock control unit further comprises fourth input means (225,226,870,876) for receiving data items corresponding to access codes granting predetermined access rights.

21. A system according to any one of the claims 12 through 20, characterised in that the lock control unit further comprises fifth input means (226,876) for receiving data items input by a user, the data items corresponding to access codes granting predetermined access rights.

22. A system according to any one of the claims 16 through 21, characterised in that the lock control unit further comprises

second storage means (223,871) adapted to store a plurality of data items corresponding to a plurality of access codes for respective predetermined access rights;

and wherein

the first processing means is adapted, upon receipt of the first control signal, to compare the first access code received via the first control signal with at least one of the plurality of access codes stored in the second storage means.

23. A system according to any one of the claims 12 through 22, characterised in that the system further comprises computer means including

third storage means (815) adapted to store a plurality of data items corresponding to respective predetermined access rights and including respective access codes;

first communications means (813) adapted to transmit at least one access code to a selected one of the electronic key device and the lock control unit; and

the selected one of the electronic key device and the lock control unit further comprises second communications means (204,225,860,870) adapted to receive the transmitted at least one access code.

24. A system according to claim 23, characterised in that a selected one of the electronic key device and the lock control unit further comprises third communications means (204,225,864,875) for transmitting, to the computer means, an information signal indicative of information about the corresponding transmitted or received request for granting the requested access right.

25. A system according to any one of the claims 23 through 24, characterised in that the first communications means is adapted to transmit a second control signal to the lock control unit initiating invalidation of at least one access code.

26. A system according to any one of the claims 16 through 25, characterised in that the requested access right comprises a first attribute (406,407,408) specifying a property of the requested access right, and wherein the first access code comprises information about the first attribute.

27. A system according to any one of the claims 16 through 26, characterised in that the requested access right has a validity period and wherein the first access code comprises information (410,411,412) about the validity period.

28. A lock control unit (3,121,221,621,721,821) for use in a system according to any one of the claims 12 through 27.

29. An electronic key device (2,201,501,601,701,801) for use in a system according to any one of the claims 12 through 27, the electronic key device including first transmitting means (204,209,504,509,863) adapted to transmit a first control signal indicative of a request for granting a predetermined access right;

characterised in that the electronic key device further comprises

first storage means (507,861) adapted to store access codes identifying a plurality of predetermined access rights, enabling a user to initiate transmitting a selected one of the stored access codes to the lock control unit.

30. A removable storage module (507) for use in an electronic key device according to claim 29, characterised in that the removable storage module is adapted to store data items identifying a plurality of predetermined access rights, enabling a user to initiate transmitting a selected one of the stored access codes to the lock control unit.

31. A removable storage module according to claim 30, characterised in that the removable storage module further comprises second processing means (508) adapted to initiate transmitting a control signal indicative of a request for granting a selected one of the plurality of predetermined access rights.

32. A computer system (211,611,711,811) for use with a system according to any one of the claims 12 through 27, characterised in that the computer system comprises

fourth storage means (815) adapted to store a plurality of data items corresponding to respective access codes indicative of predetermined access rights;

third processing means (812) adapted to generate a second access code indicative of a first access right;

fourth communications means (813) adapted to transmit the second access code to a selected one of the electronic key device and the lock control unit for storing the second access code in the corresponding first or second storage means.

33. A computer system according to claim 32, characterised in that

the fourth processing means is adapted to generate a third access code, different from the second access code, corresponding to the first access right;

the fourth communications means is adapted to transmit the third access code to the lock control unit; and

the fourth communications means is adapted to transmit a third control signal to the lock control unit initiating invalidation of the second access code.

34. A computer system according to claim 33, characterised in that the fourth processing means is adapted to initiate invalidation of the second access code and generating a third access code, corresponding to the first access right and different from the second access code, upon request from a user.

35. A computer system according to any one of the claims 33 and 34, characterised in that the fourth processing means is adapted to initiate invalidation of the second access code and generation of a fourth access code, corresponding to the first access right and different from the second access code, in predetermined time intervals.

36. A method of using an access control system according to any one of the claims 12 through 27 for managing a predetermined access right to a location, the access right being owned by an access right owner (152) and to be granted to an access right grantee (153), characterised in that the method comprises the steps of

generating (383) a first access code indicative of the access right;

transferring (684) the first access code to a lock control unit, the control unit being adapted to control access to the location;

transferring (682,386) a second access code to an electronic key device;

acquiring (679,389) information data about the use of a selected one of the first and second access codes;

providing (389) at least one additional service based on the acquired information data to a selected one of the access right owner and the access right grantee.