Power management for locking system

• US 20030098777A1
• Filed: 09/30/2002
• Published: 05/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Nexia Intelligence, LLC (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: Harrow Products (Delaware) LLC (Allegion PLC)
• Inventors: Taylor, Ronald, Wiemeyer, James F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,346,331 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.61
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00634 Power supply for the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/08 With time considerations, e.g. temporary activation, valid time window or time limitations
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0277 according to available power supply, e.g. switching off when a low battery condition is detected
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

In an access control system, a method and system for power management. A method of power management in a wireless access control system includes monitoring usage of a transceiver in a remote access point in a wireless access control system, de-activating the transceiver when the transceiver is not in use, and re-activating the transceiver upon occurrence of a predefined event. Additionally, the method may include transmitting a warning signal when an energy level of a power supply associated with the transceiver is below a predetermined threshold. The method may further include locking the remote access point when an energy level of a power supply associated with the transceiver is below a predetermined threshold. The remote access point may be locked until the energy level is above the predetermined threshold.

Claims

1. A wireless access control system, said system comprising:

a power supply in a remote reader device having an energy level; and

a processor monitoring said energy level of said power supply, said processor initiating a warning signal when said energy level of said power supply is below a predetermined threshold.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said warning signal is transmitted to a remote access control panel for display to an operator.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said warning signal triggers locking of said remote reader device.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said remote reader device is locked until said energy level is above said predetermined threshold.

5. The system of claim 3, further comprising an override to access said locked remote reader device.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least two predetermined thresholds, said at least two predetermined thresholds including a warning threshold and a locking threshold.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said processor de-activates said remote reader device when said remote reader device is not in use.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said processor de-activates a transceiver in said remote reader device when at least one of said transceiver is not in use and said energy level is below said predetermined threshold.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said processor activates said transceiver upon a predefined event.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said processor reports power supply status information to a remote access control panel.

11. A method of power management in a wireless access control system, said method comprising:

monitoring usage of a transceiver in a remote access point in a wireless access control system;

de-activating said transceiver when said transceiver is not in use; and

re-activating said transceiver upon occurrence of a predefined event.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said predefined event comprises at least one of a request to enter, a request to exit, a card insertion, a heartbeat, a time interval, a change in state, and an emergency beacon.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising monitoring said de-activated transceiver to detect occurrence of said predefined event.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising transmitting an access request from said transceiver to an access control panel.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising transmitting a warning signal when an energy level of a power supply associated with said transceiver is below a predetermined threshold.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising locking said remote access point when an energy level of a power supply associated with said transceiver is below a predetermined threshold.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said remote access point is locked until said energy level is above said predetermined threshold.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein an override allows access to said locked remote access point.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising at least two predetermined thresholds, said at least two predetermined thresholds including a warning threshold and a locking threshold.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising reporting at least one of power supply status information and transceiver usage information to an access control panel.