Method and apparatus for controlling a safe having an electronic lock

• US 20050144996A1
• Filed: 03/03/2005
• Published: 07/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corporate Safe Specialists Incorporated (Cennox Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Corporate Safe Specialists Incorporated (Cennox Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ivey, James III, Dylewski, Gregory Grzegorz, McGunn, Edward J., Barcellos, Eduardo DeCastro
• Granted Patent: US 7,576,633 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/278.700
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/77 using wireless control
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 1/00 Safes or strong-rooms for valuables savings boxes A45C1/12; floatable safes B63C7/30; storage containers without attack or fire-retardant features B65D; bank buildings in general, e.g. modular construction or floor plan, E04H1/06; buildings resistant to earthquakes or war action E04H9/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 1/04 Closure fasteners locks E05B
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00912 for safes, strong-rooms, vaults or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/38 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7102 And details of blocking system [e.g., linkage, latch, pawl, spring]

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a method of using a control unit to control an electronic lock on a safe comprising the steps of providing an electronic lock for the safe, receiving signals at the electronic lock from the computer, and controlling the safe in response to the signals. An apparatus for controlling an electronic lock on a safe comprising an electronic lock incorporated in a safe an input/output port coupled to the electronic lock for receiving signals from a control unit, and a control signal received at the input/output port for opening the safe.

Claims

1. An electronic safe locking system comprising:

a safe comprising a door, an electronic lock through which a plurality of transactions can be performed, including selectively locking or unlocking the door, a door sensor for sensing state of the door, a lock control circuit operatively coupled to the electronic lock and the door sensor, the lock control circuit commanding operation of the electronic lock responsive to lock commands and monitoring said transactions and status of the door sensor to develop status information, and a communication circuit operatively coupled to the control circuit; and

a control unit external to the safe having a communication circuit for selectively communicating with the safe, the control unit comprising a processor and memory operating in accordance with a control program to control and monitor transactions of the safe, including identifying authorized users for said safe, determining if a user is an authorized user and responsive thereto transmitting lock commands to the safe and receiving status information from the safe relating to operation of the electronic lock responsive to the lock commands.

2. The electronic safe locking system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of transactions includes at least (a) currency processing and (b) changing of the state of the safe, the control unit monitoring said transactions with said electronic lock to allow a determination to be made through the control unit that a transaction has been performed.

3. The electronic safe locking system of claim 1 further comprising a display and keyboard on the safe providing a local interface to the lock control circuit.

4. The electronic safe locking system of claim 1 wherein the control program comprises a user setup program operable to modify authorized users of the safe.

5. The electronic safe locking system of claim 1 wherein said memory comprises a database having encrypted PIN information.

6. The electronic safe locking system of claim 1 wherein the memory stores monitored information received by the control unit in an audit trail database.

7. The electronic safe locking system of claim 1 wherein safe comprises currency processing apparatus and the control program comprises a currency processing program operable to control operation of the currency processing apparatus.

8. The electronic safe locking system of claim 1 wherein said control unit is located proximate the safe and the communication circuits communicate via a direct communication link.

9. The electronic safe locking system of claim 1 wherein said control unit is located remote from the safe and the communication circuits communicate via a communications network.

10. The electronic safe locking system of claim 1 wherein the communications circuits comprise modems.

11. An electronic safe locking system comprising:

a plurality of safes, each safe comprising a door, an electronic lock through which a plurality of transactions can be performed, including selectively locking or unlocking the door, a door sensor for sensing state of the door, a lock control circuit operatively coupled to the electronic lock and the door sensor, the lock control circuit commanding operation of the electronic lock responsive to lock commands and monitoring said transactions and status of the door sensor to develop status information, and a communication circuit operatively coupled to the control circuit; and

a control unit having a communication circuit for selectively communicating with each of the plurality of safes, the control unit comprising a processor and memory operating in accordance with a control program to control and monitor transactions of the plurality of safes, including identifying authorized users for ones of said plurality of safes, determining if a user is an authorized user and responsive thereto transmitting lock commands to the ones of said plurality of safes and receiving status information from the ones of said plurality of safes relating to operation of the electronic lock responsive to the lock commands.

12. The electronic safe locking system of claim 11 wherein said plurality of transactions includes at least (a) currency processing and (b) changing of the state of the safe, the control unit monitoring said transactions with said electronic locks to allow a determination to be made through the control unit that a transaction has been performed.

13. The electronic safe locking system of claim 11 wherein the control program comprises a user setup program operable to modify authorized users of the safe.

14. The electronic safe locking system of claim 11 wherein said memory comprises a database having encrypted PIN information.

15. The electronic safe locking system of claim 11 wherein the memory stores monitored information received by the control unit in an audit trail database.

16. The electronic safe locking system of claim 11 wherein each said safe comprises currency processing apparatus and the control program comprises a currency processing program operable to control operation of the currency processing apparatus.

17. The electronic safe locking system of claim 11 each said safe further comprising a display and keyboard on the safe providing a local interface to the safe'"'"'s lock control circuit.

18. The electronic safe locking system of claim 11 wherein said control unit is located proximate the safe and the communication circuits communicate via a direct communication link.

19. The electronic safe locking system of claim 11 wherein said control unit is located remote from the safe and the communication circuits communicate via a communications network.

20. The electronic safe locking system of claim 11 wherein the communications circuits comprise modems.