Interactive security control system with conflict checking

• US 20060123486A1
• Filed: 10/28/2005
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shield Security Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Shield Security Systems LLC
• Inventors: McMillin, Leslie S., Serani, Scott M., Blish, Charles D. III
• Granted Patent: US 7,844,823 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/625 Operation and control

Abstract

An interactive system for managing access via a communications network by one or more Device-Users and Database-Users with regard to at least one secured Location and an entry control Device assignable for use in gaining access to the Location by the one or more Device-Users. The system comprises a searchable database configured to store information on at least one of the secured Location, the one or more Device-Users, the one or more Database-Users, or the entry control Device, and Software stored on a readable medium and configured to search the database and report one or more conflicts concerning the information.

Claims

1. An interactive system for managing access via a communications:

network by one or more Device-Users and Database-Users with regard to at least one secured Location and an entry control Device assignable for use in gaining access to the Location by the one or more Device-Users, the system comprising in combination;

a searchable database configured to store information on at least one of the secured Location, the one or more Device-Users, the one or more Database-Users, or the entry control Device, and

Software stored on a readable medium and configured to search the database and report one or more conflicts concerning the information.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the entry control Device further comprises a lock having a cylinder selectively configurable in multiple steps for operation with multiple, differently configured keys, and the Software is further configured to search the information for the status of each step and report one or more conflicts concerning the information on the status of each step.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the Software is configured to perform at least one of the following:

(a) determine if multiple steps of a lock cylinder have an issued status; and

/or

(b) determine if a future step has a status which is older than the status of an issued step.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said entry control Device comprises a tangible item containing encoded criteria.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein said tangible item is selected from the group consisting of a key, an access card, a chip and bar code.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said entry control Device comprises an intangible object assigned to and in possession of each said Device-User.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein said object is selected from the group consisting of code numbers, PIN numbers and code words or phrases.

8. An interactive system for managing access via a communications network by one or more Device-Users and Database-Users with regard to at least one secured Location and an entry control Device assignable for use in gaining access to the Location by the one or more Device-Users, the system comprising in combination:

a plurality of databases whereby each of said databases has a different level of access; and

Software configured to assign a password to each of a plurality of Database-Users corresponding to one of said levels of access;

wherein information is maintained in said plurality of databases on at least one of said Devices, Locations, Device-Users or Database-Users and said Software is further configured to search the information and report one or more conflicts concerning the information.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein at least one of said Database-Users is also a Device-User and is assigned one of said passwords for entry to said Location and to define said level of access to said data.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said Device is a tangible item containing encoded criteria, said encoded criteria being assigned to each said Device-User, and said tangible item being selected from the group consisting of a key, an access card, a chip and a bar code.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein said Device is an intangible object assigned to and in possession of said Device-User, and said object is selected from the group consisting of code numbers, PIN numbers and code words or phrases.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein said Software is operative to display records of said data on the status of said Device for said Location and to display information pertaining to ownership and other associated data for said Device.

13. A method of checking for conflicts in information stored in at least one database and pertaining to an access control system for at least one secured Location, comprising:

providing a manner of assigning an entry control Device to the Location for use in gaining entry by a Device-User to the Location;

providing a manner of assigning a password to a Database-User enabling access to the database; and

providing Software enabling the Database-User to search the database and selectively display the conflicts in the information on at least one of the Location, the Device, the Device-User, or Database-User.

14. A method of checking for conflicts in information pertaining to an access control system for at least one secured Location accessible by an entry control Device and a Device-User, comprising:

providing a manner of storing information in at least one database, the information pertaining to at least one of the Location, the Device, the Device-User, or a Database-User,

providing Software enabling the Database-User to search the database and selectively display the conflicts in the information on at least one of the Location, the Device, the Device-User, or Database-User.