ELECTRONIC ACCESS SYSTEM

• US 20110006879A1
• Filed: 10/28/2008
• Published: 01/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gainsborough Hardware Industries Limited (Allegion PLC)
• Original Assignee: Gainsborough Hardware Industries Limited (Allegion PLC)
• Inventors: Velandi, Sajan K., Bartos, Ian, Wilton, Alan Roy, Clark, Stuart, Lambrou, Harry
• Granted Patent: US 8,937,527 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.64
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00928 for garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/04 Access control involving a hierarchy in access rights
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/62 Comprising means for indicating the status of the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices

Abstract

Methods and systems are described herein for remotely or wirelessly controlling access to dwellings, buildings and/or properties. In one aspect, an electronic access system comprises: a plurality of independent access control devices (115, 125, 135, 145, 155, 165) for controlling entry and/or exit at respective access points and at least one remote control device (170) adapted to wirelessly transmit control signals to the access control devices (115, 125, 135, 145, 155, 165) and wirelessly receive feedback signals from the access control devices. The at least one remote control device (170) is adapted to indicate status information based on receipt of the feedback signals. The plurality of access control devices (115, 125, 135, 145, 155, 165) may be adapted to operate mechanical, electrical or electro-mechanical devices for enabling and/or disabling access in response to receipt of a wireless control signal.

Claims

1. An electronic access system for providing selective access to a building or property, said electronic access system comprising:

a plurality of independent access control devices for controlling access to said building or property, each of said access control devices comprising a radio frequency receiver for wirelessly receiving control signals;

at least one remote control device adapted to wirelessly transmit control signals to said access control devices and wirelessly receive feedback signals from said access control devices;

wherein said at least one remote control device is adapted to indicate status information based on receipt of said feedback signals.

2. The electronic access system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of access control devices are adapted to operate a mechanical, electrical or electro-mechanical device for enabling and/or disabling access in response to receipt of a wireless control signal.

3. The electronic access system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of access control devices is integrated with an electronically operable door lock mechanism and is adapted to operate said electronically operable door lock mechanism in response to receipt of a wireless control signal.

4. The electronic access system of claim 2, wherein at least one of said plurality of access control devices is adapted to wirelessly transmit a feedback signal indicative of operation of said mechanical, electrical or electro-mechanical device.

5. The electronic access system of claim 4, wherein said at least one remote control device is adapted to visually indicate successful and/or unsuccessful operation of said mechanical, electrical or electro-mechanical device.

6. The electronic access system of claim 5, comprising at least two of said remote control devices and wherein at least one of said plurality of access control devices is adapted to operate said mechanical, electrical or electro-mechanical device in response to wireless receipt of a control signal from any one of said at least two remote control devices.

7. The electronic access system of claim 6, comprising at least one builder'"'"'s remote control device and at least one owner'"'"'s remote control device;

and

wherein said plurality of access control devices are adapted to permanently cease to operate a respective mechanical, electrical or electro-mechanical device in response to receipt of a wireless control signal from said at least one builder'"'"'s remote control device after first receipt of a wireless control signal from said at least one owner'"'"'s remote control device.

8. The electronic access system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of access control devices are adapted to enter a learning mode when said learning mode is activated, whereby said plurality of access control devices learn one or more remote control devices such that said plurality of access control devices can uniquely identify a remote control device from which a control signal is wirelessly received.

9. The electronic access system of claim 1, wherein at least one access control device is adapted to determine and store whether said at least one remote control device is adapted to wirelessly receive feedback signals.

10. The electronic access system of claim 1 or claim 9, wherein said at least one remote control device is adapted to determine and store whether said access control devices are adapted to wirelessly transmit feedback signals.

18. The electronic access system of claim 1, wherein:

said at least one remote control device comprises at least one function key and a function multiplication key; and

activation of said function multiplication key one or more times prior to activation of a function key on said at least one remote control device causes said function key to operate different functions.

11. A remote control device for use with an electronic access system for providing selective access to a building or property, said remote control device comprising:

a wireless transmitter for transmitting control signals to one or more access control devices in said electronic access system; and

a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader coupled to said wireless transmitter;

wherein said remote control device is adapted to;

determine presence or otherwise, using said RFID reader, of a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag in response to operation of said remote control device by a user; and

transmit a control signal only if said RFID reader detects presence of a valid RFID tag;

wherein said remote control device and said RFID tag comprise physically separate devices.

12. The remote control device of claim 11, further comprising a receiver for wirelessly receiving feedback signals from said one or more access control devices;

wherein said remote control device is adapted to indicate status information based on receipt of said feedback signals.

13. A method performed by an access control device for selectively providing access to a building or property, said method comprising the steps of:

enabling access to said building or property in response to receipt by said access control device of a wireless control signal transmitted from a first class of remote control device; and

upon first receipt of a wireless control signal by said access control device from a second class of remote control device, said access control device thereafter ceasing to provide access to said building or property in response to receipt of further wireless control signals transmitted by said first class of remote control device.

14. A method performed by a wireless remote control device for selectively providing access to a building or property, said method comprising the steps of:

upon detecting a request for access to said building or property, determining presence or otherwise of a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag located physically separately to said wireless remote control device; and

wirelessly transmitting a control signal to a remote access control device only if said RFID tag is present.

15. The method of claim 14, comprising the further steps of:

wirelessly receiving a feedback signal from said access control device; and

indicating status information based on receipt of said feedback signal.

16. A remote control device for use with an electronic access system for providing selective access to a building or property, said remote control device comprising:

a wireless transmitter for transmitting control signals to an access control device;

a wireless receiver for receiving feedback signals from said access control device; and

processing and memory means adapted to determine and store whether said access control device is adapted to wirelessly transmit feedback signals.

17. An access control device for use with an electronic access system for providing selective access to a building or property, said access control device comprising:

a wireless receiver for receiving control signals from a remote control device;

a wireless transmitter for transmitting feedback signals to said remote control device; and

processing and memory means adapted to determine and store whether said remote control device is adapted to wirelessly receive feedback signals.

19. The remote control device of claim 17, comprising at least one function key and a function multiplication key;

wherein activation of said function multiplication key one or more times prior to activation of a function key on said at least one remote control device causes said function key to operate different functions.