Combination changing system and method

• US 4,213,118 A
• Filed: 05/26/1978
• Issued: 07/15/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Uniqey Lock Company
• Original Assignee: Chromalloy Electronics Corporation
• Inventors: Genest, Leonard J., Madenlian, Vache B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Application Number:
  US05/910,052
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 340/149 A, 340/149 R, 340/147 MD
• US Class Current: 235/382.5
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 11/00 Arrangements, systems or apparatus for checking, e.g. the occurrence of a condition, not provided for elsewhere
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00761 with data transmission performed by connected means, e.g. mechanical contacts, plugs, connectors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00904 for hotels, motels, office buildings or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration

Abstract

A combination changing system and method for controlling access to a locked area and updating a lock combination or memory includes encoded key cards and storing lock code combinations in a memory. Each lock may be opened by a properly encoded key card. The lock code combination is automatically changed each time a new key card is generated and used. Specifically, first and second fields of a stored code combination are stored in an active memory of the lock and first and second fields of a key code combination to be compared therewith are encoded on a key card. When the key card is inserted into a card reader connected to the lock, two fields of the stored code combination are first compared with the two fields of the key code combination, respectively. If there is a match, an appropriate signal is generated to open the lock. If there is no match, the second field of the stored code combination and first field of the key code combination are compared. If there is a match at this second stage, an appropriate signal is generated to store the two fields of the key code combination in the lock memory in place of the two fields of the stored code combination.

Claims

1. A method of operating an electronic security device having an active memory means comprising the steps of

(1) storing a first code combination having a first field and a second field in the active memory means for defining a first stored code combination;

(2) applying key code combination having a first and a second field to the security device;

(3) comparing the first and second fields of the first stored code combination with the first and second fields of the key code combination respectively;

(4) generating a first match signal when the aforesaid compared code combination fields correspond;

(5) utilizing said first match signal to open the security device;

(6) comparing the second field of the first stored code combination with the first field of the key code combination when the aforesaid compared fields do not correspond;

(7) generating a second match signal when the second field of the first stored code combination and the first field of the key code combination correspond;

(8) storing, in the active memory means, the key code combination in place of the first stored code combination when a second match signal is generated; and

(9) opening the security device when a second match signal is generated.

2. The method of Claim 1 comprising the further steps of:

storing a second code combination having a first field and a second field in the active memory means for defining a second stored code combination; and

,

comparing the key code combination and the second stored code combination according to steps 3 through 9 when the second field of the first stored code combination and first field of the key code combination do not correspond.

3. The method of Claim 2 comprising the further steps of:

storing a third code combination having a first field and a second field in the active memory means for defining a third stored code combination; and

comparing the key code combination and the third stored code combination accord to steps 3 through 9 when the second field of the second stored code combination and first field of the key code combination does not correspond.

4. A method of operating an electronic security device having an active memory means comprising:

storing, in the active memory means, a plurality of stored code combinations, each stored code combination having a first data field and a second data field;

applying a key code combination having at least a first and a second data field to the security device; and

comparing each stored code combination with the key code combination where the step of comparing comprises the substeps of;

(1) comparing the first and second data fields of the stored code combination with the first and second data fields of the key code combination respectively;

(2) generating a first match signal when the aforesaid compared fields correspond;

(3) utilizing the first match signal to open the security device;

(4) generating a second match signal when the second data field of the stored code combination corresponds to the first data field of the key code combination and the first match signal is not generated;

(5) utilizing the second match signal for storing the key code combination in place of the stored code combination and repeating the method starting at substep 1;

(6) repeating the substeps 1 through 5 for another stored code combination when neither a first nor a second match signal is generated; and

(7) terminating the method when either the first match signal is generated or when neither a first nor a second match signal is generated for any of the plurality of stored code combinations.

5. An electronic security device for activating a lock mechanism and for receiving a coded means having a key code combination with a first field and a second field stored thereon comprising:

an active memory means having at least one lock memory, each lock memory having a first and a second section for respectively storing a first and a second field of a stored code combination;

means for reading the key code combinations stored on the coded means;

first comparison means for comparing the first and second fields of the stored code combination from at least one of the lock memories with the first and second fields of the key code combination and generating a first match signal when the aforesaid compared fields from any of the lock memories correspond;

operating means responsive to said first match signal for activating the lock mechanism;

second comparison means for comparing the second field of each stored code combination with the first field of the key code combination when the code combinations compared in the first comparison means do not correspond, and generating a second match signal when one of the second fields of the stored code combinations correspond to the first field of the key code combination; and

combination changing means responsive to said second match signal for respectively storing the key code combination in one of said lock memories in place of the stored code combination therein.

6. The electronic security device of Claim 5 further comprising:

means for activating the lock mechanism in response to the second match signal.

7. A method of operating an electronic security device having an active memory means comprising the steps of:

(1) storing a first code combination having a first field and a second field in the active memory means for defining a first stored code combination;

(2) applying a key code combination having a first field and a second field to the security device;

(3) opening the security device when the first stored code combination corresponds to the key code combination;

(4) storing, in the active memory, the key code combination in place of the first stored code combination when either the first field of the stored code combination does not compare with the first field of the key code combination, or the second field of the stored code combination does not compare with the second field of the key combination and the second field of the stored code combination compares with the first field of the key combination; and

(5) opening the security device when the storing of step 4 occurs.

8. A method of operating an electronic security device having a master and a guest memory, comprising the steps of:

(1) storing a first stored code combination having a first field and a second field in the master memory, and a second stored code combination, having a first field and a second field in the guest memory;

(2) applying a key code combination having a first field and a second field to the security device;

(3) generating a first match signal when the first stored code combination corresponds to the key code combination;

(4) activating the security device when the first match signal occurs;

(5) generating a second match signal when the second stored code combination corresponds to the key code combination and when the first match signal is not generated in step 3;

(6) activating the security device when the second match signal occurs;

(7) generating a third match signal when the first field of the key code combination corresponds to the second field of the second stored code combination and when the first and second match signals are not generated in step 3 and step 5;

(8) storing the key code combination in place of the second stored code combination to define a new second stored code combination in the guest memory when a third match signal is generated; and

(9) activating the security device when a third match signal is generated.

9. The method of Claim 8, wherein the security device has a station memory, the method comprising the further steps of:

(10) storing a third stored code combination having a first field and a second field in the station memory;

(11) generating a fourth match signal when the third stored code combination corresponds with the key code combination and when a third match signal is not generated in steps 7 of Claim 8;

(12) activating the security device when the fourth match signal occurs;

(13) generating a fifth match signal when the second field of the third stored code combination corresponds with the first field of the key code combination and a fourth match signal is not generated in step 11;

(14) storing the key code combination in place of the third stored code combination to define a new third stored code combination in the memory, the storing occurring only when a fifth match signal is generated; and

,

(15) activating the security device when a fifth match signal is generated.

10. The method of Claim 9 further comprising the step of turning off the security device both immediately after the security device is activated and when the security device has not been activated after performing all of the steps of claims 8 and 9.