Security system with multiple levels of access

• US 4,532,507 A
• Filed: 11/04/1983
• Issued: 07/30/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sentrol Incorporated (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: American District Telegraph Company
• Inventors: Edson, James B., Monroe, Patrick G.
• Primary Examiner(s): YUSKO, DONALD
• Application Number:
  US06/549,632
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.44, 340/825.03, 340/825.05, 340/825.36, 340/825.56, 340/825.31, 340/825.32, 340/825.34, 340/825.22, 340/501, 340/528, 340/506 , 340/537, 340/306, 340/543, 340/514, 340/825.37, 340/541, 340/542, 340/543, 340/825.5, 235/382
• US Class Current: 340/5.22
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/33 by means of a password
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system

Abstract

A security system is provided with multiple levels of access in which a higher level pass code gives the user access to numerous system functions, such as disarming of the system, resetting, system testing, loop by-passing, and system programming, whereas a lower level pass code gives the user access to less functions, in one embodiment to disarming only a portion of the system. In one embodiment, an eraseable memory is programmed with a number representing a temporary pass code after the entry of a higher order pass code by the individual setting the temporary pass code. The permanent pass code may be made more complex than the temporary pass code to provide an extra level of security by providing that the permanent pass code have more digits. Timing circuitry is provided to establish a temporary pass code entry window during which a temporary pass code may be entered into the eraseable memory. No entry of a temporary pass code within the alloted time results in a disabling of the temporary pass code system.

Claims

1. A multiple priority security system providing multiple levels of personnel access to multiple prioritized security controllers of a secured facility, comprising:

means for storing a predetermined top priority code;

a first memory device;

input means for writing a first top priority system access code into said first memory device, and for writing a second and lower priority system access code into said first memory device;

means, connected to said first memory device and to said means for storing said predetermined top priority code, for providing a signal whenever said predetermined top priority code matches said first top priority system access code in said first memory device;

means, connected to said input means and enabled in response to said signal, for controlling substantially all of said prioritized security controllers via said input means;

a second memory device, coupled to said input means and to said first memory device and enabled by said signal, for storing a predetermined second and lower priority code therein via said input means; and

means connected to said second memory device and to said first memory device and operative in response to a match between said predetermined second and lower priority code and said second and lower priority system access code for enabling access to preselected lower priority ones of said prioritized security controllers.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said signal is a signal pulse, and wherein said controlling means are enabled only for the duration of said signal pulse.

3. The security system of claim 1, wherein said security controllers include bypassable twenty-four hour loops having resettable latches, bypassable night loops, and local and remote annunciators, and wherein said first predetermined and top priority pass code permits keyboard access to resetting, loop bypass, and annunciator inhibit functions.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said signal is a signal pulse, and wherein said input means is enabled for storing a predetermined second and lower priority code in said second memory device via said input means only for the duration of said signal pulse.

5. The security system of claim 4 wherein said input means includes function control keys including a code key, and wherein said input means is responsive to the entry of said first level code and the depression of said code key to program a subsequent series of digits entered at said keypad as said second level pass code.

6. The security system of claim 1, wherein said first predetermined and top priority pass code and said second predetermined and lower priority pass codes are digital sequences that differ by the number of digits of the corresponding pass code.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said first memory device is a shift register.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said predetermined top priority code storing means is a ROM.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said input means includes a keypad having a plurality of numeric keys and function keys.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said signal providing means includes a comparator.

11. The system of claim 10, further including a one-shot connected to said comparator.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said second memory device includes a RAM.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for enabling access to lower priority ones of said prioritized security controllers includes a second comparator.

14. The system of claim 13, further including a one-shot connected to said second comparator.

15. A multiple priority security system simultaneously providing higher level personnel and lower level personnel access respectively to higher priority and lower priority groups of security controllers of a secured facility that are ranked on a preselected priority basis in such a way that the higher level group includes all of the security controllers of the lower level group, but the lower level group excludes some of the security controllers of the higher level group, comprising:

a keypad; and

means connected to said keypad and operative in response to entering a first predetermined and top priority pass code on said keypad for enabling keypad control of said higher level group of said prioritized security controllers, and said means being further operative in response to entering a second predetermined and lower priority pass code on said keypad for enabling keypad control of said lower level group of said prioritized security controllers.

16. The system of claim 15, further including a memory, and means responsive to said first predetermined and top priority pass code for enabling keypad programming of said memory with said predetermined second and lower priority pass code.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein said security controllers include a local annunciator and a remote annunciator, and wherein said keypad control enabling means is operative to response to said second predetermined and lower priority pass code to inhibit the operation of said local and said remote annunciator.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein said security controllers include a local annunciator and a remote annunciator, and wherein said keypad control enabling means is operative in response to said top priority pass code to inhibit remote annunciator operation and operative in responsive to said second and lower priority pass code to inhibit said local annunciator.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein said security controllers include twenty-four hour loops, and wherein said keypad control enabling means is operative to inhibit said loops only in response to said predetermined and top priority pass code.

20. A method of increasing the security of a keypad-accessed security system having a plurality of security controllers arranged in a predetermined priority basis, comprising the steps of:

defining a digital sequence pass code format having a first bit length representative of top priority and a second bit length representative of lower priority, said first bit length word having more digits than said second bit length word;

entering a first predetermined and top priority pass code having said first bit length into a keypad to selectively enable keypad access to substantially all of said prioritized security controllers;

entering into said keypad a second and lower priority pass code having said second bit length for enabling access to substantially less than all of said prioritized security controllers and selected lower priority ones of said prioritized security controllers;

whereby, lower level personnel cognizant of said second and lower priority pass code thereby have access to said predetermined and lower priority ones of said prioritized security controllers, and higher level personnel cognizant of said predetermined top priority pass code have access to substantially all of said security controllers of said secured facility thereby to prevent system tampering by said lower level personnel.

21. The method of claim 20, further including the step of enabling writing into system memory of a selected lower priority pass code only in response to the correct entry of said predetermined top priority pass code and only for a limited time thereafter.

22. The method of claim 20 and further including the step of preventing access to selected controllers of the system at times other than within a time window starting with the entry of a predetermined pass code.