Keysafe system with timer/calendar features

• US 4,988,987 A
• Filed: 01/27/1989
• Issued: 01/29/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GE Interlogix Incorporated (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Supra Products, Inc. (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Inventors: Larson, Wayne F., Henderson, Walter G., Barrett, Philip D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dwyer, James L.
• Application Number:
  US07/303,711
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 379/103, 379/105, 70/63, 70/271, 70/277, 361/171, 361/172, 340/825.31, 340/825.32, 340/636, 235/379, 235/380, 235/382, 235/382.5, 902/26, 902/27
• US Class Current: 340/5.28
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 19/0005 Key safes E05B35/086 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0053 by operating the handle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/32 Time-recording locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00825 remotely by lines or wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00865 remotely by wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/08 With time considerations, e.g. temporary activation, valid time window or time limitations
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00817 where the code of the lock can be programmed
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00857 where the code of the data carrier can be programmed
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/21 having a variable access code
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/215 the system having a variable access-code, e.g. varied as a function of time
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5031 Receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7028 Electric

Abstract

An electronic lock system is disclosed in which a key can be assigned a limited lifetime, such as by storing data indicative of an expiration date in a key memory. Whenever the key is used with a lock, the lock first examines this key data and verifies that the key is still timely before performing any operations. After a key'"'"'s expiration date has passed, it is useless until a new expiration date is stored in its memory. By this arrangement, keys that are lost or stolen soon lose their efficacy and no longer pose a threat to system security. The invention also permits the lock administrator to issue keys with different useful lives, so that, for example, a person who needs a key for only one day can be issued a key that expires the next day. A variety of other operational features are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An electronic lock system including a lock and an electronic key, the lock comprising:

means for restricting access to a secure area associated therewith;

communication means for relaying data between the lock and the electronic key;

memory means for containing a lock access code; and

control means for controlling operation of the lock;

the electronic key comprising;

memory means for containing a key access code and an expiration date code; and

communication means for relaying data between the electronic key and the lock;

the system further including;

calendar means for providing calendar data indicative of the date;

logic means for comparing the calendar data from the calendar means with the expiration date from the electronic key memory means to determine whether the key is expired; and

means for allowing access to the secure area associated with the lock upon correspondence between the key and lock access codes only if it is determined that the key is not expired.

2. An electronic lock system according to claim 1 in which the key memory contains a plurality of key access codes, each of said key access codes having a corresponding expiration date stored in the key memory means and in which the logic means compares the calendar data from the calendar means with the expiration date corresponding to the key access codes for determining whether any of the key access codes are to be used to authorize access to the secure area.

3. The electronic lock system of claim 1 in which the lock comprises a real estate lockbox having a secure area therein for containing a dwelling key.

4. A method of operating an electronic real estate lockbox system comprising the steps:

providing an electronic lockbox having a shackle for attachment to a fixed object and having a secure compartment therein for containing a dwelling key;

providing an electronic key having the capability to communicate with the electronic lockbox and, if properly authorized, to obtain access to the secure compartment thereof; and

storing data in the key causing the key to become ineffective in obtaining access to the secure compartment of the lockbox upon occurrence of a predetermined condition.

5. In an electronic lock system comprising an electronic lock and an electronic key, the lock having a secure area associated therewith that can be accessed upon receipt of a unlocking signal from the key, a method of minimizing risk to system security due to lost or stolen keys comprising the steps:

storing expiration data in the electronic key, said data establishing the useful life of the key;

producing calendar data in the electronic lock related to the current date;

comparing the expiration data with the calendar data to determined whether the key should be considered expired;

preventing access to the secure area if said comparison indicates that the key is expired; and

storing new expiration data in the key to extend the useful life thereof.

6. In an electronic lock system comprising an electronic lock and an electronic key, the lock having a secure area associated therewith that can be accessed upon receipt of a unlocking signal from the key, a method of minimizing risk to system security due to lost or stolen keys comprising the steps;

storing expiration data in the electronic key, said data establishing the useful life of the key;

producing calendar data in the electronic lock related to the current date;

comparing the expiration data with the calendar data to determined whether the key should be considered expired;

preventing access to the secure area if said comparison indicates that the key is expired;

compiling in the lock a log of lock activity; and

storing in said log an entry indicating an attempted access by an expired key if said comparison step indicates the key is expired.

7. An electronic real estate lockbox system comprising a lockbox and a key, the key including:

communications means for relaying data between the key and the lockbox;

circuit means for controlling operation of the key;

battery means for supplying power to the circuit means; and

memory means for storing a key expiration date code;

the lockbox including;

communications means for relaying data between the lockbox and the key;

compartment means for releasably containing an article;

compartment lock means for controllably securing the compartment means in a locked state;

lockbox control means including means for unlocking the compartment lock means upon receipt of proper data from the key via the communications means;

calendar means for providing data related to the current date;

comparison means for comparing the data from the calendar means with the key expiration date code from the key memory means to determine whether the key is expired; and

means cooperating with the comparison means and the lockbox control means for denying access to the compartment means if the comparison means determines that the key is expired.

8. The system of claim 7 which further comprises:

log means in the lockbox for logging certain lockbox activity; and

means cooperating with the comparison means for indicating in said log means if a lockbox access is attempted by an expired key.

9. An electronic lock system comprising:

a key;

a lock for restricting access to a secure are;

means for communicating between the key and lock;

means for determining from said communications whether to authorize entry into the secure area;

memory means in the key for storing expiration data;

calendar means associated with the lock or key for providing data related to the passage of time;

logic means for comparing the expiration data from the key memory means with the data from the calendar means; and

in which;

the key further includes a keypad comprising a plurality of switches for permitting a user to enter data into the key; and

the lock further includes memory means for storing data indicating whether access to the secure area is to be especially restricted; and

in which the system further includes;

means requiring a first proper sequence of switch closures on the keypad in order for the key to gain access to the secure area if the lock memory means indicates that access to the secure ear is not to be especially restricted, said means further requiring a second proper sequence of switch closures on the keypad in order for the key to gain access to the secure are if the data in the lock memory means indicates that access to the secure area is to be especially restricted.

10. An electronic lock system comprising:

a key;

a lock for restricting access to a secure are;

means for communicating between the key and lock;

means for determining from said communications whether to authorize entry into the secure area;

memory means in the key for storing expiration data;

calendar means associated with the lock or key for providing data related to the passage of time;

logic means for comparing the expiration data from the key memory means with the data from the calendar means;

control means cooperating with said logic means for preventing entry into the secure area if the key is found to be expired by the logic means;

memory means in the lock for storing lockout list data corresponding to the identities of preselected keys that are to be prevented from authorizing entry into the secure area;

memory means in the key for storing lockout list data corresponding to the identities of preselected keys that ar to be prevented from authorizing entry into the secure area;

update means for determining electronically whether the memory means in the lock should be updated from the lockout list data stored in the key; and

means for transferring said lockout list data from the key memory means to the lock memory means.

11. An electronic lock system comprising:

a key;

a lock for restricting access to a secure area;

means for communicating between the key and lock;

means for determining form said communications whether to authorize entry into the secure area;

memory means in the key for storing expiration data;

calendar means associated with the lock or key for providing data related to the passage of time;

logic means for comparing the expiration data from the key memory means with the data from the calendar means; and

a keypad on the key having a plurality of switches which must be operated in a proper sequence to gain access to the secure area of the lock.

12. An electronic lock system comprising:

a key;

a lock for restricting access to a secure area;

means for communicating between the key and lock;

means for determining from said communications whether to authorize entry into the secure area;

memory means in the key for storing expiration data;

calendar means associated with the lock or key for providing data related to the passage of time;

logic means for comparing the expiration data from the key memory means with the data from the calendar means;

means having the capacity for causing the lock to execute a plurality of functions;

memory means for storing enable/disable data corresponding to certain of said lock functions for indicating whether said unctions are to be enabled or disabled; and

second logic means cooperating with the memory means for preventing the key form causing the lock to execute those functions which the corresponding enable/disable data in the memory means indicates are to be disabled.

13. An electronic lock system comprising:

a key;

a lock for restricting access to a secure area;

means for communicating between the key and lock;

means for determining from said communications whether to authorize entry into the secure area;

memory means in the key for storing expiration data;

calendar means associated with the lock or key for providing data related to the passage of time;

logic means for comparing the expiration data from the key memory means with the data from the calendar means; and

in which;

the lock comprises a real estate lockbox having a secure area therein for containing a dwelling key and in which the key further includes memory means for storing a key access code that identifies the real estate board responsible for said key and in which the lock box further includes memory means for storing a plurality of lockbox access codes, each of said lockbox access codes identifying a real estate board, the system further including means for comparing the key access code with the lockbox access codes and for allowing access to the secure compartment if any of the lockbox access codes matches the key access code, whereby a key can be used to operate lockboxes that are not owned by the real estate board that is responsible for the key.

14. An electronic lock system comprising:

a key;

a lock for restricting access to a secure area;

means for communicating between the key and lock;

means for determining from said communications whether to authorize entry into the secure area;

memory means in the key for storing expiration data;

calendar means associated with the lock or key for providing data related to the passage of time;

logic means for comparing the expiration data from the key memory means with the data from the calendar means; and

in which;

the lock comprises a realestate lockbox having a secure area therein for containing a dwelling key and in which the lockbox further includes memory means for storing a lockbox access code that identifies the real estate board responsible for said lockbox and in which the key further includes memory means for storing a plurality of key access codes, each of said key access codes identifying a real estate board, the system further including means for comparing the lockbox access code wit the key access codes and for allowing access to the secure compartment if any of the key access codes matches the lockbox access code, whereby a lockbox can be operated by keys that are not associated with the real estate board that is responsible for the lockbox.

15. An electronic lock system comprising:

a key;

a lock for restricting access to a secure area;

means for communicating between the key and lock;

means for determining from said communications whether to authorize entry into the secure area;

memory means in the key for storing expiration data;

calendar means associated with the lock or key for providing data related to the passage of time;

logic means for comparing the expiration data from the key memory means with the data from the calendar means; and

in which;

the lock comprises a real estate lockbox having a secure area therein for containing a dwelling key and in which the lockbox further includes;

memory means for storing data corresponding to a first time of day and data corresponding to a second time of day;

clock means for providing data indicating the time of day;

logic means for comparing the time of day data provided by the clock means with the time data stored in the lockbox memory means; and

control means for preventing access to the secure compartment if the logic means determines that the time of day is between the first time of day and the second time of day stored in the lockbox memory means.

16. The electronic real estate lockbox system of claim 15 in which the lockbox further includes means for loading the data corresponding to the first and second times of day from the key.