Electronic access control systems
First Claim
1. In a method of operating an electronic lock system, the system including a plurality of electronic locks and a plurality of electronic keys, the method including using an electronic key to gain access to an area secured by the electronic lock, an improvement comprising:
- compiling data relating to recent lock accesses in a key memory;
establishing communication between the key and a clearinghouse; and
downloading incentive data from the clearinghouse to the key only after the lock access data is uploaded from the key to the clearinghouse.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An access control system provides a database in an access control device (i.e. key) and includes procedures assuring that the database, and a master database, are kept up to date. In the particular context of a real estate lockbox system, the keys are provided with a database detailing houses listed for sale in the local area. Updates to this personal database are conditioned on users first uploading to a master database data that their keys have collected in their course of their interactions with lockboxes. Additional features include the provision of statistical data on listing and agent data, a menu by which the access device solicits user feedback on a property just visited, and scheduling appointments to show certain listed properties. Radio communications are used in certain embodiments for updating the database and exchanging other data between the access devices (i.e. keys) and a clearinghouse.
222 Citations
18 Claims
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1. In a method of operating an electronic lock system, the system including a plurality of electronic locks and a plurality of electronic keys, the method including using an electronic key to gain access to an area secured by the electronic lock, an improvement comprising:
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compiling data relating to recent lock accesses in a key memory; establishing communication between the key and a clearinghouse; and downloading incentive data from the clearinghouse to the key only after the lock access data is uploaded from the key to the clearinghouse. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of maintaining a personal database from data stored in a central database, the personal database being maintained in a hand-held device, the method comprising:
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accumulating time-sensitive data to be uploaded to the central database, said data relating to recent activity of the hand-held device and being accumulated in the hand-held device; temporarily establishing a communication link between the personal database and the central database; transferring data needed by the personal database to keep the database up to dater from the central database to the personal database over said link only after the accumulated time-sensitive data has been uploaded from the hand-held device to the central database; and discontinuing the communication link after the data has been transferred from the central database to the personal database. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. In an electronic key for an electronic real estate lockbox, the key including a display, a lockbox communications port, a memory and a keypad;
- the display, port, memory and keypad each being coupled to a key microprocessor, an improvement comprising data stored in the memory specifying at least the addresses and prices of houses listed for sale, together with database software permitting said data to be searched.
Specification