Programmable lock and security system therefor

• US 6,317,025 B1
• Filed: 06/09/2000
• Issued: 11/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: E J Brooks Company
• Original Assignee: E J Brooks Company
• Inventors: Amis, Lynn Frederick, Leon, Jeremy Phelps, McKee, Thomas Glenn Jr., Nazalewicz, Jan
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dalencourt, Yves
• Application Number:
  US09/590,989
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.21, 340/10.1, 340/10.52, 235/380, 235/382
• US Class Current: 340/5.21
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/32 Time-recording locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0092 for cargo, freight or shipping containers and applications therefore in general
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• 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 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/38 with central registration

Abstract

Locks for the transportation industry are programmable with a keypad and with handheld activators, the activators being programmable by a central system and activators via IR transmitters and receivers. Operator PIN numbers and access codes manifesting the supervisory level of authority are encoded in each lock which are programmed to open a given number of times in a given time period with or without entry of a code and include a lockout feature for disabling the lock in case of invalid code entry. Each lock has a log history containing the number of complete and incomplete opening transactions, when they occurred and the operator codes associated therewith. The locks are opened by IR transmission of the appropriate codes or by keypad entries. One or more individuals at different levels of authority may open one or more locks in a given time frame a given number of times. Each lock records its transaction history which is displayed and downloaded for system evaluation.

Claims

1. A lock device comprising:

a lock including a locking member having a first lock position and a second unlock position;

log means located within the lock for electronically recording and displaying data manifesting the number of times from a reference value the locking member is placed in the unlock position and for recording and displaying data manifesting the number of attempts at unlocking with the correspond ID code and the time of occurrence of each said unlocking and attempts;

coding means associated with the lock including a personal identification (ID) code means having an ID code associated with at least one individual and access (ACC) code means having an ACC code associated with the level of authority of the at least one individual for cooperatively permitting the at least one individual to unlock the lock upon entry of said codes; and

lock enable means associated with said coding means for said permitting the unlocking of said lock by said at least one individual only for a given number of times in a predetermined time period.

2. The lock device of claim 1 including optical transmitting means including a second personal identification (ID) code means having a second ID code associated with the at least one individual and second access (ACC) code means having a second ACC code associated with the level of authority of the at least one individual, said first and second ID and ACC code means for said permitting when the second ID and ACC codes are transmitted and entered into said lock coding means and match the first ID and ACC codes in the lock.

3. The device of claim 1 including disabling means for disabling said coding means in advance of the end of a given time period for permitting the lock to be unlocked without entry of said ID and ACC codes at the end of said given time period.

4. The device of claim 3 including means for disabling the disabling means.

5. The lock device of claim 2 wherein said optical means includes portable receiver means for accessing and receiving said data.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the lock includes display means for selectively displaying said data.

7. The lock device of claim 1 including means associated with the lock for electronically recording and displaying each time when the locking member is placed in the unlock position in a given period.

8. The lock device of claim 1 including means associated with the lock for electronically recording and displaying the ID code of the at least one individual placing the locking member in the unlock position.

9. The lock of claim 1 including programming means for programmably setting said codes of said ID and ACC code means.

10. The lock of claim 2 including programming means for programmably setting said codes of said lock and said optical transmitting means.

11. The lock of claim 1 including programming means for programmably setting said given number of times and time period of the lock disable means.

12. The lock of claim 2 including display means on said lock and on said optical transmitting means for selectively displaying said data.

13. The lock device of claim 1 wherein the lock includes circuit means for recording and displaying the activity history of the at least one individual including when and the number of times the locking member is placed or attempted to be placed in the unlock position for each ID code.

14. The lock device of claim 1 including input means associated with the lock for inputting said codes and for accessing the log means, said input means including at least a manually operated keypad and display means associated with the lock for selectively displaying said log data.

15. A lock device comprising:

a lock including a locking member having a first lock position and a second unlock position;

coding means associated with the lock including a personal identification (ID) code means having an ID code associated with at least one individual and access (ACC) code means having an ACC code associated with the level of authority of the at least one individual for cooperatively permitting the at least one individual to unlock the lock upon entry of said codes;

lock enable means associated with said coding means for said permitting the unlocking of said lock by said at least one individual in a predetermined time period; and

means for automatically assigning a different unique serial number to that lock responsive to and at each time the lock is unlocked, and for recording that serial number in that lock.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein the means for assigning a serial number comprises memory means for storing a reference number and means for updating the reference number with a new number each time the lock is unlocked.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein the means for updating includes incrementing the reference number by a given value each time the lock is unlocked.

18. The device of claim 16 wherein the means for updating includes adding a random number to the reference number.

19. The device of claim 15 wherein a cargo storage apparatus is assigned a unique identification, the device for locking the storage apparatus, further including means for assigning the lock with a unique serial number associated with the storage apparatus unique identification.

20. The device of claim 15 including first and second electronic keys for opening the lock, the first key including a central processing unit, memory associated with the unit, a keypad and display means for entering said codes into said memory and communication means for entering said codes from the first key into said lock, said second key including preprogrammed programmable means programmed with said codes, a single switch and communication means for communicating and entering said codes from the second key into said lock in response to operating said single switch.

21. A lock device for locking the cargo door of a transportation cargo unit comprising:

a lock including means for securing the lock to said door and including a locking member having a first lock position and a second unlock position;

keypad means secured to the lock and including log means associated within the lock for electronically recording and displaying data manifesting the number of times from a reference value the locking member is placed in the unlock position and for recording and displaying data manifesting the number of attempts at unlocking with the correspond ID code and the time of occurrence of each said unlocking and attempts, the recording means being located in the lock;

coding means associated with the lock including programmable personal identification (ID) code means associated with at least one individual and programmable access (ACC) code means associated with the level of authority of the at least one individual corresponding to any of at least three different levels of authority for cooperatively permitting the unlocking of the lock in response to entering of said ID and ACC codes in said keypad means; and

means for automatically assigning a different unique serial number to that lock responsive to and at each time the lock is unlocked, and for recording that serial number in that lock.