Wireless security control system

• US 6,720,861 B1
• Filed: 03/10/2000
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stanley Security Solutions Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Best Access Systems (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rodenbeck, Robert Wilmer, Long, Michael Lee, Russell, Roger Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWN, VERNAL U
• Application Number:
  US09/523,670
• Time in Patent Office: 1,495 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.61, 340/5.64, 340/542, 340/541, 340/5.5, 340/5.6, 340/10.1, 340/10.34, 340/10.5, 340/5.73, 340/825.72, 340/825.69, 370/438
• US Class Current: 340/5.64
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00825 remotely by lines or wireless communication
• 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 9/27 with central registration

Abstract

A remote access control system includes a remote wireless communicator to receive wireless information from a central access control system. It also includes a remote access controller electrically coupled to the remote wireless communicator. The remote access controller would receive information from the remote wireless communicator and uses the information to control locking and unlocking of the door. The remote wireless communicator also transmits wireless information to the central access control system and a switch is provided for selectively choosing between the receiving and transmitting the wireless information. The remote wireless communicator communicates via RF information and preferably spread-spectrum RF. The remote access control system also includes a reader to read user data when presented to the reader.

Claims

1. A remote access control system adapted to be mounted to a door to control the locking and unlocking of the door and adapted to receive wireless information from a central access control system located remotely from the access control system, the remote access control system comprising:

a remote wireless communicator adapted to receive wireless information from the central access control system, the wireless information being transmitted to the remote wireless communicator where it is stored prior to a user making an attempt to unlock the door;

a remote access controller electrically coupled to the remote wireless communicator and configured to receive the information from the remote wireless communicator, the remote access controller being configured to control the locking and unlocking of the door using the stored wireless information, the remote access controller making a decision from the previously stored wireless information and without requiring additional information from the central access control system about whether to unlock the door in response to the user making the attempt to unlock the door; and

wherein the remote access controller periodically initiates a wireless communication with the central access control system and the central access control system transmits user updates to the remote access controller in response to the wireless communication periodically initiated by the remote access controller.

2. The remote access control system of claim 1, wherein the remote wireless communicator includes an antenna and a receiver electrically coupled between the antenna and the access controller to communicate the wireless information received by the antenna to the remote access controller.

3. The remote access control system of claim 2, including a housing having inner portion to be mounted on an inside of a door and an outer portion to be mounted on an outside of a door;

and the antenna is mounted to the outer portion of the housing and the remote wireless communicator and remote access controller are mounted to the inner portion of the housing.

5. The remote access control system of claim 1, including a local communication port electrically coupled to the remote access controller and adapted to provide wired communication from a portal device.

6. The remote access control system of claim 1, wherein the remote wireless communicator is adapted to receive RF information.

7. The remote access control system of claim 6, wherein the remote wireless communicator is adapted to receive spread-spectrum RF information.

8. The remote access control system of claim 6, wherein the remote wireless communicator is further adapted to transmit RF information.

4. A remote access control system adapted to be mounted to a door to control the locking and unlocking of the door and adapted to receive wireless information from a central access control system located remotely from the access control system, the remote access control system comprising:

a remote wireless communicator adapted to receive wireless information from the central access control system;

a remote access controller electrically coupled to the remote wireless communicator and configured to receive the information from the remote wireless communicator, the remote access controller being configured to control the locking and unlocking of the door using the information, wherein the remote wireless communicator is further adapted to transmit wireless information to the central access control system, and wherein the remote wireless communicator includes a switch for selectively choosing between receiving and transmitting the wireless information; and

wherein the remote access controller periodically initiates a wireless communication with the central access control system and the central access control system transmits user updates to the remote access controller in response to the wireless communication periodically initiated by the remote access controller.

9. A remote access control system adapted for wireless communication with a central access control system located remotely from the remote access control system and adapted to unlock a lock upon proper presentation of a valid user data to the remote access control system, the remote access control system comprising:

a reader adapted to read user data presented to the reader;

a remote access controller electrically coupled to the reader, the remote access controller being configured to determine whether the user data is valid and being adapted to unlock the lock if the data is valid, the remote access controller determining whether the user data is valid by comparing the user data with previously stored wireless information received from, and without requiring additional information from the central access control system, such previously stored information having been transmitted to the remote access controller by the central access control system prior to the user data being presented to the reader;

a remote wireless communicator electrically coupled to the remote access controller, the remote wireless communicator being adapted to communicate information wirelessly between the remote access controller and the central access control system; and

wherein the remote access controller periodically initiates a wireless communication with the central access control system and the central access control system transmits user updates to the remote access controller in response to the wireless communication periodically initiated by the remote access controller.

10. The remote access control system of claim 9, wherein the remote access control system further comprises a battery coupled to the reader, the remote access controller, and the remote wireless communicator.

11. The remote access control system of claim 9, wherein the remote wireless communicator includes an antenna;

including a housing having inner portion to be mounted on an inside of a door and an outer portion to be mounted on an outside of a door; and

the antenna and reader are mounted to the outer portion of the housing and the remote wireless communicator and remote access controller are mounted to the inner portion of the housing.

13. The remote access control system of claim 9, wherein the remote wireless communicator is adapted to receive spread-spectrum wireless information from the central access control system.

15. The remote access control system of claim 13, including a local communication port electrically coupled to the remote access controller and adapted to provide wired communication from a portal device.

12. A remote access control system adapted for wireless communication with a central access control system located remotely from the remote access control system and adapted to unlock a lock upon proper presentation of a valid user data to the remote access control system, the remote access control system comprising:

a reader adapted to read user data when presented to the reader;

a remote access controller electrically coupled to the reader, the remote access controller being configured to determine whether the user data is valid by comparing the user data with previously-stored wireless information received from, and without requiring additional information from the central access control system, such previously stored wireless information having been transmitted to the remote access controller by the control access control system prior to the user data being presented to the reader, and the remote access controller being adapted to unlock the lock if the data is valid;

a remote wireless communicator electrically coupled to the remote access controller, the remote wireless communicator being adapted to communicate information wirelessly between the remote access controller and the central access control system, wherein the remote access control system further comprises a battery coupled to the reader, the remote access controller, and the remote wireless communicator, wherein the user data is on a control card; and

wherein the remote access controller periodically initiates a wireless communication with the central access control system and the central access control system transmits user updates to the remote access controller in response to the wireless communication periodically initiated by the remote access controller.

14. A remote access control system adapted for wireless communication with a central access control system located remotely from the remote access control system and adapted to unlock a lock upon proper presentation of a valid user data to the remote access control system, the remote access control system comprising:

a reader adapted to read user data when presented to the reader;

a remote access controller electrically coupled to the reader, the remote access controller being configured to determine whether the user data is valid by comparing the user data with previously-stored wireless information received from, and without requiring additional information from the central access control system, such previously stored wireless information having been transmitted to the remote access controller by the control access control system prior to the user data being presented to the reader, and the remote access controller being adapted to unlock the lock if the data is valid;

a remote wireless communicator electrically coupled to the remote access controller, the remote wireless communicator being adapted to communicate information wirelessly between the remote access controller and the central access control system, wherein the remote wireless communicator is adapted to receive spread-spectrum wireless information from the central access control system, wherein the wireless information received from the central access control system changes the validity of certain user data contained within the remote access controller; and

wherein the remote access controller periodically initiates a wireless communication with the central access control system and the central access control system transmits user updates to the remote access controller in response to the wireless communication periodically initiated by the remote access controller.

16. A remote access control system adapted to unlock a lock and adapted to receive wireless information from a central access control system located remotely from the remote access control system, the remote access control system comprising:

a remote access controller adapted to unlock the lock;

a remote wireless communicator electrically coupled to the remote access controller and configured to receive and store the wireless information from the central access control system prior to a user making an attempt to unlock the lock, the wireless information being configured to control the remote access controller to unlock the lock, the remote access controller making a decision from the previously received and stored wireless information, and without requiring additional information from the central access control system about whether to unlock the lock in response to the user making the attempt to unlock the lock; and

wherein the remote access controller periodically initiates a wireless communication with the central access control system and the central access control system transmits user updates to the remote access controller in response to the wireless communication periodically initiated by the remote access controller.

17. A security control system configured to control the locking and unlocking of a door comprising:

a central access control system having a central access controller and a central wireless communicator electrically coupled to the central access controller;

a remote access control system located remotely from the central access controller and adapted to be mounted to the door, the remote access control system having a remote access controller and a remote wireless communicator electrically coupled to the remote access controller, the central and remote wireless communicators being configured to communicate information wirelessly between the central access controller and the remote access controller, the remote access control system being configured to receive and store wireless information transmitted from the central access control system prior to a user making an attempt to unlock the door, the remote access controller making a decision from the previously received and stored wireless information, without requiring additional information from the central access control system about whether to unlock the door in response to the user making the attempt to unlock the door; and

wherein the remote access controller periodically initiates a wireless communication with the central access control system and the central access control system transmits user updates to the remote access controller in response to the wireless communication periodically initiated by the remote access controller.

22. The security control system of claim 17, wherein the central access control system further includes a bus and the central access controller is electrically coupled to the central access communicator using the bus.

23. The security control system of claim 22, wherein the bus physically interconnects the central access controller and the central access communicator using fiber optics.

24. The security control system of claim 22, including a plurality of central wireless communicators electrically coupled to the bus.

25. The security control system of claim 22, wherein each central wireless communicator communicates wirelessly with one or more remote wireless communicator.

26. The security control system of claim 17, wherein the remote access control system further includes a reader electrically coupled to the remote access controller and adapted to read user data and transmit the user data to the remote access controller.

27. The security control system of claim 17, wherein the central access controller is configured to transmit wireless information through the central and remote wireless communicators to the remote access controller to control the locking and unlocking of the door by the remote access controller.

28. The security control system of claim 17, wherein the remote access controller is configured to transmit wireless information through the remote and central wireless communicators to the central access controller to provide the central access controller with user access information.

18. A security control system configured to control the locking and unlocking of a door comprising:

a central access control system having a central access controller and a central wireless communicator electrically coupled to the central access controller, and

a remote access control system located remotely from the central access controller and adapted to be mounted to the door, the remote access control system having a remote access controller and a remote wireless communicator electrically coupled to the remote access controller, the central and remote wireless communicators being configured to communicate information wirelessly between the central access controller and the remote access controller, wherein the central access control system further includes a bus and the central access controller is electrically coupled to the central access communicator using the bus, wherein the bus is controlled by a local area network protocol,

wherein the remote access controller periodically initiates a wireless communication with the central access control system and the central access control system transmits user updates to the remote access controller in response to the wireless communication periodically initiated by the remote access controller.

19. The remote access control system of claim 18, wherein the remote wireless communicator is adapted to transmit wireless information from the remote access controller to the central access control system.

20. The remote access control system of claim 19, wherein the remote wireless communicator transmits the wireless information periodically to conserve energy used by the remote access control system.

21. The remote access control system of claim 19, wherein the remote access control system further includes an on-board power source to provide power to the reader, the remote access controller, and the remote wireless communicator.

29. A remote access control system adapted for wireless communication with a central access control system located remotely from the remote access control system and adapted to unlock a lock upon proper presentation of a valid user data to the remote access control system, the remote access control system comprising:

a reader adapted to read user data when presented to the reader;

a remote access controller electrically coupled to the reader, the remote access controller being configured to unlock the lock if the data is valid by comparing the user data with previously-stored wireless information received from, and without needing current access to, the central access control system, such previously stored wireless information having been transmitted to the remote access controller by the control access control system prior to the user data being presented to the reader;

a remote wireless communicator electrically coupled to the remote access controller, the remote wireless communicator being adapted to communicate information wirelessly between the remote access controller and the central access control system, the remote access controller determining whether the user data is valid by a comparison with the previously stored wireless information received from, and without requiring additional information from the central access control system, such previously stored wireless information having been transmitted to the remote access controller by the central access control system prior to the user data being presented to the reader;

a battery connected to the reader and the remote access controller and selectively connected to the remote wireless communicator by the remote access controller; and

wherein the remote access controller periodically initiates a wireless communication with the central access control system and the central access control system transmits user updates to the remote access controller in response to the wireless communication periodically initiated by the remote access controller.