Electronic key device a system and a method of managing electronic key information

• US 7,012,503 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2000
• Issued: 03/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Smart Lock, LLC (East Texas Patent Management LLC)
• Original Assignee: Bording Data A/S (Hans Holger Therp, PhD)
• Inventors: Nielsen, Ernst Lykke
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, NAM V
• Application Number:
  US10/129,963
• Publication Number:
  US 20020180582A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,930 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.6, 340/5.61, 340/5.62, 340/5.64, 340/5.65, 340/5.66, 340/5.7, 340/5.23, 340/5.1, 70/63, 701/68, 702/77, 109/59, 109/64, 455/557
• US Class Current: 340/5.6
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00261 the keyless data carrier having more than one function
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00785 by light
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/21 having a variable access code
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security

Abstract

An efficient method and a system for controlling access to a location secured by a lock mechanism controlled by a lock control unit, which may provide a high degree of flexibility and a high level of security. The method includes the steps of storing a first access code in the lock control unit, the first access code being indicative of a predetermined access right to the location, and storing a plurality of access codes including a second access code in an electronic key device. Using the electronic key device, access to the location is requested by initiating transmission of the second access code to the lock control unit where the transmitted second access code is compared with the first access code and, if the first access code corresponds to the second access code, operation of the lock mechanism is initiated. The user can edit and rearrange the plurality of access codes to obtain access to a plurality of locations.

Claims

1. A method of controlling access to a location secured by a lock mechanism controlled by a lock control unit having a first memory, the method comprising the steps of:

storing a first access code in the first memory, the first access code being indicative of a predetermined access right to the location;

storing a second access code in a second memory of an electronic key device;

using the electronic key device for requesting access to the location by transmitting the second access code from the electronic key device to the lock control unit;

comparing the transmitted second access code with the first access code stored in the first memory;

if the first access code corresponds to the second access code, initiating operation of the lock mechanism;

said step of storing the second access code in the second memory including storing a plurality of access codes for a plurality of respective locations in the second memory of the electronic key device, said step of storing the plurality of access codes including storing a plurality of access code data items, each access code data item having an identifier identifying a corresponding lock control unit for which the access code is valid; and

initiating, by a user, transmission of a selected one of the plurality of stored access codes to the lock control unit, said user being enabled to edit and rearrange the plurality of stored access codes.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electronic key device is a mobile communications device.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second memory is a removable storage module removably inserted into the electronic key device.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the second access code from the electronic key device to the lock control unit includes transmitting the second access code via wireless data communication.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the wireless data communication uses infrared data communication.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the step of transmitting, via a communications network, at least one access code from an access code management system to a selected one of the electronic key device and the lock control unit.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the step of storing a plurality of valid access codes corresponding to a plurality of respective access rights in the first memory of the lock control unit.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the step of storing in a third memory information about attempts to access the location.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined access right includes a first attribute specifying a property of the predetermined access right, and the first access code includes information about the first attribute.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined access right has a validity period and wherein the first access code includes information about the validity period.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the step of invalidating the first access code.

12. An access control system for controlling access to a location secured by a lock mechanism, the access control system comprising:

an electronic key device including a first transmitting element adapted to transmit a first control signal indicative of a request for granting a predetermined access right; and

a lock control unit including a first receiving element adapted to receive said first control signal from the electronic key device, a first processing unit adapted to perform a verification of the received request, and a control unit adapted to initiate operating the lock mechanism depending on the result of the verification;

said electronic key device further including a memory adapted to store a plurality of access codes identifying a plurality of predetermined access rights, enabling a user to initiate transmitting a selected one of the stored access codes to the lock control unit and enabling a user to edit and rearrange the plurality of stored access codes, said memory being configured to store a plurality of access code data items, each access code data item having an identifier identifying a corresponding lock control unit for which the access code is valid.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the electronic key device further includes an input device for receiving data items identifying predetermined access rights.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the input device includes a keypad and the data items are input by a user.

15. The system according to claim 12, wherein the electronic key device further includes an input device adapted to receive input from a user indicating a selection of a first one of the plurality of access rights stored in the memory, and a display for displaying information about at least one of the plurality of access rights stored in the memory of the electronic key device.

16. The system according to claim 12, wherein the first control signal includes a first access code for the requested access right.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the lock control unit further comprises:

a storage device adapted to store a plurality of data items corresponding to a plurality of access codes for respective predetermined access rights; and

the first processing unit being adapted, upon receipt of the first control signal, to compare the first access code received via the first control signal with at least one of the plurality of access codes stored in the storage device.

18. The system according to claim 16, wherein the requested access right includes a first attribute specifying a property of the requested access right, and the first access code includes information about the first attribute.

19. The system according to claim 16, wherein the requested access right has a validity period and wherein the first access code includes information about the validity period.

20. The system according to claim 12, wherein the electronic key device is a portable communications device.

21. The system according to claim 12, wherein the first control signal is a wireless data communications signal.

22. The system according to claim 12, wherein the first transmitting means is an infrared communications port.

23. The system according to claim 12, wherein the lock control unit further includes an input device for receiving data items corresponding to access codes granting predetermined access rights.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein the input device includes a keypad for receiving data items input by a user.

25. The system according to claim 12, wherein the system further comprises computer means including:

storage means adapted to store a plurality of data items corresponding to respective predetermined access rights and including respective access codes;

communications means adapted to transmit at least one access code to a selected one of the electronic key device and the lock control unit; and

the selected one of the electronic key device and the lock control unit further including communications means adapted to receive the transmitted at least one access code.

26. The system according to claim 25, wherein a selected one of the electronic key device and the lock control unit further includes communications means for transmitting, to the computer means, an information signal indicative of information about the corresponding transmitted or received request for granting the requested access right.

27. The system according to claim 25, wherein the communications means included in said computer means is adapted to transmit a second control signal to the lock control unit initiating invalidation of at least one access code.

28. The system according to claim 12, wherein the memory of the electronic key device includes a RAM or EPROM module.

29. The system according to claim 28, wherein the electronic key device is a mobile telephone.

30. The system according to claim 12, wherein said memory includes a removable storage module adapted to store data items identifying the plurality of predetermined access rights.

31. The system according to claim 30, wherein the removable storage module further includes a second processing unit adapted to initiate transmitting a control signal indicative of a request for granting a selected one of the plurality of predetermined access rights.

32. The system according to claim 12, further comprising a computer system including:

storage means adapted to store a plurality of data items corresponding to respective access codes indicative of predetermined access rights;

processing means adapted to generate an access code indicative of respective access rights;

communications means adapted to transmit the plurality of access codes to the electronic key device for storing the plurality of access codes in the memory of the electronic key device.

33. The system according to claim 32, wherein the processing means of said computer system is further adapted to generate an updated access code indicative of an access right, the updated access code being different from a previously generated the access code, corresponding to said access right;

said communications means of said computer system being adapted to transmit the updated access code to the lock control unit; and

said communications means of said computer system being adapted to transmit a control signal to the lock control unit initiating invalidation of the previously generated access code.

34. The system according to claim 33, wherein the processing means of said computer system is further adapted to initiate invalidation of a previously generated access code for an access right, and to generate an updated access code, corresponding to said access right and different from the previously generated access code, upon request from a user.

35. The system according to claim 33, wherein the processing means of said computer system is adapted to initiate invalidation of a previously generated access code for an access right and to generate an updated access code, corresponding to said access right and different from the previously generated access code, in predetermined time intervals.

36. A method of controlling access to a plurality of locations each secured by a lock mechanism controlled by a respective lock control unit having a lock control unit memory, the method comprising the steps of:

for each lock control unit, storing a respective access code in the lock control unit memory thereof, the respective access code being indicative of a predetermined access right to the respective location and being different from access codes to other locations;

inputting and storing a plurality of access codes for a plurality of respective locations in a second memory of an electronic key device, a user of said key device being enabled to input, edit and rearrange the plurality of stored access codes, said step of storing the plurality of access codes including storing a plurality of access code data items, each access code data item having an identifier identifying a corresponding lock control unit for which the access code is valid;

initiating, by said user, transmission of a selected one of the plurality of stored access codes to a first lock control unit having a first access code for requesting access to the location controlled by said first lock control unit;

comparing the transmitted access code with the first access code stored in the first lock control unit memory;

if the first access code corresponds to the transmitted access code, initiating operation of the lock mechanism; and

editing, by said user, said plurality of access codes stored in said second memory for obtaining access to a second plurality of respective locations.

37. The method according to claim 36, wherein said steps of inputting and editing include transferring said access codes from an access code management system.

38. The method according to claim 36, wherein said steps of inputting and editing include inputting said access codes using a keypad on said electronic key device.