Security access control system and method for making same

• US 8,269,602 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2007
• Issued: 09/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UTC Fire & Security Americas Corporation, Inc. (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: UTC Fire & Security Americas Corporation, Inc. (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Inventors: Graichen, Catherine Mary
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Albert
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHERWIN, RYAN W
• Application Number:
  US11/842,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20090051528A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,854 Days
• Field of Search: 340541-567, 340 52- 574, 3406861-687
• US Class Current: 340/5.7
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00904 for hotels, motels, office buildings or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/38 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/08 by opening, e.g. of door, of window, of drawer, of shutter, of curtain, of blind

Abstract

A security system to identify a true door forced open alarm is provided. The security system includes an electronic entry means configured to allow access through a door. The security system also includes a request to exit device configured to indicate a request to exit the door. The security system also includes a logic unit configured to control access through the door and determine whether an open state of the door is allowed.

Claims

1. A security system comprising:

an electronic door lock attached to a door that unlocks the door from a door frame after receiving an unlock signal, wherein the door controls access to, and is situated between, an inside and an outside;

an electronic entry device located on the outside of the door for receiving a credential;

a request to exit device located on the inside of the door, the request to exit device sending a request to exit signal when the request to exit device is activated;

a sensor that detects that the door is in an open state or a closed state; and

a logic unit connected to the electronic entry device, the request to exit device, and the sensor, wherein the logic unit determines;

a loose door scenario if no valid credential has been received, there is no request to exit signal, and the sensor has detected that the door has been in the open state for a first length of time that is shorter than or equal to a threshold time limit; and

a forced open door scenario if no valid credential has been received, there is no request to exit signal, and the sensor has detected that the door has been in the open state for a second length of time that is longer than the threshold time limit.

2. The security system of claim 1, and further comprising:

a centralized monitoring system;

wherein the logic unit sends to the centralized monitoring system a loose door alarm signal or a forced open door alarm signal when the logic unit determines the loose door scenario or the forced open door scenario, respectively.

3. The security system of claim 1, and further comprising:

a motion detector for detecting motion outside of the door;

and wherein the logic unit further determines;

an attended loose door scenario if no valid credential has been received, there is no request to exit signal, motion has been detected, and the sensor has detected that the door is in the open state for the first length of time; and

an unattended loose door scenario if no valid credential has been received, there is no request to exit signal, motion has not been detected, and the sensor has detected that the door has been in the open state for the first length of time.

4. The security system of claim 3, and further comprising:

a centralized monitoring system;

wherein the logic unit sends to the centralized monitoring system an attended loose door alarm signal, an unattended loose door alarm signal, or a forced open door alarm signal when the logic unit determines the attended loose door scenario, the unattended loose door scenario, or a forced open door scenario, respectively.

5. The security system of claim 1, wherein the logic unit further determines a rapid exit scenario wherein:

there is a request to exit signal and a third length of time passes before the door is in the open state a first instance, wherein the third length of time is shorter than a normal time limit; and

the door is in the open state a second instance and a fourth length of time passes after the first instance the door is in the open state, wherein the fourth length of time is shorter than a recovery time of the request to exit device.

6. The security system of claim 5, and further comprising:

a centralized monitoring system;

wherein the logic unit sends to the centralized monitoring system a rapid exit alarm signal, a loose door alarm signal, or a forced open door alarm signal when the logic unit determines the rapid exit scenario, the loose door scenario, or the forced open door scenario, respectively.

7. The security system of claim 1, wherein the logic unit further determines a slow exit scenario wherein:

there is a request to exit and a third length of time passes before the door is in the open state a first instance, wherein the third length of time is longer than a time limit; and

the door is in the open state a second instance and a fourth length of time passes after the first instance the door is in the open state, wherein the fourth length of time is shorter than a recovery time of the request to exit device.

8. The security system of claim 7, and further comprising:

a centralized monitoring system;

wherein the logic unit sends to the centralized monitoring system a slow exit alarm signal, a loose door alarm signal, or a forced open door alarm signal when the logic unit determines the slow exit scenario, the loose door scenario, or the forced open door scenario, respectively.

9. The security system of claim 1, wherein the request to exit device is a motion detector.

10. The security system of claim 1, and further comprising:

a timer for detecting a length of time that the door is in the open state.

11. The security system of claim 1, wherein the electronic entry device comprises at least one of:

a keypad entry, a card reader, and a biometric reader, wherein the biometric reader comprises at least one of;

a fingerprint reader, an iris scan reader, and a facial feature matching reader.

12. A method of controlling access through a door, the method comprising:

receiving an input representing a credential for access through the door;

receiving a request to exit signal representing a request to pass through the door from an inside of the door to an outside of the door;

detecting whether the door is in an open door state or a closed door state;

generating a loose door alarm signal if a valid credential has not been received, no request to exit signal has been detected, and an open door state has been detected, wherein, the open door state lasts for a first length of time that is shorter than or equal to a threshold time limit; and

generating a door forced open alarm signal if a valid credential has not been received, no request to exit signal has been detected, and an open door state has been detected, wherein the open door state lasts for a second length of time that is longer than the threshold time limit.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the input representing the credential comprises at least one of:

a keypad entry, a card reading, and a biometric reading, wherein the biometric reading represents at least one of;

a fingerprint reading, an iris scanning, and a facial feature matching.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the request to exit signal representing the request to pass through the door comprises detecting motion on the inside of the door.

15. The method of claim 12, and further comprising:

detecting motion in an area near the outside of a door;

generating an attended loose door alarm signal if a valid credential has not been received, no request to exit signal has been detected, motion has been detected, and the open door state has been detected, wherein the open door state lasts for the first length of time that is shorter than the threshold time limit; and

sending an unattended loose door alarm signal if a valid credential has not been received, no request to exit signal has been detected, no motion has been detected, and the open door state has been detected, wherein the open door state lasts for the first length of time that is shorter than the threshold time limit.

16. The method of claim 12, and further comprising:

validating the input representing the credential.

17. The method of claim 12, and further comprising:

generating a rapid exit alarm signal if;

the request to exit signal has been detected and the open door state has been detected, wherein a third length of time between the detection of the request to exit signal and the detection of the open door state is shorter than a time limit; and

the open door state is detected again, wherein a fourth length of time between detection of the open door states is shorter than a recovery time of a request to exit device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the request to exit device is a motion detector.

19. The method of claim 12, and further comprising:

generating a slow exit alarm signal if;

the request to exit signal has been detected and the open door state has been detected, wherein a third length of time between the detection of the request to exit signal and the detection of the open door state is longer than a time limit; and

the open door state is detected by the logic unit again, wherein a fourth length of time between detection of the open door states is shorter than a recovery time of a request to, device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the request to exit device is a motion detector.