Method of initiating a security procedure within a building

• US 7,886,336 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2001
• Issued: 02/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inventio AG (Schindler Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Inventio AG (Schindler Holding AG)
• Inventors: Schuster, Kilian, Friedli, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu; Kimyen
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRUVAN, LEYNNA THANH
• Application Number:
  US09/855,000
• Publication Number:
  US 20020057188A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,557 Days
• Field of Search: 380227-279, 380/284, 380/286, 380/281, 380/43, 713/150, 713/153, 713156-159, 713171-176, 713/179, 713182-186, 713200-201, 709/201, 709/217, 709/219, 709223-225, 705/71, 705/78, 726 1- 7, 726/9, 726/10, 726/15, 726 17- 19, 726 27- 30
• US Class Current: 726/2
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/33 by means of a password

Abstract

A method for initiating a security procedure within a building whereby a virtual key is generated by a certain event and transmitted to a selected person. If the selected person identifies himself by means of the virtual key, a security procedure, for example making an elevator available, is initiated within the building.

Claims

1. A method of initiating a procedure within a building comprising the steps of:

a. defining at least one initiating event for the procedure which event does not involve a person arriving at the building, and further defining different procedures for different initiating events;

b. defining at least one security requirement for the procedure, and further defining different security requirement for the different procedures;

c. defining at least one person to be authorized to perform the procedure;

d. detecting the occurrence of the at least one initiating event wherein the at least one person does not define the at least one initiating event and does not cause the occurrence of the at least one initiating event;

e. generating a virtual key for the at least one based on the at least one requirement detecting the occurrence of the at least one initiating event and prior to the at least one person arriving at the building, wherein the step of generating the virtual key includes the steps of assigning an encrypted code to the virtual key, and adding a signature to the virtual key;

f. transmitting virtual key to the at least one person using wireless device, and further transmitting different virtual keys to the at least one person for the different initiating events;

g. detecting use of the virtual key by the at least one person in the building;

h. checking the validity of the virtual key, including identifying the at least one person as a recipient of the transmitted virtual key by the signature; and

i. initiating said procedure within the building if the validity check is positive wherein initiating the procedure consists of performing at least one of the steps of;

opening of at least one door of the building;

making at least one elevator available;

opening of at least one elevator door; and

j. performing said steps a. through i. in an access control computer system associated with the building.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of storing the virtual key partially or completely.

3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of identifying the at least one person with biometric characteristics.

4. The method according to claim 1 further comprising performing said step i. as at least one of the steps of:

initiating a control procedure of an elevator in the building;

initiating a medical assistance procedure;

initiating a building cleaning procedure; and

initiating a guest reception procedure.

5. A method of initiating a procedure within a building comprising the steps of:

a. defining at least one initiating event for the procedure which event does not involve a person arriving at the building, and further defining different procedures for different initiating events;

b. defining at least one of a security requirement and an availability requirement for the procedure, and further defining different security requirement for the different procedures;

c. defining at least one person to be authorized to perform the procedure;

d. detecting the occurrence of the at least one initiating event wherein the at least one person does not define the at least one initiating event and does not cause the occurrence of the at least one initiating event;

e. generating a virtual key for the at least one based on the at least one requirement detecting the occurrence of the at least one initiating event and prior to the at least one person arriving at the building, wherein the step of generating the virtual key includes the steps of assigning an encrypted code to the virtual key, and adding a signature to the virtual key;

f. transmitting virtual key to the at least one person using wireless devices;

g. detecting use of the virtual key by the at least one person in the building;

h. checking the validity of the virtual key, including identifying the at least one person as a recipient of the transmitted virtual key by the signature;

i. initiating said procedure within the building if the validity check is positive wherein initiating the procedure consists of performing at least one of the steps of;

opening of at least one door of the building;

making at least one elevator available;

opening of at least one elevator door; and

j. performing said steps a. through i. in an access control computer system associated with the building.