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Claims  |
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What is claimed is:
1. An access control system, comprising:
a power source;
key means detachable from the rest of said access control system and
including an integrated circuit embedded in said key means for storing key
access information and transaction information at respective addresses
thereof;
means for activating the opening mechanism of an access controlled area;
and
acceptor means, coupled to the power source, for providing a control signal
to activate said activating means including:
means for electrically engaging said key means with said acceptor means,
means, coupled to said engaging means, for coupling power from the acceptor
to the key means to activate the integrated circuit of the key means
during the time when the key means is electrically engaged with the
acceptor means and for decoupling the power to deactivate the integrated
circuit of the key means at other times,
means for storing lock access information and transaction information,
means, coupled to the lock access information storing means, for reading
the lock access information,
means, coupled to the engaging means, for reading the key access
information from the integrated circuit of the key means during the time
when the key means is electrically engaged with the acceptor means and the
integrated circuit of the key means is activated,
means, coupled to the lock access information reading means and the key
access information reading means, for comparing the key access information
with the lock access information,
means, coupled to the comparing means, for providing the control signal to
said activating means based on a comparison result,
means for providing transaction information representing the condition of
said acceptor means, and
means, coupled to said transaction information providing means and the
engaging means, for writing said transaction information into the
integrated circuit of the key means at respective addresses during the
time when the key means is electrically engaged with the acceptor means
and the integrated circuit of the key means is activated, said transaction
information writing means being operated following any comparison result
indicating an access information match.
2. The access control system of claim 1, further comprising means coupled
to the transaction information providing means for generating a real time
and including the real time with the transaction information.
3. The access control system of claim 1, wherein the key access information
includes a primary key access code and one or more secondary key access
codes.
4. The access control system of claim 1, further comprising means for
checking the condition of the lock access information storing means.
5. The access control system of claim 1, further comprising means for
setting the contents of the lock access information storing means to
predetermined initial values during system installation.
6. The access control system of claim 1, wherein said transaction
information includes information representing the identity of an
associated opening mechanism or access controlled area, further comprising
means, coupled to the transaction information providing means, for storing
said transaction information into the lock access information storing
means.
7. The access control system of claim 1, further comprising computer means,
coupled to said acceptor means and separated therefrom, including means
for retrieving the lock access information and the transaction information
from said lock access information storing means.
8. The access control system of claim 1, further comprising means for
writing the transaction information into the lock access information
storing means.
9. The access control system of claim 2, wherein the key access information
includes information representing one or more time periods each period
having beginning and corresponding end times, the user of the key means
being permitted to gain access to the access controlled area only during
each represented time period and not being permitted at other times.
10. The access control system of claim 3, wherein the lock access
information includes one or more lock access codes, and wherein the
comparing means compares a respective one of the lock access codes with
the primary key access code and the control signal providing means
provides the control signal whenever the respective lock access code is
substantially identical to the primary key access code.
11. The access control system of claim 4, wherein the transaction
information providing means provides information representing the
condition of the lock access information storing means.
12. The access control system of claim 5, further comprising means for
updating the contents of the lock access information storing means to one
or more predetermined values different than said predetermined initial
values.
13. The access control system of claim 5, wherein said setting means
includes a computer, attachable to the acceptor means for coupling
therewith and separated therefrom, for providing the predetermined initial
values.
14. The access control system of claim 5, wherein said setting means
includes data carrier card means detachable from the acceptor means for
providing the predetermined initial values therefrom.
15. The access control system of claim 9, further comprising means for
comparing the real time against the beginning and end times of a
respective one of the one or more represented time periods, and means for
conductively decoupling the acceptor means from the power source whenever
the real time is less than the beginning time or greater than the
corresponding end time.
16. The access control system of claim 10, wherein the key access
information includes a predetermined security code and each of said one or
more lock access codes corresponds to the predetermined security code.
17. The access control system of claim 12, wherein said updating means
includes computer means, coupled to said acceptor means and detachable
therefrom, for providing said one or more predetermine values.
18. The access control system of claim 12, wherein said updating means
includes data carrier card means detachable from the acceptor means for
providing said one or more predetermined values therefrom.
19. The access control system of claim 12, wherein the key access
information includes information representing the identity of the user of
the key means, further comprising means, coupled to the transaction
information providing means, for storing said information representing the
identity as transaction information into the lock access information
storing means.
20. The access control system of claim 10, further comprising means for
replacing one of the lock access codes with the primary key access code
whenever said replaced lock access code is different than the primary key
access code and identical to one of the secondary key access codes.
21. The access control system of claim 1, wherein said storing means of the
key means includes a solid state memory device.
22. The access control system of claim 20, wherein said solid state memory
device is a semiconductor memory chip.
23. The access control system of claim 1, wherein said acceptor means is
self-contained in a common housing.
24. An access control system, comprising:
a power source;
key means detachable from the rest of said access control system and
including an integrated circuit embedded in said key means for storing key
access information and transaction information at respective addresses
thereof;
means for activating the opening mechanism of an access controlled area;
and
acceptor means, coupled to the power source, for providing a control signal
to activate said activating means including:
means for electrically engaging said key means with said acceptor means,
means, coupled to said engaging means, for coupling power from the acceptor
to the key means to activate the integrated circuit of the key means
during the time when the key means is electrically engaged with the
acceptor means and for decoupling the power to deactivate the integrated
circuit of the key means at other times,
means for storing lock access information,
means, coupled to the lock access information storing means, for reading
the lock access information,
means, coupled to the engaging means, for reading the key access
information from the integrated circuit of the key means during the time
when the key means is electrically engaged with the acceptor means and the
integrated circuit of the key means is activated,
means, coupled to the lock information access reading means and the key
access information reading means, for comparing the key access information
with the lock access information,
means, coupled to the comparing means, for providing the control signal to
said activating means based on a comparison result,
means, coupled to the comparing means and the engaging means, for writing
into the integrated circuit of the key means at respective addresses
specified values to incapacitate the key means based on the comparison
result during the time when the key means is electrically engaged with the
acceptor means and the integrated circuit of the key means is activated,
said means for writing into the integrated circuit of the key means being
operated following a comparison result indicating an access information
mismatch.
25. The access control system of claim 24, wherein the key access
information includes a primary code and the lock access information
includes one or more lock access codes, and wherein said writing means
writes the specified values into the integrated circuit of the key means
whenever the primary code is not identical to one of said lock access
codes.
26. The access control system of claim 25, wherein each one of said lock
access codes corresponds to a security level assigned to said key means.
27. An integrated circuit card adapted to engage with an acceptor having
power coupled to said acceptor, wherein said acceptor includes:
means for electrically engaging said integrated circuit card,
means for reading access information to generate a control signal for
activating the opening mechanism of an access controlled area, and
means for writing transaction information representing the activation of
the opening mechanism, said integrated circuit card being detachable from
said acceptor and comprising an integrated circuit embedded integral in
the card for storing the access information and the transaction
information at respective addresses, said integrated circuit of the card
receiving power from the acceptor to be activated during the time when the
card is electrically engaged with the acceptor and being decoupled from
the power to be deactivated at other times,
wherein the acceptor reads the access information from and writes the
transaction information into the integrated circuit of the card during the
time when the integrated circuit card is electrically engaged with the
acceptor and the integrated circuit of the card is activated, said means
for writing transaction information being operated no later than the
activation of the opening mechanism.
28. The integrated circuit card of claim 27, wherein the access information
includes a primary access code and one or more secondary access codes.
29. The integrated circuit card of claim 27, wherein the access information
includes one or more time periods only during which the opening mechanism
can be activated.
30. The integrated circuit card of claim 27, wherein the transaction
information includes information representing a diagnostic condition of
the acceptor.
31. The integrated circuit card of claim 27, wherein the transaction
information includes the time of entry when the opening mechanism is
activated.
32. An acceptor adapted for providing a control signal to activate the
opening mechanism of an access controlled area, comprising:
means for activating the opening mechanism of an access controlled area;
means for electrically engaging key means having an integrated circuit
embedded in said key means for storing key access information and
transaction information in said integrated circuit at respective
addresses;
means, coupled to said engaging means, for coupling power from the acceptor
to the key means to activate the integrated circuit of the key means
during the time when the key means is electrically engaged with the
acceptor means and for decoupling the power to deactivate the integrated
circuit of the key means at other times;
means for storing lock access information and transaction information;
means, coupled to the engaging means, for reading the key access
information from the integrated circuit of the key means during the time
when the key means is electrically engaged with the acceptor and the
integrated circuit of the key means is activated,
means, coupled to the lock access information storing means, for reading
the lock access information;
means, coupled to said key access information reading means and the lock
access information reading means, for comparing the key access information
with the lock access information;
means, coupled to the comparing means, for providing a control signal to
activate the opening mechanism based on a comparison result;
means for providing transaction information representing the condition of
said acceptor; and
means, coupled to the engaging means and the transaction information
providing means, for writing the transaction information into the
integrated circuit of the key means at respective addresses during the
time when the key means is electrically engaged with the acceptor and the
integrated circuit of the key means is activated, said transaction
information writing means being operated following any comparison result
indicating an access information match.
33. The acceptor of claim 32, wherein the lock access information storing
means stores the transaction information therein.
34. The acceptor of claim 32, further comprising means for generating a
real time.
35. The acceptor of claim 22, wherein said transaction information
providing means includes means for checking the condition of the storing
means of the acceptor.
36. The acceptor of claim 32, further comprising means, coupled to the
engaging means, for writing into the integrated circuit of the key means
at respective address specific values to incapacitate the functioning of
the key means whenever the key access information is not substantially
identical to the lock access information.
37. A method of controlling the opening mechanism of an access controlled
area, comprising the steps of:
storing lock access information in a lock having a memory and power coupled
thereto;
storing key access information at respective addresses in an integrated
circuit embedded in a key detachable from the lock prior to engaging the
key with the lock;
electrically engaging the key with the lock;
coupling power from the lock to the key to activate the integrated circuit
of the key during the time when the key is electrically engaged with the
lock, and decoupling power to deactivate the integrated circuit of the key
at other times;
reading the key access information from the integrated circuit of the key
during the time when the key is electrically engaged with the lock and the
integrated circuit of the key is activated;
reading the lock access information from the memory of the lock;
comparing the lock access information with the key access information;
activating the opening mechanism based on a comparison result; and
writing transaction information representing the activating step from the
lock into the integrated circuit of the key at a respective address during
the time when the key is electrically engaged with the lock and the
integrated circuit of the key is activated, and indicating time of access
in each case that the comparison result indicates an access information
match.
38. The method of claim 37, further comprising step of storing said
transaction information in the memory of the lock.
39. The method of claim 37, further comprising the step of generating a
real time signal and including it with the provided transaction
information.
40. The method of claim 37, wherein the key access information includes a
primary key access code and one or more secondary key access codes, and
the lock access information includes one or more lock access codes, and
wherein said comparing step includes comparing a respective one of the
lock access codes with said primary and secondary key access codes.
41. The method of claim 37, further comprising the step of checking the
condition of the memory of the lock.
42. The method of claim 37, further comprising the step of storing said
transaction information in the memory of the lock for retrieval at a later
time.
43. The method of claim 39, wherein the key access information includes
information representing one or more time periods each period having
beginning and corresponding end times, and the comparing step inhibits the
activating step during time periods other than said one or more time
periods,
further comprising steps of comparing the real time against said beginning
and end times of each of said one or more time periods; and activating the
opening mechanism only when the real time falls within said time
durations.
44. The method of claim 40, further comprising the step of replacing said
respective lock access code with said primary key access code whenever
said respective lock access code is substantially different than said
primary key access code and substantially identical to one of said
secondary key access codes.
45. The method of claim 41, further comprising the step of providing
transaction information representing said checked condition of the memory
of the lock.
46. A method of controlling the opening mechanism of an access controlled
area, comprising the steps of:
storing lock access information in a lock having a memory;
storing key access information at respective addresses in an integrated
circuit embedded in a key detachable from the lock prior to engaging the
key with the lock;
electrically engaging the key with the lock;
coupling power from the lock to the key to activate the integrated circuit
of the key during the time when the key is electrically engaged with the
lock, and decoupling power to deactivate the integrated circuit of the key
at other times;
reading the key access information from the integrated circuit of the key
during the time when the key is electrically engaged with the lock and the
integrated circuit of the key is activated;
reading the lock access information from the memory of the lock;
comparing the lock access information with the key access information;
activating the opening mechanism based on a comparison result; and
writing into the integrated circuit of the key at respective addresses
specified values to incapacitate the key based on a comparison result
indicating a lack of access information match during the time when the key
is electrically engaged with the lock and the integrated circuit of the
key is activated.
47. The method of claim 46, wherein the key access information includes a
primary access code and one or more secondary access codes and the lock
access information includes one or more lock access codes, and wherein the
key is incapacitated whenever said primary access code is not
substantially identical to one of said one or more lock access codes and
is substantially identical to another of said one or more secondary access
codes.
48. The method of claim 47, wherein each one of said one or more lock
access codes corresponds to a security level assigned to the key.
49. The access control system of claim 1, wherein said key means has a
plurality of contact pads therein and coupled to the integrated circuit
thereof for providing electrical contacts.
50. The access control system of claim 49, wherein said plurality of
contact pads are integral in the integrated circuit.
51. The access control system of claim 49, wherein said power coupling
means includes means for providing power from the acceptor means to the
key means through a respective one of the contact pads during the time
when the respective contact pad is electrically engaged with the acceptor
means.
52. The access control system of claim 49, wherein said key access
information reading means includes means for reading the key access
information from the key means through a respective one of the contact
pads during the time when the respective contact pad is electrically
engaged with the acceptor means.
53. The access control system of claim 49, wherein said transaction
information writing means includes means for writing the transaction
information into the key means through a respective one of the contact
pads during the time when the respective contact pad is electrically
engaged with the acceptor means.
54. The access control system of claim 24, wherein said key means has a
plurality of contact pads therein and coupled to the integrated circuit
thereof for providing electrical contacts.
55. The access control system of claim 54, wherein said plurality of
contact pads are integral in the integrated circuit.
56. The access control system of claim 54, wherein said power coupling
means includes means for providing power from the acceptor means to the
key means through a respective one of the contact pads during the time
when the respective contact pad is electrically engaged with the acceptor.
57. The access control system of claim 54, wherein said key access
information reading means includes means for reading the key access
information from the key means through a respective one of the contact
pads during the time when the respective contact pad is electrically
engaged with the acceptor.
58. The access control system of claim 54, wherein said transaction
information writing means includes means for writing the transaction
information into the key means through a respective one of the contact
pads during the time when the respective contact pad is electrically
engaged with the acceptor.
59. The access control system of claim 27, wherein said integrated circuit
card has a plurality of contact pads therein and coupled to the integrated
circuit thereof for providing electrical contacts.
60. The access control system of claim 59, wherein said plurality of
contact pads are integral in the integrated circuit.
61. The access control system of claim 59, wherein power is coupled from
the acceptor to the integrated circuit card through a respective one of
the contact pads during the time when the respective contact pad is
electrically engaged with the acceptor.
62. The access control system of claim 59, wherein said acceptor reads the
access information from the integrated circuit card through a respective
one of the contact pads during the time when the respective contact pad is
electrically engaged with the acceptor.
63. The access control system of claim 59, wherein said acceptor writes the
transaction information into the integrated circuit card through a
respective one of the contact pads during the time when the respective
contact pad is electrically engaged with the acceptor.
64. The access control system of claim 32, wherein said key means has a
plurality of contact pads therein and coupled to the integrated circuit
thereof for providing electrical contacts.
65. The access control system of claim 64, wherein said plurality of
contact pads are integral in the integrated circuit.
66. The access control system of claim 64, wherein said power coupling
means includes means for providing power from the acceptor means to the
key means through a respective one of the contact pads during the time
when the respective contact pad is electrically engaged with the acceptor.
67. The access control system of claim 64, wherein said key access
information reading means includes means for reading the key access
information from the key means through a respective one of the contact
pads during the time when the respective contact pad is electrically
engaged with the acceptor.
68. The access control system of claim 64, wherein said transaction
information writing means includes means for writing the transaction
information into the key means through a respective one of the contact
pads during the time when the respective contact pad is electrically
engaged with the acceptor.
69. The method of claim 37, wherein said key has a plurality of contact
pads therein and coupled to the integrated circuit thereof for providing
electrical contacts, and
wherein said power coupling step includes providing power from the lock to
the key through a respective one of the contact pads during the time when
the respective contact pad is electrically engaged with the lock.
70. The method of claim 37, wherein said key has a plurality of contact
pads integral therein and coupled to the integrated circuit thereof for
providing electrical contacts, and
wherein said key access information reading step reading the key access
information from the key through a respective one of the contact pads
during the time when the respective contact pad is electrically engaged
with the lock.
71. The method of claim 37, wherein said key has a plurality of contact
pads therein and coupled to the integrated circuit thereof for providing
electrical contacts, and
wherein said transaction information writing step includes writing the
transaction information into the key through a respective one of the
contact pads during the time when the respective contact pad is
electrically engaged with the lock.
72. The method of claim 46, wherein said key has a plurality of contact
pads therein and coupled to the integrated circuit thereof for providing
electrical contacts,
wherein said power coupling step includes providing power from the lock to
the key through a respective one of the contact pads during the time when
the respective contact pad is electrically engaged with the lock.
73. The method of claim 46, wherein said key has a plurality of contact
pads therein and coupled to the integrated circuit thereof for providing
electrical contacts, and
wherein said key access information reading step includes reading the key
access information from the key through a respective one of the contact
pads during the time when the respective contact pad is electrically
engaged with the lock.
74. The method of claim 46, wherein said key has a plurality of contact
pads integral therein and coupled to the integrated circuit thereof for
providing electrical contacts, and
wherein said transaction information writing step includes writing the
transaction information into the key through a respective one of the
contact pads during the time when the respective contact pad is
electrically engaged with the lock. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronically operable access control
system, more particularly an electronically controlled access control
system utilizing an integrated circuit card or "smart card" as a key to
gain access to an access controlled area such as hotel rooms.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The advantages of electronic cards to activate locks and other barrier
mechanisms are well known. Instead of changing mechanical tumblers and
cutting new metallic keys, lock and key can be programmed and reprogrammed
using a computer and software. Moreover, they permit controlled access
according to various levels of security.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. Re. 29,259 describes a coding scheme that uses a
key field and an authorization field in the key. The key is made of a flat
plastic card and the data is encoded on the card via punched holes. If the
key field in the key and lock match, the opening mechanism is activated.
If the key fields do not match, but the authorization field in the key
matches the key field in the lock, the opening mechanism is activated, and
the key field in the lock is replaced to match the key field in the card.
This prevents a previous guest from using his or her card to enter the
room once a new guest has activated the lock.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,717,816 describes an electronic lock and key system that
uses a metallic card as a key which carries magnetically-coded data that,
when inserted in a slot in the lock, opens the door if coded data in the
lock matches either of two codes in the card, the new guest's code or that
of the previous guest. Data in the lock can be changed using a portable
computer.
However, prior art electronic lock and key systems require a special,
single-purpose card for use with a particular lock or sets of locks.
Further, the amount of information which can be provided or encoded in the
key is limited because of the inherent limitation of encoding associated
with punched holes or magnetic strips on the card. For example, the number
of levels of security, which can be encoded in the key, is severely
limited. Furthermore, prior art lock and key systems do not provide data
transfer from the lock to the key. In other words, information encoded in
the key can not be directly updated or erased by the lock. Therefore, to
deactivate the key, for example, the key has to be brought to a separate
system management system. Moreover, information, for example, of
transactional or diagnostic nature which is provided from the lock cannot
be written into the key directly therefrom. Though an improvement over
mechanical lock-and-key units, cards that rely on punched holes or
magnetic media provide only limited capabilities.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes the problems and disadvantages of the prior
art by providing an access control system which provides multiple,
differing levels of security and ease of use. The system provides an
additional capability in that transaction and diagnostic information are
directly written into the key from the lock.
To achieve the objects and in accordance with the purpose of the invention,
as embodied and broadly described herein, according to an embodiment of
present invention, a key with a sufficient memory capacity, for example, a
multi-purpose integrated-circuit card (called "smart card" hereinafter),
is adapted to carry access information required for entry to an access
controlled area, such as a hotel room. The access code can be readily
changed as often as required by the manager of this system. Several access
codes can be used to correspond to differing levels of access.
For example, in a hotel, different access codes, each corresponding to a
different security level, can be provided for guests, security officers,
housekeeping supervisors and maids. The smart card is also adapted to
record thereon transaction information provided from the lock to
facilitate easy access of such information by the system manager. The
provided transaction information may contain information representing the
activities associated with entry to the access controlled area such as the
time of entry, frequency of entry, and identity of the user.
An access control system, according to another embodiment of the present
invention, comprises a key card with a memory having a sufficient memory
capacity for storing predetermined key access information and transaction
information at respective addresses, an electro-mechanical device such as
a solenoid or step-motor disposed in and adapted for activating the
opening mechanism of the access controlled area in response to a control
signal, and an acceptor for providing the control signal in response to
the predetermined key access information from the key card to activate the
activating device.
The acceptor includes a card acceptor for conductively engaging the key
with the acceptor when the key is fully entered thereinto; a memory for
storing lock access information and transaction information, circuitry for
reading stored lock access information, and stored key access information
from said key means whenever the key is conductively engaged with the
acceptor; circuitry for comparing read key access information with read
lock access information; circuitry for providing the control signal to
said activating means based on the comparison; circuitry for providing
transaction information representing the condition of said acceptor means;
and circuitry for recording provided transaction information into the
memory of the key at respective addresses.
An access control system, according to yet another embodiment of the
invention, comprises circuitry for setting the contents of the memory of
the key to specified values to incapacitate the functioning of the key
whenever the read key access information is not identical to the read lock
access information.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in
part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from
the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The
objects and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by
means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the
appended claims.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part
of this specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and
together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an access control according to an embodiment
of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the smart card of the system of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is data structure of information stored in various types of the
smart card of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the access control system of FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is an operational flow of the system of FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is an operational flow for | | |
