Remote auditing of electronic keys

A method, performed by an electronic key, for auditing activity in an access control system, the method comprising:

• delivering, in response to the electronic key coupling with an electronic lock, electrical power to energize circuitry of the electronic lock;
• transmitting, based on access control information associated with the electronic key, an unlocking signal that causes the electronic lock to change from a locked state to an unlocked state, the unlocked state permitting a key holder to access a secured area;
• storing, in memory of the electronic key, an audit trail record including details related to unlocking the electronic lock;
• broadcasting, via a wireless wide area network (WWAN) and in response to storing the audit trail record in the memory of the electronic key, an electronic message comprising a request to establish a WWAN communications link between the electronic key and an access control server;
• and
• responsive to establishing the WWAN communications link, initiating an audit session for transferring, to the access control server, a change in the audit trail record stored in the memory of the electronic key, the change corresponding to an access event completed during the audit session.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of an electronic key, cause the portable electronic key to:

• deliver, in response to the electronic key coupling with an electronic lock, electrical power to energize circuitry of the electronic lock;
• transmit, based on access control information associated with the electronic key, an unlocking signal that causes the electronic lock to change from a locked state to an unlocked state, the unlocked state permitting a key holder to access a secured area;
• store, in memory of the electronic key, an audit trail record including details related to unlocking the electronic lock;
• broadcast, via a wireless wide area network (WWAN) and in response to storing the audit trail record in the memory of the electronic key, an electronic message comprising a request to establish a WWAN communications link between the electronic key and the access control server;
• and
• responsive to establishing the WWAN communications link, initiate an audit session comprising the exchange of asynchronous messages for transferring, to the access control server, a change in the audit trail record stored in the memory of the electronic key, the change in the audit trail record corresponding to an access event completed during the audit session.