Access control device featuring key ordering or key simultaneity
AssigneeSupra Products, Inc.
InventorsJohn M. Kniffin, Ron McCauley, Ralph H. Wells, III, John W. Sherman, Wayne F. Larson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A secure entry system makes use of radio transmissions to communicate with locks, keys, and related components throughout the system. The radio transmissions can be made using a paging system, a cellular telephone system, or any other RF carrier. Some embodiments employ a cellular telephone in lieu of an electronic key. Others integrate a paging receiver within an electronic key to provide a unit with dual functionality. The system is illustrated with reference to exemplary applications in the industrial site security, real estate lockbox, and transportation fields.
Claims11
In a method of operating a secure entry system, the system including an electronic lock and a plurality of electronic keys, the method including using each of the keys individually at different times to effect a plurality of openings of said lock, an improvement comprising establishing an order (KEY{1}, KEY{2}, . . . KEY{N}) by which the keys are to access the electronic lock, and denying lock access to any key KEY{J}, where 1<J.ltoreq.N, that is presented to the lock without each of keys KEY{1} through KEY{J-1} having been first presented thereto in said established order.
In a method of operating a locking system, the method including using a plurality of keys collectively to effect a single operation of a lock, each key comprising a self-contained device for coupling to the lock an improvement comprising defining, by data stored in an electronic memory associated with said locking system, a time window, and opening the lock only if said plurality of keys are presented thereto within the period of time defined by said time window.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.