|20090094460||Method and system for signer self-managed, encryption-based identification and signature secret management to verify signer and to legitimize basic digital signature without the use of certificates, tokens or PKI (private key infrastructure)||April, 2009||Dedek|
|20090125745||AUTOMATIC REDUCED AUDIO LOW BATTERY WARNING||May, 2009||Hyatt|
|20010039619||Speaker verification interface for secure transactions||November, 2001||Lapere et al.|
|20070150741||Securely calling Web services from macros||June, 2007||Kaler et al.|
|20090083562||CONVERTIBLE COMPUTER||March, 2009||Park et al.|
|20080046710||Switching firmware images in storage systems||February, 2008||Maddocks et al.|
|20060053296||Method for authenticating a user to a service of a service provider||March, 2006||Busboom et al.|
|20020169959||Method and system for assuring security of an IC card||November, 2002||Hsu|
|20080046725||Fast system call method||February, 2008||Lo et al.|
|20070143608||Malleable pseudonym certificate system and method||June, 2007||Zeng et al.|
|20040128395||License management method and license management system||July, 2004||Miyazaki|
 The present invention relates to a security system, and more particularly to electronic door locks which communicate with a central controller to remotely manage access thereto.
 Multi-room facilities such as hotels, condominiums, student housing, assisted living, and other properties commonly utilize electronic door locks. Keys are programmed to allow particular individuals access to particular rooms.
 Difficulties may arise when one resident of a room replaces another as the new resident must be provided with a key distinct from the previous resident such that the previous resident no longer has access to the room. Typically, the electronic lock operates by recognizing the more recently created key such that any previous key no longer unlocks the electronic lock. In some cases when duplicate keys are programmed to access the same room, the other previously programmed key is disabled. Such an occurrence may result when a husband is provided with a key for a room and a wife is later provided with a second key for the same room. Care must be taken to assure that both keys unlock the electronic lock.
 Often it is desirable to immediately cancel access to a properly programmed key for a particular electronic lock. A properly programmed key is typically programmed to access a room for a predetermined time period or until a newly programmed key is inserted into the lock. To cancel access to the room for the properly programmed key prior to expiration of the key, a staff person is required to physically insert a key into the electronic lock. This may be time consuming for large multi-room facilities.
 Other difficulties may arise when staff are provided with keys which allow access to multiple rooms for cleaning or other tasks. The staff person is in possession of a key which accesses multiple rooms and it is difficult to track usage of the multi-room key.
 Maintenance such as battery replacement, time correction, and data upgrades for the electronic lock are regularly required. Typically, a particular light combination alerts a staff member to replace the battery. Disadvantageously, staff must have direct access to the electronic lock to identify the light combination. This is time consuming for a large multi-room facility and may result in a guest not having access to a room because the battery failed. Such difficulties are also encountered when software upgrades for the electronic lock are required as a staff member must physically visit each and every electronic lock to install the software upgrade.
 Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a security system for a multi-room facility which provides key control, identifies historical usage, and allows maintenance from a remote location.
 The security system according to the present invention includes a central controller and an electronic door lock for each room within a multi-room facility. Each electronic lock includes a microprocessor, a memory which communicates with the microprocessor and a transceiver. The microprocessor communicates with a key slot which reads a programmable key having a key storage device such as a magnetic strip. The key storage device retains information such as a unique predetermined code which is identifiable by the microprocessor.
 The central controller communicates with each electronic lock through a room transceiver located proximate the electronic lock.
 A display communicates with the room transceiver to provide messages and other services to each room. The display includes a television as hotel rooms and the like are commonly already so equipped.
 A multi-entry key is identifiable by the microprocessor within the electronic lock to unlock the door in a conventional manner. Once the key is identified, the microprocessor instructs the lock transceiver to transmit the predetermined code stored on the key to the room transceiver. From the room transceiver the predetermined code is communicated to the central controller. The time that the key is inserted into the lock is also transmitted to the central controller. The predetermined key code and the entry time is then stored in a database for later retrieval.
 In operation, the present invention provides a multiple of security and key tracking services. The present invention provides for remote interrogation of each electronic lock. That is, each electronic lock receives instruction from the central controller such as access for a particular key or cancellation of keys through the in-room transceiver. The present invention also provides historical and tracking benefits which allows tracking and efficiency management of staff. A single staff person can also be located by searching for the predetermined code for the desired staff person.
 Maintenance of each electronic lock is also simplified as when an electronic lock identifies it has encountered a failure or potential for failure through an on-board self-test routine, the electronic lock sends a message to the central controller. Another maintenance function that is also simplified by the present invention is software upgrades for the electronic locks. The central controller sends the updated instruction set to each electronic lock through the transceiver which then communicates the new instruction set to the electronic lock memory. A large number of electronic locks are thereby updated essentially instantaneously.
 The present invention therefore provides a security system for a multi-room facility which provides key control, identifies historical usage, and allows electronic lock maintenance from a remote location.
 The various features and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the currently preferred embodiment. The drawing that accompanies the detailed description can be briefly described as:
 The security system
 Each electronic lock
 The central controller
 A display
 In operation, the present invention provides a multiple of services and benefits. Because each electronic lock
 The present invention provides for remote interrogation of each electronic lock. That is, each electronic lock receives instruction from the central controller
 The present invention provides historical and tracking benefits. Staff, such as cleaning personnel, are commonly supplied with a multi-entry key which provides access to multiple electronic locks. Each key includes a predetermined code stored upon the key storage device
 The multi-entry key is identifiable by the microprocessor
 The central controller
 A single staff person can also be located by searching for the predetermined code for the desired staff person. As the central controller
 Maintenance of each electronic lock
 Another maintenance function that is also simplified by the present invention is software upgrades for the electronic locks
 Another maintenance function that is also simplified by the present invention is updating the clock in the electronic locks
 The foregoing description is exemplary rather than defined by the limitations within. Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. The preferred embodiments of this invention have been disclosed, however, one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. For that reason the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.