GB2331547A - Lock systems - Google Patents

Abstract

A locking system comprises a control unit, a transfer unit and a plurality of locks. Each lock is openable using a coded key which is read electronically and generates a signal to unlock a locking unit. The key codes that will permit the unlocking of a lock are held in the control unit and are allocated to particular locks. This information is downloaded to a transfer unit which is then taken to the locks and the codes are passed to the locks. The locks can return information confirming receipt of the updated information and other information regarding the operation of the lock. This can then be passed back to the control unit so that the central record is updated.

Description

1 LWK SYS EMS The invention relates to lock systems.

2331547 A basic lock system comprises a mechanical lock and a mechanical key for locking and unlocking the lock. The locks and the keys can have various different complementary combinations that allow different keys to open different locks.

It is a problem with such a basic system that each key is matched to a particular lock. If a person wishes to have the ability to open a number of locks, therefore, they require a plurality of keys. This is cumbersome and it is not always possible to know which persons have which key.

It has been proposed to have mechanical keys and mechanical locks with a hierarchical key structure so that the key lower in the hierarchy can open only one or two locks whereas a key higher in the hierarchy will open both the one or two locks and a number of other locks. The hierarchy may have a significant number of levels.

2 It is a problem with such a system that the hierarchical structure must be decided upon before the locks are installed. The structure is not easily changed once installed and the structure may not be adaptable to provide all the required opening patterns- is J According to the invention, there is provided a lock system comprising a transfer unit and a plurality of locks, each lock requiring a coded electric signal to open and each lock including an interrogatable memory holding information identifying said lock and said code, the transfer unit holding information identifying a lock and a code required to open said lock and being communicatable with each lock so that, when the transfer unit identifies said lock using said identifying information held by the transfer unit in the lock, the transfer unit passes to the memory of the lock the information identifying said code.

In this way, the code that is required to open a lock can be entered centrally and then fed to the lock.

The following is a more detailed description of an embodiment of the invention, by way of example, reference being made to

3 the accompanying drawing which is a schematic block diagram of a locking system.

A locking system comprises a control unit 10, a transfer unit 11 and a plurality of locks 12.

The control unit 10 has an input unit 13. The control unit 10 and the input unit 13 may be embodied by a computer which also includes a VDU (not shown). The functions of the control unit 10 described below are performed by software running on the computer.

is The control unit has a data output port (not shown) which is connected via a cable 14 to the transfer unit 11. The cable 14 is connected to a memory 15 which is in turn connected to a control pad 16 and a receive/transmit unit 17.

Each lock 12 is provided with a receive/ transmit unit 18 connected to an interrogatable memory 19. The memory 18 is in turn connected to a battery 20 that powers the lock 12, a reader 21 and a locking unit 22. The locking unit 22 is of known kind requiring an electrical signal to operate and will not be described in detail. Each lock 12 is operated by a key 4 23 which contains readable information defining a code for unlocking the lock 12. This information may, for example, be on a magnetic strip on the key 23 or may be in the form of a bar code or encoded in a microchip carried by the key.

The reader 21 reads the information on the key 23 and passes the read information to the memory 19. If the key code matches the code held in the memory 19, a signal is sent to the locking unit 23 to unlock the lock 12.

The memory 19 also contains information identifying the lock 12. Plainly, each lock 12 will have a different identifying code.

The memory 19 receives information regarding the remaining life of the battery. For example, this information could be in the form of the number of uses of the battery as represented by the number of lock cycles. This is stored in the memory.

The control unit 10 holds a database. This database contains details of keys 23 usable in the system and includes an identifier identifying each key 23 and the key code carried by each key 23. In addition, the database carries information regarding each lock 12. This includes the location of each lock 12 and the identifying code for each lock 12. The database also includes details of users of the system. This includes information identifying the user and identifying any key 23 allocated to a user.

is In use, the locks 12 are fitted to access points such as gates and doors at locations which have multiple access points. Examples of these are schools, hospitals, universities and housing complexes. The control unit 10 has two principal functions; the first is to provide identifying codes for newly installed locks 12 and the second is to enable a key 23 held by a user to open specified locks 12.

When a new lock 12 is installed, the database entry for that lock is created and the lock 12 is allocated an identifying code. The identifying code is held in a scratch file in the control unit 10.

A user of the system is allocated a key 23. The details of this allocation are entered in the database against the user 6 and the key 23. The details of the key 23 may be entered into the control unit 12 via a reader (not shown) which reads the information from the key 23 direct into the control unit 10.

The user is then allocated unlocking rights to one or more locks 12. The identifying codes for the relevant locks and the key code are also passed to the scratch file.

is The transfer unit 11 is then connected to the data output port of the control unit 10 by the cable 14. The data from the scratch f ile in the control unit 10 is then passed to the memory 15 in the transfer unit 11. The cable 14 is then disconnected.

At the same time, the control unit 10 outputs to a printer 24 information regarding the locks 12 for which information has been transferred. This is printed out by the printer 24.

The transfer unit 11 is then taken to the locks 12 on the printed list. At each lock, by use of the control pad 17, the lock memory 19 is interrogated and passes to the transfer unit 11 the identifying code held in the memory 19. The transfer unit memory 15 then passes to the receive/transmit unit 16 the 7 key code held for that lock 12 and this is passed to the lock memory 19 via the lock receive/transmit unit 18.

is In the case where the lock 12 is newly installed, the control pad 17 is used to pass to the memory 15 and the receive /transmit unit 16 a lock identifying code which is transferred to the lock memory 19.

In both cases, the lock 12 passes back to the transfer unit 11 confirmation that information has been received. This confirmation is retained in the transfer unit memory 15 against the lock identification code. The lock memory 19 also passes back to the transfer unit 11 the information regarding the remaining battery life. This is held in the transfer unit memory 15 against the lock identification code.

The communication between the receive/transmit unit 16 in the transfer unit 11 and the receive/transmit unit 18 in the lock 12 may be by any convenient form. It could, for example, be an infrared signal or a radio signal. It could be via a cable.

8 Once all the locks 12 have been visited and the information transferred between the transfer unit 11 and the locks 12, the transfer unit 11 is returned to the control unit 10 and reconnected to a data input port of the control unit 10. Under the control of the control pad 17, the information received from the locks 12 is downloaded to the control unit 10. The control unit 10 then updates the databases 10 with confirmation that the information has been transferred and with information regarding remaining battery life. The control unit 10 identifies when any transfer of information appears to be incomplete or whether the battery 20 of a particular lock needs replacing. This information is printed out via the printer 24.

In this way, a user can be enabled to unlock specified locks 12. The user can be allocated to a group of users or a user can be given overall rights to unlock all locks 12. The control unit 10 maintains a complete database of users and locks 12 which they can unlock. Since the locks 12 can only be updated via the control unit 10, this database is always up- to-date.

1 - 9 Further, the database can maintain a watch on battery life. It will be appreciated that each lock 12 may send back to the control unit 10 information other than battery life, such as indications of malfunctioning. It might also send back information regarding attempts at unauthorized entry.

The transfer unit 11 need not be connected physically to each of the locks 12 and therefore the system is contactless. This makes it easy to operate.

The system described above with reference to the drawings is particularly flexible and can allow day visitors or contractors temporary rights to unlock specified locks 12.

is The use of the control unit 10 is optional. The transfer unit 11 could perform the functions described above and the function of the control unit 10.

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Claims (1)

1. A lock system comprising a transfer unit and a plurality of locks, each lock requiring a coded electrical signal to open and each lock including an interrogatable memory for holding information identifying said lock and said code, the transfer unit holding information identifying a lock and a code required to open said lock, and being communicatable with each lock so that, when the transfer unit identifies said lock using said identifying information held by the transfer unit and the lock, the transfer unit passes to the memory of the lock the information identifying said code.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the transfer unit holds information identifying a plurality of locks, the transfer unit also holding information identifying the code associated with each lock.

3. A system according to claim 2 wherein the locks for which identifying information and codes are held, are locks which an individual is entitled to open, the transfer unit passing to said locks the codes allowing the individual to open the locks.

11 4. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the transfer unit passes, to a lock having a memory not containing information identifying the lock, said lock identifying information.

is 5. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein each lock memory stores further information identifying a characteristic of the lock, the transfer unit, when communicating with a lock, receiving and storing said further information.

6. A system according to claim 5 wherein each lock includes a battery, the further information including the remaining life of the battery.

7. A system according to claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the further information includes information confirming that information has been received from the transfer unit.

8. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the communication between the transfer unit and each lock is by the cableless transmission of signals.

12 9. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the communication between the transfer unit and each lock is through an electrical cable.

10. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 9 and further including a control unit, the control unit holding information required by the transfer unit, the transfer unit being communicatable with said control unit to receive said information from the control unit.

is 11. A system according to claim 10 wherein the control unit includes an input device by which said information is entered into the control unit.

12. A system according to claim 10 or claim 11 when dependent on any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein said control unit receives from the transfer unit information communicated thereto by a lock memory.

13. A system according to claim 12 wherein the control unit compares information received from a lock with information passed to the lock and determines whether there is equivalence therebetween.

13 14. A lock system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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