Building access system with programmed door locks

Abstract

Disclosed is an entry system for a building having a first door lock including a controller; wherein the first door lock is configured to encode access rights of a first guest key card in response to a first engagement with a master key card.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Application No. 62 / 900079, filed September 13, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0003] The disclosed embodiments relate to building management systems, and more particularly to building management systems having programmed door locks. Background Art

[0004] Construction cards for hotels in the construction phase can be encoded at the factory. These cards can be identical and shipped around the world and provide the card holder with unlimited access to the construction site as long as the card remains valid. In an active hotel, the hotel may not be able to encode the card when the front desk system fails. Therefore, an active hotel may need to pre-encode spare cards and store them in the hotel safe. Summary of the invention

[0005] Disclosed is an entry system for a building, the entry system comprising: a first door lock, the first door lock comprising a controller; wherein the first door lock is configured to encode access rights of a first guest key card in response to a first engagement with a master key card.

[0006] Additionally or alternatively to one or more aspects disclosed above, engaging the master key card includes the first door lock monitoring for an occurrence of a predetermined combination of actions proximate in time to a first engagement of the master key card.

[0007] Additionally or alternatively to one or more aspects disclosed above, monitoring for occurrence of the predetermined combination of actions includes the first door lock monitoring for occurrence of one or more additional engagements with the master key card and receiving manual actuation of the first door handle of the first door lock.

[0008] Additionally or alternatively to one or more aspects disclosed above, the first door lock is configured to grant access to the first guest key card within a predetermined time period relative to a time of the first door lock.

[0009] Additionally or alternatively to one or more aspects disclosed above, the first door lock is configured to grant access to a first customer key card at a plurality of door locks, wherein the plurality of door locks includes the first door lock.

[0010] Additionally or alternatively to one or more aspects disclosed above, the first door lock is configured to revoke any valid access rights for any other customer key card if and as long as communication with the network hub via the network is unavailable.

[0011] Additionally or alternatively to one or more aspects disclosed above, in response to communication with the network hub via the network subsequently becoming available, the first door lock is configured to revoke access to the first customer key card.

[0012] Additionally or alternatively to one or more aspects disclosed above, the first door lock is configured to grant access at the plurality of door locks to a plurality of customer key cards, wherein the plurality of door locks includes the first door lock, and the plurality of customer key cards includes the first customer key card.

[0013] Additionally or alternatively to one or more aspects disclosed above, the first door lock is configured to grant access based on system parameters encoded in the master key card and the first door lock and serial numbers encoded by the first door lock onto a plurality of customer key cards.

[0014] Additionally or alternatively to one or more aspects disclosed above, the first door lock is configured to revoke any valid access rights for any other customer key.

[0015] Also disclosed is a method of controlling an access system for a building, the method comprising encoding access rights of a first guest key card by a first door lock in response to a first engagement with a master key card.

[0016] Additionally or alternatively to one or more aspects disclosed above, engaging the master key card includes the first door lock monitoring for an occurrence of a predetermined combination of actions proximate in time to a first engagement of the master key card.

[0017] Additionally or alternatively to one or more aspects disclosed above, monitoring for occurrence of the predetermined combination of actions includes monitoring for occurrence of one or more additional engagements with the master key card and receiving manual actuation of the first door handle of the first door lock.

[0018] Additionally or alternatively to one or more aspects disclosed above, the method includes the first door lock granting access to the first customer key card for a predetermined period of time.

[0019] Additionally or alternatively to one or more aspects disclosed above, the method includes a first door lock granting, to a first customer key card, access at a plurality of door locks, wherein the plurality of door locks includes the first door lock.

[0020] Additionally or alternatively to one or more aspects disclosed above, the method includes revoking, by the first door lock, any valid access rights for any other customer key while communication with the network hub via the network is unavailable.

[0021] Additionally or alternatively to one or more aspects disclosed above, the method includes, in response to communication with the network hub via the network subsequently becoming available, the first door lock revoking access to the first customer key card.

[0022] Additionally or alternatively to one or more aspects disclosed above, the method includes a first door lock granting access at a plurality of door locks to a plurality of guest key cards, wherein the plurality of door locks includes the first door lock, and the plurality of guest key cards includes the first guest key card.

[0023] Additionally or alternatively to one or more aspects disclosed above, the method includes the first door lock granting access based on the master key card and system parameters encoded in the first door lock and serial numbers encoded by the first door lock onto a plurality of customer key cards.

[0024] Additionally or alternatively to one or more aspects disclosed above, the method includes the first door lock revoking any valid access rights for any other customer key card. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The present disclosure is illustrated by way of examples and not limited in the accompanying figures, in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements.

[0026] Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a building having a building access system including features of at least one of the disclosed embodiments;

[0027] Figure 2 It is shown that the obtained Figure 1 A flowchart of a method for accessing one or more suites in a building of a system;

[0028] Figure 3 is a schematic representation of another building having a building access system including features of at least one of the disclosed embodiments; and

[0029] Figure 4 It is shown that the obtained Figure 3 A flow chart of a method of providing access to one or more suites in a building through a system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] Come and see Figure 1, a building 5 (which may be a hotel) may include a plurality of suites 10 having a plurality of rooms 15 therein. Each of the plurality of suites 10 may have a suite lock 20 of a plurality of suite locks 20, each of which has one of a plurality of suite lock handles 22, a suite lock controller 23, and a suite lock key card reader 24. Each of the plurality of rooms 15 may have a room lock of a plurality of room locks 25, each of which has one of a plurality of room lock handles 26, a room lock controller 27, and a room lock key card reader 28. A main lobby 30 may include a main hub 35 for a hotel, otherwise referred to as a network hub or front desk. The main hub 35 may be used to program access rights for management key cards (otherwise referred to as master key cards 40) and guest key cards (otherwise referred to as guest key cards 42). For example, access rights may be used to access a suite in the suites 10 and a select room of a room 15 within the suite in the suites 10. The master hub 35 can communicate with multiple suite locks 20 via a network 45. The suite lock 20 can communicate with multiple room locks 25 via the same or different networks 50. Network It can be wired or wireless executing any of the known protocols.

[0031] There may be occasions where a spare version of the guest key card 42 is needed to gain access to a suite. This may occur when a guest loses their guest key card 42. The spare version of the guest key card 42 may be the same as the guest key card 42, or may have fewer access rights as indicated herein. A spare version of the system guest key card 42 may be needed when a system power outage occurs such that the main hub 35 is unable to encode the guest key card 42. The main hub 35 may be software on a computer with an attached encoder device 36. The encoder device 36 may be of a type associated with an encoded key card. For example, the encoder may be an RFID encoder. Typical RFID cards include, for example, MIFARE from NXP Semiconductors NV, and it is based on the ISO / IEC 14443 Type A 13.56 MHz contactless smart card standard.

[0032] Additionally, during a power outage, the master hub 35 and the suite lock 20 may not be able to communicate with each other. During such a time, as disclosed herein, the suite lock 20 may be used for programming of an alternate version of the customer key card 42 when provided with one of the master key cards 40. To enter the programming mode, the master key card 40 may be provided to the suite lock 20 using a combination of actions. The combination of actions may include engaging a magnetic stripe (which may alternatively be an RFID) of one of the master key cards 40 against one of the suite lock key card readers 24 a predetermined number of times, and / or concomitantly engaging a corresponding one of the suite lock handles 22. It is to be appreciated that an interior handle or exterior handle may be utilized instead of a suite lock handle.

[0033] In addition, the combination of actions may also include a secret knob action. For example, a knob action may include a predefined sequence that is not 'normal use' but is detectable by the lock as a specific sequence that triggers a programming mode. The knob action may include rotating the door handle several times. The rotation action may also be engaged by rotating a secret knob (on the inside of the door). In some uses, rotating the secret knob engages a locking deadbolt. In some uses, the knob is used as an electronic secret switch sensed by the door lock. In such uses, the door lock 20 will prevent the customer key card 42 from opening the door lock unless the secret switch is set to disabled, but the master card 40 may be allowed to open the door when it has a privacy-override permission for the card. An example set of sequences for knob actions includes: unlocking the door and opening the door; while the door is open, rotating the handle twice; then rotating the secret knob twice; and so on.

[0034] Come and see Figure 2 , a flow chart showing a method for controlling an entry system for a building 5 according to an embodiment. Figure 1 and Figure 2 , as shown in block 510, the method includes a first door lock 20A (e.g., one of the suite locks 20) granting access to a first guest key card 42A (i.e., a spare version of the guest key card 42). This is performed by the first door lock 20A entering a programming mode to program the first guest key card 42A. For example, the first guest key card may include a magnetic stripe that can be programmed by the first door lock 20A and may initially be blank or have no customized data written to the card. The first door lock 20A performs the steps below 510 in response to the first engagement with the master key card 40A.

[0035] As shown in block 520, the step of engaging the master key card 40A includes the first door lock 20A monitoring the occurrence of a predetermined combination of actions that are temporally proximate to the first engagement with the master key card 40A. As shown in block 530, such monitoring includes the first door lock 20A monitoring the occurrence of one or more additional engagements with the master key card 40A and receiving manual actuation of the first door handle 22A of the first door lock 20A.

[0036] As shown in block 540, the method includes the first door lock 20A granting access to the first guest key card 42A within a predetermined time period relative to the current time in the lock. For example, a backup version of the guest key card may provide two-day access to the suite.

[0037] As shown in block 550, the method includes the first door lock 20A granting access to the first guest key card 42A at the plurality of door locks 160. For example, in addition to the first door lock 20A, a plurality of room locks 25 may also be in the suite. In addition to the first door lock 20A, the first guest key card 24A may also be granted access to all or some of the plurality of room locks 25. The steps performed under blocks 540 and 550 cause the guest key card 42A to be provided to the lock in a blank state, and the lock encodes the granted access onto the guest key card 42A, causing it to end in an encoded state.

[0038] As shown in box 560, the method includes the first door lock 20A revoking any valid access that any other guest key card may have to the first door lock 20A. The steps performed under box 560 occur if communication with the main hub 35 via the network 45 is not available when programming the backup version of the guest key card. In addition, as illustrated in box 570, the method can include the first door lock 20A revoking access to the first guest key card 42A once the network hub becomes available. For example, the method can include revoking the guest key card 42A once another guest key card 42 is encoded by the main hub after being back online, etc.

[0039] Come and see Figure 3 , a construction site for a building 200 (building 200 can be used for a hotel) may include a plurality of suites 210, each of which has a plurality of rooms 220. At a certain stage of construction, each of the plurality of suites 210 and rooms 220 may have one of a plurality of door locks 225, including a suite lock 230 and a room lock 240. The door locks 225 may each be installed to one of a plurality of installed doors. Each of the door locks 225 may have one of a plurality of handles 250, a controller 260, and a key card reader 270.

[0040] The door locks 225 can communicate with each other via a wired or wireless network 280 executing any of the known protocols. Once the door locks 225 are installed, it is desirable to control the flow of continuous construction, but the building 200 may not have a main hub 35 that can communicate with each other via a network 45 (see FIG. Figure 1 ) communicates with multiple suite locks 20. For example, it may be desirable to allow a carpet installer to perform their work while preventing a previous contractor (i.e., an electrician or painter) from entering. That is, there may be an expected sequence of actions for a team of contractors, and access may be controlled in the flow of continuous construction. As disclosed herein, the door lock 225 may be used to control the flow of continuous construction. Additionally, the door lock 225 may be used to control the flow between hotels so that contractors cannot use their card 310 to go to another hotel.

[0041] Process control may be achieved by utilizing a master key card 300. A first plurality of customer key cards 310 are distributed to a first team of contractors who use them to complete a first task during a first time period. A second plurality of customer key cards 310 are distributed to a second team of contractors who use them to complete a second task following the first task during a second time period.

[0042] A first set 310A of guest key cards are encoded by the action of the door lock 225 when provided with the master key card 300. A second set 310B of guest key cards are encoded by the action of the door lock 225 when provided with the master key card 300 again. The master key card 300 can identify the correct sequence of the contractor team. In fact, the first time the master key card 300 is used, the door lock 225 will start with a default sequence number. When the method 510 is used to encode a first set of multiple guest key cards 310, this first set will have a higher sequence number. Later when the method is used again, the second set will have an even higher sequence number.

[0043] When the master key card 300 is used in conjunction with a combination of actions (block 520), the door lock 225 enters a mode for encoding a customer key card 310. This is done by the door lock 225 having the ability to read from and write to (program) a customer key card. When the door lock 225 enters programming mode, it may flash one or more lights in a predetermined sequence (using an onboard light emitting diode) or emit an audible tone (using an onboard speaker) to indicate that programming mode is in progress. The door lock 225 may remain in programming mode for a predetermined time and then return to non-programming (e.g., normal) operation. While in programming mode, the door lock 225 may encode multiple customer key cards 310 (e.g., the customer key cards 310 may be blank when provided to the door lock) when provided with such customer key cards 310.

[0044] For example, if in the construction phase, then the next two teams of contractors in that order might be wall plasterers and wall painters. Thus, the plasterer team will be needed on the job site before the painter team. The plasterer team will receive the first plurality of customer key cards 310A. The painter team will receive the second plurality of customer key cards 310B. The sequence of codes in the master key card 300 will be such that the plasterer team has a lower number encoded in the second plurality of customer key cards 310A than the painter team.

[0045] In use, the general contractor will arrive to meet with the painting team and use the master key card 300 to open one of the door locks 225. The one of the door locks 225 that was opened enters programming mode, and the customer key card can be programmed with the correct serial number at this time to provide immediate access to the painting team. All customer key cards (if any) encoded with the previous serial number are now locked out. After the painting team is finished, the process is repeated. The general contractor will arrive to meet with the painting team and use the master key card 300 to open one of the door locks 225. The one of the door locks 225 that was opened enters programming mode, and the additional customer key cards can be programmed with the correct next serial number at this time to provide immediate access to the painting team. All customer key cards (i.e., for the painting team) encoded with the previous serial number are now locked out. It is to be appreciated that the master card 300 always has access. Additionally, rather than sending out unprogrammed customer key cards for different teams, the general contractor may arrive with a master key card and the necessary number of customer key cards for a given team.

[0046] In other words, in the disclosed embodiment, there is only one master key card 300. This master key card 300 is used to trigger the door lock to program the first plurality of customer key cards 310A and program them from blank to the next serial number. Later, if the master card 300 is used again, another plurality of customer key cards 310B can be encoded with the next serial number. The master key card 300 can always open the lock regardless of the serial number. The child key cards are controlled by serial numbers, and they can be programmed in bulk.

[0047] That is, the master key card 300 is identified separately from the guest key card 310. The master key card 300 is allowed access based on matching system parameters - that is, all locks 225 in the hotel will have the same matching parameters. When a special sequence is performed to put the factory lock 225 into programming mode for the first time to make some guest key cards 310, the factory lock 225 will read the system parameters from the master key card 300 and store them in the lock 225. Thereafter, this lock 225 will only respond to this master key card 300 and respond to any guest key card 310 with this same system parameter. Otherwise, the lock will not open to other master key cards 300 with different system parameters. Once in programming mode for the first time, the lock 225 will assume a default serial number (i.e., 1) and will make guest key cards 310 from blank cards. These guest key cards 310 will have system parameters and a sequence of 1. Later, when the special sequence is repeated with the master key card 300, the lock 225 will advance the serial number (i.e., to 2), and a new set of customer key cards 310 will be made from blank cards. This second set will have the same system parameters and a sequence of 2. The master key card 300 always has the system parameters, but no list of serial numbers. When a lock has a sequence of 2, it will essentially revoke or block access to a customer key card 310 with a sequence of 1. Since a customer key card 310 with a sequence of 2 is used on locks that are still at a sequence of 1, those locks advance their serial numbers to 2 (because it is greater than 1), and this effectively revokes all customer key cards with lower serial numbers for all locks (once they have been opened).

[0048] When the master key card 300 is used, the lock 225 will ignore the serial number and only compare to the system parameters. That is, a comparison is made by the lock 225 to determine that the master key card 300 is authorized to open the lock 225. When in factory mode, the lock 225 will accept any master key card 300 and open because there are no established system parameters. However, once the system parameters are established, only this master key card 300 can open the lock 225. And once this master key card 300 is used to put the lock into programming mode, customer key cards 310 can be made based on the serial number, and these key cards 310 can be obsolete as the serial number increases, etc.

[0049] As indicated, the door lock 225 may utilize method 510 to enter programming mode and program each of the customer key cards 310 to access each of the door locks 225. For example, the first door lock 225A may engage the master key card 300, determine to execute the access method, and enter programming mode. While in programming mode, each of the customer key cards 310 may be successfully programmed by the first door lock 225A. At this same time, all previously granted access rights to any previously contracted team are revoked.

[0050] Come and see Figure 4 , a flow chart showing a method of controlling an entry system for a building 200 according to an embodiment. Figure 3 and Figure 4 , and as illustrated in block 575, the method includes the first door lock 225A granting access to the first customer key card 310A by encoding the key card 310A. The first door lock 225A responds to being provided to any other contractor in sequence. Team and Use method 510 With the Lord The first engagement of the key card 300 performs the steps below block 575 .

[0051] As shown in block 580, the method includes the first door lock 225A ( Figure 1 ) grants access to a plurality of customer key cards 310 at a plurality of door locks 225. The plurality of door locks 225 includes a first door lock 225A. The plurality of customer key cards 310 includes a first customer key card 310A. As indicated and shown in box 590, the method includes the first door lock 225A granting access when provided with a master key card 300. As illustrated in box 600, the method includes the first door lock 20A revoking any valid access for any other customer key card. This action locks out the entire previous contractor team.

[0052] As described above, embodiments may take the form of processor-implemented processes and devices (such as processors) for practicing those processes. Embodiments may also take the form of computer program code containing instructions embodied in tangible media (such as network cloud storage, SD card, flash drive, floppy disk, CD ROM, hard drive or any other computer-readable storage medium), wherein when the computer program code is loaded into a computer and run by the computer, the computer becomes a device for practicing the embodiments. Embodiments may also take the form of, for example, the following: whether it is a computer program code stored in a storage medium, loaded into a computer and / or run by a computer, or a computer program code transmitted through some transmission medium, loaded into a computer and / or run by a computer, or a computer program code transmitted through some transmission medium (such as through wires or cables, through fiber optics, or via electromagnetic radiation); wherein when the computer program code is loaded into a computer and run by the computer, the computer becomes a device for practicing the embodiments. When implemented on a general-purpose microprocessor, the computer program code segments configure the microprocessor to create specific logic circuits.

[0053] The terms used herein are used only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to be limitations of the present disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms "a / an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises and / or comprising" when used in this specification specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, element components and / or groups thereof.

[0054] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various example embodiments are shown and described herein, each of which has certain features in a particular embodiment, but the present disclosure is not limited thereby. On the contrary, the present disclosure may be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions, combinations, sub-combinations, or equivalent arrangements not previously described but comparable to the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, although various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the present disclosure may include only some of the described embodiments. Therefore, the present disclosure is not to be considered as limited by the above description, but only by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An entry system for a building comprising a plurality of suites, each suite having a suite lock and a plurality of rooms, each room having a room lock, the system comprising: a first door lock, which is a suite lock for one of the suites, the first door lock comprising a controller; wherein the first door lock is configured to encode access rights to a first guest key card in response to a first engagement with a master key card, the first guest key card being a guest card, wherein engaging the master key card comprises: the first door lock monitoring for occurrence of a predetermined combination of actions proximate in time to the first engagement with the master key card, wherein monitoring for occurrence of the predetermined combination of actions comprises: the first door lock monitoring for occurrence of one or more additional engagements with the master key card and receiving manual actuation of a first door handle of the first door lock, The first door lock is configured to grant access to a plurality of door locks for the first guest key card, wherein the plurality of door locks includes the first door lock and a selected portion of room locks within a suite, the selected room locks being less than all of the rooms within the suite.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein: The first door lock is configured to grant the access to the first customer key card within a predetermined time period relative to a time of the first door lock.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein: The first door lock is configured to revoke any valid access rights for any other customer key card if and as long as communication with the network hub via the network is unavailable.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein: In response to communication with the network hub via the network subsequently becoming available, the first door lock is configured to revoke access to the first customer key card.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein: The first door lock is configured to grant access at a plurality of door locks for a plurality of customer key cards, wherein the plurality of door locks includes the first door lock and the plurality of customer key cards includes the first customer key card.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein: The first door lock is configured to grant the access based on system parameters encoded in the master key card and the first door lock and serial numbers encoded by the first door lock onto the plurality of customer key cards.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein: The first door lock is configured to revoke any valid access rights for any other customer key card.

8. A method of controlling an access system for a building including a plurality of suites, each suite having a suite lock and a plurality of rooms, each room having a room lock, the building including a first door lock, the first door lock encoding access rights to a first guest key card in response to first engagement with a master key card, the first guest key card being a guest card, in, Engaging the master key card includes: the first door lock monitoring the occurrence of a predetermined combination of actions proximate in time to the first engagement of the master key card, wherein monitoring the occurrence of the predetermined combination of actions comprises: monitoring the occurrence of one or more additional engagements with the master key card and receiving manual actuation of a first door handle of the first door lock, The first door lock is configured to grant access to a plurality of door locks for the first guest key card, wherein the plurality of door locks includes the first door lock and a selected portion of room locks within a suite, the selected room locks being less than all of the rooms within the suite.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein: The method includes the first door lock granting the access to the first customer key card within a predetermined time period.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein: The method includes the first door lock revoking any valid access rights for any other customer key card when communication with the network hub through the network is unavailable.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein: The method includes, in response to communication with the network hub via the network subsequently becoming available, the first door lock revoking access to the first customer key card.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein: The method includes the first door lock granting access at a plurality of door locks to a plurality of customer key cards, wherein the plurality of door locks includes the first door lock and the plurality of customer key cards includes the first customer key card.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein: The method includes the first door lock granting the access based on the system parameters encoded in the master key card and the first door lock and serial numbers encoded by the first door lock onto the plurality of customer key cards.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein: The method includes the first door lock revoking any valid access rights for any other customer key card.

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