Cabinet of a locking system with additional functions and control methods

Abstract

Method for controlling cabinets of a central locking system in which digital keys, e.g., in the form of a key card, are used to operate the locks of the various cabinets, and a superior central unit (1, 2, 3, 4), consisting of at least one host (1) with a plurality of lock control units, controls a lock unit on each cabinet side, wherein each cabinet is assigned a switching device (11, 12) for controlling additional switching devices in the cabinet, which can be controlled by the central locking system depending on an occupancy query, characterized in that in a In the first procedure step, starting from the lock control unit or the host (1), the lock status of the locks (8-10) is queried via a signal connection (6), and it is checked whether the cabinet has been opened or closed at least once within a certain time; in a second procedure step, depending on the first procedure step, an occupancy query (19) is carried out to determine whether the cabinet is occupied; that in a In the third process step, depending on the second process step, a time query is performed to control the additional device depending on the time of day and / or the time in which a low electricity tariff is available, that in a The fourth step of the process involves identifying the cabinet as rented by checking the digital key, ensuring that it is in a In the fifth process step, depending on the fourth process step, the additional device in the cabinet is switched on.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to methods for controlling cabinets of a central locking system with additional functions according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] In central locking systems, a large number of cabinets are jointly managed by a host that communicates with a lock control unit via a digital data connection, with each lock control unit controlling a plurality of locks. Such a central locking system is disclosed, for example, in CH 695 714 A5.

[0003] It is therefore a central locking system in which digital keys, e.g. in the form of a key card, are used to operate the locks of the various cabinets.

[0004] German patent DE 10 2007 008 006 A1 also discloses a method for unlocking lockers, whereby the user identifies themselves via a mobile communication device before unlocking the locker, and the subsequent unlocking is controlled by a central control unit. This central control unit is designed to manage multiple lockers and can, for example, process payments when a locker is used.

[0005] Such lock monitoring systems are also known, for example, from DE 195 33 255 A1, whereby a data exchange with an external and superior unit takes place by means of a monitoring and control unit of a locker connected via a bus.

[0006] Another example is that a host with subordinate lock control units manages more than 1,000 lockers with assigned locks in a ski room. In a ski room, lockers are used to store items such as ski equipment, boots, and the like.

[0007] Previously, it was only known to optionally install individual lighting or heating in such a cabinet, whereby the cabinet user could switch such an additional device on and off himself.

[0008] Previously, users could switch the interior light on and off when opening their assigned locker. If a locker heater was present, it was centrally controlled and switched on and off by a dedicated switching device. This had the disadvantage that the central switching device could not detect whether the locker was actually occupied or whether the user had not opened or closed the locker for several days, thus rendering the heater unnecessary. Consequently, it was not possible to individually control the centrally managed lockers according to user behavior.

[0009] A centrally controlled heating system for all cabinets results in high electricity consumption. Assuming that each cabinet requires 50-60 W of heating power and there are a total of 1,000 cabinets, this equates to an electricity consumption of 6 kW for 2-3 hours, which is associated with considerable costs.

[0010] DE 101 64 574 A1 discloses a device for controlling goods gates of a central locking system, in which digital keys are used to operate the locks of the various cabinets, and a higher-level central unit, consisting of at least one host with a plurality of lock control units, controls a lock unit on each cabinet side, wherein each cabinet is assigned a switching device for controlling auxiliary switching devices in the cabinet, which can be controlled by the central locking system depending on an occupancy query. Such an auxiliary switching device can, for example, be a temperature control unit, which can be activated by a control command.

[0011] DE 101 19 637 A1 also shows a temperature control unit, but here for switch cabinets, where a fan is proposed as an additional switching device.

[0012] Furthermore, it was previously unknown whether additional facilities such as cleaning, ventilation, or the like were to be provided.

[0013] The invention is therefore based on the objective of designing a method and a device for controlling the cabinet of a locking system in such a way that the additional functions assigned to a cabinet can be individually controlled.

[0014] To solve the problem posed, the invention is characterized by the technical teaching of claim 1.

[0015] A key feature of the invention is that each cabinet now has its own switching device for controlling additional equipment in the cabinet, which is optionally controlled by the lock control unit or by the host of the central locking system.

[0016] The advantage of this technical approach is that the mass of cabinets is no longer centrally controlled, but rather each cabinet has its own switching device, which is also individually controlled by the host or the lock control unit.

[0017] This offers the advantage that intelligent control of the switching device can save electricity and that the switching device is only activated under very specific conditions.

[0018] As an example, the switching on of a heater in a cupboard is explained in more detail: The central control unit first determines whether the cabinet has been opened or closed at all within a specific time period. The lock control unit or host already knows the rental status, as a rental is confirmed by a valid access card for the lock and this information is reported back to the lock control unit or host.

[0019] One card authorizes access to a specific locker for a specific period of time, and therefore the locker's rental status is already known to the system.

[0020] As an additional condition, the system now asks when and if the cabinet was opened or closed. This indicates that the cabinet is being used.

[0021] This status query determines whether the cabinet is occupied or not. If the answer is yes, the next step is to specify a time, with a decision based on the time of day. For example, a heater should only be switched on if the cabinet was used that day and a low-cost electricity tariff is in effect. This is typically the case during the night.

[0022] A status check is then performed to determine whether the specified boundary conditions are met, and depending on this status check, the heating is switched on for a certain period of time and then switched off again.

[0023] Regardless of the time query or the query of the time of day, for example the interior lighting can always be switched on when the cabinet door is opened, and this interior lighting remains on for the entire time the cabinet door is open or switches off automatically after a certain time.

[0024] In addition to heating, cleaning in the cabinet or ventilation can also be controlled and switched on and / or off, although different conditions apply.

[0025] The important aspect of the invention is that the additional switching device is individually controlled for each cabinet, rather than a central switching on and off of the additional functions assigned to a cabinet.

[0026] This saves very high electricity costs and increases user comfort.

[0027] The subject matter of the present invention is not only derived from the subject matter of the individual patent claims, but also from the combination of the individual patent claims with one another.

[0028] All information and features disclosed in the documents, including the summary, in particular the spatial design shown in the drawings, are claimed as essential to the invention, insofar as they are novel individually or in combination compared to the prior art.

[0029] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to drawings illustrating only one embodiment. Further essential features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the drawings and their description.

[0030] They show: Fig. 1: Schematic block diagram of a central locking system with additional equipment Fig. 2: an opposite Fig. 1 refined block diagram

[0031] In Fig. Figure 1 generally shows that a central server or host 1 with a database located there controls a central locking system.

[0032] Via a digital data connection 5, e.g. an Ethernet data connection, the host controls a master 2, which in turn controls a multitude of slave controllers 3, 4, which are connected to each other, for example via a signal connection 6, e.g. a serial data bus.

[0033] Each slave controller 3, 4 controls a multitude of locks 8, 9, 10, whereby only the control of the slave controller 3 for the locks 8, 9, 10 is shown, and the control is carried out via a bus connection 7.

[0034] It is important that each lock is assigned its own switching device 11, 12, 13, and that this switching device is operated either by the master 2 or the host 1.

[0035] In the exemplary embodiment according to Fig. Figure 1 shows that the switching device 11 can control, for example, a light 14 inside the cabinet, a heater 15 or a cleaning system 16.

[0036] In Fig. Figure 2 shows a flowchart of the individually controlled, intelligent circuitry of the switching device according to the invention.

[0037] Starting from Master 2 or Host 1, the lock status of locks 8-10 at position 17 is queried via signal connection 6, and it is checked whether the cabinet has been opened or closed at least once within a certain time.

[0038] Depending on the result of this query, an occupancy query (19) is performed at position 18 to determine if the cabinet is occupied. If the cabinet is identified as occupied, a time query is performed at position 21 at position 20.

[0039] This time query takes into account, for example, the time of day, a specific usage period of the cabinet, or the time of a low electricity tariff.

[0040] At item 22, a status check is performed according to item 23, e.g., the decision as to whether the cabinet is rented or not, and depending on this, the heating is switched on at item 24, the cleaning is switched on at item 25 if necessary, and the interior lighting is switched on at item 26 if necessary.

[0041] However, if the time query at position 21 results in a finding that, for example, the permitted or desired time of day or a low tariff for electric heating is not available, the system branches back at position 27 and, for example, heating 15 is only switched on when a low tariff electricity is available.

[0042] Therefore, an important aspect of the invention is that each lock 8-10 has an individual switching device 11-13, which is controlled by an intelligent control system either of the host and / or the master 2, in order to switch the cabinet accessories on and off individually according to the time of day or other user-related conditions.

[0043] Above, terms such as master and slave controller were collectively referred to as the lock control unit. Drawing legend 1 Host 2 Master 3 Slave Controllers 4 Slave Controllers 5 Data connection 6 Signal connection 7 bus connections 8 Castle 9 Castle 10 Castle 11 Switching device 12 Switching device 13 Switching device 14 Lighting 15 Heating 16 Cleaning 17th position 18 Position 19 Belegungsabfrage 20 Position 21 Position 22 Position 23 Position 24 Position 25 Position 26 Position 27 Position

Claims

Method for controlling cabinets of a central locking system in which digital keys, e.g., in the form of a key card, are used to operate the locks of the various cabinets, and a superior central unit (1, 2, 3, 4), consisting of at least one host (1) with a plurality of lock control units, controls a lock unit on each cabinet side, wherein each cabinet is assigned a switching device (11, 12) for controlling auxiliary switching devices in the cabinet, which can be controlled by the central locking system depending on an occupancy query, characterized in that in a first method step, starting from the lock control unit or the host (1), the lock status of the locks (8-10) is queried via a signal connection (6), and it is checked whether the cabinet has been opened or closed at least once within a certain time.that in a second procedure step, depending on the first procedure step, an occupancy query (19) is carried out to determine whether the cabinet is occupied; that in a third procedure step, depending on the second procedure step, a time query is carried out to control the additional equipment depending on the time of day and / or the time in which a low electricity tariff is available; that in a fourth procedure step, the cabinet is identified as rented by checking the digital key; that in a fifth procedure step, depending on the fourth procedure step, the additional equipment in the cabinet is switched on. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the additional device is controlled depending on the user's behavior. Device for carrying out the method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each lock has its own switching device (11, 12, 13) which is actuated by the central locking system (1, 2, 3, 4). Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the switching device controls at least one cabinet-side lighting (14) and / or heating (15). Device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the switching device controls at least one cabinet-side cleaning (16) and / or ventilation.

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