Security system and method for securely communicating therein

Claim 1

A method for securely communicating data to a lock device in a system having a central console, a console coded programmer having a memory and a data word modifying means, and at least one lock, the console having a memory in which is stored at least one combination code for each lock in the system, the method comprising the steps of: (a) selecting a combination code for a specified lock from the memory of the central console; (b) generating a first modifier code from the selected combination code according to a first predefined operation set; (c) generating a programmer data word in the central console, the programmer data word having the first modifier code as a portion thereof; (d) scrambling the contents of the programmer data word according to a second predefined operation set to obtain a coded data word; (e) transferring the coded data word from the central console to the console coded programmer and storing the coded data word in the console coded programmer memory; (f) unscrambling the coded data word in the programmer data word modifying means to recover the programmer data word; (g) generating a second modifier code in the programmer data word modifying means by altering the first modifier code according to a third predefined operation set to obtain an altered data word in the programmer; (h) transferring the altered data word from the console coded programmer to the lock; and (i) generating the combination code in the lock for use therein by operating on the second modifier code according to a fourth predefined operation set to obtain the first modifier code and then modifying the first modifier code according to a fifth predefined operation set to obtain the combination code.

Claim 2

A method for securely communicating data to a lock device in a system having a central console, a console coded programmer having a memory and a data word modifying means, and at least one lock, the console having a memory in which is stored at least one combination code for each lock in the system, the method comprising the steps of: (a) selecting a combination code for a specified lock from the memory of the central console; (b) generating a first modifier code from the selected combination code according to a first predefined operation set; (c) generating a programmer data word in the central console, the programmer data word having the first modifier code as a portion thereof; (d) scrambling the contents of the programmer data word according to a second predefined operation set to obtain a coded data word; (e) transferring the coded data word from the central console to the console coded programmer and storing the coded data word in the console coded programmer memory; (f) unscrambling the coded data word in the programmer data word modifying means to recover the programmer data word; (g) generating a second modifier code in the programmer data word modifying means by altering the first modifier code according to a third predefined operation set to obtain an altered data word in the programmer; (h) transferring the altered data word from the console coded programmer to the lock; and (i) generating the combination code in the lock for use therein by operating on the second modifier code according to a fourth predefined operation set to obtain the first modifier code and then modifying the first modifier code according to a fifth predefined operation set to obtain the combination code.

Claim 4

The method of claims 1 or 2 wherein each lock and the central console has an installation code stored therein wherein the first predefined operation set comprises combining the selected combination code and the installation code stored in the console according to a first predefined criteria and the third predefined operation set comprises combining the first modifier code and the installation code from the recovered programmer data word in the programmer according to a second predefined criteria.

Claim 6

A method for securely communicating to a lock in a system having a programmer with a memory and a word modifying means and at least one lock, each lock having the installation code stored therein, the method comprising the steps of: (a) generating a programmer data word which includes at least the installation code; (b) scrambling the programmer data word according to a first predefined operation set to obtain a coded data word; (c) transferring the coded data word to the programmer and storing the coded data word in the memory therein; (d) inserting the programmer into a lock; (e) causing the word modifying means of the programmer to operate on the coded data word according to a second predefined operation set to obtain an altered data word in response to insertion of the programmer into the lock; and (f) transferring the altered data word from the programmer to the lock to effect performance of a predefined function by the lock.

Claim 7

A method for securely communicating to a lock in a system having a programmer with a memory and a word modifying means and at least one lock, each lock having the installation code stored therein, the method comprising the steps of: (a) generating a programmer data word which includes at least the installation code; (b) scrambling the programmer data word according to a first predefined operation set to obtain a coded data word; (c) transferring the coded data word to the programmer and storing the coded data word in the memory therein; (d) inserting the programmer into a lock; (e) causing the word modifying means of the programmer to operate on the coded data word according to a second predefined operation set to obtain an altered data word in response to insertion of the programmer into the lock; and (f) transferring the altered data word from the programmer to the lock to effect performance of a predefined function by the lock.

Claim 9

The method of claims 5 or 6 wherein the coded data word from the programmer is used to effect performance of the predefined function by the lock only if the installation code of the programmer data word matches the installation code of the lock.

Claim 11

A system for securely communicating data comprising: a central console comprising a data memory, a first data processor, a data input means and a connector whereby coded data words are formed by the first data processor in response to commands and data from the data input means and data from the data memory for being outputted through the connector; at least one programmer for receiving coded data words through the connector comprising a first memory for storing each received coded data word, a first data word modifying means for operating on the coded data word according to a first predefined operation set to obtain an altered data word, and means for selectively linking the programmer to at least one electronic lock; and at least one electronic lock remote from the console for receiving the altered data word from the first programmer and using the altered data word for initiating one or more operations with the lock.

Claim 12

A system for securely communicating data comprising: a central console comprising a data memory, a first data processor, a data input means and a connector whereby coded data words are formed by the first data processor in response to commands and data from the data input means and data from the data memory for being outputted through the connector; at least one programmer for receiving coded data words through the connector comprising a first memory for storing each received coded data word, a first data word modifying means for operating on the coded data word according to a first predefined operation set to obtain an altered data word, and means for selectively linking the programmer to at least one electronic lock; and at least one electronic lock remote from the console for receiving the altered data word from the first programmer and using the altered data word for initiating one or more operations with the lock.

Claim 14

The system of claims 9 or 10 wherein each lock further comprises a key reader, the system further comprising: a key precoded with at least one data word wherein at least one of the programmers comprises an enabling programmer with an installation code stored in the first memory, the enabling programmer adapted to be inserted into a lock to enable the key reader of the lock to read the data word from a key inserted therein only if the installation code of the enabling programmer matches the installation code of the lock.

Claim 21

A method of securely communicating data from a data source to a lock in an electronic lock system of comprising the steps: (a) encoding a data word according to a first modifying operation to obtain a coded data word at the data source; (b) coupling a programmer in communication with the data source; (c) transferring the coded data word from the data source to a memory in a programmer; (d) uncoupling the programmer from communication with the data source; (e) placing the programmer into data communication with the lock; (f) altering the coded data word for insertion into the lock when the programmer is in data communication with the lock; and (g) transferring the altered data word to the lock for use therein.

Claim 22

A method of securely communicating data from a data source to a lock in an electronic lock system of comprising the steps: (a) encoding a data word according to a first modifying operation to obtain a coded data word at the data source; (b) coupling a programmer in communication with the data source; (c) transferring the coded data word from the data source to a memory in a programmer; (d) uncoupling the programmer from communication with the data source; (e) placing the programmer into data communication with the lock; (f) altering the coded data word for insertion into the lock when the programmer is in data communication with the lock; and (g) transferring the altered data word to the lock for use therein.