US6072402A — Secure entry system with radio communications

Claim 1

Independent Claim 160 words

A method of operating a secure entry system, the system including a lock that controls access to a secure area, the system further including a central station, the method comprising the steps; establishing communication between the central station and a user remote from the central station; identifying to the central station the lock to which the user seeks access, said identifying not requiring the user be in proximity with the lock; verifying access qualifications of the user to the central station; transmitting to the lock a radio authorizing signal to authorize the user to access the area secured by the lock; identifying the presence of the user at the lock; operating a mechanism associated with the lock to aid in entry to the area secured by the lock; logging access data relating to operations of the lock mechanism in the memory in the lock; and relaying said logged access data from the lock to a remote location via radio transmission.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 160 words

A method of operating a secure entry system, the system including a lock that controls access to a secure area, the system further including a central station, the method comprising the steps; establishing communication between the central station and a user remote from the central station; identifying to the central station the lock to which the user seeks access, said identifying not requiring the user be in proximity with the lock; verifying access qualifications of the user to the central station; transmitting to the lock a radio authorizing signal to authorize the user to access the area secured by the lock; identifying the presence of the user at the lock; operating a mechanism associated with the lock to aid in entry to the area secured by the lock; logging access data relating to operations of the lock mechanism in the memory in the lock; and relaying said logged access data from the lock to a remote location via radio transmission.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 1 which further includes compiling a batch of access data in the memory, and relaying said batch of logged access data to the remote location via a radio transmission.

Claim 4

Independent Claim 146 words

A method of operating a secure entry system, the system including a lock that controls access to a secure area, the system further including a central station, the method comprising the steps; establishing communication between the central station and a user remote from the central station; identifying to the central station the lock to which the user seeks access, said identifying not requiring the user be in proximity with the lock; verifying access qualifications of the user to the central station; transmitting to the lock a radio authorizing signal to authorize the user to access the area secured by the lock; identifying the presence of the user at the lock; operating a mechanism associated with the lock to aid in entry to the area secured by the lock; and wherein the lock is normally powered from an internal battery, rather than from an external power source.

Claim 5

Independent Claim 146 words

A method of operating a secure entry system, the system including a lock that controls access to a secure area, the system further including a central station, the method comprising the steps; establishing communication between the central station and a user remote from the central station; identifying to the central station the lock to which the user seeks access, said identifying not requiring the user be in proximity with the lock; verifying access qualifications of the user to the central station; transmitting to the lock a radio authorizing signal to authorize the user to access the area secured by the lock; identifying the presence of the user at the lock; operating a mechanism associated with the lock to aid in entry to the area secured by the lock; and wherein the lock is normally powered from an internal battery, rather than from an external power source.

Claim 6

Independent Claim 145 words

A method of operating a secure entry system, the system including a lock that controls access to a secure area, the system further including a central station, the method comprising the steps; establishing communication between the central station and a user remote from the central station; identifying to the central station the lock to which the user seeks access, said identifying not requiring the user be in proximity with the lock; verifying access qualifications of the user to the central station; transmitting to the lock a radio authorizing signal to authorize the user to access the area secured by the lock; identifying the presence of the user at the lock by operating a keypad on a handheld access device coupled to but distinct from the lock; and operating a mechanism associated with the lock to aid in entry to the area secured by the lock.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 145 words

A method of operating a secure entry system, the system including a lock that controls access to a secure area, the system further including a central station, the method comprising the steps; establishing communication between the central station and a user remote from the central station; identifying to the central station the lock to which the user seeks access, said identifying not requiring the user be in proximity with the lock; verifying access qualifications of the user to the central station; transmitting to the lock a radio authorizing signal to authorize the user to access the area secured by the lock; identifying the presence of the user at the lock by operating a keypad on a handheld access device coupled to but distinct from the lock; and operating a mechanism associated with the lock to aid in entry to the area secured by the lock.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 147 words

A method of operating a secure entry system, the system including a lock that controls access to a secure area, the system further including a central station, the method comprising the steps; establishing communication between the central station and a user remote from the central station; identifying to the central station the lock to which the user seeks access, said identifying not requiring the user be in proximity with the lock by providing tone data to identify one of several locks; verifying access qualifications of the user to the central station; transmitting to the lock a radio authorizing signal to authorize the user to access the area secured by the lock; identifying the presence of the user at the lock by providing tone data to identify the user; and operating a mechanism associated with the lock to aid in entry to the area secured by the lock.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 147 words

A method of operating a secure entry system, the system including a lock that controls access to a secure area, the system further including a central station, the method comprising the steps; establishing communication between the central station and a user remote from the central station; identifying to the central station the lock to which the user seeks access, said identifying not requiring the user be in proximity with the lock by providing tone data to identify one of several locks; verifying access qualifications of the user to the central station; transmitting to the lock a radio authorizing signal to authorize the user to access the area secured by the lock; identifying the presence of the user at the lock by providing tone data to identify the user; and operating a mechanism associated with the lock to aid in entry to the area secured by the lock.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 113 words

A method of operating a secure entry system, the system including a lock that controls access to a secure area, the system further including a key and a central station, the method comprising the steps: establishing communication between the central station and a user remote from the central station; identifying to the central station the lock to which the user seeks access; verifying access qualifications of the user to the central station; transmitting to the key a radio enabling signal so as to enable the key to access the lock; and using the key to operate a mechanism associated with the lock to aid in entry to the area secured by the lock.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 113 words

A method of operating a secure entry system, the system including a lock that controls access to a secure area, the system further including a key and a central station, the method comprising the steps: establishing communication between the central station and a user remote from the central station; identifying to the central station the lock to which the user seeks access; verifying access qualifications of the user to the central station; transmitting to the key a radio enabling signal so as to enable the key to access the lock; and using the key to operate a mechanism associated with the lock to aid in entry to the area secured by the lock.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 6 which further includes authorizing the key to access the area secured by the lock within a time window.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 7 which further includes: transmitting a radio data signal to the key, data in said signal determining a parameter of the time window; and programming a timer in the key in accordance with said data.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 7 in which said time window has a beginning and an end, the end being a predetermined time period after the beginning.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 6 which further includes: logging access data relating to operations of the lock mechanism.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method of claim 10 which further includes: logging said access data in a memory in the key; and relaying said logged access data to a remote location via a radio transmission.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 11 which further includes compiling a batch of access data in the memory, and relaying said batch of logged access data to the remote location via a radio transmission.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 110 words

A method of operating a secure entry system, the secure entry system including an access control device that has a radio receiver, processing circuitry, and a lock mechanism associated therewith, the method comprising the steps: operating a cellular telephone to make a radio broadcast, the radio broadcast including signal tones modulated thereon; receiving said broadcast including signal tones; providing data signals corresponding to the received signal tones to the processing circuitry associated with the access control device; operating the lock mechanism in response to said provided data signals; and storing data relating to the lock operation in a memory, the data indicating at least the date the lock was operated.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 110 words

A method of operating a secure entry system, the secure entry system including an access control device that has a radio receiver, processing circuitry, and a lock mechanism associated therewith, the method comprising the steps: operating a cellular telephone to make a radio broadcast, the radio broadcast including signal tones modulated thereon; receiving said broadcast including signal tones; providing data signals corresponding to the received signal tones to the processing circuitry associated with the access control device; operating the lock mechanism in response to said provided data signals; and storing data relating to the lock operation in a memory, the data indicating at least the date the lock was operated.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 13 which further includes receiving the radio broadcast at a location remote from the access control device and, in response thereto, transmitting data signals from said remote location to the access control device.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 14 in which the transmitting step includes transmitting by radio.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 13 which further includes receiving the radio broadcast at the access control device.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 62 words

The method of claim 13 which further includes: receiving the radio broadcast at a location remote from the access control device and, in response thereto, transmitting data signals from said remote location back to the cellular telephone; receiving data signals from the remote location at the cellular telephone; and acoustically coupling data signals from the cellular telephone to the access control device.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 13 which further includes establishing the authority of a user prior to operating the lock mechanism.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 18 in which the establishing the authority step includes providing a personal identification code.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 18 in which the establishing the authority step includes signalling from the lock to a remote location and receiving an authorization signal from the remote location prior to operating the lock mechanism.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 18 in which the establishing the authority step includes operating a keypad on a handheld access device coupled to but distinct from the access control device.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 13 which further includes making the lock mechanism susceptible to opening for a predetermined period upon receipt of the data signals, and thereafter rendering the mechanism insusceptible to opening.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 13 in which the radio broadcast from the cellular telephone is received directly by a receiver in the access control device.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 13 which further includes providing reprogramming instructions by radio to the processing circuitry, the reprogramming instructions changing the operating characteristics of the lock.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 6 which includes transmitting the radio enabling signal to the key when the key is remote from the lock.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 22 in which the lock controls access to a dwelling key contained within a real estate lockbox.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 25 which includes transferring power to operate the mechanism associated with the lock from the key to the lock.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 25 in which the establishing communication step includes placing a telephone call from the user to the central station.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 25 in which the first identifying step includes providing Touch Tone signals to the central station, the Touch Tone signals identifying the lock to which the user seeks access.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 25 in which the step of using the key includes operating a keypad on the key to enter a code.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 25 in which the radio enabling signal transmitted to the key includes data specifying a time window within which the user can access the area secured by the lock.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-06-06	2003-12-06	2004-06-06	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-06-06	2007-12-06	2008-06-06	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-06-06	2011-12-06	2012-06-06	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Secure entry system with radio communications

Abstract

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