WO2006075861A1

WO2006075861A1 - System for managing key and digital lock by using control computer

Info

Publication number: WO2006075861A1
Application number: PCT/KR2006/000101
Authority: WO
Inventors: Young Tae Kang
Original assignee: Irevo, Inc.
Priority date: 2005-01-11
Filing date: 2006-01-10
Publication date: 2006-07-20
Also published as: JP2008527212A; KR100692396B1; KR20060081929A

Abstract

A system for managing digital locks and keys using a control computer sets and manages a certification structure between the digital locks and the keys at a place in which the digital locks and the keys are used, and simplifies change of the certification structure when an event occurs. The system includes : a control computer having a software installed in the computer so as to set the certification structure between the digital locks and the keys; a medium device for storing the certification structure set by the control computer and transferring the certification structure to the digital locks; and a computer access device connected to the control computer, for receiving the set certification structure from the control computer and transferring the certification structure to the medium device.

Description

[invention Title]

SYSTEM FOR MANAGING KEY AND DIGITAL LOCK BY USING CONTROL COMPUTER

[Technical Field]

The present invention relates to a system for managing digital locks and keys using a control computer . Particularly, the present invention relates to a system for managing digital locks and keys using a control computer, which can set a certification structure of the digital locks and keys by using software installed in the control computer, and which can input the certification information according to the set certification structure into each key and digital lock so that the key certified in each digital lock is operated .

[Background Art]

Conventionally, a mechanical door lock, which is locked and unlocked by using a metal key, has been mainly used as a device for locking and unlocking doors such as the door of an office , the door of a guest room, the door of an apartment house , the door of a safe and the like . However, the metal key, which is used as a certification means in the conventional mechanical door lock, has a possibility of being lost and reproduced and has poor security. Further, as a recent crime method of criminals has become more advanced, the stability of the mechanical door lock or the mechanical safe is put into a danger . In order to remove the weakness of the conventional mechanical door lock, therefore , digital locks have been developed and made commercially available in which electronic keys are used as certification means and in which a microprocessor is mounted to control entire locking and unlocking operation of the door lock .

The methods of setting a certification for the digital lock and unlocking the digital lock which is currently provided are as follows . First , the digital lock is installed to a door and then a certain button in the digital lock is pushed in order to set the certification which is prepared in advance . As a result , the digital lock is converted into a certification setting mode . At this time , when an electronic key to be used for the certification is inserted into or brought into contact with a key certification unit of the digital lock, the digital lock identifies information for the electronic key and stores the information as certification information in an internal memory .

When the certification setup is completed, the digital lock stays in a certification waiting mode , i . e . locked state . Then, when a user inserts the electronic key into or brings it into contact with the key certification unit , the digital lock identifies the information of the electronic key which is inserted into or into contact with the key certification unit of the digital lock . Next , the digital lock compares the information of the electronic key with the certification information stored in the internal memory. Finally, the digital lock is unlocked if the information of the electronic key is identical with the certification information of the digital lock .

The digital lock operating in such a manner as described above is convenient and has remarkable security, so it is mounted and operated in places requiring complete security maintenance . In a case where a plurality of digital locks are installed, it is possible to set the digital locks to be operated by one key in order to provide the convenience and the portability for the user . Furthermore , it is possible to set each key to be certified for the corresponding digital lock in order to restrict the number of users capable of entering and exiting according to the security level required for the places in which the respective digital locks are installed .

[Disclosure]

[Technical Problem]

Thus , in the setup of each certifiable key for the corresponding the digital lock, it is necessary to input the information of each key to be certificated into the corresponding digital lock . Therefore , it takes much time for setting the certification in the places in which the digital locks and the keys are used . Further, it is highly complicated to set the keys to be differently certificated for every digital lock depending on the security level .

On the other hand, in the method of setting the certification in the currently used digital lock, the digital lock is set so that the keys are simultaneously certified for each digital lock. Therefore, when a new digital lock is further installed after the digital locks are mounted, it is possible to set the certification for the additional digital lock only when all of the certificated keys are collected.

Further, when one of users loses his/her key during the operation of the system, the certification of all the digital locks for which the lost key is certified must be set again in order to prevent the use of the lost key . In this case , of course , all certified keys must be collected in order to reset the digital lock .

In addition, in a case where the certification information is added to, changed in, or deleted from the digital lock according to the change of the information for users such as the change of the users , the change of the user ' s security clearance , the addition of a user, and the like , it is possible to set the certification for the corresponding digital lock only when all keys certified in advance are collected .

In the existing method of setting the certification in the system using the digital locks and the keys , as described above , the certification for each digital lock must be reset according to the change of the information for the user . In order to reset the certification, it is inconvenient for all users having the key certified for the digital lock to be changed must be gathered . Therefore , a method of setting the certification for the digital locks in places in which the digital locks and the keys are used has been required in which the certification information can be easily changed according to the lose of the key, the addition of the digital lock, the change of the information for the user, and the like .

[Technical Solution]

Accordingly, the present invention has been developed in order to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art , and an obj ect of the present invention is to provide a system for managing digital locks and keys using a control computer, which can set a certification structure of the digital locks and keys by using a software installed in the control computer, and which can input the certification information according to the set certification structure into each key and digital lock so that only the certificated key is operated in each digital lock.

In order to accomplish this obj ect , there is provided a system for managing keys and digital locks , which sets and manages a certification structure between the digital locks and the keys at a place in which the digital locks and the keys are used, and which simplifies change of the certification structure when an event occurs , the system comprising : a control computer having a software installed in the computer so as to set the certification structure between the digital locks and the keys ; a medium device for storing the certification structure set by the control computer and transmitting the certification structure to the digital locks ; and a computer access device connected to the control computer, for receiving the set certification structure from the control computer and transmitting the certification structure to the medium device .

[Description of Drawings]

The above and other obj ects , features , and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conj unction with the accompanying drawings , in which : FIGS . 1 to 3 are schematic views showing a system for managing digital locks and keys using a control computer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG . 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of managing the digital locks and keys using the control computer according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG . 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process of changing a registration when the registration of the digital locks and keys according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is changed .

[Best Mode]

Hereinafter, the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings . Like reference numeral denotes the same element throughout drawings and the description . In the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted to avoid making the subj ect matter of the present invention unclear .

FIGS . 1 to 3 are schematic views showing a system for managing digital locks and keys using a control computer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention . The management system for the digital locks and keys according to the present invention includes a control computer 110 , a computer access device 120 , a medium device 130 , a plurality of keys 142 , 144 , and 146 , and a plurality of digital locks 150 , 162 , and 164.

FIG . 1 is a view of a system for transmitting certification structure information set by the control computer to the keys and the medium device .

The control computer 110 is a typically personal computer, which has software installed therein in order to set the certification for the digital locks and the keys . The control computer 110 provides a specific identifier to each of the digital locks 150 , 162 and 164 , and the keys 142 , 144 and 146 by using the software installed in the control computer 110. When the identifier are provided to the digital locks 150 , 162 and 164 and the keys 142 , 144 and 146 , respectively, various certification structures which include point-to-point , point-to-multipoint , multipoint-to-multipoint , and the like are mapped to the digital locks and keys so that certification structure information is set . In order to set the certification structure information, information for each digital lock 150 , 162 and 164 , and each key 142 , 144 and 146 must be registered in advance .

Here , the phrase "certification structure information" refers to data which a user sets the certification structure between the digital locks and the keys . Specifically, one or plural keys is set to be inserted into or come into contact with each digital lock so as to unlock the digital lock, so it is referred to as the certification structure . Further, the certification structure includes contents of detailed certification methods for various cases , which include valid certification duration, certification for a certain day of the week, or a certain time in a day, by using separate time information . It is the certification structure information that all digital locks in such a management system for the digital locks and keys include all certification information set thereto .

The computer access device 120 plays the role of transmitting the certification structure information, which is set by the control computer 110 , to the medium device 130 and the keys 142 , 144 and 146. In order to do that , the computer access device 120 must have a structure which connects the keys 142 , 144 and 146 to the control computer 110 and the medium device 130. The computer access device having the connection structure includes a serial port , a USB port , an IEEE 1394 port , a key insertion slot , and a key contact unit , etc . Here, in order to connect the medium device 130 and the keys 142 , 144 and 146 to the control computer 110 through a cable by using the serial port , the USB port , the IEEE 1394 port , and the like , the medium device 130 and the keys 142 , 142 and 146 must contain a connection unit corresponding to each port . On the other hand, in order to connect the medium device 130 and the keys 142 , 144 and 146 to the control computer 110 by using the key insertion slot or the key contact unit , it is unnecessary for the medium device 130 and the keys 142 , 144 and 146 to have a separate connection unit . The medium device 130 and the keys 142 , 144 and 146 can receive the certification structure information through the insertion into or the contact with the control computer 110.

As described below, the computer access device 120 includes a key insertion slot 122 , and will be limited to and described with relation to a computer access device 120 which can transmit the certification structure information set by the control computer 110 when the medium device 130 and the keys 142 , 144 and 146 are inserted into the computer access device 120. The medium device 130 includes a data transceiver-unit 132 connected to the computer access device 120 so as to receive the certification structure information, and a data storage unit 134 storing the transmitted certification structure information . The data transceiver-unit 132 is a unit inserted into the key insertion slot 122 of the computer access device 120 and a key insertion slot 152 of the digital locks 150 , 162 and 164 , which has a shape which is the same as that of the keys 142 , 144 and 146. The data storage unit 134 stores the certification structure information transmitted from the control computer 110 , which is provided with an information extraction software for extracting information on the door locks from the digital locks 150 , 162 and 164 , and a certification structure transmission software for transmitting the certification structure information to the digital locks 150 , 162 and 164.

Specifically, the medium device 130 is connected to the computer access device 120 so as to receive and store the certification structure information. After being inserted into the digital locks 150 , 162 and 164 , the medium device 130 transmits the stored certification structure information to each digital lock 150 , 162 and 164.

FIG . 2 is a view illustrating a digital lock in which a medium device is inserted in order to transmit certification structure information .

When the digital lock 150 is assembled with a door, it is difficult to detach and move the digital lock 150 from the door . Therefore , in order to transfer the certification structure information from the control computer 110 to the digital lock 150 according to the present invention, it is preferred to use the medium device 130.

When the medium device 130 , of which the data storage unit 134 stores the certification structure information, is inserted into the key insertion slot 152 of the digital lock 150 , as shown in FIG . 2 , the data storage unit 134 drives the software for transmitting the certification structure so as to transmit the certification structure information to the digital lock 150. The digital lock 150 received the certification structure information performs an operation of setting the certification using the certification structure assigned to the digital lock 150.

At this time , although the medium device 130 does not include the software for transmitting the certification structure to the digital lock 150 , it is also possible to set the digital lock 150 to include the software for automatically receiving the certification structure when the medium device 130 is inserted into the digital lock 150. On the other hand, with the reception of the certification structure in the digital lock 150 , it is possible not only to receive all of the certification structure information including the mapped certification structure but also to set the digital lock 150 to extract , receive and store only the certification structure for the corresponding the digital lock 150.

Further, while the digital lock 150 is mounted on the door to operate , it is possible to set operation information, such as information on a key requiring a certification for the digital lock 150 , information for success of the certification, information for the key used for locking and unlocking the digital lock 150 , and date and time of entering and exiting, to be stored as information for user ' s entering and exiting in the internal memory of the digital lock 150 , to insert the medium device 130 into the digital lock 150 so that the stored information for entering and exiting is transmitted to the control computer 110 , and to identify and manage the information for user ' s entrance and exit through the control computer 110.

Furthermore , it is possible not only to store the information for user ' s entrance and exit only in the digital lock 150 , but also to set the information for user ' s entrance and exit , such as the information on the digital lock 150 required by each key 142 , 144 and 146 for the certification, information on the permission to the certification requirement , and permission date and time , to be stored in the internal memory of the key 142 , 144 and 146. At this time , the identification of the information for user ' s entrance and exit through the control computer 110 can be accomplished by directly connecting the computer access device 120 and the keys 142 , 144 and 146.

FIG . 3 is a view illustrating the mapped certification structure between the digital lock and the key in which the certification setup is completed .

In FIG . 3 , the certification structure is set between three keys (hereinafter, respectively referred to as "a key" 142 , "b key" 144 , and "c key" 146 ) and three digital locks (hereinafter, respectively referred to as "A door lock" 150 , "B door lock" 162 , and "C door lock" 164 ) . Specifically, since an "a key" 142 is matched point-to- point with an "A door lock" 150 , it is possible to unlock only the "A door lock" 150 but a "B door lock" 162 or a "C door lock" 164 when the "a key" 142 is used . On the other hand, the "b key" 144 is matched point -to-two with the "A door lock" 150 and the "B door lock" 162 , so as to unlock the "A door lock" 150 and "B door lock" 162.

The "C key" 146 is a sort of master key, which can be matched with all of the digital locks (i . e . A, B and C door locks) mounted on the doors . Thus , all of the digital locks can be unlocked by using the "c key" 156.

Here , although the description of the keys and the digital locks relating to FIGS . 1 to 3 is limited to the card key and the key insertion slot , it is understood that the present invention can be applied to button type keys , contact type card keys , and key contact type locks as well as fingerprint scanner type locks . Furthermore , it is possible to realize the present invention in various digital locks including a number key input type digital lock is used, in which respective users can set different secret numbers .

On the other hand, relating to FIGS . 1 to 3 , although it is described to store the certification structure information in order to set the certification to the key, it is possible to transmit the certification structure information and the key information to set the certification to the digital lock after the certification structure information is not stored in the key and the control computer 110 recognizes the key information through the software installed in the control computer 110. Specifically, although the key does not have the certification structure information, it is possible to set the digital lock to recognize the information of the key so as to identify the certification structure .

FIG . 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of managing the digital locks and keys using the control computer according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention .

First , each digital lock 150 , 162 and 164 and each key 142 , 144 and 146 are registered in the control computer 110 in advance . At this time , with the registration of the keys , the keys 142 , 144 and 146 are connected to the computer access device 120 in order to extract the information from the keys and to register the information to the control computer 110. With the registration of the digital locks 150 , 162 and 164 , the information is extracted from the digital locks 150 , 162 and 164 by using the medium device 130 and then the registration is performed through the computer access device 120.

However, it is possible for a user to directly register the digital locks or the keys by using a keyboard of the control computer 110 , a barcode scanner, a mouse , and the like, instead of extracting the information from the digital locks or the keys .

Here , the information extracted from the digital locks or the keys includes identification information, serial numbers and the like, of the digital chip contained in the digital locks or the keys . With the registration of the digital locks or the keys to the control computer 110 , the digital locks and the keys are distinguished from one another by using the identification information. In addition, names are separately provided to the digital locks and the keys respectively, or the detail descriptions of the digital locks and the keys are added to each information for the digital locks and the keys , thereby improving the management efficiency of the digital locks and the keys (S210 ) .

When all of the digital locks and the keys are registered to the control computer 110 , the control computer 110 sets the certification structure, according to the certification condition relating to the digital locks and the keys , using the embedded software (S220 ) . Here , the certification structure setup implies that one or plural digital locks are set to be releasable by each key, and the certification condition refers to time permitted for use of the keys , i . e . a certain duration, a certain day of the week, or a certain time of the way .

When the certification structure setup is completed, the certification structure is stored in the keys and the medium device 130 by using the computer access device 120 connected to the control computer 110. At this time , in the medium device 130 , the certification structure information is stored in the data storage unit 134 (S230 ) .

When the certification structure information is stored in the medium device 130 , the medium device 130 is inserted into the key insertion slot 152 of the digital lock so as to transmit the certification structure information to the digital lock (S240 ) .

Here , in step S230 and S240 , all certification structure information of the keys and the digital locks can be supplied to the digital locks and the keys . Moreover, only the corresponding certification structure may be provided to each digital lock and each key.

When the certification structure is stored in the digital locks and the keys , the keys are distributed to the users respectively, while the digital locks are mounted the doors respectively . When the mounting of the digital locks is completed, the system is operated based on the certification structure stored in the digital locks and the keys (S250 ) .

During the operation of the system, it is frequently identified whether or not the event occurs in which the registered information between the digital locks and the keys has changed due to a change in the certification structure between the keys and the digital locks according to a certain user ' s security clearance , the loss of a certain user ' s key, the addition of a new key or digital lock, etc . (S260 ) . If the event occurs , the registration can be changed according to the event . The method of changing the registration depending on each circumstance will be described in detail with reference to the FIG . 5.

FIG . 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process of changing a registration when the registration of the digital locks and keys according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention .

Typically, the occurring event refers to the loss of keys , the additional registration of a new key or digital lock, and a change of the certification structure between the keys and the digital locks . Thus , the present invention will be described relating to only these three cases .

When it is recognized the change of the registration based on the occurrence of the event in step S260 , the control computer 110 determines if an event has occurred among three events of the loss of the key, the addition of a new key or digital lock and the change of the certification structure between the keys and the digital locks (step S300 ) .

As a result of determination, if the event occurs due to the lose of the key, the control computer 110 deletes the information for the lost key (S310) , and stores a program for deleting the information for the lost key, which includes an order to delete the information for the lost key, through the computer access device 120 in the data storage unit 134 of the medium device 130. Here , it is possible to load a new certification structure in which the certification structure information for the lost key is deleted in the medium device 130 , instead of transmitting the program for deleting the key information to the medium device 130. When the medium device 130 contains the new certification structure information or the program for deleting the key information therein, an operator inserts the medium device 130 into each digital lock 150. In each digital lock 150 , the program for deleting the key information of the medium device 130 deletes the certification structure portion relating to the lost key from the stored certification structure information . At this time, if not the program for deleting the key information but rather the new certification structure information is contained in the medium device 130 , the prior certification structure information is replaced by the new certification structure information in the digital lock 150 (S312 ) .

As a result of determination on the event occurring in step 300 , if the event that a key or digital lock is newly added occurs , first information for the newly added key and digital lock is registered to the control computer 110 by using the computer access device 120. At this time , if the newly added medium is a digital lock, it is preferred that the information for the digital lock is extracted by using the medium device 130 and registered through the computer access device 120 to the control computer 110.

The control computer 110 registers the identification, the serial number and the like of the key or digital lock, and sets the certification structure relating to the additional key or digital lock (S320) .

When the setup of the certification structure is completed, the control computer 110 must transmit the certification structure information to the key or the digital lock through the computer access device 120. At this time , if the additional device is a key, the prior certification structure of the digital lock must be changed. If the additional device is a digital lock, however, the certification structure of the additional digital lock must be changed . To do this , it is determined if the additional device is the key or digital lock (S322 ) .

If the additional device is the digital lock, the certification structure information set in step 320 is transmitted to the digital lock to be added by using the medium device 130. The newly added digital lock stores the certification structure information transmitted through the medium device 130 (S324 ) . If the certification structure information is transmitted to and stored in the new digital lock, the digital lock is mounted on a door and operated (S326) .

However, if the new device added in step S322 is a key, the control computer 110 stores the changed certification structure information in the medium device 130 through the computer access device 120 and changes the certification structure information for the digital lock to permit an access of the additional key (S328) . At this time , it is possible to change the certification structure information of all digital locks .

Here , if necessary, the additional key is connected to the computer access device 120 , in which the certification structure information can be stored . On the other hand, as a result of the determination on the event occurring in step S300 , if it is the event in which the certification structure between the key and the digital lock is changed, the control computer 110 creates a certification structure information that the certification structure between the key and the digital lock is changed (S330) .

If new certification structure information is created by means of the control computer 100 , the new certification structure information created is loaded through the computer access device 120 into the medium device 130 (S332 ) . Here, it is possible to set the medium device 130 in such a manner that only certification information necessary for each key and digital lock is extracted and loaded into the medium device 130.

When the loading of the certification structure information into the medium device 130 is completed, the medium device 130 is inserted into or made to be in contact with the digital lock in which the certification structure is changed, so as to renew the certification structure information loaded into the corresponding digital lock . Here , it is possible to change the certification structure information loaded into all of the digital locks as well as the digital lock in which the certification structure is changed.

Although the digital lock has been described with reference to FIGS . 1 through 5 and limited to the digital lock mounted on a door, it is understood that the digital lock can be mounted on and used for various equipment such as a safe , a desk tray, a file cabinet and the like in the embodiment of the present invention . As described above relating to FIG . 1 , although the computer access device in the description of the present invention is limited to a computer access device which includes a key insertion slot so as to receive and transmit the certification structure information and user ' s entrance and exit information, it is possible to construct the present invention with a cable directly connecting between the control computer and the key, the medium device , or the digital lock .

[industrial Applicability] As described above , according to the present invention, the certification structure of the keys and the digital locks can be set and managed by using the software loaded on the control computer, and the event such as the loss of the key, the addition of the key or the digital , and the change in the mapping structure of the key and the lock can be managed, thereby easily changing the certification setup in the place in which the digital locks and the keys are used and instantly settling the digital locks and the keys when the event occurs . Moreover, it is possible to set the digital lock and the key so that certification information relating to user ' s entrance and exit and the operation of the digital lock and the key is stored in the digital locks and the keys . As the information for user ' s entrance and exit is identified and managed by the control computer, it is possible to improve the security as the essential purpose of the digital lock .

In addition, the user ' s key is not necessary for setting the certification information on the digital lock when the event occurs , according to the present invention, thereby removing the inconvenience that all users having a related key are together in order to renew the certification information for the key .

While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described for illustrative purposes , those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications , additions and substitutions are possible , without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims .

Claims

[CLAIMS]

[Claim l]

A system for managing keys and digital locks , which sets and manages a certification structure between the digital locks and the keys at a place in which the digital locks and the keys are used, and which simplifies change of the certification structure when an event occurs , the system comprising : a control computer having a software installed in the computer so as to set the certification structure between the digital locks and the keys ; a medium device for storing the certification structure set by the control computer and transmitting the certification structure to the digital locks ; and a computer access device connected to the control computer, for receiving the set certification structure from the control computer and transmitting the certification structure to the medium device .

[Claim 2]

The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the medium device includes : a data transceiver-unit having the same structure as the keys and being connected to the computer access device so as to receive the certification structure ; and a data storage unit for storing the certification structure received through the data transceiver-unit .

[Claim 3] The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the keys receives and stores the certification structure , which is set by the control computer, through the computer access device .

[Claim 4]

The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the certification structure between the digital locks and the keys is to set the corresponding key unlocking an digital lock into each digital lock, and mapped so that the digital locks point-to-point , point-to-multipoint , and multipoint- to-multipoint correspond to the keys .

[Claim 5]

The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein information for user ' s entrance and exit , which includes at least one of information on a key requiring a certification for the digital lock, information on a success of the certification, information on the key used in the digital lock for entering and exiting, and information on a date and a time on entrance and exit , is stored in an internal memory of the digital lock, and wherein the information for user ' s entrance and exit are received through the medium device and the computer access device in the control computer, and identified and managed .

[Claim 6]

The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein information for user ' s entrance and exit , which includes at least one of information on the digital locks required by the key for certification, information on a permission for the requirement of the certification, and information on a data and a time for the permission, is stored in an internal memory of the key, and wherein the information for user ' s entrance and exit is identified and managed through the computer access device in the control computer .