Abstract:
A method of locking, unlocking and monitoring doors using a computer and a computer software program, electro-locking devices, power-line carrier components and existing AC wiring from the door sites to the computer is provided. 
     The computer program changes the status of each door according to predetermined schedule and displays the locked/unlocked/ajar status of each door as well as the event change (Push bar/key/fire alarm). 
     Exits are fitted with electro-door locks with sensor capabilities and are monitored from the computer via power line carrier components. At each exit site, a receiver receives commands from the computer and changes the locking status while a transmitter at the door site reports every changed status back to the computer. A microprocessor at each door site can control the doors and operate via battery back-up in a power failure or when communication from the computer program is interrupted. A transmitter at the fire alarm panel causes all doors to unlock if the fire alarm is activated.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to door locking and monitoring systems. More specifically, this invention uses a method of controlling door locks and monitoring each door from a computer using powerline carrier components that send coded commands from the computer to the doors and from the doors to the computer. 
     2. Prior Art 
     Until now, electro-door (magnetic, solenoid, etc) locks have been used to secure doors, especially exit doors, in three ways: 
     a. Hard wiring each electro-door lock to a central system (computer, microprocessor, circuit card, etc.); 
     b. Manually changing the lock status at each door site; 
     c. Using a radio frequency to change any door status. 
     (a) The installation of a hard-wired system involving electro-door locks requires walls and ceilings be torn up to do the necessary hard wiring since connections need to extend from each secured door to the monitoring station. Not only is the building torn apart for weeks, business suffers, dust is unbearable, and the cost of labor and interior redecorating soars and becomes very expensive. Furthermore once installed, the central controls are permanently located due to the wiring. 
     (b) When only the locks are installed at the door, it is not possible to monitor from a central station. Instead paid personnel must check each of the secured exits, thus maintaining an ongoing cost of security for salary and benefits. 
     (c) Radio Frequency is a wireless system that can control locks at door exits. However foreign RF cause irregularities and thus can&#39;t guarantee security. Furthermore RF systems do not monitor as such. 
     The present technology of power line carrier components (which can send uniquely addressed commands via existing AC lines to and from each site) combined with computer technology and the appropriate software should provide locking, unlocking, monitoring and telephone notification capabilities. 
     Furthermore such power line carrier components could at the same time activate and monitor other controls such as motion detectors, cameras, lights, and energy controls via the computer software. The benefits of such a system would be: 
     1. The System would be much less expensive due to less installation cost; 
     2. The System could be installed in much less time; (2-6 hours per door site depending upon the complexity of the optional features); 
     3. The System would preserve the integrity of the building in that ceilings and walls would not be torn apart for wiring to the centrol controls; 
     4. The System is movable; i.e. Door units can be used in other locations if, for example, the building is closed or renovated; The monitoring and control station can be moved to another room. 
     5. The System is upgradable to include other exits, other monitored equipment and other software adaptations. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is a method of locking, unlocking and monitoring doors using a computer and a computer software program, electro-locking devices wired to power-line carrier components and existing AC wiring from the door sites to the computer. 
     The computer program changes the status of each door according to a 24 hour, 7 day schedule and displays the locked/unlocked/ajar status of each door as well as the event change (Push bar/key/fire alarm). 
     Exits are fitted with electro-door locks with sensor capabilities and are monitored from the computer via power line carrier components. At each exit site, a receiver receives commands from the computer and changes the locking status while a transmitter at the door site reports every changed status back to the computer. A microprocessor at each door site can control the doors and operate via battery back-up in a power failure or when communication from the computer program is interrupted. A transmitter at the fire alarm panel causes all doors to unlock if the fire alarm is activated. 
     To comply with State Fire Codes and users&#39; needs, various options and features are added: 
     a.) The push bar or button by-pass will allow egress from the building, thus overriding the lock. The computer will receive the use of this override and print the time, date and door location. The door relocks after each override. Whenever the door is not closed when it is to be locked, it sends a &#34;Door Ajar&#34; message to the computer. When the push bar is used or when the door is ajar, a local alarm will sound. 
     b.) A key or keypad override will allow authorized persons egress or ingress while in the locked position. A message is printed noting the time, date and door location for each key override. The door relocks after each key override. Whenever the door is not closed when it is to be locked, it sends a &#34;Door Ajar&#34; message to the computer. 
     c.) Local alarms are activated at each door according to the users&#39; needs. These can be buzzers, sirens, loud bells, lights, cameras and can be activated for a designated time. 
     d.) The computer program emits unique tones and prints a specific message for each override, door change and door ajar event. 
     e.) If an override occurs during specified hours defined by the user, the program may dial a phone number(s) and deliver a message regarding the door that has been unlocked. Other remote monitoring of the screen at a given site is possible using such software as &#34;Carbon Copy&#34; and a modem. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the components of the preferred embodiment at the monitoring station. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the components at a door site of the preferred embodiment. 
     FIG. 3 is a wiring diagram of the door sites and computer to the transformer(s). 
     FIG. 4 is a wiring diagram of the components at the fire alarm panel, namely the repeater/coupler/amplifier and the transmitter. 
     FIG. 6 is a wiring diagram illustrating the relays. 
     FIG. 7 is a top-view of the microprocessor card of the system control unit. 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the outside of the system control unit. 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the inside of the system control unit. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     We describe now the invention which is both method and apparatus or system. The method of controlling and monitoring door locks at multiple door sites wherein each door is equipped with an electro-locking device and each door site is equipped with a system control unit, of monitoring the activation of the fire alarm in which case all doors are unlocked, uses basically a computer, a transceiver and a computer program. 
     All of the components have been manufactured by other companies as described below. We have combined these components with software to accomplish the task described. Furthermore we describe the manufacture or the assembly of the properly wired components in a system control unit. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in connection with each Figure. 
     This embodiment comprises the following computer related equipment located at the Monitoring Station shown in FIG. 1: 
     A: a means (usually a keyboard) for selecting items from the screen; 
     B: an IBM compatible computer having a memory of at least 640K, two floppy disk drives, a color card, both serial and parallel ports, a means of maintaining time and date or an automatic time clock; 
     C: a color display screen; 
     D: powerline carrier interface unit (Leviton PCC 6300 Stand-Alone Transceiver); This interface, not only stores in its memory the transmissions both of door changes received from the door transmitters and of A16 from the fire alarm transmitter, but it also transmits these to the computer via the serial port. Furthermore it also enables the computer to transmit to the receivers at each equipped door site a changed status for that door. Transmissions both from and to the computer/interface travel on the existing AC power lines operating from one transformer. The program takes and processes one transmission at a time. (See manufacturer&#39;s specifications of 6300 transceiver) 
     E: a means to output data, usually a printer (Okidata, Panasonic, Epson) that outputs to continuous feed 8.5×11 paper; Whenever the user selects door changes be written to the printer device, then the time, date, location, means of change (Key, panic/push bar, keyboard input, fire alarm activation, etc.) is printed. 
     F: Printer AC cable; 
     G: printer cable to computer parallel port; 
     H: computer AC cable; 
     I: interface AC cable; 
     J: a standard RS-232 connector with a DB-25 pin configuration in which only 3 signal lines are used to transfer data to and from the computer: 2:TX transmits, 3:RX receives, 7:GND signal ground. Since the 6300 Transceiver does not use the other lines, they are to be wired to each other as a &#34;null modem&#34; so that the computer&#39;s signals are self timing; 
     K: program diskette to be placed in Drive A or floppy disk A; The program listed in Appendix A has been written in dBase and compiled with the Clipper Software. It utilizes SilverWare and Clipper routines; See Appendix A for program listing. 
     L: floppy disk B: a formatted disk with Log7days.dbf file Whenever the user selects the door changes be written to disk, then information comprising the time, date, location, means of change (Key, panic/push bar, keyboard input, fire alarm activation,etc) is written to the file named &#34;log7days.dbf&#34; on the disk in drive B. 
     M: monitor cable from monitor to computer; 
     N: monitor AC cable; 
     O: surge Protector; 
     P: paper loaded properly in the printer; 
     Q: Optional Votrax card used when telephone notification is needed; 
     R: Optional RJ11 telephone cables from Votrax card to RJ11 phone jack; All connections, transceiver, computer, printer must be made before power up since it is at power up that the transceiver reads the wired-in baud rate. The program uses 300 baud; 
     This embodiment comprises the following components located at each door site shown in FIG. 2: 
     A: 1200 lb. electro-magnetic lock(s) with sensor capabilities (set of contacts to determine door ajar condition) affixed to the door frame and powered by 24 V D.C. The door ajar condition triggers devicecodel ON which transmits the event to the computer; We have tested Securitron&#39;s Magnalock with its SENSTAT™ lock status sensor along with their installation kit. Various models fit outward and inward swinging doors. 
     B: system control unit comprising Leviton transmitter with four channels: 1-ajar, 2-pushbar/button, 3-key by-pass, 4-acknowledge, (See specifications for Leviton transmitter, Catalog #6323) at least one Leviton receiver to receive lock/unlock status changes from computer (See specifications for Leviton #6725), a second (optional) receiver to receive acknowledgements or other changes, the necessary AC-DC transformer(s) (120vac-24vdc or 240vac-24vdc), optional microprocessor board, optional battery, necessary wiring and coupling, housed in tamper-resistant box with LEDs to indicate usage of various components; 
     C: electronic or standard pushbars, modified to house a normally closed contact, override the magnetic locks and permit free egress; When the pushbar is used to exit a locked door, a local alarm is sounded and devicecode2 transmits ON to the computer; (See specifications for recommended Securitron touch sense bar) 
     D: key switch panels or key overrides allow authorized persons to enter by using a key. The key condition triggers devicecode3 which transmits ON to the computer; 
     E: an exit sign or source of AC power usually wired to the emergency panel; 
     F: door cord or wired hinge that connects the movable door with the fixed frame. These wires are supervised and any damage would result in de-energizing the door magnet for the &#34;fail-safe&#34; system that unlocks when power is lost. The optional &#34;fail-secure&#34; door controller is wired so that if communication from the computer or power lines is lost, the battery back-up would maintain a locked status. 
     FIG. 3 indicates that all of the equipped door sites (A,B, . . . ) and the 6300 transceiver/interface AC connection (FIG. 1,letter I) must use the same AC transformer. If this is not the case, then the transformers must be coupled to enable each door site and the interface/computer to receive and send addresses and codes to each other via the the coupled transformers. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates modifications at a fire alarm panel and the necessary wiring: 
     A. coupler/repeater/amplifier couples the signals across different phases, amplifies the signals from either direction and repeats them; (See specifications for Leviton #6272 C.R.P) 
     B. a Leviton #6323 transmitter whose address is set at P-16. When the fire alarm is engaged, the software recognizes this address as the fire alarm and unlocks all locked doors, displays the fire event on the screen and outputs a message that notes time and date. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a wiring diagram of the door components at a site where two door magnets are installed for a double door, each of which have a push bar and where two key by-passes (inside and outside) are used. 
     FIG. 6 is a wiring diagram for the system before the microprocessor was introduced. It indicates the various relays and the 24vdc and 120 vac power source that are also used in the microprocessor. The relay logic design is as follows: 
     RA1 - N.O.=Turns on Door magnet when AC receiver is told to activate ts blue wire output. Lock Door. 
     RA2 - N.O.=Disables buzzer from sounding when the door magnets are in the locked state. Disables the push bar/button and key bypass from activating their relay coils. This prohibits unnecessary transmitter inputs during the unlocked door state. 
     -N.C.=Disables the door ajar relay from dropping out which would transmit door ajar and sound the buzzer. This is not necessary when the doors are in the unlocked state. 
     RB1 - N.C.=Turns off door magnet when the key bypass has been selected. 
     RB2 - N.O.=Shorts the grey and red wire on the transmitter which transmits to the computer that the key bypass has been selected. 
     N.C.=Opens the blue to red wire transmitter connection to block out the door ajar transmitter input when the key bypass is being used. 
     RC1 - N.C.=Turn off door magnet when the push bar/button is pressed. 
     RC2 - N.C.=Opens the blue to red wire transmitter connection to block out the door ajar transmitter input when the push bar/button is being used. 
     RD1 - N.C.=Turns on the buzzer when the door ajar relay drops out. 
     RD2 - N.C.=Shorts the blue and red wires on the transmitter which transmits that the door is ajar. 
     RE1 - N.O.=Shorts the brown and red wires on the transmitter which transmits to the computer that the push bar/button has been pressed. 
     RE2 - N.O.=Latches the push bar/button relay which latches the door in the unlocked state. Buzzer is on. 
     RF1 - N.C.=Opens the buzzer power path when the key bypass is being used. 
     RF2 - N.O.=Latches the key bypass relay which latches the door in the unlocked state. 
     FIG. 7 is a top view of the microprocessor card which note the plug-in units for the various components. The microprocessor handles the above relays in its programming and determines a set delay after each door change event. When either the key or push bar is used, the devicecode for the unit transmits ON and the address to the computer, the microprocessor unlocks the door, sounds the alarm for the push bar, delays for a period, relocks the door, shuts the devicecode OFF which transmits back to the computer. When a door becomes ajar, devicecodel transmits ON to the computer and OFF when the door is relocked. The system control unit which comprises the components, the microprocessor and the door site program written in basic, actually locks and relocks the doors in most of the cases. The computer program locks and unlocks the doors only at schedule changes and at keyboard input. 
     The microprocessor card with the necessary components is secured within a suitable tamper-resistant metal structure and mounted either in the ceiling tiles out of sight or on the wall. Its use replaces the more complex-looking system that involved much wiring. All components such as the transmitter, receivers, locks and all optional alarm devices are connected to it. 
     The microprocessor is not necessary for the invention but we have chosen to include it in the preferred embodiment for these reasons: 
     1. Fewer signals are sent via AC lines, as microprocessor controls locks, buzzers, keylocks, and other optional alarms at each door and can determine delays for each; 
     2. Enables easier custom programming for each door site if the user desires such; 
     3. Maintains locked status of each door when computer is turned off, yet allows keylock and other bypasses to function in same manner as with the computer program; 
     4. With battery back up, it continues to secure exits when a power outage occurs; 
     5. It is used to acknowledge receipt of transmissions in that it communicates from the door back to the computer; 
     6. It enables easier installation and field diagnosis and in the long run will be more cost efficient and less labor-intensive. 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective top view of the system control unit or door controller. The LEDs on the cover indicate varying states: 
     the monitoring light is on whenever the unit is monitoring; 
     the A.C. power light indicates there is AC power; 
     the door magnet light is on when the lock is energized, off when the door is unlocked; 
     the key-lock light goes on whenever the key is used to unlock a door; The next five LED&#39;s indicate trouble and alarm situations: 
     the battery back-up light goes on when AC current is lost and the battery back-up is being used; 
     whenever the battery is low, the battery low LED lights up; 
     whenever the door is ajar, the door ajar LED is on; 
     whenever the push bar or panic bar is used to exit a locked door, this LED lights up; 
     the last symbol lights up whenever the microprocessor is not functioning correctly. 
     FIG. 9 shows the top cover of the system control unit lowered showing the two shelves within the unit. The bottom shelf is the microprocessor card into which all the components are plugged. The necessary components are arranged and secured on the second shelf. This perspective view shows the system control unit which houses the controls: the microprocessor, the transmitting and receiving devices properly wired. The transmitting device is uniquely addressed per door site and addressed A16 at the fire alarm panel. Four channels are used in the following way at the door sites: 
     Red and Blue: 1 transmits ON when a door is ajar, OFF when the door closes after ajar and the door is secured; 
     Red and Brown: 2 transmits ON when the push bar is engaged, OFF when the microprocessor triggers it to its OFF position; 
     Red and Grey: 3 transmits ON when the key by-pass is used, OFF when the microprocessor triggers it to its OFF position; 
     Red and Yellow: 4 transmits either an ON or an OFF each time the computer program (schedule or keyboard input) changes a door status, thus acknowledging at the screen the received transmission. 
     (See manufacturer&#39;s specifications of Transmitter 6323) 
     In a 16 door installation, the doors are addressed A,B,C, . . . O,P and numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 clearly define to the computer the correct device. 
     In a 32 door installation, the 16 lettercodes are A,B,C, . . . O,P and the transmitters at doors 17 through 32 send 9 rather than 1 for ajar, 10 rather than 2 for pushbar, 11 rather than 3 for key bypass, 12 rather than 4 for acknowledge. 
     In a 48 door installation, the transmitting devices are addressed as follows: 
     Ajar: A1,B1, . . . ,P1,A6,B6, . . . ,P6,A11,B11, . . . ,P11 
     Pushbar: A2,B2, . . . ,P2,A7,B7, . . . ,P7,A12,B12, . . . ,P12 
     Keylock: A3,B3, . . . ,P3,A8,B8, . . . ,P8,A13,B13, . . . ,P13 
     Acknowl: A4,B4, . . . ,P4,A9,B9, . . . ,P9,A14,B14, . . . ,P14 
     The Fire Alarm has been assigned address A16. When the computer receives this transmission, it unlocks all locked doors, displays fire on the screen and on the output, and waits for keyboard input following the resetting of the fire alarm panel. 
     Also within the control unit are 2 Leviton Receivers #6725 (See Manufacturer&#39;s specifications) whose addressable lettercode matches that of the transmitter. The addressable numbercode is 5 for the first 16 doors, 10 for doors 17 through 32 and 15 for doors 33 through 48 for a 48 door installation. Similar addressing is done for a 32 door installation. These addressed receivers receive locked/unlocked status from the computer. Furthermore another address (4) can be used to acknowledge the receipt of each transmission from a door site: when a door change is sent to the computer, the microprocessor waits to receive an acknowledgement via receiver 4. If none is received within a certain number of seconds, another door change transmission is sent out. (See Manufacturer&#39;s specifications) 
     In short, the receivers or receiving devices are addressed as follows: 
     For 16 doors: 
     Lock/Unlock: A5,B5,C5,D5,E5,F5,G5,H5,J5,K5, . . . ,O5,P5 
     Acknowledge: A4,B4, . . . ,P4 (one way computer to door) 
     For 32 doors: 
     Lock/Unlock: A5,B5, . . . ,P5,A13,B13, . . . , P13 
     Acknowledge: A4,B4, . . . ,P4,A12,B12, . . . ,P12 (one way) 
     For 48 doors: 
     Lock/Unlock: A5,B5, . . . ,P5,A10,B10, . . . ,P10,A15, . . . ,P15 
     Acknowledge: A4,B4, . . . ,B4,A9,B9, . . . ,P9,A14, . . . ,P14 
     Appendix A is a listing of the executable program. Below is a layman&#39;s description of the program. 
     Two files are maintained by keyboard input: 
     1. doordata.dbf: This doordata file stores the door number, the door name or location or description, and the status of each door. The Status of each door is either X, L or U for unused, Locked, or Unlocked respectively. 
     2. dtsarray.dbf: This schedule file shows the predetermined locked or unlocked status of each door at various times of various days. The schedule currently allows 20 different time schedules per day in a 7 day week. Users can input an added time, L for Lock, U for Unlock. When that time occurs, signals are sent out to all non-X doors to Lock or Unlock and the status in the doordata file is updated for each door site. 
     When the program begins, it sets up the screen according to the door data and schedule files, transmits the locked or unlocked status from the schedule file to all monitored and equipped door sites, chooses either the printer (by default) or disk output means, checks the serial port and then begins a repeating loop or an ongoing process that checks out these cases: 
     If input is received via the means for selecting items from the key screen (usually a keyboard), then the program processes acceptable input and flushes out unacceptable input. Acceptable input include the following: 
     H - provides on-screen help to execute the program; 
     L - changes the status of an unlocked door to become locked; Program asks doornumber to be input. 
     U - changes the status of a locked door to become unlocked; Program asks doornumber to be input. 
     R - resets the locks at all door sites according to schedule; 
     S - displays the current day&#39;s schedule and waits up to 20  seconds for further keyboard input before returning to door display screen. User may set or alter schedule. 
     Retaining an X in the schedule results in no change to that specific door when that time occurs. 
     Schedule input options are: 
     ins: insert a new time in military format 
     del: delete a time and all statuses 
     L: locks a door for a specific time 
     U: unlocks a door for a specific time 
     →: moves the cursor to the right 
     ←: moves the cursor to the left 
     ↑: moves the cursor up 
     ↓: moves the cursor down 
     PgUp: pages from current day to next day(Mon, Tues, Wed . . . ) 
     PgDn: pages from current day to previous day(Mon, Sun, . . . ) 
     end: returns program to the door display screen 
     P - toggles the output file between the printer and the &#34;log7days.dbf&#34; file on the B drive. When going from disk output to the printer, the log file is printed and zapped. Thus it is possible to change the output means from the printer to the disk or from the disk to the printer. It is also possible to initiate the output or more specifically to print the log7days.dbf file. The password DOOR is needed to use P. 
     E - edits data in doordata file. Allows user to add or delete a door site, or to change the door name or description. The password DOOR is needed to edit. 
     The program takes received transmissions from the computer interface (Leviton Powerline Carrier Component 6300 Transceiver) one at a time, processes the received transmissions for an acceptable address and ON/OFF code and then performs multiple operations accordingly to provide adequate monitoring: 
     1. If Key-override is ON to unlock a door, then a message is printed to output noting the door number, name, time and date and use of key, the screen shows in green KEYLK at the appropriate door, and the computer emits a unique audio-sound. When Key-override shows OFF, the screen resumes its locked display in red. 
     2. If Push bar or button is ON to unlock a door, a message is printed to output noting the door number, name, time and date and use of push bar/button, the screen displays in green PUSH/PANIC and the computer emits another unique sound. When the push bar override shows OFF, the screen resumes its locked display in red. 
     3. If a door lock is energized(locked), yet the door is not locked or the locks are not touching, the door ajar is ON. A message is printed to output noting the door number, name, time and date and ajar status, the screen displays red blinking o white the AJAR status until the door is locked and the computer beeps the door number of times. When the door ajar is triggered OFF, then the output shows the relocked status, the screen displays locked in red and the computer beeps to signal closure. 
     4. If a transmission is received from the fire alarm transmitter (addressed A16), the program unlocks all equipped doors, updates the screen with Fire at all doors, and halts the loop process until the user enters the next command to continue or to exit. An on-screen message prompts the user to reset the fire alarm before continuing with the program. When the loop is reentered, the interface buffer memory is cleared and readied to receive further data. 
     If the schedule indicates a time change, the program resets the door status of each door whose date is non-X by sending out the Lock or Unlock command to the appropriate address. Otherwise the program displays in color the status of each equipped door as follows: 
     Green: Unlocked (Unlckd or U); all overrides; 
     Red: Locked (Locked or L); 
     Blinking red on white: Door Ajar (Ajar or A) 
     The screen is updated after each schedule change, after keyboard input, after received transmissions from the interface. 
     The program can be compiled with a phone notification routine that dials a telephone number(s) and delivers a message during specified hours to provide monitoring remotely. Such is accomplished using the Votrax Card and additional software. ##SPC1##