Abstract:
A system and method for automated discovery of wireless locks in a security system allows installers to assign each wireless lock to a slot on a wireless hub that provides wireless communications to the wireless locks. Device controllers poll the wireless hubs to discover the communications paths to each wireless lock. The device controllers store the information obtained from the polling, and present the information to a control system that manages the wireless locks. This eliminates the current practice of manually updating assignment information on the control system between wireless hub slots and the wireless locks in response to additions, deletions, or relocations of wireless locks within the security system. This is especially useful in installations that include hundreds or thousands of wireless locks within office buildings, hotels, or conference centers.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/952,306, filed on Jul. 26, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Security systems are often deployed in schools, government buildings, corporate offices, and even many residences. These security systems are comprised of security devices such as sensors, door controllers, security cameras, access control readers, video servers, access control systems, intrusion panels, and elevator control systems, to list a few examples. 
         [0003]    Generally, the security devices are used to monitor locations in and around buildings and enable authorized users to access restricted areas through locked doors, for example. Typically, the security devices are connected to a security network and are controlled by a control system (or monitoring station). 
         [0004]    In an example, an access control reader reads an employee keycard while a security camera simultaneously monitors and records the employee&#39;s movements. If the employee is authorized to access restricted areas, the monitoring station instructs the door controller to unlock the door. Typically, security systems distribute the management and control of security information among multiple monitoring stations and access points within the security system. This distributed information allows the access control readers to make decisions from data downloaded from the access control system. 
         [0005]    The installation of security devices in security systems is often complex and time consuming. First, an installer or designer has to identify and select locations throughout the building to install the security devices. Next, the installer has to physically mount the security devices in the building and supply power to the security devices. Next, the installer must connect all of the security devices to the security network. In many cases, connecting the security devices to the security network requires running data cables from data transmission devices to all of the security devices. 
         [0006]    After the physical installation of the security devices is complete, the installer must then configure each security device for communication with the monitoring station and/or other security devices on the security network. Generally, configuration of the security devices is tedious, requiring the repeated entering of configuration information such as device names, Internet Protocol (“IP”) addresses, media access control (“MAC”) addresses or other device identifiers (“IDs”), device locations, and/or slot numbers for devices. In many cases, the installer has to travel between different locations throughout the office building to configure the security devices, the security network, and the monitoring station of the security network. 
         [0007]    Considering specifically traditional door access security systems, the access card replaces physical keys. The access card includes the user&#39;s credentials. The user presents the access card to the access card reader to gain access to the door. The access card reader is wired to a control system, such as the access control system (“ACS”) which validates the user&#39;s credentials, and grants the users access to the door based on defined security policies by signaling a lock device for the door. 
         [0008]    An emerging trend is the adoption of wireless door access systems using wireless lock devices installed in doors that include integrated access card reader functionality. The wireless lock devices, also known as wireless locks, communicate with the access control system via a wireless communications hub, or wireless hub. Each wireless hub often supports multiple wireless lock devices. The wireless hub is installed in a location that facilitates the support of multiple wireless lock devices, such as on a wall above the entry doors in a multi-tenant office building, for example. The wireless hubs, in turn, are typically wired to the access control system. This eliminates what is typically the greatest cost and inconvenience of traditional access control systems, which is the need to run wires from the access control system to the access card reader and lock device at each door. 
         [0009]    After the physical installation of the wireless locks, installers then create pairings between the wireless lock devices and the wireless hubs to which the wireless lock devices attach. The installer creates these pairings on the ACS for each of the wireless lock devices. 
         [0010]    The pairings typically include an ID that identifies the wireless lock device, such as a MAC address, and an identifier that identifies the communications path provided by the wireless hub to the wireless lock devices. 
         [0011]    The communications path identifier to each wireless security device provided by the wireless hub is also referred to as a vector. Each vector is typically the wireless hub ID, such as a MAC address or RS485 address, appended with a slot number of the wireless hub to which each of the wireless lock devices attach. Using the wireless lock ID and vector pairings, security personnel can configure and manage the wireless lock devices from an access control system. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    Existing security systems that include wireless lock devices have limitations when wireless lock devices are added to or removed from the system, and when wireless lock devices are relocated from one door to another door. This is because the installer must manually update the wireless lock ID and vector pairings on the ACS associated with each added, deleted, or relocated wireless lock device. 
         [0013]    The need for installers and administrators to manually update the pairings on the control system in response to lock changes especially becomes problematic for large installations of hundreds or thousands of wireless lock devices. Large wireless lock device footprints are common, for sites such as large office buildings, hotels, or conference centers with many doors. 
         [0014]    The present invention overcomes these limitations using device controllers, such as door controllers, that control the wireless hubs. The device controllers are located between the ACS and the wireless hubs. The door controllers poll the wireless hubs to discover the wireless locks devices connected to each wireless hub, and continuous y route information and controls between the ACS and the wireless locks. 
         [0015]    Users of the security system utilize the ACS to manage the wireless lock devices. On the ACS, users specify the lock IDs for the wireless lock devices they wish to manage, and an associated virtual controller ID (“VCID”) that identifies a communications channel. On the wireless hubs, the installer creates the pairings between lock IDs for the wireless lock devices and slots of the wireless hubs. The door controllers continuously poll the wireless hubs for all wireless lock pairings and information from the wireless locks, and store the pairings and the wireless lock information. 
         [0016]    The door controllers update their stored representation of the wireless lock pairings in response to the data obtained from the polling requests. In response to requests for the wireless lock devices from the ACS, the door controllers present the stored wireless lock pairings to the ACS. In this way, the system automatically adjusts to the addition, deletion, or relocation of wireless lock devices without the need to manually update location information for the wireless locks on the ACS. 
         [0017]    In general, according to one aspect, the invention features a security system that provides discovery of wireless security devices. This security system includes a control system for managing the wireless security devices, one or more wireless hubs that provide slots for enabling wireless connections to the wireless security devices, and device controllers that communicate with the control system over communications channels and poll the wireless security devices via the slots of the wireless hubs to discover changes to the wireless security devices. 
         [0018]    In embodiments, the wireless security devices are wireless door locks, which include a user credential reader for reading a users credentials from an access card. The wireless security devices include an ID for identifying the wireless security devices. 
         [0019]    Preferably, the control system specifies the wireless security devices to manage on the communications channels. Typically, the changes to the wireless security devices include adding new wireless security devices to the wireless hubs, removing the wireless security devices from the wireless hubs, and changing the locations of the wireless security devices on the wireless hubs. In one example, the security system comprises channel controllers that provide the communications channels, and define a virtual controller ID (“VCID”) for the communications channels. 
         [0020]    The control system assigns IDs of the wireless security devices to virtual controller IDs (“VCID”) of the communications channels for managing the wireless security devices. The association between VCIDs and the wireless security devices allows the device controllers to request the virtual controller (“VCID”) associated with the assigned IDs of the wireless security devices from the control system. The control system sends messages to the device controllers over the communications channels for communicating with the wireless security devices, where the messages include IDs of the wireless security devices. 
         [0021]    Typically, IDs of the wireless security devices are assigned to the slots of the wireless hubs for enabling the wireless connections to the wireless security devices. In addition, the device controllers poll the wireless hubs to discover the slots assigned to the wireless security devices, and to discover the slots unassigned to the wireless security devices. 
         [0022]    Preferably, the wireless hubs provide path information to the wireless security devices, the path information including an ID of the wireless hubs, and the slots of the wireless hubs. The device controllers poll path information of the wireless hubs to retrieve requests from the wireless security devices assigned to the slots of the wireless hubs. 
         [0023]    In addition, the device controllers poll path information of the wireless hubs for the slots of the wireless hubs unassigned to the wireless security devices to determine new, relocated, or deleted wireless security devices. Typically, the device controllers further include a polling daemon for polling path information of the wireless hubs to the wireless security devices. 
         [0024]    In response to receiving the messages from the control system over the communications channels for communicating with the wireless security devices, the messages including requested IDs of the wireless security devices, the device controllers search path information of the slots of the wireless hubs. The path information includes IDs of the wireless security devices assigned to the slots. Upon finding a match between the requested IDs and the IDs of the wireless security devices assigned to the slots, the device controllers return messages that include an acknowledgment of the match to the control system. 
         [0025]    The device controllers create a virtual controller instance for each of the IDs of the wireless security devices assigned to the slots that match the requested IDs, the virtual controller instances responding to the control system on behalf of the wireless security devices. The device controllers store path information for the slots of the wireless hubs assigned to the wireless security devices, and for the slots of the wireless hubs unassigned to the wireless security devices. The device controllers also provide IDs of the wireless security devices for the assigned slots to the control system. 
         [0026]    Preferably, the device controllers store path information for the slots of the wireless hubs assigned to the wireless security devices. In one implementation, the device controllers store the path information according to whether the wireless security devices are online or offline. 
         [0027]    In general, according to another aspect, the invention features a method for discovering wireless security devices in a security system including a control system, one or more wireless hubs that include slots, and device controllers. This method comprises the control system managing the wireless security devices, and the slots of the wireless hubs enabling wireless connections to the wireless security devices. The method also comprises the device controllers communicating with the control system over communications channels and polling the wireless security devices via the slots of the wireless hubs to discover changes to the wireless security devices. 
         [0028]    The above and other features of the invention including various novel details of construction and combinations of parts, and other advantages, will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims. It will be understood that the particular method and device embodying the invention are shown by way of illustration and not as a limitation of the invention. The principles and features of this invention may be employed in various and numerous embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0029]    In the accompanying drawings, reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale; emphasis has instead been placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Of the drawings: 
           [0030]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an example security system that includes wireless lock devices mounted on doors within rooms and floors of a building; 
           [0031]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram showing a wireless lock assigned to a slot of a wireless hub providing a wireless connection to the wireless lock; 
           [0032]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram for an exemplary configuration of wireless lock devices and the major components of the security system for managing and controlling the wireless lock devices; 
           [0033]      FIG. 4  is a schematic block diagram showing the components of a door controller of the present invention, including values for data tables that store path information for example lock devices shown in  FIG. 3 ; and 
           [0034]      FIG. 5  is a sequence diagram that shows data flows between the major components of the security system for accomplishing dynamic discovery of wireless lock devices, using a simplified example that includes one door controller and one wireless hub communicating information for one or more wireless locks to the access control system over one communications channel. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0035]      FIG. 1  shows an example security system  100  that includes wireless door locks  104  mounted on doors  102  within rooms  132  and floors  114  of a building. Wireless hubs  106  mounted to walls  136  provide wireless links  134  to the wireless door locks  104 . The wireless hubs  106  communicate over a local network  130 , such as RS485 or IEEE 802.3. 
         [0036]    The wireless hubs  106  are controlled by device controllers such as door controllers  302 . Channel controllers  306  provide communications channels  308  for the local network  130 . The channel controllers  306  connect to a network  152 , such as an internet protocol (IP) network. A control system  150 , such as an access control system, manages the wireless door locks  104  and the other components of the security system  100 . The control system  150  also connects to the IP network  152 . 
         [0037]    In examples, the wireless door locks  104  include credential readers  110  that read user credentials from access cards  112  presented to the credential readers  110  by users. Each wireless door lock  104  is identified by a unique ID, or wireless lock ID  146 , the arbitrary value of which is “700” in the figure. The values of the wireless lock IDs  146  and the IDs of the other devices that communicate over the local networks  130 , such as the wireless hub IDs  208  for each wireless hub  106 , are unique to enable proper communications between the devices. 
         [0038]    The door controllers  302  poll the wireless hubs  106  to obtain information about wireless locks  104  assigned to the wireless hubs  106 , The door controllers  302  provide the information obtained from the polling over the communications channels  308  to the control system  150 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 2  shows an example wireless lock  104 - 1  connected to a slot  206  of wireless hub  106 - 1  via wireless connections  134 - 1 . Wireless hub  106 - 1  includes eight slots  206 , which provide support for connecting as many as eight wireless locks  104 . Wireless hub  106 - 1  provides wireless connection  134 - 1  to wireless lock  104 - 1 . 
         [0040]    Wireless hub  106 - 1  is identified by wireless hub ID  208  value “600,” which installers define using a Dual Inline Package (“DIP”) switch  204  of the wireless hub  106 - 1 , in one implementation. 
         [0041]    Wireless hubs  106  provide communications paths, also known as vectors  210 , to the wireless locks  104  assigned to the slots  206  of each wireless hub  106 . In the example, wireless hub  106 - 1  provides wireless connection  134 - 1  via slot  206 - 1  to wireless lock  104 - 1 . Each vector  210  includes the value of the wireless hub ID  208 , appended by the value of the slot  206 . In the example, wireless hub  106 - 1  provides vector  210 - 1  with value “600/1” associated with wireless lock  104 - 1 . Wireless hub  106 - 1  also maintains vectors  210  for the slots  206  unassigned to wireless locks  104 , such as vector  210 - 8  with value “600/8.” 
         [0042]    Wireless locks  104  are identified by wireless lock IDs  146 . In the example, wireless lock  104 - 1  is identified by wireless lock ID 146 - 1  value “700.” The wireless locks  104  also include user credential readers  110 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 3  shows an example configuration of wireless locks  104  according to a preferred embodiment of the security system  100 . The example includes wireless hubs  106  that provide wireless connections  134  to the wireless locks  104 . The wireless hubs  106  communicate with door controllers  302  over RS-485 local networks  130 . The door controllers  302  communicate information over communication channels  308  provided by channel controllers  306 . The channel controllers  306  connect to IP network  152  for communicating with control system  150 , and provide communications in messages over the communications channels from the wireless locks  104 , the wireless hubs  106 , and the door controllers  302  to the control system  150 . 
         [0044]    The example provides arbitrary but unique values for the wireless lock IDs  146  and the wireless hub IDs  208 , required for all devices that communicate over local networks  130 - 1  and  130 - 2 . In the example, network  130 - 1  is a serial communications network such as RS-485 or RS-422, and network  130 - 2  is a parallel communications network such as IEEE 802.3 network. All wireless locks  104  in the example communicate with their respective wireless hubs  106  over the wireless connections  134 . 
         [0045]    Wireless locks  104 - 1  through  104 - 6  are currently in an online state, while wireless lock  104 - 7  is currently in an offline state. This is indicated in the drawing using cross-hatching across wireless lock  104 - 7 . These conditions were chosen to illustrate behavior and detail for the door controllers  302 , such as door controller  302 - 3 , in response to different system conditions. More details for the door controllers  302 , with an emphasis on door controller  302 - 3 , accompanies the description associated with  FIG. 4  that appears later in this section. 
         [0046]    An installer installs wireless locks  104  in doors  102 , and adds a necessary number of wireless hubs  106  to the local network  130  to ensure that the wireless locks  104  can communicate properly within the maximum wireless range provided by the wireless hubs  106 . Then, the installer creates pairings that include the wireless lock IDs  146  of each wireless lock  104  and slots of the wireless hubs  106  to enable wireless communications between the wireless hubs  106  and the wireless locks  104 . 
         [0047]    During installation or relocation of the wireless locks  104 , an installer pairs each wireless lock  104  with an unassigned slot  206  on a wireless hub  106 , creating a separate wireless connection  134  between each wireless lock  104  and slot  206 . In a preferred embodiment, an installer assigns no more than 32 wireless locks  104  per communication channel  308 . 
         [0048]    The installer connects one or more wireless hubs  106  to each door controller  302 , To ensure proper wireless operations, the distance between the wireless locks  104  and the wireless hubs  106  is typically between 5 and 25 meters, depending on the specific capabilities of each wireless hub  106 . Each door controller  302  can support up to 8 wireless hubs  106 . Installers add door controllers  302  and wireless hubs  106  to the local networks  130  in response to distance considerations when installing the wireless locks  104 , and in order to distribute the maximum number of 32 wireless locks  104  across per communication channel  308 . 
         [0049]    In response to the polling requests from the door controllers  302 , the wireless hubs  106  provide the vectors  210  to the door controllers  302 . The wireless hubs  106  also provide other information for the wireless locks  104 , such as status information that indicates whether the wireless locks  104  are online or offline. The door controllers  302  store the vectors  210  for slots  206  assigned and unassigned to wireless locks  104 , and other information from the wireless locks  104  to tables within the door controllers  302 . 
         [0050]    Channel controller  306 - 1  provides logical communication channel  308 - 1  to door controllers  302 - 1  and  302 - 2 . Communication channel  308 - 1  is identified by virtual controller ID (“VCID”)  310 - 1 , value “001,” in the example. Door controllers  302 - 1  and  302 - 2  communicate with wireless hubs  106 - 2  and  106 - 3  over local network  130 - 1 , an RS-485 network. Devices that communicate over local network  130 - 1  are identified by unique addresses for each device. The example shows unique RS-485 addresses for the values of the wireless lock IDs  146 - 1  through  146 - 5  for wireless locks  104 - 1  through  104 - 5 , and unique RS-485 addresses for the values of wireless hub IDs  208 - 1  through  208 - 3  for wireless hubs  106 - 1  through  106 - 3 . 
         [0051]    Door controller  302 - 1  controls wireless hubs  106 - 2  and  106 - 3 , identified by wireless hub IDs  208 - 2 , “602,” and  208 - 3 , “604,” respectively. Wireless hub  106 - 3  provides wireless connections  134  to wireless door locks  104 - 3 ,  104 - 4 , and  104 - 5 , identified by wireless lock IDs  146 - 3 , value “704,”  146 - 4 , value “706,” and  146 - 5 , value “708,” respectively. Wireless hub  106 - 2  provides wireless connections  134  to wireless door lock  104 - 2 , identified by wireless lock IDs  146 - 2 , value “702.” 
         [0052]    Channel controller  306 - 2  provides logical communication channel  308 - 2  to door controller  302 - 3 . Communication channel  308 - 2  is identified by VCID  310 - 2 , value “002,” in the example. Door controller  302 - 3  communicates with wireless hub  106 - 4  over local network  130 - 2 . Devices that communicate over local network  130 - 2  are identified by unique addresses for each device. The example shows unique MAC addresses for the values of the wireless lock IDs  146 - 6  and  146 - 7  for wireless locks  104 - 6  and  104 - 7 , and unique MAC addresses for the value of wireless hub ID  208 - 4  for wireless hub  106 - 4 , in another implementation. 
         [0053]    Door controller  302 - 3  controls wireless hub  106 - 4 , identified by wireless hub ID  208 - 4 , “606.” Wireless hub  106 - 4  provides wireless connection  134 - 2  via slot 1, identified by reference  206 - 2 , to wireless lock  104 - 6 . In addition, wireless hub  106 - 4  provides wireless connection  134 - 3  via slot 2, identified by reference  206 - 3 , to wireless lock  104 - 7 . Wireless locks  104 - 6  and  104 - 7  are identified by wireless lock IDs  146 - 6 , value “710,” and  146 - 7 , value “712,” respectively. 
         [0054]    For managing the wireless locks  104 , an operator on the control system  150  assigns the values of wireless lock IDs  146  for each wireless lock  104  to a VCID  310  that identifies a communications channel  308 . The door controllers  302  listen for messages over the VCIDs  310 , and continuously receive messages that include control information and data from the control system  150  for managing the wireless locks  104 . The door controllers  302  continuously poll the wireless hubs  106  to obtain information about the wireless locks  104  assigned to the slots  206  of the wireless hubs  106 , and provide the information to the control system  150  in response to requests from the control system  150 . 
         [0055]      FIG. 4  shows more detail for the door controllers  302 . Specifically,  FIG. 4  shows detail for door controller  302 - 3  from  FIG. 3 . Door controller  302 - 3  includes a polling daemon  360  that polls wireless hub  106 - 4  to discover the wireless locks  104  assigned to wireless hub  106 - 4 . Door controller  302 - 3  stores the information obtained from polling wireless hub  106 - 4 , such as vectors  210  and wireless lock IDs  146 , in different tables. In addition, the door controllers  302  create virtual door controller instances  356  that present information for the wireless locks  104  to the control system  150  from the stored information. 
         [0056]    The tables include an online assigned slots table  350  (“online table,”) an offline assigned slots table  352  (“offline table,”) and an unassigned slots table  354  (“unassigned table”). In response to requests from the control system  150  for wireless lock IDs  146  on the communications channels  308 , the door controllers  302  search the stored information in the tables for the requested wireless lock IDs  146 . 
         [0057]    Upon finding a match in either the online table  350  or the offline table  352 , the door controllers  302  return an acknowledgment of the match to the control system  150 , and create a virtual controller instance  356  associated with each matched lock ID  146 . The virtual door controller instances  356  then communicate information on behalf of the matched wireless locks  104  to the control system  150 . 
         [0058]    Door controllers  302  are typically assigned to a communications channel  308  via the VCID  310  of the communications channel  308 . During initialization, each door controller  302  listens for requests in messages from the control system  150  over the assigned VCID  310 , and starts their polling daemon  360  to scan the slots  206  on the wireless hubs  106  controlled by each door controller  302 . Each polling daemon  360  typically completes its polling within 3.5 minutes. The door controllers store the vectors  210  associated with the discovered pairings in either the online table  350  or the offline table  352 , and unassigned vectors to the unassigned table  354 . 
         [0059]    Using the example lock configuration of  FIG. 3 , door controller  302 - 3  utilizes its polling daemon  360  to discover wireless locks  104 - 6  and  104 - 7 , and unassigned slots  206  of wireless hub  106 - 4 . From the data retrieved by the polling, door controller  302 - 3  first creates an entry in the online table  350 , the entry including the value of wireless lock ID  146 - 6 , “710,” and the value of its associated vector  210 - 2 , “606/1”. Then, the door controller  302 - 3  creates an entry in the offline table  352 , the entry including the value of wireless lock ID  146 - 7 , “712,” and the value of its associated vector  210 - 3 , “606/2”. 
         [0060]    the door controller  302 - 3  creates entries in the unassigned table  354 , the entries including the values of vectors  210 - 4  through  210 - 9  associated with unassigned slots  206 . The entries of the online table  350  and offline table  352  are searchable by both wireless lock ID  146  and vector  210 , and the entries of the unassigned table are searchable by vector  210 . 
         [0061]      FIG. 5  shows a sequence diagram with associated steps for discovering wireless lock devices. In step  502 , an operator on control system  150  defines lock IDs  146  for each wireless lock  104  and assigns a Virtual Controller ID (“VCID”)  310  to manage on a communications channel  310 . 
         [0062]    According to step  504 , an installer adds, deletes, or relocates wireless locks  104  to slots  206  of the wireless hub  106 . In step  506 , the installer assigned lock ID  146  of each wireless lock  104  to slots  206  of the wireless hub  106 . This process is also referred to as “pairing” each wireless lock  104  to a slot  206  of the wireless hub  106  for enabling wireless communications between the wireless locks  104  and the wireless hubs  106 . 
         [0063]    Then, in step  508 , door controller  302  polls the slots  206  of the wireless hub  106  to determine the vectors  210 , and to determine whether or not the vectors  210  are assigned to wireless locks  104 . In step  510 , in response to the polling, the wireless hub  106  returns the vectors  210  and the wireless lock assignment information to the door controller  302 . 
         [0064]    In step  512 , the door controller  302  stores the vectors  210 , the vectors  210  assigned (paired) to wireless locks  104 , and the vectors  210  not assigned to wireless locks  104 . In step  514 , the channel controller  306  sends a message that includes each requested lock ID  146  and associated VCID  310  over the communications channel  308 . 
         [0065]    The door controller  302 , in step  516 , determines if each requested lock ID  146  is associated with the VCID  310  the door controller  302  is listening on. If a lock ID  146  is unknown, the door controller  302  requests the channel controller  306  for the VCID  310  that references the lock ID  146 . Once the lock ID  146  is known, the door controller  302  searches its stored tables for vector  210  and lock ID  146  entries, for a match with the requested lock IDs in messages from the ACS or control system  150 , in step  518 . 
         [0066]    In step  520 , if a match is found, for each matched lock ID  146 , the door controller  302  creates a virtual door controller instance  356  for presenting information from the wireless locks  104  associated with the matched lock IDs  146  to the control system  150 . In step  522  the door controller  302  responds to the control system via the channel controller  306  with wireless lock  104  information from each virtual door controller instance  356 . 
         [0067]    While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims.