Abstract:
Finger print codes of administrators are registered to card keys and locks. One of the administrators assigns a card key to a lock and enables the card key. An user registers his linger print to the enabled card key. The user inputs his finger print to the card key whenever he wants to open a lock. The card key transmits the finger print codes of administrators to the lock when the inputted finger print matches the registered finger print of the user. The lock compares the received finger print codes with the registered finger print codes. When any of the received codes matches any of the registered linger print codes, the lock is opened.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a method, device, and system for door lock, and, in particular, to a method, device, and system for door lock using portable fingerprint recognition keys.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    A door lock of recent days is designed so complicated and solidly that unlocking thereof without a key is almost impossible. In addition, the keys for locking and unlocking a door lock are also designed so complicated and variously that unlocking of different locks by a single universal key has become difficult. However, the problem with such conventional keys are that they can easy get lost and that they can easily be copied  
           [0003]    Furthermore, if a plural of doors shall be controlled as it is the case in a hotel or an office building, administration of the keys is not easy, because different doors require different keys. For instance, when an administrator or a staff of a hotel has to look for different rooms, he or she must carry all the keys for these rooms. Alternatively, an ID card for storing user information, such as personal identification card, is used for better security. However, this ID card fails to control admission of an unauthorized person once an authentication is given to the authorized user. This ID card is likely to be misused as well when it is borrowed and used by a third person.  
           [0004]    In order to overcome these problems with the metallic keys, devices for substitution of the metallic keys are being developed in recent days utilizing techniques in passwords, voice recognition, fingerprint recognition, iris recognition, etc.  
           [0005]    As a lock device using fingerprint information, door locks equipped with user authentication means through fingerprint information are provided. Such a lock device comprises a fingerprint recognition sensor for sensing the fingerprint of a person at the outside of the door, a fingerprint stoning means for the fingerprint patterns after the signal recognized by the fingerprint sensor has been encoded, a door lock control means for control of the door lock based on the comparison between the processed fingerprint pattern and the stored pattern, and a door lock driver for performing the lock/unlock operation in accordance with the door lock control means.  
           [0006]    However, a door lock equipped with a fingerprint recognition sensor is incapable of authenticating a user without prior registration of the fingerprint information of that user, and, even when an authorized user with registered fingerprint information allows a third person to enter, this third person cannot enter the door without company of the registered user. Thus, such a device is mainly used for doors of a house or small office having almost fixed users. Another problem with this device is that the fingerprint recognition sensor is easily soiled and or damaged due to its external exposure.  
           [0007]    To be compatible for use in a big building with a large number of users, the door locks with fingerprint recognition sensors shall require large store capacity for storing fingerprints information of the increased number of the users. Moreover, the fingerprint recognition procedure will take a much longer time as the comparison of a fingerprint with the huge fingerprint information would be required.  
           [0008]    Although an administrator of a hotel or other lodging facilities can respond to the changing situations by registering new fingerprints or erasing old ones, the administrator&#39;s way to the corresponding door and updating of the fingerprint information at the door cannot be saved for each change of a user.  
           [0009]    Furthermore, since the fingerprint information and the access information are registered by the fingerprint recognition lock device, to which information the administrator has free access, the personal information on the users of such lodging facilities is protected insufficiently.  
         DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    The present invention, conceived in view of the above problems, aims to provide an electronic card key which is capable of authenticating the users utilizing the fingerprints information, capable of storing fingerprint(s) of one or more users, capable of locking/unlocking one or more doors, and capable of storing the date(s) and time of locking/unlocking of the door(s).  
           [0011]    The present invention aims further to provide a door lock device which is capable of being locked/unlocked by one or more of the above electronic card key using the fingerprints information, and is capable of storing the date(s) and time of locking/unlocking of the door(s) and the access information of the users.  
           [0012]    It is another objective of the present invention to provide an electronic card key administration system consisted of host computer systems for administration of a plural of the electronic fingerprint recognition card keys.  
           [0013]    Another objective of the present invention is to provide an access control method using the above electronic fingerprint recognition card key and the above door lock device.  
           [0014]    Another objective of the present invention is to provide an access control method using not only the above electronic fingerprint recognition card key and the above door lock device, but the whole of the above system including the above electronic card key administration system.  
           [0015]    Another objective of the present invention is to provide an electronic card key which is capable of registering fingerprint(s) of one or more users, capable of authenticating the users utilizing the fingerprints information, capable of locking/unlocking one or more doors, and capable of storing access information of the user(s).  
           [0016]    Another objective of the present invention is to provide a door lock system which is capable of being locked/unlocked by one or more of the above electronic card keys using the fingerprint information, and is capable of confirming both the number of the people who access using a sensor and the users&#39; authorization for access through exchange of information with the electronic card key(s) of the user(s).  
           [0017]    Still another objective of the present invention is to provide a method for door locking/unlocking and for user authentication, which method is capable of allowing only authorized users to unlock the doors, and is capable of detecting and alerting passages of an unauthorized user after the door has initially been opened in due course.  
           [0018]    In order to achieve these objectives, the present invention uses a portable electronic card key to be carried by the user. The electronic card key comprises a fingerprint recognition part for recognition of the fingerprints; an input part allowing the user to select a function; a data transceiver part for exchange of the information with the door lock device; a data storage part for storing the key administration code which is the unique code of the electronic card key, an administrator code corresponding to one or more electronic card key administrator(s), one or more door code(s) to which accesses are allowed, and the fingerprint code(s) corresponding to the fingerprint(s) of the users allowed to access; and a control part which transmits the administrator code and the access allowed door codes stored in the above data storage part through the above data transceiver part when the fingerprint of the user as recognized by the above fingerprint recognition part coincides with the user&#39;s fingerprint code stored in the above data storage part.  
           [0019]    Each door is equipped with a door lock device. The door lock device comprises a door code indicating the door with a door lock device, a data storage part for storing one or more administrator codes representing the administrator(s) authorized to lock/unlock the door, a data transceiver part for transmission/receipt of data, a door lock driver for locking/unlocking of the door, and a door lock controller which controls the above door lock driver to unlock the door when the door code and the administrator code contained in the data received from the above data transceiver part coincide with the corresponding codes stored in the above data storage part.  
           [0020]    In order to open a door, the user has to input his fingerprint in the electronic card key. The electronic card key transmits the stored fingerprint information of the administrator to the door lock device when the inputted fingerprint coincides with the stored fingerprint information of the user. Upon receiving the fingerprint information of the administrator, the door lock device unlocks the door, if the received fingerprint information of the administrator coincides with any one of the stored fingerprint information of the administrator. Further, it is also possible that the door lock device updates its fingerprint information of the administrator based on the received fingerprint information of the administrator. It is also possible that the electronic card key transmits an encrypted code for the administrator instead of the fingerprint information of the administrator. In such a case the encrypted code is stored in both the electronic card key and the door lock device.  
           [0021]    The fingerprint information of the administrator and of the user can be inputted in the electronic card key either by the administrator, or by the electronic card key administration system.  
           [0022]    In addition, in order to prevent a simultaneous passage of a multiple people by using only one electronic card key, a sensor may be installed at the door which can count the number of the people, so that an error message is released when the number of the people does not coincide with the number of the electronic card key. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0023]    [0023]FIG. 1 a  is the front view of an electronic fingerprint recognition card key in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, while FIG. 1 b  is the rear view thereof FIG. 1 c  is the front view of an electronic fingerprint recognition card key in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 2 a  is a block diagram showing the schematic construction of an electronic fingerprint recognition card key in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, while FIG. 2 b  illustrates the information field stored in the data storage part of the electronic card key in the form of a table.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 3 a  is a block diagram of a door lock device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, while FIG. 3 b  illustrates the information field stored in the data storage part of the door lock device.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 4 a  is a block diagram showing the internal construction of an electronic card key administration system in accordance with the present invention, while FIG. 4 b  illustrates the type and structure of the data stored in the above key administration system.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the process of the first access control method in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 6 is a detail flowchart for the step of administrator fingerprint registration and reference information setting in FIG. 5.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 7 is a detail flowchart for the step of user fingerprint registration in FIG. 5.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 8 is a detail flowchart for the step of user authentication at the electronic card key and information transmission to the door lock device in FIG. 5.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 9 is a detail flow chart for the step of door locking/unlocking in FIG. 5.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 10 is an overall flowchart for the second access control method in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 11 is a detail flowchart for the step of administrator fingerprint registration by the electronic card key administration system in FIG. 10.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the step of erasing a registered administrator fingerprint by the electronic card key administration system.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 13 is a detail flowchart showing the step of administrator authentication and inputting the use information of the electronic card key in FIG. 10.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 14 is a detail flowchart for the step of transmitting the reference information to an electronic card key as illustrated in FIG. 10.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 15 is a detail flowchart for the step of updating the reference information of the electronic card key based on the reference information data frame received by the electronic card key.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 16 illustrates the step of erasing internal information of the electronic card key by an administrator or a user.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 17 illustrates the construction of a door lock system using an electronic fingerprint recognition card key in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 18 shows the data structure used as the door lock information in the door lock system in FIG. 17 in the form of a table.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 19 a  is a detail block diagram for the door lock device of the door lock system in FIG. 17.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 19 b  is shows the information field stored in the data storage part of the door lock device in FIG. 19 a.    
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the first door lock method and user confirmation method of the door lock system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing the second door lock method and user confirmation method of the door lock system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 22 is a detail flowchart showing the steps of user authentication as well as confirming the number of the persons passing the door, and storing the access information after opening of the door in accordance with the above first and second methods as described in FIGS. 20 and 21, respectively. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0046]    The preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below in detail making reference to the drawings.  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 1 a  illustrates the front view of an electronic fingerprint recognition card key  100  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0048]    The electronic card key  100  comprises on the front part (FIG. 1 a ) a fingerprint recognition part  111  for recognition of fingerprints; a keypad  112  for entering passwords, user information, etc.; a display unit  113  for displaying the input contents or the status of performance; a lamp  114  for visible showing of the operation signals; and an on/off power switch  115 . On the rear part (FIG. 1 b ), the electronic card key comprises a data transceiver part consisted of a contact-type I/O terminal  116  capable of transmitting/receiving information by accessing an external device, and a RF transceiver part  117 ; a power supply terminal  118  for supplying power from an external device; a rechargeable drycell case  119  which charges the power from the power supply terminal  118 ; a speaker unit  120  for generating audio signals for the operation signals, and the like. Furthermore, although not illustrated, a cover can be added on the front part for protection of the fingerprint recognition part  111 , keypad  112 , display  113 , etc.  
         [0049]    Moreover, it is also possible that the keypad  112  comprises only important function keys, and/or the display unit  112  or the power on/off switch  115  is omitted for convenience of the transport. FIG. 1 c  shows another embodiment of the electronic card key based on such omission.  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 2 a  is a block diagram showing the schematic construction of an electronic fingerprint recognition card key in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The electronic card key  100  in accordance with the present invention comprises fingerprint recognition part  213  for recognition of the fingerprints; a data transceiver part  214  consisted of a contact-type I/O terminal capable of transmitting/receiving information by accessing an external device (external door lock device and the electronic card key administration system), and a RF transceiver part; a display unit  211 ; an input keypad  212 ; a data storage part  216 ; and a controller  210  for control of the above components.  
         [0051]    The controller  210  extracts the characteristics such as the ridge, valley, ending point, bifurcation point, short ridge or island, enclosure or lake, cross over, etc. of a fingerprint using the images of a recognized fingerprint; identifies a fingerprint based on the minutia of a fingerprint thus extracted; and produces a binary code (fingerprint code) peculiar to each fingerprint. This fingerprint recognition and fingerprint code production function should performed not only by the electronic card key, but also by the electronic card key administration system in which the fingerprint information of the administrators shall be inputted, as a detailed explanation thereof will follow later. The controller  210 , to be composed of a 8 bit or 16 bit microprocessor equipped with a counter (or a clock), an interrupter, a serial or parallel port, etc., comprises memory components such as EPROM which stores an operating system and application programs, and a small volume data memory.  
         [0052]    The technique of extracting fingerprint images and identifying a fingerprint, being a technique widely used currently, has been disclosed inter alia by U.S. Pat. No. 6,041,133. Further, the technique of analyzing the ridge-vector of a fingerprint after scanning of the fingerprint image and producing a unique code therefore has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,002,787 (Fingerprint analyzing and encoding system).  
         [0053]    The data transceiver part  214  which is used for exchange of data with the door lock device  310  or the key administration system, may be constructed as a conventional contact-type magnetic bar, but may preferably be made as a contactless RF transceiver for convenience of the users. The data storage part  216  may be composed of a small capacity (several k-bytes) flash memory, RAM, etc.  
         [0054]    The electronic card key  100  to be used as a key in the present invention, is not limited to the function of access control, but rather, can include other functions of a conventional electronic card, e.g. a calculator, an electronic note book, a simple game machine.  
         [0055]    The information to be stored in the data storage part  216  of the electronic card key  100  comprises in the main three types as shown in FIG. 2 b , namely, the reference information  220 , fingerprint information of the users  230 , and access information  240 .  
         [0056]    The reference information  230  comprises a key administration code which is unique to each electronic card key  100 , fingerprint information of the administrator, access allowed door code(s), information on the input date/time of the reference information, and an initialization completion code. The key administration code, to be stored in EPROM, etc. of the electronic card key  100 , is generally set initially at the time of production, but may also be set by the administrator using, e.g. a dip switch. The fingerprint code of the administrator may be inputted directly by the administrator via the electronic card key  100 , or it can also be stored by receiving the code stored in the administration system. The initialization completion code which has a value of either “0” or “1”, is used, as a detailed explanation thereon will follow, in determining as to whether various information stored in the electronic card key  100  shall be renewed (corresponding to “1”), or the user shall be recognized as identical so that the access information shall be accumulated.  
         [0057]    The user fingerprint code  230 , which corresponds to the fingerprint code inputted by an authorized user in the electronic card key  100 , is used for authentication of the owner of an electronic card key when a door is unlocked/locked through exchange of data between the electronic card key and the external door lock device  310 . Here, the electronic card key  100  may register one or more user fingerprint code(s).  
         [0058]    The access information table  240 , comprising key administration code of a user, the number of times of access of the user, access time and date, the results of the operation, etc., can be displayed upon request of the user. Further, the personal information of users can be protected if the access information is erased by the user or the administrator at the time of returning the electronic card key.  
         [0059]    [0059]FIG. 3 a  is a block diagram of a door lock device to be used in the access control method in accordance with the present invention. The door lock device is consisted mainly of a data transceiver part  312  for exchange of data with the electronic card key  100 , a data storage part  315 , a door lock controller  311 , and a door lock driver  314  which locks/unlocks the door in accordance the control signal from the above controller.  
         [0060]    The door lock controller, which decides unlocking/locking of the door based on a comparison between the received information and a part of the data (the door code and the administrator code) stored in the data storage part, can use either an 8-bytes microprocessor of 8051 cores or a 16-bytes microprocessor of 6800 cores or more, equipped with a counter (a clock), an interrupter, a serial or parallel port, etc., and includes a ROM such as EPROM in which a program is stored for the operation of the processor.  
         [0061]    The data transceiver part  312 , which is used for exchange of data with the electronic card key  100 , may be constructed as a conventional contact-type magnetic card reader, but is preferably made as a contactless RF transceiver for convenience of the users.  
         [0062]    The data storage part, which may be composed of a small capacity (several kbytes) flash memory, RAM, etc., stores the access information (of a user) including, a door code  320 , fingerprint information of the administrator  330 , the number of times of access of the user, access time and date, the results of the operation, etc. as shown in FIG. 3 b.    
         [0063]    The door lock driver  314  which locks/unlocks the door in accordance with the lock/unlock signal from the door lock controller, may be composed of one or more relay driver unit(s) and solenoid driver unit(s), but is not limited thereto.  
         [0064]    Moreover, the door lock device  310  may additionally include a display part using e.g. LCD for displaying the results of the operation, speakers, etc. Further, the access allowed door code(s), to be stored in EPROM, etc. of the door lock device, is generally set initially at the time of production, but may also be set by the administrator using, e.g. a dip switch.  
         [0065]    As illustrated in FIG. 3 b , the data storage part  315  of the door lock device  310  stores a door code  320  of a door to be driven by the device, administrators&#39; fingerprints code  330  inputted through the electronic card key  100 , times of access per key administration codes of the electronic card keys which have effected driving of the door lock device  310 , access date and time, and the results of the operation. For protection of personal information, the stored access information shall be deleted every time when the user is changed (i.e. when the initialization completion code changes from “0” to “1”) even if the key administration code remains the same. Among the data stored in the data storage part  315 , the door code  320  is given initially, while the administrator fingerprint information  330  and the access information  340  shall be inputted or deleted by the electronic card key  100  any time.  
         [0066]    [0066]FIG. 4 a  is a block diagram showing the internal construction of an electronic card key administration system in accordance with the present invention. The electronic card key administration system  410  is composed of the main of a computer part  410 , and an internal fingerprint input part  430  or an external fingerprint input part  440 . The computer part  420 , such as a conventional general PC, comprises a CPU  421 , a data storage unit  422  such as RAM or hard disk, a display unit such as CRT monitor, a key board, a data input unit such as CD-ROM, floppy disk drive, and a power supply unit  425 .  
         [0067]    The internal or external fingerprint input parts  430 ,  440 , differing from one another dependent only on their spatial locations to the above computer part, are consisted mainly of a data transceiver part  431 ,  441  and a fingerprint input part  432 ,  442 . The data transceiver part  431  or  441 , which is used for exchange of data with the electronic card key  100 , may be constructed as a conventional contact-type magnetic card reader, but is preferably made as a contactless RF transceiver for convenience of use. The fingerprint input part  432 ,  442 , which functions as a kind of scanner, extracts image(s) of the fingerprint and transmits this information to the CPU  421  using an internal data bus(in case of an internal fingerprint input apparatus) or a serial port (in case of an external fingerprint input apparatus).  
         [0068]    The CPU  421  recognizes inputted fingerprint images with a program stored in it and allots a unique code to each of them, while the storage part  422  of the computer comprises key administration codes of the electronic card keys  100  administered by the computer, administrator fingerprint codes as per the key administration codes, access allowed door codes, date and time of the information inputs, initialization completion code, user information, etc., to which access information as per the key administration codes may be added. The type and structure of the data stored in the key administration system may be designed to comprise, as shown in FIG. 4 b , one or more administrator fingerprint code(s) as per the key administration codes, access allowed door codes, date and time of information inputs, a table  450  including the user information, key administration codes, entered/exited doors, times of access, date and time of access, a access information table  460  including information on the entered/exited users, but not limited thereto. For example, the stored data may include only the check-in and check-out time, excluding the detailed access information, for a better protection of personal information.  
         [0069]    [0069]FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the process of the first access control method in accordance with the present invention, having application to a method using the electronic card key  100  and the door lock device  310  in accordance with the present application.  
         [0070]    The main steps of the first access control method include the step of registering administrator fingerprint in the electronic card key  100  and setting of the reference information by the administrator (S 510 ); the step of registering user&#39;s fingerprint in the electronic card key  100  (S 520 ); the step of user authentication and transmission of this information to the door lock device by the electronic card key (S 550 ); and the step of door locking/unlocking by the door lock device (S 570 ). The basic principle of operation of this method is: When a user has registered his fingerprint in an electronic card key authenticated by an administrator, upon input of the user&#39;s fingerprint, the corresponding information stored in the electronic card key  100  is transmitted to the door lock device  310 , so that the information transmitted from the electronic card key  100  (access allowed door codes and administrator fingerprint codes) is compared with the information stored in the door lock device  310 , on the basis of which comparison a decision for locking/unlocking of the door is made. Thus, in contrast to a conventional fingerprint recognition door lock device, the door lock device  310  of the present invention neither needs to comprise a fingerprint input part in it, nor requires an administrator to renew the user information stored in it for every change of a user.  
         [0071]    Each step in FIG. 5 is explained in detail below. In addition, FIG. 6 is a detail flowchart for the step of administrator fingerprint registration and reference information setting (S 510 ) in FIG. 5.  
         [0072]    The administrator selects the administrator registration menu (S 511 ) from among the usable menu of the electronic card key, and inputs his fingerprint (S 512 ). The controller of the electronic card key  100  extracts the unique code of the inputted fingerprint and checks if an administrator fingerprint code has already been registered by searching the registered administrator fingerprint code information (S 513 , S 514 ). If no registered administrator fingerprint information exists, the inputted fingerprint is registered as the initial administrator fingerprint (S 518 ).  
         [0073]    If any registered administrator fingerprint code exists, the inputted fingerprint is checked whether it coincides with any one of the registered administrator fingerprint codes (S 515 ). If no identical registered administrator fingerprint code exists, fingerprint input by the registered administrator is requested in order to confirm whether the person having inputted his fingerprint is authorized as a new administrator (S 516 ). If the person who has inputted his fingerprint at step S 512  is confirmed to be an authorized administrator through input of the registered administrator&#39;s fingerprint, the inputted fingerprint code is stored in the corresponding area of the electronic card key  100  (S 518 ). After this authentication procedure, the administrator inputs the access allowed door codes in the electronic card key  100 , whereupon the electronic card key  100  stores the access allowed door codes (S 519 , S 520 ). Then, the administrator signalizes that the initialization of the electronic card key  100  has been completed by setting the initialization completion code of the reference information stored in the electronic card key  100  to “1” (S 521 ). Alternatively, user information such as the user&#39;s name and the date/time of distribution of the electronic card key  100  may be inputted additionally.  
         [0074]    When the initialization completion code of an electronic card key  100  is set to “1”, the door lock device  310  recognizes a new user and erases all information (access information, user information, etc.) related to the corresponding previous card key, and changes the initialization completion code of the electronic card key  100  to “0”. The use information thereafter is stored accumulated in the door lock device  310  and the electronic card key  100  until the corresponding card key is transferred to another user and the initialization completion code is changed to “1” by the administrator. In this way, the fingerprint code of an administrator is registered in the electronic card key  100  and the electronic card key  100  is initialized by the administrator&#39;s inputting of the access allowed door codes and setting of the initialization completion code.  
         [0075]    [0075]FIG. 7, being a detail flowchart for the step of a user fingerprint registration (S 530 ) in FIG. 5, illustrates the process of initial registration of a user fingerprint in an initialized electronic card key  100 .  
         [0076]    First, the user, after having received an electronic card key  100  from the administrator, selects the user registration menu of the electronic card key  100  (S 531 ), whereupon the electronic card key  100  checks if any stored reference information (administrator fingerprint code, user information, information on the date and time, initialization completion code) exists (S 532 ). In case no reference information is stored in it, the electronic card key is not recognized as an authentic card key issued by the administrator, whereupon an error message is released, and the process of administrator registration as in FIG. 6 commences (S 538 , S 539 ).  
         [0077]    In case the reference information is stored, the user&#39;s fingerprint is entered and a fingerprint code corresponding to the fingerprint image is extracted (S 533 ). As next, it is checked whether any registered user exists (S 534 ). If no registered user fingerprint code exists, the fingerprint code is registered as the initial user fingerprint code and stored (S 537 ). If a registered user exists and the inputted fingerprint code does not coincide with that of the registered user, input of the fingerprint of the registered user is requested for confirming that the new user is a duly authorized user (S 535 ). If the new user is confirmed as authorized by input of fingerprint of the registered user, the initially registered fingerprint code is then registered as the fingerprint code of the new user (S 537 ). On the contrary, if the fingerprint of the registered user is not entered, an error message notifying the necessity of permission (confirming) by the registered user is released (S 540 ). In this way, fingerprint codes of one or more user can be registered in an electronic card key  100 , which registered fingerprint codes may be used as authentication for transmission of the data frames from the electronic card key  100  to the door lock device  310  as explained in detail below.  
         [0078]    [0078]FIG. 8 is a detail flowchart for the step of user authentication at the electronic card key and information transmission to the door lock device (S 550 ) in FIG. 5. A user willing to open the door selects the door lock menu or the door lock button from the menu or the buttons, respectively, of the electronic card key  100  (S 551 ), and inputs his fingerprint (S 552 ). If the fingerprint code of the inputted fingerprint coincides with any one of registered user fingerprint codes, the user is recognized as an authorized user, and the data transmission to the door lock device  310  proceeds. In case the user is not authenticated, an error message is released and the process terminates without unlocking the door (S 560 ).  
         [0079]    The data transmission to the door lock device  310  proceeds as follows: Upon authentication of a user, the electronic card key  100  sends to the door lock device  310  a transmission request asking the door lock device  310  to receive data from the card key  100  (S 554 ). The electronic card key  100  transmits data frame consisted of the stored information comprising key administration codes, administrator fingerprint codes, access allowed door codes, etc. to the door lock device  310 , if it receives a receive-ready signal from the door lock device  310  within a predetermined time limit (S 555 , S 556 ). If the door has been duly opened and the results of the operation have been received within a predetermined time limit from the door lock device  310 , the initialization completion code of the reference information stored in the electronic card key  100  is changed from “1” to “0” (S 557 , S 558 ). This change of the initialization completion code to “0” means, as described above, that the corresponding electronic card key  100  is registered in the door lock device  310 , so that the door lock device  310  stores in accumulation all access performed by the electronic card key until the electronic card key is initialized for use of another user. The final results of the operation (whether or not the door has been opened, whether or not the door could not be opened due to a non-coincidence of access allowed door code or administrator fingerprint code, etc.) are displayed to the user via the electronic card key  100  and/or the door lock device  310  (S 559 ).  
         [0080]    If the electronic card key  100  fails to receive a receive-ready signal from the door lock device  310  within a predetermined time limit after its transmission request, or to receive the results of the operation from the door lock device  310  within a predetermined time limit, an error message is released and the operation terminates (S 560 ). This step aims to limit the valid time of a user authentication. If, for instance, the electronic card key gets lost when an authorized user has left the door for other urgent matter, after authentication of the user in a state when a transmission request has been sent to the door lock device  310  or the data frame has been transmitted, an unauthorized person who has unduly obtained the electronic card key  100  would freely continue the opening procedure of the door to effect an unauthorized opening of the door, without such time limitation. In order to prevent such misuse, the double limitation of validity time (for receipt of the receive-ready signal after the transmission request and for receipt of the results of the operation after the transmission of the data frame) has been introduced.  
         [0081]    [0081]FIG. 9 is a detail flow chart for the step of door locking/unlocking (S 570 ) in FIG. 5. The basic principle of the operation is to decide locking/unlocking of the door on the basis of the comparison between the “access allowed door codes” and “administrator fingerprint codes” of the data frame received from the electronic card key  100  with the “door codes” and “administrator codes”, respectively, stored in the door lock device  310 .  
         [0082]    To be more in detail, the door lock device  310  determines whether its door code coincide with the access allowed door code of the electronic card key  100  after having received data frame from the electronic card key  100  as in FIG. 8. (S 571 , S 572 ). In other words, the door code functions as the primary “key”. If the door codes do not coincides with each other, an error message is released (or the result is transmitted to the electronic card key  100 ) and the operation terminates (S 577 , S 578 ). If the door codes coincide with each other, it is checked whether any administrator fingerprint code is registered in the door lock device  310  for comparison of the administrator fingerprint codes (S 573 ). If no administrator fingerprint code has been registered, which signifies that no administrator fingerprint code has yet been registered at the door lock device  310 , the administrator fingerprint code of the data frame received is registered as the initial administrator fingerprint code (S 574 ). If any administrator fingerprint code has been registered, it is determined whether the administrator fingerprint code of the received data frame coincides with any one of the administrator fingerprints registered at the door lock device  310  (S 575 ). In case one or more administrator fingerprint codes coincide, the administrator fingerprint codes registered at the door lock device  310  are substituted by the administrator fingerprint code(s) of the data frame (S 576 ). Having the door codes and the administrator fingerprint codes been confirmed, the electronic card key  100  is recognized as authentic, and the door can be opened. However, prior to the opening of the door, it is confirmed whether the initialization completion code of the data frame is “1” (S 579 ): If the initialization completion code is set to “1”, which means that the owner of the electronic card key  100  is a new user, the access information relating to the corresponding key administration code (of the previous user) stored in the door lock device  310  are erased (S 580 ); in contrast, if the initialization completion code is set to “0”, which means continuous use of the card key by the same user, the access information is stored in accumulation (S 581 ). After completion of the above confirmation procedures, the door lock device  310  transmits the results of the process to the electronic card key  100 , and opens the door driving the door lock driver (S 582 , S 583 ).  
         [0083]    The renewal of the administrator fingerprint code for each access aims to prevent unauthorized practice of an administrator&#39;s right by a person who was once an administrator, but ceased to be one. For example, if A is such a (former) administrator and the door lock device  310  stores A, B, and C as registered administrators, while A has distributed electronic card keys  100  with A&#39;s fingerprint registered as an administrator fingerprint, a user of such electronic card key  100  would be able to open the door (because both the access allowed door code and one of the administrator fingerprint codes, i.e. A&#39;s fingerprint code, match with their corresponding codes). However, this problem could be solved if the administrator fingerprints are renewed for each access. For example, if the door is opened once by an electronic card key  100  with registration of the updated administrators B, C, and D, the door lock device  310  would update the administrator fingerprint codes from A, B, and C to B, C, and D, thus would block opening of the door by an electronic card key with A registered as administrator.  
         [0084]    In this way, the present invention can achieve its objectives, since only those electronic card keys distributed by the authorized administrators and authenticated by the authorized users can open the door, without the necessity of renewing the user information at each door lock device  310  by the administrator, and without the necessity of installing a fingerprint input part in each door lock device  310 .  
         [0085]    [0085]FIG. 10 is an overall flowchart for the second access control method in accordance with the present invention, wherein an electronic card key administration system is used in addition to the electronic fingerprint recognition card key  100  and the door lock device  310 .  
         [0086]    The second access control method comprises in the main the steps of administrator fingerprint registration in the electronic card key system (S 610 ), of administrator authentication and inputting use information of the electronic card key by the electronic card key administration system (S 630 ), of reference information transmission to the electronic card key  100  by the electronic card key administration system (S 650 ), of storing the received reference information by the electronic card key  100  (S 670 ), of registering the user&#39;s fingerprint in the electronic card key  100  (S 690 ), of user authentication and information transmission to the door lock device  310  by the electronic card key  100  (S 700 ), and of locking/unlocking of the door by the door lock device  310  (S 710 ). Since the steps of user fingerprint registration (S 690 ), of user authentication and information transmission (S 700 ), and of locking/unlocking of the door (S 710 ) are identical with those of the first access control method described above in reference to the FIGS.  6  to  9 , an explanation therefore is omitted here.  
         [0087]    Although basically similar to the first access control method, the second access control method differs from the first in that the electronic card key administration system as the central host is responsible for the administrator fingerprint registration and transmission of the reference information to the electronic card key, while in the first access control method the administrator directly inputs these information to the card key.  
         [0088]    [0088]FIG. 11 is a detail flowchart for the step of administrator fingerprint registration (S 610 ) by the electronic card key administration system in FIG. 10. The administrator accesses the key administration system and registers his fingerprint (S 611 ). The key administration system checks whether any administrator fingerprint information is registered in the system (S 612 ), and registers the fingerprint inputted in step S 611  as an administrator fingerprint, if no administrator fingerprint has been registered (S 617 ).  
         [0089]    If any administrator fingerprint is registered in the system, it is checked whether the code of the fingerprint inputted in step S 611  coincides with any one of the registered administrator fingerprint codes (S 613 ). In case of non-coincidence, inputting of the registered administrator fingerprint is requested (S 614 ) to confirm that the person who has inputted the fingerprint is an authorized administrator. Since the person who has inputted his fingerprint at step S 611  is confirmed as an authorized administrator with input of a registered administrator&#39;s fingerprint, the inputted fingerprint is registered additionally as a new administrator fingerprint (Renewal of an administrator fingerprint; S 615 , S 617 ). In case no registered administrator fingerprint is inputted or a false fingerprint is inputted, an error message stating an administrator fingerprint to be unregistrable, is released (S 616 ). In this way, fingerprint codes of one or more authorized administrators can be registered in the electronic card key administration system.  
         [0090]    [0090]FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the step of erasing a registered administrator fingerprint code stored in the electronic card key administration system. If an administrator enters his fingerprint in the key administration system, the key administration system checks whether the inputted fingerprint matches with the fingerprint code of the registered administrator, authenticates the administrator (S 621 , S 622 ), and displays the information related to that administrator in a list form (S 623 ). Then, the administrator who has accessed the key administration system selects the number of the administrator he wishes to erase from the enlisted administrators (S 624 ), and erases the administrator fingerprint code if the selected number exists (S 625 , S 627 ). In other words, any authorized administrator can access to the key administration system and proceed, after authentication by the key administration system, to erase fingerprint information of those who have ceased to be authorized administrators.  
         [0091]    [0091]FIG. 13 is a detail flowchart showing the step of administrator authentication by the electronic card key administration system and inputting the use information of the electronic card key (S 630 ) in FIG. 10. Here, the basic process proceeds in a manner that the administrator inputs the required information in the electronic card key  100  after the administrator has accessed the electronic card key administration system and is authenticated as an authentic administrator.  
         [0092]    To be more specific, if the administrator accesses the electronic card key administration system and inputs his fingerprint (S 631 ), the key administration system checks whether the inputted fingerprint code is that of a registered administrator (S 632 ). After the administrator is authenticated to be an authentic administrator, the administrator inputs the use information of the electronic card key, comprising the administration code of the electronic card key  100  to be used by the key administration system, access allowed door codes, information on the key user, input date/time, etc. (S 634 ), whereupon the key administration system stores and administers the inputted key use information as classified by the key administration codes ( 5635 ).  
         [0093]    [0093]FIG. 14 is a detail flowchart for the step of transmitting the reference information to an electronic card key (S 650 ) as illustrated in FIG. 10. Here, the administrator can be authenticated by inputting his fingerprint after having accessed the electronic card key administration system (S 651 , S 652 ). Since the administrator authentication process by the key administration system is the same as in FIGS.  12  to  13 , an explanation thereof is omitted here. After the administrator authentication, the administrator connects the electronic card key  100  to be used to the key administration system through the data transceiver part of the administration system (S 654 ). The key administration system recognizes then the accessed key administration code and displays the list of the electronic card key use information (key administration codes, access allowed door codes, user information, input date/time, etc.) stored under the corresponding key administration code (S 655 ), whereupon the administrator selects the item of the use information to be transmitted to the electronic card key, and then, pushes the transmit button (S 656 ). The electronic card key administration system produces a data frame comprising fingerprint code of the registered administrator, transmission date/time, an initialization completion code set to “1” in addition to the electronic card key use information and transmits the same to the electronic card key  100  (S 657 , S 658 ).  
         [0094]    Here, the administrator fingerprint codes, access allowed door codes, transmission date/time (or date/time of use information input), and initialization completion code should necessarily be included in the reference information data frame, while the other information such as key administration code, user information, etc. may optionally be included. The reason why the key administration code needs not be included obligatory is that this code is included in the electronic card key  100  and the key administration system has already confirmed this fact.  
         [0095]    Although the step of inputting the electronic card key use information by the administrator and the step of reference information transmission have been explained as separate steps in the above embodiment, the two steps can also be combined to one, i.e. if the administrator requests a transmission concurrently with his input of the electronic card key use information, the key administration system produces the reference information data frame in real time and transmits the same to the electronic card key.  
         [0096]    [0096]FIG. 15 is a detail flowchart for the step of updating the reference information of the electronic card key based on the reference information data frame received by the electronic card key  100 .  
         [0097]    The electronic card key  100 , after having received the reference information data frame from the key administration system, searches the key administration codes in the electronic card key  100  and checks whether any key administration code coincides with the key administration code of the received data frame (S 671 , S 672 , S 673 ). After confirming the key administration code, it is checked whether the initialization completion code of the data frame is set to “1” (S 674 ). Since all authentic reference information data frame received shall have an initialization completion code set to “1” an error message is released to all data frames having an initialization completion code set to “0”, whereupon the operation is terminated (S 675 ).  
         [0098]    If the initialization completion code is set to “1”, the card key is initialized by erasing all information relating to the previous user stored in the electronic card key  100 , i.e. reference information (key administration codes, administrator fingerprint codes, date/time of registration, access allowed door codes, initialization completion code), user fingerprint information, and access information (S 676 ), and then, the reference information of the newly received data frame is stored in the corresponding area of the card key (S 677 ). Although it is desirable for protection of the personal information that the information on the previous user is deleted, it is also possible that the information deleted from the electronic card key  100  is transmitted to the electronic card key administration system and stored separately for the purpose of customer services in the future.  
         [0099]    After this procedure, the electronic card key  100  is distributed to a user and the user registers as an authorized user by inputting his fingerprint. Since the subsequent steps of user authentication and information transmission to the door lock device  310  (S 700 ) and of locking/unlocking of the door (S 710 ) are the same as in S 550  and S 570  in FIG. 5, an explanation therefore is omitted.  
         [0100]    The erasing (initialization) of the information on the previous user can be effected by transmission to an electronic card key  100  of a new data frame having an initialization completion code set to “1”, as described above. However, this can additionally be effected by a direct order of the user or the administrator to the electronic card key  100 . FIG. 16 illustrates the step of erasing internal information of the electronic card key  100  by an administrator or a user. The user or administrator wishing to erase internal information selects the internal information erase (initialization) menu in the menu of the electronic card key  100  (S 813 ). Upon input of the fingerprint by the user or administrator (S 812 ), the electronic card key  100  checks whether the inputted fingerprint coincides with any one of the registered user or administrator (S 813 ). If the user or administrator is authenticated, the electronic card key  100  erases all relevant information stored in it, i.e. the reference information (key administration codes, administrator fingerprint codes, access allowed door codes, date/time of registration, initialization completion code), user fingerprint codes, access information, and displays the results to the user or administrator (S 815 , S 816 ).  
         [0101]    Furthermore, though not illustrated here, the electronic card key administration system as a central host and the door lock devices  310  can also be networked electrically. This embodiment has the advantage that the information stored in the door such as access information, etc. can be transmitted to the electronic card key administration system, and then, stored and administrated there. Accordingly, even when a user deletes access information of the electronic card key  100  without consent of the administrator, the access information of a door lock device  310  can be transmitted to and stored in the electronic card key administration system so that an integrated administration of the data is enabled.  
         [0102]    Now, an explanation of the method for door lock system using an electronic card key  100  in accordance with the present invention as described in FIGS. 1 and 2 a , and using an electronic card key administration system as described in FIG. 4 a ; and the method for user identification by that system is given below.  
         [0103]    [0103]FIG. 17 illustrates the construction of a door lock system using an electronic fingerprint recognition card key  100  in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, wherein an electronic fingerprint recognition card key  100  as in FIGS. 1 and 2 a , and an electronic card key administration system  410  as in FIG. 4 a  are used.  
         [0104]    As illustrated in FIG. 17, the door lock device of the present invention is consisted of an electronic fingerprint recognition card  100  which is used as the key, a door lock device  520  which is installed at the door  510 , and a sensor  530 .  
         [0105]    Here, an electronic card key administration system  410  can be used as a central host for general administration of locking/unlocking of the door by the door lock system and of the user confirmation, wherein the electronic card key administration system  410  administers locking/unlocking of the door as well as the user authentication as described in FIGS. 4 a  and  4   b.    
         [0106]    If an authorized user having an electronic card key  100  opens a door by transmitting the data frame stored in the electronic card key  100  to the door lock device  520 , the sensor part  530  counts the subsequent one or more user and the door lock device  520  requests the electronic card key(s) of the user(s)  100  to transmit the data frarne(s).  
         [0107]    The door lock device  520  checks whether any user having an electronic card key  100  with no authorization or having no electronic card key  100  exists based on the data frame transmitted from the electronic card key  100  and the counting results of the sensor part  530 , releases an error message if necessary, and stores the access information.  
         [0108]    As such, the electronic fingerprint recognition card key  100  used in the door lock system in accordance of another embodiment of the present invention has a construction and function as described in FIG. 2 a , the controller  210  of the electronic fingerprint recognition card key  100  has additional function as stated below in the door lock system  500 .  
         [0109]    The basic functions of the controller  210  in the door lock device  500  are to store the reference information after receipt thereof from the electronic card key administration system  410  or the administrator, to register user fingerprint codes, and to transmit data frame to the door lock system  500  after authentication of a user. Further, the controller  210  shall additionally function to transmit the stored reference information data frame within a predetermined time limit upon request of the door lock system  500  for data frame transmission, in order to practice the door locking/unlocking and the method of user authentication in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0110]    On the other hand, the electronic card key administration system  410 , which is for general administration of the door locking/unlocking and the method of user authentication in the door lock system, includes one or more administrator fingerprint codes; stores one or more of key administration codes inputted by authenticated administrator using administrator fingerprint codes, user information code of the electronic card key, and date/time of the information input; transmits the reference information data frame comprising the above key administration code, one or more access allowed door codes, one or more administrator fingerprint codes, present time information code, and electronic card key initialization completion code in as per the order of the administrator authenticated by the administrator fingerprint, so that the information is used for administration of the electronic card key  100 . In addition, it is preferable that the electronic card key administration system  410  is capable of exchanging data with all of the above door lock devices  520  and/or with the above electronic card keys  100 , for general storage and administration of the access information.  
         [0111]    [0111]FIG. 18 shows the data structure used as the door lock information in the door lock system in FIG. 17 in the form of a table, which data structure is stored in the data storage part  216  of the fingerprint recognition card key  100  in the door lock system  500 .  
         [0112]    As shown in FIG. 18, the data storage part  216  of the fingerprint recognition card key  100  in the door lock system  500  comprises reference information  1810 , user fingerprints information  1820 , and access information  1830 ,  
         [0113]    While the reference information  1810  and user fingerprints information  1820  are consisted of the same information as in FIG. 2 b , the access information  1830  is consisted of the following information:  
         [0114]    The access information  1830  in the door lock system  500  may comprise user information, date/time of access, access door codes, and results of the operation. The results of operation may be classified to one of the items: “user authenticated and the door initially opened” for the cases when a user of an electronic card key  100  has first opened an allowed door; “accompanied access (unauthorized access) for the cases when an owner of an electronic card key  100  has entered/exited a space not allowed to him in accompany of an authorized person; and “accompanied access (authorized access) for the cases when a user of an electronic card key  100  has entered/exited a space allowed to him in accompany of an authorized person, etc. The situations under which the above items occur are explained below making reference to FIG. 22. The above results of operation can be displayed upon request of the user.  
         [0115]    [0115]FIG. 19 a  is a detail block diagram for the door lock device of the door lock system in FIG. 17.  
         [0116]    As shown in FIG. 19 a , the door lock device  520  in the door lock system  500  comprises a door lock controller  521 , a data transceiver part  522  for exchange of data with the electronic card key  100 , a power supply part  523 , a door lock driver  524  which locks/unlocks the door based on the control signal from the door lock controller  521 , and a data storage part  525 . The sensor part  530  which is consisted of one or more sensors fixed at the door or adjacent thereto, counts the number of the persons access the door based on the sensed signals and then transmits by wire or wireless the results of the counting to the door lock controller  521 . Alternatively, the sensed signal as such can be transmitted to the door lock controller  521 , instead of the counted number of the persons.  
         [0117]    The door lock controller  521  which determines whether or not to lock/unlock the door by comparing the information received from the electronic card key  100  with a part of the data (the door codes and the administrator fingerprint codes) stored in the data storage part  525 , and confirms authorizations to access the door after having identified and counted the users, comprises a counter (or a clock), an interrupter, any one of 8 bit microprocessor of 8051 cores or more, or 16 bit microprocessor of 68000 cores or more having a serial or parallel port, etc., and a ROM, such as EPROM which stores the program for basic operation of the processor.  
         [0118]    The data transceiver part  522 , which is used for exchange of data with the electronic card key  100 , may be constructed as a conventional contact-type magnetic card reader, but is preferably made as a contactless RF transceiver for convenience of the users. However, for the signal transmission between the sensor part and the controller, other means including wired communication such as RS-232C may be used.  
         [0119]    The data storage part, which may be composed of a small capacity (several k-bytes) flash memory, RAM, etc., stores the entrance/exit information  1930  including its own door code ( 1910 ), fingerprint codes of the registered administrators ( 1920 ), dates/time of locking/unlocking as classified by the key administration code which has initially opened the door, the total number of entered/exited persons, key administration codes of each entered/exited user, names of the entered/exited users, the results of operation, remarks, etc. The access information under reference number  1931  shows that the door was initially opened by a user, “K. D. Hong” using an electronic card key with the administration code no. 515234, and that a total of four person have passed the door while it was open, with the confirmation that the four persons consisted of the initial opener, “K. D. Hong”, an authorized card key owner, “C. S. Kim”, an unauthorized card key owner, “Y. H. Kim”, and an unknown card key non-owner. An additional information that an audio error message has been released alerting the entrance of the two unauthorized persons (“Y. H. Kim” and the unknown person), is given under the column, “Remarks”. The total number of access persons is sensed by the sensor part while the authentication of a card key owner is made based on the data frame exchange between the card key and the door lock device, an explanation thereof follows in reference to FIG. 6 later.  
         [0120]    For protection of the personal information, the access information stored in the data storage part  525  shall be deleted every time when the user is changed (i.e. when the initialization completion code changes from “0” to “1”) even if the key administration code remains the same. However, since it is desirable that access information is administrated by the administrator and/or the key administration system  410 , it is preferable that the access information is transmitted to the linked key administration system and stored there prior to its erase. Among the data stored in the data storage part  525 , the door code  1919  is given initially, while the administrator fingerprint information  1920  and the access information  1930  shall be inputted or deleted by the electronic card key  100  any time.  
         [0121]    The door lock driver  524  which locks/unlocks the door in accordance with the lock/unlock signal from the door lock controller  521 , may be composed of one or more relay driver unit(s) and solenoid driver unit(s), but is not limited thereto.  
         [0122]    Moreover, the door lock device  520  may additionally include a display part using e.g. LCD for displaying the results of operation, an audio output unit for releasing audio error message comprising speakers and ARS, etc. Further, the access allowed door code(s), to be stored in EPROM, etc. of the door lock device, is generally set initially at the time of production, but may also be set by the administrator using, e.g. a dip switch.  
         [0123]    The sensor part  530 , to be composed of one or more contactless infrared sensors, ultrasonic sensors, weight sensors, or optical sensors installed on any part of the frame of the door  510 , can be so designed that its output (voltage or current) is directly inputted in the door lock controller  521 , or as a sensor module capable of independently functioning to confirm and count the number of the persons based on the signals of the sensor. The sensor can be one or more light block type sensors to be installed two or more dimensionally, or one or more contactless infrared sensors such as thermopile, but is not limited thereto, insofar as it can sense the number of the users, like a CCD camera. However, since the sensor must also sense a continuous entering of the users, it is preferable that the response time of the sensor is very short, i.e. it should not exceed several milliseconds.  
         [0124]    [0124]FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the first door lock method and user confirmation method of the door lock system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0125]    As shown in FIG. 20, the first door lock method and user confirmation method comprise basically the steps of registering the administrator fingerprint at the electronic card key  100  by the administrator and fixing the reference information (S 2010 ); of registering the user fingerprint at the electronic card key  100  (S 2020 ); authenticating the user and transmitting this information to the door lock device  520  by the electronic card key  100  (S 2030 ); locking/unlocking of the door by the door lock device  520  (S 2040 ); and confirming the authorization of the users as well as the number of the users who have passed the door after the door has been opened, and storing the access information (S 2050 ). The basic principle of operation of this method is: When a user has registered his fingerprint in an electronic card key authenticated by an administrator, upon input of the user&#39;s fingerprint, the corresponding information (data frame for unlocking the door) stored in the electronic card key  100  is transmitted to the door lock device  520 , so that the information transmitted from the electronic card key  100  (access allowed door codes and administrator fingerprint codes) is compared with the information stored in the door lock device  520 , on the basis of which comparison a decision for locking/unlocking of the door is made, and in case the door  510  has been opened, the total number of persons passing the door is counted by the sensor  530  and authorizations of the accompanying persons are checked by data exchange with the electronic card key  100 .  
         [0126]    The present invention, being an invention concentrating in the user authentication and administration after opening of the door, may use the above described methods for the steps up to the opening of the door, i.e. for the steps of administrator fingerprint registration and setting the reference information (S 2010 ), of user fingerprint registration (S 2020 ), of information transmission to the door lock device (S 2030 ), and of door locking/unlocking (S 2040 ).  
         [0127]    [0127]FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing the second door lock method and user confirmation method of the door lock system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0128]    As shown in FIG. 21, the second door lock method and user confirmation method comprise basically the steps of administrator fingerprint registration in the electronic card key system  410  (S 2110 ), of administrator authentication and inputting the use information of the electronic card key  100  by the electronic card key administration system  410  (S 2120 ), of reference information transmission to the electronic card key  100  from the electronic card key administration system  410  (S 2130 ), of storing the received reference information by the electronic card key  100  (S 2140 ), of registering the user&#39;s fingerprint in the electronic card key  100  (S 2150 ), of user authentication and information transmission to the door lock device  520  by the electronic card key  100  (S 2160 ), of locking/unlocking of the door by the door lock device  520  (S 2170 ), and of confirming the authentications as well as the number of persons passing the door and storing the access information (S 2180 ).  
         [0129]    Although basically similar to the first door lock method described in FIG. 20, the second door lock method and user confirmation method differs from the first in that the electronic card key administration system  410  as the central host is responsible for the administrator fingerprint registration and transmission of the reference information to the electronic card key  100 , while in the first method the administrator directly inputs these information to the card key. However, the steps of user authentication, confirmation of the number of persons passing the door after opening thereof, and access information storing (S 2180 ), which constitute the essence of the present embodiment, are the same as those in the above first method. In addition, the steps up to the opening of the door are also the same as those in the above first method.  
         [0130]    [0130]FIG. 22 is a detail flowchart showing the steps of user authentication as well as confirming the number of the persons passing the door, and storing the access information after opening of the door in accordance with the above first and second methods as described in FIGS. 20 and 21, respectively.  
         [0131]    As shown in FIG. 22, when the door is duly opened (S 2211 ) after the steps of user authentication and of locking/unlocking of the door, the door lock device  520  stores the initial opening time of the door (S 2212 ). Then, the door lock device  520  requests one or more electronic card keys  100  of the users including the user who initially opened the door to transmit the data frame for authentication (key administration codes, administrator fingerprint codes, access allowed door codes, initialization completion code, etc.) (S 2213 ). Such request for data frame can be received also by electronic card keys  100  which are relatively distant from the door lock device  520 , because the request is transmitted to the data transceiver part  214  of the electronic card key  100  from the data transceiver part  522  of the door lock device  520 . Simultaneously with the request for transmission of the data frame, the number of the persons passing the door is counted by the sensor  530  and the last access time is updated (S 2214 ).  
         [0132]    If the data frame has been received from the electronic card key  100  within a predetermined time limit after the last access time, an owner of the electronic card key  100  is authenticated by confirming whether any access allowed door code of the data frame coincides with the its door codes (S 2215 , S 2216 ). In case the sensor part senses additional passage within a predetermined time limit after the last access time (S 2218 ), the electronic card key  100  of this user is requested to transmit the data frame, the number of the persons passing the door is counted, and the last access time is updated (S 2213 , S 2214 ). In case the user is a non-owner of the electronic card key  100 , no data frame is received within a predetermined time limit, and the next step of confirming additional person passing the door begins (S 2218 ), after the above user is recorded as unidentified person who has passed the door without authorization.  
         [0133]    In case no additional access has been sensed within a predetermined time limit, it is determined that all users have entered/exited, and the numbers of the data frame received finally as well as of the persons entered/exited are confirmed (S 2219 ). If these numbers do not coincide with each other, the difference is recognized as the number of non-owner of the electronic card key  100  with no authorization to access, so that an error message is released and the access information is stored (S 2220 , S 2221 ). The error message can be released after completion of all passages, or it can also be released for each unauthorized passage. If authentication of each user in real time is not easy, the data frames received from the electronic card keys  100  upon request therefor can be stored until all the users have passed the door, and then, an error message can be released after the data frames and the number of the passages have been processed.  
         [0134]    The final results of the processing can be stored as access information as in FIG. 3 b , or, if necessary, in the electronic card key  100  as in FIG. 2 b . The access information (process results) thus stored can subsequently be transmitted to the linked electronic card key administration system  410  to be stored and administered there, or can be checked directly by the administrator.  
         [0135]    Here, not only identification of persons passing the door without authorization based on the stored and administered access information (in case the corresponding persons own the electronic card key  100 ), but also confirming of the persons with no electronic card key just accompanying the user who has initially opened the door, are possible by asking the user. Accordingly, an integrated administration of the access information as well as maintenance of access security are enabled so that theft, etc. can be prevented.  
         [0136]    Although not illustrated, a step of confirming the administrator fingerprint code can also be added to the step of confirming the access allowed door codes of the data frame received from the electronic card key  100  during a user authentication such as for the initial opening of a door.  
         [0137]    After the access information (the results of the operation) is stored (S 2221 ), the door lock device  520  locks the door  510  (S 2222 ) and transmits the results to the corresponding electronic card key  100  and/or electronic card key administration system  410 , for storage and administration there (S 2223 ).  
       Industrial Applicability  
       [0138]    As explained above, the present invention resolves the problems related to the conventional lock/unlock devices utilizing metallic keys or passwords, such as loosing of the key or leakage of the passwords, by using fingerprint information as a key.  
         [0139]    On the other hand, the present invention introduces an electronic card key capable of recognizing fingerprints in order to overcome the following disadvantages of the conventional fingerprint recognition lock/unlock devices using the users&#39; fingerprints as keys: i) The fingerprint input part to be installed at the door lock device can easily be damaged due to its external exposure; ii) Since the fingerprint information stored in the door lock device needs to be updated by the administrator for each change of the allowed user, it is not practical in use for doors with frequent change of users; iii) Since the access information stored in the door lock device is available to the administrator at any time, the personal information stored is not sufficiently protected; and so further.  
         [0140]    In the present invention, the administrator fingerprint is first registered in order to secure that only the administrator has the right to update the information in the fingerprint recognition card (access allowed door codes), and then, fingerprint of a user is registered in an electronic card key duly distributed by the administrator. If a user has been authenticated after inputting his fingerprint for each access of the door, the electronic card key transmits the corresponding information stored in it to the door lock device, whereupon the door lock device locks/unlocks the door only when the access allowed door code and the administrator fingerprint information transmitted from the electronic card key correspond with the corresponding door code and the administrator fingerprint code, respectively, stored in it. The access information is automatically deleted if a new user of the electronic card key is registered.  
         [0141]    The access thus controlled, the disadvantage with the conventional lock/unlock device described above under ii) can be removed, since an administrator of a lodging institution with frequent change of the users does not require to access each door and update information, but rather simply to distribute electronic card keys containing the basic information.  
         [0142]    Further, since a fingerprint input part is installed in the electronic card key only, not at the door lock device to be exposed externally, according to the present invention, the disadvantage mentioned above under i) is also removed.  
         [0143]    In addition, since the access information and the user information stored in the electronic card key and the door lock device are automatically erased by each change of the user according to the present invention, leakage of personal information can be prevented, and thus, the disadvantage mentioned above under iii) is removed.  
         [0144]    To summarize, the electronic fingerprint recognition card key, external door lock device and/or the door lock method and method for confirming persons passing the door using the electronic card key administration system in accordance with the present invention enables to fundamentally resolve the problem of loosing the key or leakage of the passwords related with the conventional lock/unlock devices which use metallic keys or passwords, by utilizing fingerprints as keys; is not likely to be damaged in contrast to the conventional fingerprint recognition lock/unlock devices where the fingerprint input part is exposed externally; enables easy administration of the keys even for doors with frequent change of the users; and can effectively prevent leakage of personal information.  
         [0145]    In addition to these advantages, the present invention enables better administration of the user and maintenance of security for each door by confirming the number of persons having passed the door after initial opening of the door and confirming of the authentication of one or more users passing the door, which functions were not provided by the conventional access control method using electronic card keys.