Abstract:
An access control unit can receive door specifying credentials wirelessly. Received credentials can be processed and a determination made to permit access. The unit can also receive signals from similar units. The received signals can be retransmitted.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The invention pertains to door control systems. More particularly, the invention pertains to such systems where the access credential can be in wireless communication with one or more door control units. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Typical hotels have battery-powered electronic door handles on every guest door. The Electronic Door Handles have integrated readers, Request-to-Exit and Door Open/Close inputs, and possibly LED indicators. 
         [0003]    The hotel doors are generally located within close proximity to each other, since hotel rooms are generally small and narrow. The card readers deployed today can either be stand-alone or configured through a wireless connection to a host. If a wireless connection is used to configure the Electronic Door Handle, then additional infrastructure, such as wireless access points, needs to be added. The cards used in hotels are usually magnetic stripe cards, where the user must swipe the card at the door. This is sometimes done when the hotel guest has his/her hands full of luggage. 
         [0004]    One known system has been disclosed and claimed in published US Patent Application No. 2010/0201479 published on Aug. 12, 2010, entitled “Integrated On-line Door Control System With Standardized Interfaces”. The &#39;479 application is assigned to the assignee hereof and incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0005]    Issues associated with known door control systems include: The wireless connection to the network requires additional infrastructure. The hotel guest may need to swipe a magnetic stripe card with his/her hands full, and, there currently is no mechanism for tracking guests through a hotel. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of one embodiment of the invention; 
           [0007]      FIGS. 2A-2C  are diagrams which illustrate aspects of operation of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0008]      FIGS. 3A-3C  are diagrams which illustrate aspects of operation of another embodiment; and 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  illustrates aspects of yet another embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    While embodiments of this invention can take many different forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and will be described herein in detail with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention, as well as the best mode of practicing same, and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiment illustrated. 
         [0011]    In accordance with embodiments of the invention, a primary, or door frame coupler is located in the door frame, and is externally powered. It provides power and communicates with the secondary, or door coupler in the door. In accordance with the invention, the primary coupler also communicates wirelessly with other primary couplers on adjacent doors. This enables the primary couplers to create a wireless communication network back to the access control panel or host, and eliminates the need for ‘home run’ wiring. 
         [0012]    The secondary coupler communicates with the door handle, which performs the input sensing, along with lock/output control. In one aspect of the present invention, the primary coupler also communicates wirelessly with key fobs, access cards and other wireless credentials which use the same protocol. This enables the card reader to reside in the Primary Coupler, and reduces the cost and complexity of door side electronics and door handle. 
         [0013]    In another aspect of the invention, this architecture would enable the guests to approach the door and have the door automatically unlock, which reduces the cumbersome card swipe with arms full of luggage. Also, every access card may communicate with every door, so tracking people through the hotel would be possible. This would be useful to hotels in an emergency event, or simply to indicate to parents that their children are in the arcade or pool, and the hotels may charge for the service. 
         [0014]    Advantageously, the primary coupler may be used as a wireless communications access point in a mesh network. This enables wireless communication back to the Access Panel or Host without the need to purchase additional wireless access points. It also eliminates the need for ‘home run’ wires and reduces installation cost, since the primary coupler may be powered from a local power source, and the need for long communication wires is thus eliminated. 
         [0015]    Additionally, the primary coupler may be used as a credential reader if the credentials communicate with the same protocol (i.e., WiFi, Bluetooth, WiBree, WiMAX, ZigBee, etc.). This eliminates the need for an embedded reader in the door handle, which may be difficult to implement in some installations. It also reduces the complexity and cost of the door side control circuitry as well as eliminating a credential sensor or reader. 
         [0016]    Various embodiments can include, using the frame side units as wireless access points, and routing the wireless data between the electronic door handles and the access, or control, panel. The frame side units can also include wireless readers, and can detect wireless credential data which can be sent to the access panel through a wired, or wireless connection. Additionally, the frame side units can act as both wireless access points and credential readers and route the credential data to the access panel. The primary coupler can also route data to the door side electronic door handle, which can be less complex. 
         [0017]    Alternately, in other embodiments, the door side unit can include a wireless receiver to act as a wireless access point or credential reader. In another aspect of the invention, the door side unit can be powered through an electrified hinge, and function as a wireless access point 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  illustrates a wireless door access control system which includes a plurality of door control units such as apparatus  10  which embodies the invention. The apparatus  10  is illustrated installed in a door frame F and in an associated door D. A handle H is coupled to the apparatus  10  as described below. Those of skill in the art will understand that apparatus  10  can be one member of a plurality of identical structures, each of which is installed on a different door. 
         [0019]    The module  12  is in turn wirelessly coupled to a monitoring unit or control panel  16 . Wired communications also come within the scope and spirit of the invention. Various communications protocols such as RS-485 could also be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0020]    The frame side module  12  includes a housing  20  which carries an input/output port  20   a , which can be coupled to a source of electrical energy, such as 60 Hz utility power. Housing  20  also carries control circuits  22 . Circuits  22  could be implemented as a programmable processor  22   a  and associated control software  22   b  which would be stored on a computer readable medium, for example, semiconductor memory. 
         [0021]    Module  12  can communicate wirelessly with the control panel  16 , and to other control units, such as the unit  10 , or receive credential information, from a wireless credential C, via a transceiver  24  and associated antenna  24   a . Those of skill will understand that a variety of wireless communications protocols come within the spirit and scope of the invention and protocol details are not a limitation of the invention. 
         [0022]    An inductor  26  is coupled to the circuits  22 . Commands, and/or data can be wirelessly coupled from the control unit  16 , or other units, corresponding to the unit  10 , via the transceiver  24  to the control circuits  22 . The inductor  26  can also couple commands, data and electrical energy to the door side module  14 . 
         [0023]    Door side module  14  includes a housing  30  which carries an input/output port(s) indicated generally at  30   a . The housing  30  also carries control circuits  32  which could be implemented as a programmable processor  32   a  and associated control software  32   b  which would be stored on a computer readable storage medium, such as a semiconductor storage unit. The door side unit  32  can, in an alternate embodiment, include a transceiver  34 , indicated in phantom. In this embodiment the unit  22  might be coupled via a network to the control panel  16 . 
         [0024]    A door side inductor  36  is also carried in housing  30 . The inductor  36  can receive electrical energy from the frame side inductor  26  along with commands and/or data and couple same to the control circuits  32 . As a result, no door battery is needed. 
         [0025]    The module  14  can receive signals from and couple signals to the handle H as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . It will be understood that the input/output signals to the handle H are exemplary only. 
         [0026]    In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the frame side control circuits  22  provide authorization, directly or via the control panel  16 , through the inductors  26 ,  36  to unlock the bolt B from the frame F so that the door D can be opened. Handle H also carries a secure door opening handle H 1  to retract bolt B in response to a credential being accepted by the apparatus  10 , in combination with control panel  16 . In this regard, the handle H includes a mechanical lock interface, shown in phantom, to enable handle H 1  to engage the bolt B and move it in the direction U to unlock the door D under command of module  14  in response to a signal from the circuits  22 . 
         [0027]    Acceptance of a wireless credential C by control panel  16  can be in response to a bit stream being received from module  12  via the transceiver  24  at the control panel  16 . Panel  16  can in turn determine that the subject credential C is an authorized credential for the door D and then transmit, to module  12  a door open command to be related to module  14 . Module  14  can in turn generate an output to the lock interface which releases the handle H 1  to retract the bolt B to open the door D. 
         [0028]    Handle H can also carry an interior, non-secure handle H 2  that a person in a region closed by the door D can use to generate a request exit REX signal to the module  14 . The internal user can move handle H 2  in direction O to generate the REX signal to module  14  and also mechanically retract the bold B in direction U to unlock the door D. Upon release of the handle H 2 , as the door D closes, the bold B can move in direction L to lock the door D closed against the door frame F. 
         [0029]    Additionally, units  10  can provide credential tracking functions either directly to control panel  16  or via daisy chain-type transmissions between units  10  to the panel  16 . Such tracking functions are discussed subsequently. 
         [0030]      FIGS. 2A-2C  illustrate various modes of operation of the system of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 2A  illustrates a plurality of wireless links where the primary coupler, such as coupler  26 , provides wireless access points at each of a plurality of rooms R 1 , R 2  . . . Rm at a facility where the system has been installed. As illustrated in  FIG. 2A , a given assembly, such as  10 -I, need not be in direct communication with control unit  16 . Instead, remote units, such as  10 - n  can communicate with the panel  16  via intervening units, such as  10 - 3 ,  10 - 2 , and  10 - 1 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 2B  illustrates aspects of system operation where the frame side circuitry  22  includes the transceiver  24  and is in wireless communication, at a variety of units  10 - 1 ,  10 - 2  . . .  10 -I with credential C. Frame side circuitry, such as circuitry  22 , receives, or transmits information from, to the wireless credential C which in one embodiment, as in  FIG. 2B  could be a door unlocking credential, or room “key”. The units  10 - 1  . . .  10 - n  could be coupled via a network to the panel  16 . Access determinations can be made at the panel  16  or locally at the respective unit  10 - i.    
         [0032]      FIG. 2C  illustrates an embodiment where the frame side circuitry  22  provides both wireless access points as well as credential reading. 
         [0033]      FIGS. 3A-3C  illustrate access units, such as  10 -I′ carry out comparable communications, as illustrated in  FIGS. 2A-2C , where the door units such as the unit  14  includes the transceiver  34  and the frame side units, such as the unit  20  do not. In such circumstances the credential sensing also can take place via the transceiver  34  and the respective door side units. 
         [0034]      FIG. 4  illustrates an access control system with only door side units, such as  60 - i  where energy is provided to the units  60 - i  via an electrified hinge, or a local battery. In such embodiments, frame side unit  20  is not needed. All communications and processing can be carried out by the door side units, via the transceiver  34 . The door side coupler  36  is not needed in this embodiment since the units  60 - i  are powered through the electrified hinge. 
         [0035]    From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.