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DE-102015110139-B4 - Access control system for a large number of locks

DE102015110139B4DE 102015110139 B4DE102015110139 B4DE 102015110139B4DE-102015110139-B4

Abstract

System for access control of a plurality of locking doors of battery-operated electromechanical locks (1), each containing a radio module (2), wherein at least two access points (3) are provided for wireless communication with the radio modules (2) of the locks (1) and the access points (3) are configured to receive identification signals generated by the radio modules (2), comprising an identifier of the respective lock (1), and simultaneously to detect a parameter of the received identification signal, wherein the identification signal and the detected parameter of the received identification signal are directed to an evaluation unit (4) formed on one of the access points (3), which is connected to a higher-level control unit (5) and is configured such that the identification signal transmitted by the radio module (2) of a lock (1) and received by several access points (3) is forwarded to the higher-level control unit (5) only once and that, depending on the parameters detected by the access points (3) the respective received identification signal of the shutter (1) is specified, via which of the access points (3) an operating signal generated by the superior control unit (5) for the shutter (1) is transmitted to the radio module (2) of the shutter (1).

Inventors

  • Jörg Schultheis
  • Harald Gürth

Assignees

  • EMKA BESCHLAGTEILE GMBH & CO. KG

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20150624

Claims (10)

  1. System for access control of a plurality of locking doors of battery-operated electromechanical locks (1), each containing a radio module (2), wherein at least two access points (3) are provided for wireless communication with the radio modules (2) of the locks (1) and the access points (3) are configured to receive identification signals generated by the radio modules (2), comprising an identifier of the respective lock (1), and simultaneously to detect a parameter of the received identification signal, wherein the identification signal and the detected parameter of the received identification signal are directed to an evaluation unit (4) formed on one of the access points (3), which is connected to a higher-level control unit (5) and is configured such that the identification signal transmitted by the radio module (2) of a lock (1) and received by several access points (3) is forwarded to the higher-level control unit (5) only once, and that depending on the parameters detected by the access points (3) the respective received identification signal of the shutter (1) is specified, via which of the access points (3) an operating signal generated by the superior control unit (5) for the shutter (1) is transmitted to the radio module (2) of the shutter (1).
  2. System according to Claim 1 , wherein the evaluation unit (4) is configured such that the operating signal is sent via the access point (3) which has received the identification signal with the greatest field strength as a parameter.
  3. System according to Claim 2 , wherein the evaluation unit (4) is configured such that the operating signal is sent via another access point (3) when a maximum transmission time of the access point (3) that received the identification signal with the greatest field strength has been consumed.
  4. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each radio module (2) is configured to transmit an identification signal when it is activated by a user, in particular via a sensor (6) that detects a change in capacity.
  5. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each radio module (2) is configured to periodically transmit an identification signal at intervals of at least one hour.
  6. System according to Claim 4 or 5 , wherein the radio module (2) remains ready to receive for a maximum of three minutes after the transmission of the identification signal.
  7. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an identification code is transmitted to the lock (1) using the identification signal and, after a positive comparison of the identification code in the higher-level control unit (5) with a predetermined identification code, an unlocking signal is sent to the lock (1).
  8. system according to one of the Claims 1 until 6 , wherein the higher-level control unit (5) generates an unlocking signal for a lock (1) and transmits it to the evaluation unit (4), and after an identification signal from this lock (1) is received at the evaluation unit (4), the unlocking signal is sent to this lock (1).
  9. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each lock (1) can be unlocked by means of a master code transferable to the lock (1), even if no unlocking signal is present from the superior control unit (5).
  10. Method for access control of a plurality of locking, battery-operated electromechanical locks (1), each containing a radio module (2), by means of at least two access points (3) for wireless communication with the radio modules (2) of the locks (1), comprising at least the following steps: - Transmission of an identification signal containing an identifier of the respective lock (1) by the radio module (2) of the lock (1), - Receipt of the identification signal by at least one of the access points (3) and detection of a parameter of the received identification signal at the access point (3), - Forwarding of the identification signal and the detected parameter of the received identification signal to an evaluation unit (4) provided at one of the access points (3), - Once forwarding of the identification signal from the evaluation unit (4) to a higher-level control unit (5) connected to the evaluation unit (4), - Generation of an operating signal by the higher-level control unit (5) for a lock (1) and transmission of the Operating signal to the evaluation unit (4), - Forwarding the operating signal by the evaluation unit (4) to exactly one of the access points (3), - Sparking an unlocking signal from the access point (3) to the radio module (2) of the lock (1), wherein the evaluation unit (4) specifies, depending on the parameters of the respective received identification signal of the lock (1) detected by the access points (3), via which access point (3) the unlocking signal is sent to the radio module (2) of the lock (1).

Description

The present invention relates to a system for access control of a plurality of door-locking, battery-operated electromechanical locks, each containing a radio module. Wireless access control systems for multiple locks are known, in which the locks' radio modules can communicate with exactly one radio device. In such a system, a user can identify themselves at a lock using an identification code. The corresponding lock's radio module then transmits a signal containing the lock's identifier and the identification code to the radio device. The radio device forwards the signal to a higher-level control unit, which compares the identification code with stored identification codes and, in the event of a match, transmits a release signal via the radio device to the corresponding lock. Upon receiving the release signal, the corresponding lock can be unlocked. In known systems, the number of locks with which a single radio unit can communicate is limited. If more locks than the maximum number specified by the radio unit need to be controlled in a room, a second system comprising a radio unit and multiple locks must be installed. A disadvantage of this is that the two or more systems operating in parallel can interfere with each other, particularly in their radio communication. Furthermore, with known systems, it can be difficult to position the radio unit so that it can communicate with all the locks distributed throughout the room and assigned to it at all times. Maintaining a constant radio connection is further complicated by the fact that the signal strength transmitted by the radio modules and the radio unit can vary at a specific location within the room due to objects brought into the room or other factors. For example, a lock's radio module might no longer be able to communicate with its assigned radio unit because a cabinet door is open, even though communication was initially possible. The object of the present invention is therefore to at least partially solve the problems described with reference to the prior art and in particular to enable a system and a method for access control of a large number of closures, in which in particular the closures can be easily exchanged and new closures added and in which reliable communication between the closures and the higher-level control unit is ensured. Out of DE 10 2006 047 939 A system for access control is known in which the locks register themselves on the network and all further communication takes place via the access point specified during registration. DE 103 07 735 A1 A locking system with multiple locking cylinders for locking doors is described, wherein the locking cylinders are battery-operated. From DE 199 41 350 A1 Communication between a vehicle control unit and a radio key is known. This problem is solved by a system and a method with the features of the independent claims. Advantageous further developments of the system and the method are specified in the dependent claims and in the description, whereby features of the advantageous further developments can be combined with one another in a technologically meaningful way. The problem is solved in particular by a system for access control of a large number of locking doors, each containing a radio module, battery-operated electromechanical locks, wherein at least two access points are provided for wireless communication with the radio modules of the locks and the access points are configured to receive identification signals generated by the radio modules, comprising an identifier of the respective lock, and simultaneously detect a parameter of the received identification signal, wherein the identification signal and the detected parameter of the received identification signal are forwarded to an evaluation unit formed on one of the access points, which is connected to a higher-level control unit and is configured such that the identification signal transmitted by the radio module of a lock and received by several access points is forwarded to the higher-level control unit only once, and that, depending on the parameters of the respective received identification signal of the lock detected by the access points, it is specified via which of the access points an operating signal generated by the higher-level control unit for the lock to the The radio module of the shutter is being transmitted. The invention relates in particular to a system and a method for access control of locks that each lock the door of a control cabinet. It is therefore specifically intended that the radio modules of the shutters could communicate with all access points, thus enabling the identification signal to be transmitted via each access point and the evaluation unit to the higher-level control unit. Furthermore, each radio module could receive an operating signal from each access point. The access points are also designed and configured to measure not only the identification signal as an information signal, but also a phys