Electronic security apparatus and method for monitoring mechanical keys and other items

Abstract

A security container with an electronic lock circuit is used to securely store mechanical keys or other valuable items. Items to be protected are placed in a secured location in the security container. A detector of the security container detects whether the items are indeed in the secured location, such as by means of receiving signals from a transponder attached to the items. The security container is locked only if the items are detected to be in the secured location. Audit trail records for the locking and unlocking events of the security container may be downloaded for analysis. A monitoring device with a location identification device, such as a GPS sensor, may be attached to items to be monitored for tracking locations and activities of the items.

1 . A security container comprising: 
 a lock;    an electronic lock control circuit for controlling operations of the lock;    a closure for containing an item to be protected, the closure being movable to an open position for receiving the item and a closed position in which the item contained in the closure is not accessible; and    a detector for detecting presence of the item in the closure, the detector and the closure being disposed such that the item in the closure is detectable by the detector when the closure is in the closed position, the electronic lock control circuit being configured to actuate the lock to lock the closure in the closed position only if the detector has detected the presence of the item in the closure at the closed position.    
   
   
       2 . A security container as in  claim 1 , wherein the item to be protected has a transponder attached thereto, and wherein the detector receives a detection signal from the transponder to detect the presence of the transponder in the closure in the closed position.  
   
   
       3 . A security container as in  claim 2 , wherein the detection signal is a directional optical signal.  
   
   
       4 . A security container as in  claim 2 , wherein the detection signal is a wireless communication signal.  
   
   
       5 . A security container as in  claim 4 , wherein the wireless communication signal is encrypted.  
   
   
       6 . A security container as in  claim 2 , wherein the detector interacts with the transponder via bi-directional communications.  
   
   
       7 . A security container as in  claim 2 , wherein the detector is configured to have an effective range of detection for the detection signal shorter than a dimension of the security container.  
   
   
       8 . A security container as in  claim 1 , wherein the electronic lock control circuit includes a microprocessor and a memory, the microprocessor being programmed to generate a locking event record when the lock is actuated and to store the locking event record in the memory.  
   
   
       9 . A security container as in  claim 8 , wherein the electronic lock control circuit includes means for transferring the locking event record from the memory to an external device.  
   
   
       10 . A security container as in  claim 9 , wherein the means for transferring is a communication port.  
   
   
       11 . A security container as in  claim 1 , wherein the electronic lock control signal transmits a control signal to an external device to control an operation of the external device when the lock is actuated.  
   
   
       12 . A security container as in  claim 1 , wherein the detector and the closure are disposed such that the item in the closure is detectable by the detector only when the closure is in the closed position.  
   
   
       13 . A security storage system comprising: 
 a security container having a lock, an electronic lock control circuit for controlling operation of the lock, and a closure for containing an item to be protected, the closure being movable to an open position for receiving the item and a closed position in which the item contained in the closure is not accessible, and a detector for detecting presence of the item in the closure, the detector and the closure being disposed such that the item in the closure is detectable by the detector when the closure is in the closed position;    a transponder attached to the item to be protected, the transponder generating a detection signal detectable by the detector when the transponder is contained in the closure in the closed position,    the electronic lock control circuit being configured to actuate the lock to lock the closure in the closed position only if the detector has detected the presence of the transponder in the closure at the closed position.    
   
   
       14 . A security storage system as in  claim 13 , wherein the detection signal is a wireless communication signal.  
   
   
       15 . A security storage system as in  claim 14 , wherein the wireless communication signal is encrypted.  
   
   
       16 . A security storage system as in  claim 15 , wherein the detector is configured to have an effective range of detection for the detection signal shorter than a dimension of the closure.  
   
   
       17 . A security storage system as in  claim 13 , wherein the electronic lock control circuit includes a microprocessor and a memory, the microprocessor being programmed to generate a locking event record when the lock is actuated and to store the locking event record in the memory.  
   
   
       18 . A security storage system as in  claim 17 , wherein the electronic lock control circuit includes means for transferring the locking event record from the memory to an external device.  
   
   
       19 . A security storage system as in  claim 13 , further including a position monitoring device attached to the item to be protected, the position monitoring device providing data indicating a location of the item to be protected.  
   
   
       20 . A security storage system as in  claim 13 , wherein the item to be protected is a mechanical key, and wherein the security container further includes a lock plug disposed in the closure for receiving the mechanical key, the lock plug being interfaced with the electronic lock control circuit for determining whether the lock plug has received the mechanical key.  
   
   
       21 . A security storage system as in  claim 13 , wherein the detector and the closure are disposed such that the item in the closure is detectable by the detector only when the closure is in the closed position.  
   
   
       22 . A monitoring apparatus for tracking a location of an item being monitored, comprising: 
 a location sensor for sensing a location of the apparatus;    an event sensor for sensing a parameter indicative of an event occurring to the monitoring apparatus;    a memory;    a microprocessor for processing readings of the location and motion sensors and storing audit records in the memory, the audit records having data indicative of the readings of the location and motion sensors and data providing timing information for the readings;    a communication component for transferring the audit data to an external device; and    means for attaching the monitoring apparatus to the item to be monitored.    
   
   
       23 . A monitoring apparatus as in  claim 22 , wherein the event sensor is a motion sensor for sensing movement of the apparatus.  
   
   
       24 . A monitoring apparatus as in  claim 22 , wherein the communication component includes a wireless communication device for transfers the audit records via wireless transmissions.  
   
   
       25 . A monitoring apparatus as in  claim 22 , wherein the item being monitored is an access control device.