1. An access control system for providing bi-directional communication between a controller and remotely connected one or more authentication devices, for identification of the one or more authentication devices to the controller, the system comprising:
a first microcontroller located in the controller;
a second microcontroller located in the one or more authentication devices;
a status mode provider disposed within the one or more authentication devices, the status mode provider purposed to provide a status mode of the controller to a user at the one or more authentication devices;
a shared conductor and a unidirectional data communication path both extending from the controller to each of the distantly connected one or more authentication devices, the unidirectional data communication path limited to providing data communication from the one or more authentication devices to the controller;
a status mode driver circuit in the controller, the driver circuit operably coupled to the first microcontroller for providing controller programming status;
wherein the driver circuit activates the one or more authentication device’s status mode provider via the shared conductor to convey controller programming status;
wherein the status mode provider is further coupled to an internal universal synchronous-asynchronous receivertransmitter (USART) of the second microcontroller, and the status mode driver circuit is further coupled to the internal USART of the first microcontroller, whereby the controller sends a signal via the first microcontroller and the one or more authentication devices receives the signal via the second microcontroller and the one or more authentication devices provides a response on the unidirectional data communication path thereby identifying the one or more authentication devices to the controller.
2. The access control system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said status mode provider is a light emitting diode (LED).
3. An access control system for providing bi-directional communication between a controller and remotely connected one or more authentication devices, for identification of the one or more authentication devices to the controller, the system comprising:
a first microcontroller located in the controller;
a second microcontroller located in the one or more authentication devices; and
a shared conductor and a unidirectional data communication path both extending from the controller to each of the distantly connected one or more authentication devices, the unidirectional data communication path limited to providing data communication from the one or more authentication devices to the controller.
4. The system of claim 3 further comprising:
a status mode provider disposed within the one or more authentication devices, the status mode provider purposed to provide a status mode of the controller to a user at the one or more authentication devices;
a status mode provider driver circuit in the controller, the driver circuit operably coupled to the first microcontroller for providing controller programming status;
wherein the driver circuit activates the one or more authentication device’s status mode provider via the shared conductor to convey controller programming status;
wherein the status mode provider is further coupled to an internal universal synchronous-asynchronous receivertransmitter (USART) of the second microcontroller, and the status mode provider driver circuit is further coupled to the internal USART of the first microcontroller, whereby the controller sends a signal via the first microcontroller and the one or more authentication devices receives the signal via the second microcontroller and the one or more authentication devices provides a response on the unidirectional data communication path thereby identifying the one or more authentication devices to the controller.
5. The access control system in accordance with claim 4 wherein said status mode provider is a light emitting diode (LED).
6. A method of providing bi-directional communication between a controller and remotely connected one or more authentication devices within an access control system, for identification of the one or more authentication devices to the controller, the method comprising the steps of:
providing an access control system comprising a first microcontroller located in the controller; a second microcontroller located in the one or more authentication devices; a shared conductor and a unidirectional data communication path both extending from the controller to each of the distantly connected one or more authentication devices, the unidirectional data communication path limited to providing data communication from the one or more authentication devices to the controller; and a driver circuit in the controller, the driver circuit operably coupled to the first microcontroller for providing controller programming status;
generating a ping at the first microcontroller and transmitting the ping via the shared conductor to the one or more authentication devices;
receiving the transmitted ping at the one or more authentication devices;
recognizing the transmitted ping at the one or more authentication devices; and
sending a response from the one or more authentication devices to the controller via the unidirectional data communication path.
7. A method of programming a card reader controller device to perform credential additions or deletions, the steps comprising:
providing an access control system incorporating the card reader controller device operably connected to one or more controlled access points;
switching the controller device to a user-selected programming mode;
presenting a standard card to the controller device;
causing the controller device to designate the standard card as a user-selected programming card.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein said user-selected programming mode is selected from Master Add mode or Master Delete mode.
9. A method for encrypting communications between a personal computer and a card reader controller device, the steps comprising:
providing a random number generator within the PC and two identical cipher generating algorithms that individually produce identical cipher keys wherein one algorithm is stored within a processor in the PC and the second algorithm is stored within a microprocessor in the controller device;
generating a public key using the random number generator;
communicating the public key from the PC to the controller device;
performing operational steps at both the PC and the controller device, the operational steps comprising:
combining the public key with at least one private seed generated by the cipher generating algorithm;
utilizing the public key to determine an iteration count;
hashing the combined public key and at least one private seed through the cipher generating algorithm;
obtaining the cipher key following a number of hashings equal to the iteration count to create a secure communication link between the PC and the controller device.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein said random number generator is cryptographically strong.
11. The method of claim 9 wherein said cipher generating algorithm comprises a pseudorandom function and at least one private seed.
12. The method of claim 9 wherein said at least one private seed is three.
13. The method of claim 11 wherein said at least one private seed is three.
14. The method of claim 9 wherein said public key is a 32 bit key.
15. The method of claim 9 wherein the communication is performed through one or more of the following: a universal serial bus port, a local area network, a wide area network, an internet connection, a modem, or a blue tooth device.
16. The method of claim 9 wherein the public key is communicated through plain text.
17. A keypad for use in an access control system comprising:
a housing removably affixed to a mounting base;
a keypad and printed circuit board assembly interposed within the housing;
and a tamper switch operably located such that the switch will activate if the housing is separated from the mounting base.
18. The keypad of claim 17 wherein the housing is configured for placement of the keypad and printed circuit board assembly within a recess of said housing such that keys of said keypad and printed circuit board assembly are viewable only within a narrow angle.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A lightpipe mounting assembly, comprising:
a panel having at least one opening extending from a front side of the panel to a rear side of the panel, the panel having at least one hook extending rearwardly from a periphery of the opening;
a lightpipe adapted to engage the at least one hook to secure the lightpipe to the panel to enable visibility of the lightpipe from the front side of the panel; and
the lightpipe having a member adapted to deflect to facilitate engagement of the lightpipe with the at least one hook.
2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one opening extends through a button cavity formed in the panel.
3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one hook is formed contiguously to a button cavity formed in the panel.
4. The assembly of claim 1, the at least one hook facing the rear side of the panel.
5. The assembly of claim 1, the at least one hook having a ramp portion facing away from the rear side of the panel.
6. The assembly of claim 1, the lightpipe having a member adapted to be disposed between the at least one hook and the rear side of the panel.
7. The assembly of claim 1, the at least one opening extending through a bottom wall of a cavity formed in the panel.
8. The assembly of claim 1, the at least one hook extending rearwardly from a wall of a cavity formed in the panel.
9. A lightpipe mounting method, comprising:
providing a panel having an opening formed therein extending from a front side of the panel to a rear side of the panel, the panel having at least one hook extending rearwardly from a periphery of the opening;
engaging a lightpipe with the at least one hook to secure the lightpipe to the panel to enable visibility of the lightpipe from the front side of the panel; and
wherein engaging a lightpipe comprises deflecting the at least one hook to facilitate engagement of the lightpipe with the at least one hook.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein providing a panel comprises providing a panel having the at least one opening extending through a button cavity formed in the panel.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein providing a panel comprises providing a panel having the at least one hook formed contiguously to a button cavity formed in the panel.
12. The method of claim 9, wherein providing a panel comprises providing a panel having the at least one hook facing the rear side of the panel.
13. The method of claim 9, wherein providing a panel comprises providing a panel having the at least one hook having a ramp portion facing away from the rear side of the panel.
14. The method of claim 9, wherein engaging a lightpipe comprises disposing at least a portion of the lightpipe between the at least one hook and the rear side of the panel.
15. The method of claim 9, wherein providing a panel comprises providing a panel having the at least one opening extending through a bottom wall of a cavity formed in the panel.
16. The method of claim 9, wherein providing a panel comprises providing a panel having the at least one hook extending rearwardly from a wall of a cavity formed in the panel.
17. A lightpipe mounting assembly, comprising:
a panel having at least one opening extending from a front side of the panel to a rear side of the panel, the panel having at least one hook extending rearwardly from a periphery of the opening;
a lightpipe adapted to engage the at least one hook to secure the lightpipe to the panel to enable visibility of the lightpipe from the front side of the panel; and
the at least one hook configured to deflect to facilitate engagement of the lightpipe with the at least one hook.
18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the at least one opening extends through a button cavity formed in the panel.
19. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the at least one hook is formed contiguously to a button cavity formed in the panel.
20. The assembly of claim 17, the at least one hook facing the rear side of the panel.