SmartLock System

 

Chow Kin Yip

Following the deployment of the CitySmart card in early '97, implementation of the SmartLock system was carried out. The SmartLock system is part of the CitySmart Phase II project. Primarily, the system composes of both hardware and software modules. It is designed based on the smart card technology currently used in City University. The software module is installed on a personal computer, whereas the hardware consists of a smart card reader and an electrical door lock. The proper functioning of the system relies on the CitySmart card issued to all CityU staff and students.

Purpose

How does it work

The system consists of an electrical door lock, a smart card reader, control circuitry and a PC running the control module. When a user presents his/her CitySmart card to the card reader, the control module reads the user's card information. The control software will retrieve information from the user database stored on the PC and check whether the user is authorized to access the location at that time. If he/ she is a valid user, a signal will be returned and the door will be unlocked. Otherwise, the system will turn on the invalid” status indicator and the user will be refused entry to the location. To enhance the security, an extra keypad can be added. In addition to pure card reading, users need to enter a universal pass code or a PIN number in order to gain access to the area. The system also maintains a log of all valid and invalid entries to facilitate system administration.

The system is equipped with a maintenance module for the administrator to update valid user list and specify timetable. Basically, the timetable includes a list of all valid users and the time periods that they are allowed access to the area(s). To make it more flexible, the timetable can be extended such that either only CitySmart card or both CitySmart card plus passcode/PIN for keypad is/are required to obtain door access.

So far, the systems are installed in CSC, REG and HRO. We expect that more and more departments will be interested in the SmartLock system in the coming future. For more information, please contact our Mr. K. Y. Chow at x7452.

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