Electronic lock system and method for providing access thereto

1. A method for providing a security code, comprising:

providing access location identification and security device information;

a user providing access location information and access duration information;

encrypting said access location information and access duration information to provide an access code;

a user providing a user token data;

encrypting said access code using said user token data to provide a security code; and

providing said security code to said user.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said providing said security code to said user is performed through electronic means.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said electronic means comprise at least one of electronic mail, SMS, facsimile and direct user interface.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said providing access location identification and security device information comprises providing an access database storing said access location identification and security device information and wherein said providing an access code and said providing a security code are performed by a code generator system in communication with said access database.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said security code is provided to said user at a predefined time before usage.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said security device comprises a remote electronic lock system, said method further comprising using said security code for accessing said remote electronic lock system.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein said user token comprises at least one of a magnetic strip card, a smart card and a user biometric measure.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said providing an access code comprises encrypting said access code using user privilege level information.

9. A method for controlling a state of an electronic lock system comprising:

providing a security code to said electronic lock system;

providing a user token to said electronic lock system;

decrypting said security code to obtain an access code using said user token;

decrypting said access code to extract validation information; and

verifying the validity of said access code for said electronic lock system to determine a state of said electronic lock system using said validation information.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein said verifying the validity of said access code comprises:

extracting access code information and lock identification information from said validation information

verifying that said access code information is valid for a current time; and

verifying that said lock identification information identifies said electronic lock system.

11. A method as claimed in claim 9 , further comprising producing a security code by encrypting stay information with said user token.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein said stay information comprises access duration information and access location information.

13. A method as claimed in claim 9 , further comprising auditing user access to said electronic lock system.

14. An electronic lock system, comprising:

input means for receiving a security code and a user token;

a processor unit for decrypting said security code to obtain an access code using said user token, decrypting said access code to extract validation information, checking the validity of said access code and determining a state of said locking system using said validation information and according to said checking;

a lock mechanism driver receiving said state and being controlled by same; and

a memory unit in communication with said input means and with said processor unit.

15. An electronic lock system as claimed in claim 14 , wherein said input means comprises at least one of a key pad, a magnetic reader, an optical reader, an IR reader and an RF detector.

16. An electronic lock system as claimed in claim 15 , further comprising a real time clock for determining validity of said access code.