virusofthemind t1_je4atrf wrote on March 29, 2023 at 9:20 AM

Most locking systems in hotel rooms such as KABA are Ving don't communicate with the front desk unit.

The actual door locks themselves have their address programed into them as well as the current time.

When the receptionist cuts a new key as soon as it's used in the lock it invalidates the previous key unless it's a master key used by staff or an emergency key used by security; they're permanently valid unless the cards are accidently wiped or there's a security breach such as a master key stolen (in which case a new set of master keys is issued).

The new key has its expiry date programmed into it. Once the clock in the lock exceeds the time programmed into the key card then the lock won't work anymore.

kepler1 OP t1_je4wt0t wrote on March 29, 2023 at 1:15 PM

This is the best answer, thanks.

I was thinking of not so long ago when we didn't have constantly connected bluetooth/wifi networks in hotels and there had to be some mechanism for codes to be issued without the lock having constant connectivity.

virusofthemind t1_je59r1c wrote on March 29, 2023 at 2:48 PM

Thanks, when the system is fitted the locks in the hotel are mapped onto the front desk unit. You can issue keys for various levels with the lowest level being the guest's keycard which is only valid for their room and then individual floor access for housekeepers, then master keys for management and maintenance right up to the emergency key which is used by security which does everywhere in the hotel even secure areas like finance offices and bar cellars. The emergency keys open the rooms even if they're locked from the inside (in case the guest has collapsed).

If you lose or wipe your room key the receptionist will issue either a duplicate key or a "one shot key" (clue is in the name) but when a new guest checks in they get issued a new key. The front desk unit has a set of "rolling access codes" which match the memory in the lock so when the new arrival swipes their key the memory on the lock moves on to the next code making the old code invalid. Once this has been done 999 times it starts from the beginning again.