The key ring in your pocket is probably quite heavy, with keys of different shapes and sizes to fit the front door of your house, the garage, the garden shed, the main entrance to your office and your own room as well as your summer cottage. Having just one key to open and lock all of these is now possible with a new system that runs entirely without batteries, either in the lock or in the key.

Key rings just seem to grow and grow. Over the years we accumulate lots of different keys, even forgetting sometimes what some of them are actually for because we've been carrying them around with us for so long. Even if we take the trouble to sort them out occasionally, we can seldom get away with less than six or seven keys on the ring that we need on a daily basis. Security personnel need to carry a big b unch of them.
The Finnish company iLOQ Oy from Oulu has come up with a solution to this problem in the form of their Privus (for "private") and S10 locking systems. The metal keys that both systems use are in fact electronic keys with a unique identity. Working together with pre-programmed lock cylinders, these allow controlled access to specific areas by selected people.

Already available to replace the typical Scandinavian oval lock cylinders, the Europrofile DIN cylinders will also be available later this year, extending the potential customer base even further across Europe. The iLOQ system is specified for applications with a need for high security combined with flexible management of access rights. iLOQ installations can be found in commercial premises, office buildings, apartment houses, governmental and municipal authorities, banks, hospitals, schools, universities, rental buildings & cottages all around Scandinavia but also in office complex in London or private housing project in Africa. The iLOQ systems are now serious alternatives to the likes of Assa, Kaba and others in this field.

The Same, but Different
All the keys look identical externally, but the digitally encrypted high-security code that is contained in each of them cannot be copied and makes each key unique. The "iLOQ Privus" system is delivered with a pair of programming keys that make the addition, or indeed deletion, of keys from the system a very quick job. It takes just 5 seconds to add new keys or to eliminate specific keys from further access. An unlimited amount of further locks can be added to the Privus system later that will accept keys already in use elsewhere, and the whole system can consist of up to 32 keys. This is more than enough for the whole family, close relations and any staff who also need access. Unlike other competing systems, the locks do not need any internal battery to function properly. They get their power from the movement of inserting the key each time and are effectively self-powered. This makes the Privus system ideal for homes, for small businesses and also, for example, for sports and other recreational facilities because there are no batteries to be replaced and the mechanical shape of the key is not a security-relevant element.

Central Management
The patented S10 system is the big brother of Privus and has been conceived to meet the demands of larger installations, possibly with a need for audit functionality. For example, industrial premises, public offices, rented offices or apartments would benefit from the introduction of such a key and lock system. No cables are necessary between the central management software and the lock cylinders, the programming of locks and keys taking place with the help of a handheld device. Where the requirement is for a centrally-managed system with a high security level, the S10 management software enables multi-site programming, administration and management of iloq keys and locks in combination with the programming device and a Windows-based PC, PDA or mobile phone. This enables time restrictions to be imposed, the definition and alteration of access rights, blacklisting of lost keys and audit trail reports. A user-friendly graphical interface shows the lock locations on floor plans so the sytem can be put to good application in leisure property complexes, schools and universities, banks and local government for example.

Online Updates
The S10 system can be expanded as necessary to meet demand as it grows. In fact, the unique identity of each element means that up to 32,000 keys can belong to one system, each with access to up to one million locks. In other words, there will hardly ever be a situation where the capacity of the system is stretched to the limit. In large installations, the N10 network module provides management of the cylinders and keys over an Ethernet network by connecting the locks with the management software. This also enables very rapid updating of access rights and reading the audit trail from each lock. The high security employed on the system meets the BS7799 standard by using powerful SHA-1 and SSL encryption.