Appeal No. 96-1657
Application 07/819,345
methods, particularly electronic real estate lockboxes.
Lockboxes are provided with electronic lockout list memories
identifying keyholders that are to be denied entry to the
lockbox. Whenever a keyholder tries to access the lockbox
using his electronic key, the key ID is compared with the key
IDs stored in the lockout list. In one aspect of the
invention, the lockout list is continuously updated to avoid
access by a stolen key. A real estate agent contacts the
central station using a remote means and requests advance
permission to show a house. The central station then checks a
master database of user qualifications to determine whether
that particular agent should be granted permission to access
that particular house, i.e., lockbox and responds accordingly.
In another aspect of the invention, a pocket pager is adapted
to also serve as an electronic key for a secure access system.
A conventional pager additionally includes a communication
interface for interfacing with a secure entry system. In
another embodiment, a cellular telephone is used in lieu of an
electronic key. In such systems, the lock is provided with a
radio receiver through which it receives unlocking
instructions. A real estate agent uses a cellular telephone
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