Activation Plugs

About activation plugs

Activation plugs are small devices carried by a user into which a key may be inserted. These plugs may be used to "renew" an expired key calendar. Activations plugs are useful in scenarios such as:

Use of an activation plug requires configuration of a "Key Activation role". To configure, in Roles, Add, name "Key Activation", in Authorization tab under Lock and Key related permission tick "Activate Key". When a user's key is authorized on an activation plug (or ordinary lock) with this role, then the action upon insertion will be to renew the key's calendar(s).

Use of an activation by a user requires the user to have a configured PIN. To configure, in Users, Edit, Login & PIN, enter and confirm a PIN, then click Set PIN button.

Use of an activation plug requires configuration of one or more renewable calendar(s). The calendar configuration specifies for how long and how often a key may be activated before it must be re-inserted into a sync station (the "Renewable count" setting). The calendar configuration also specifies whether the calendar should be activated immediately following key sync or not (the "PIN or activation only" checkbox).

Activation plugs are captured just like locks, and indeed a lock can be used as an activation plug (but not for both "Open" and activation). For activation only a master authorization is required.

Within a work context activation plugs can usually be divided into one of:

In the group case a plug is usually placed within a group for which many keys are authorized. In the personal case plugs are assigned to individual users.

How to set up an activation-only key

In this scenario a key is permanently out of time window, meaning even after syncing it cannot be used. But upon insertion into an activation plug it can be used for 30 seconds. We will allow a maximum of 5 activations or 8 hours from time of sync before the key must be re-inserted into a sync station.

  1. Configure calendar: In calendars, Add, on the Details tab, enter "30 second activation" as the calendar name. Select calendar type Interval, tick the 'PIN or activation only' box. This means after syncing the key's time window is closed. Enter "5" into Renewable count. This means the calendar can be renewed 5 times by an activation plug before it is disabled until the key is synced again in a sync station. Enter "8 hours" into "Expire after sync". This means this renewable calendar will expire 8 hours after syncing. In the Interval tab, enter 30 seconds as the interval. This means when the calendar is activated the time the key is unlocked is 30 seconds.
  2. Authorize user for activation plug: In User, Edit, Permissions, Add, select group "Activation Plug", role "Activate Key". This authorizes the user to use the plug.
  3. Authorize user for locks with calendar: If locks are e.g. in group "Locks to open", In User, Edit, Permissions, Add, select group "Locks to open", role "Open Locks", calendar "30 second activation". Note: you may also choose to associate the calender with the "Locks to open" group, if all users or keys accessing this group are to have the same calendar restrictions.
  4. Issue key: Issue the key to the user and sync. Following sync the key out of time window light should be blinking (middle light flashes green, red every 15 seconds).
  5. Test key: If you insert key into a lock the middle light should flash red, indicting out of time window. If you then insert into the activation plug the middle light should flash green, indicating the key has been activated. Inserting the key into a lock should then result in successful activation. Wait for the key to expire, then re-attempt 4 more times. On the 6th attempt to activate the key will flash out of time window when inserted into the activation plug, signalling the maximum number of renewals (5) has been exceeded. To re-enable sync the key. NOTE: immediate re-insertion of the key into an activation plug following renewal will result in the key flashing refusal (all lights flash red) because the key is already activated.

How to set up an emergency activation plug

In this scenario health workers have keys authorized to access locks in "GROUP1" Mon-Fri 08h00-17h00. The workers also carry personal emergency activation plugs labelled "ACTnnn" in which they can activate their key twice for 4 hours at a time before a re-sync is required.

  1. Configure interval calendar: In calendars, Add, on the Details tab, enter "4 hour emergency" as the calendar name. Select calendar type Interval, tick the 'PIN or activation only' box. This means after syncing the calendar's window is closed. Enter "2" into Renewable count. This means the calendar can be renewed 2 times by an activation plug before it is disabled until the key is synced again in a sync station. In the Interval tab, enter 4 hours as the interval.
  2. Configure work shift calendar: In calendars, Add, on the Details tab, enter "Mon-Fri" as the calendar name. Select calendar type Weekly. Enter "0" into Renewable count. This means the calendar cannot be renewed, meaning only the 4-hour interval calendar is available for renewal. In the Weekly tab tick Mon-Fri, and 08h00, 17h00 into the Allow from and Allow to boxes. Enter 02h00 into "Period prior to time window..", indicating the user may enable their key for this window from 06h00 onwards.
  3. Configure key activation role: In Roles, Add, name "Key Activation", in Authorization tab under Lock and Key related permission tick "Activate Key". When a user's key is authorized on an activation plug (or ordinary lock) with this role, then the action upon insertion will be to renew the key's calendar(s).
  4. Capture activation plug: Capture activation plug in exactly the same manner as a lock and label it e.g. "ACT001".
  5. Authorize user for activation plug: In User, Edit, Permissions, Add, set role "Activate Key", plug "ACT001". This authorizes the user to use this plug.
  6. Impose calendars: Since all keys are subject to the same rules we shall apply calendars to the group "GROUP1". Access Groups, edit GROUP1, Permissions, Add, select calendar "Mon-Fri", Add. Then Add, select calendar "4 hour emergency", Add. This means both calendars are enabled on this group of locks.
  7. Issue key: Issue the key to the user and sync. Following sync the key's emergency interval calendar is disabled, and the work shift calendar may be enabled or disabled depending on the current time.
  8. Test key: Test as described in How to set up an activation-only key.

How to set up a shift re-enable activation plug.

In this scenario all shift workers carry keys enabled 08h00-17h00 Mon-Fri in "GROUP1". Managers hold activation plugs in the "Activation Plugs" group that may be used to activate expired keys for a work shift up to 3 times before key syncs are required. This is used in a situation that a sync station is temporarily unavailable.

  1. Configure work shift calendar: In calendars, Add, on the Details tab, enter "Mon-Fri" as the calendar name. Select calendar type Weekly. Enter "3" into Renewable count. This means the calendar can be renewed up to 3 times. In the Weekly tab tick Mon-Fri, and 08h00, 17h00 into the Allow from and Allow to boxes. Enter 02h00 into "Period prior to time window..", indicating the user may enable their key for this window from 06h00 onwards.
  2. Authorize users for activation plugs: In User, Edit, Permissions, Add, set role "Activate Key", group "Activation Plugs". This authorizes the users to use any of the activation plugs in this group.
  3. Impose calendars: Since all keys are subject to the same rules we shall apply calendars to the group "GROUP1". Access Groups, edit GROUP1, Permissions, Add, select calendar "Mon-Fri", Add.
  4. Issue key: Issue the key to the user and sync. Following sync the key the work shift calendar may be enabled or disabled depending on the current time, but when it expires it will remain expired. Once out of time window insertion of the key into an activation plug will enable the current or next window up to three times.
  5. Test key: Test as described in How to set up an activation-only key.