in hotels, if you lose your room key card, how are they able to reprogram the new one so it works and the old one doesn’t?

Question

Is there some system that transmits information to your door card reader on what the new key is, or is it something different entirely?

In: 1028

Answer 1

They’re not reprogramming the room key.

Each room key has a unique identifier.

Each lock has a unique identifier.

Locks are powered and networked to a central computer.

When you’re assigned to a room, the desk clerk selects a random key, swipes it in a reader to get its identifier, and the computer records that that key’s identifier is allowed to open that door.

When lose your room key, the desk clerk selects a random key, swipes it in a reader to get its identifier, and the computer records that that key’s identifier is allowed to open that door, and that the old key’s identifier isn’t.