An electronic lock cylinder that may be a direct replacement for a European-style standard cylinder is disclosed. The lock cylinder may include a core having a proximal side and a distal side and a proximal cam, the proximal cam configured to operatively couple to a deadbolt. The lock cylinder may further include an access housing operatively coupled to the core on the proximal side and including an access knob and an input for wirelessly receiving an electronic credential and a control housing operatively coupled to the core on the distal side and including a control knob and at least one battery receptacle. An actuator may, wherein, upon receipt of a predetermined credential by the input, the actuator configured to operatively couple the access knob to the proximal cam. Finally, an antenna may configured to operatively couple the assembly to the internet.

The embodiments presented within provide methods, devices, and systems that improve access control through the use of smart cylinder locks. In one embodiment, a smart cylinder may perform a process including receiving a key, emitting an energy source of electromagnetic radiation; detecting a change in the energy source due to a physical property of the key, determining the physical property of the key from the change in the energy source, comparing the physical property with a predetermined value, and engaging a mechanism operatively coupled to a locking device that allows the locking device to lock or unlock when the physical property matches the predetermined value.