Locking mechanism for use with one-time access code

• US 20020067261A1
• Filed: 07/27/2001
• Published: 06/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smart Locking Technologies LLC (LF Capital Partners, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Vistan Corporation (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kucharczyk, David, Brown, Suzy
• Granted Patent: US 6,570,488 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/568.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/141 comprising electronically controlled locking means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/21 having a variable access code
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/215 the system having a variable access-code, e.g. varied as a function of time
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/38 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/10 together with a coded signal , e.g. in the form of personal identification information, like personal identification number [PIN] or biometric data

Abstract

A request for an access code for a locking mechanism is received; and a one-time use access code for the locking mechanism is subsequently issued. The one-time use access code may be issued from a list of currently available access codes for the locking mechanism in response to a request therefor, for example by a merchant or delivery service. Such a code may be issued by a server, which server is further responsible for updating the list of available access codes in response to an indication that a code has been used or has otherwise expired. The list of currently available access codes is preferably a subset of all access codes for the locking mechanism, which codes may be generated using a cryptographically strong random number generator.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

Receiving at a computer-based unit a request for an access code for a locking mechanism; and

issuing from the computer-based unit a one-time use access code for the locking mechanism.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the one-time use access code is issued from a list of currently available access codes for the locking mechanism.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the one-time use access code is issued by a server in response to a request received via the Internet.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the one-time use access code is issued by a server in response to a request received from a merchant or delivery service.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising updating the list of available access codes in response to an indication that a code has been issued or used.

6. The method of claim 2 further comprising updating the list of available access codes in response to an indication that a code has expired.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein the list of currently available access codes is a subset of access codes for the storage device.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the access codes for the storage device are generated using a cryptographically strong random number generator.

9. The method of claim 2 wherein the one-time use access code expires after a predetermined time period if not earlier used to access the locking mechanism.

10. The method of claim 2 further comprising opening the locking mechanism using the onetime access code .

11. A storage device, comprising:

an enclosure adapted to allow for the storage of goods and having a door fitted with a locking mechanism; and

a locking mechanism controller coupled to the locking mechanism and adapted to unlock the locking mechanism upon receipt of an entry code, said entry code expiring within a first predetermined time interval of its first use to unlock the locking mechanism.

12. The storage device of claim 11 wherein said entry code expires within a second predetermined time interval regardless of whether it is used to unlock the locking mechanism or not.

13. The storage device of claim 11 wherein the locking mechanism controller comprises a micro-controller configured to operate an actuator in response to receiving the entry code.

14. The storage device of claim 11 wherein the locking mechanism controller is adapted to receive the entry code via at least one of a keypad, a bar code scanner, a magnetic stripe reader, a wireless receiver or a smart card reader.

15. The storage device of claim 11 wherein the locking mechanism controller is configured to communicate with a server configured to provide the entry code.

16. The storage device of claim 15 wherein the locking mechanism controller is configured to communicate with the server via at least one of the Internet, a wireless network or the public switched telephone network.

18. The service of claim 17 wherein transaction fees are assessed for each access code dispensed.

19. The service of claim 18 wherein the access codes are dispensed from a server accessible through at least one of the Internet, a wireless network or the public switched telephone network.

20. The service of claim 18 wherein each access code so dispensed expires upon the earlier occurrence of (i) its use to access an associated one of the storage devices, or (ii) a predetermined time period.

17. A computer-based service configured to dispense one-time use access codes for remotely located locking devices in response to requests therefor.

21. A locking mechanism, comprising:

an actuator configured to unlock in response to entry of an authorized access code; and

an access cope entry unit configured to accept a one-time use access code issued by a remote server.

22. The locking mechanism of claim 21 wherein the one-time use access code comprises a package tracking number.

23. The locking mechanism of claim 21 wherein the one-time use access code comprises a number generated by a cryptographically strong random number generator.

24. The locking mechanism of claim 21 wherein the one-time use access code is transmitted to the locking mechanism from the server.

25. The locking mechanism of claim 21 wherein the one-time use access code is stored in a memory associated with the locking mechanism.

26. The locking mechanism of claim 21 further comprising an interface unit configured to communicate with the server.

27. The locking mechanism of claim 26 wherein the interface unit is configured to communicate with the server through a second interface unit.

28. The locking mechanism of claim 21 wherein the actuator includes a microcontroller coupled to receive inputs from the access code entry unit.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the receiving is done via the Internet.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein the transmitting is done via the Internet.

32. The method of claim 29 wherein the code comprises a package tracking number.

33. The method of claim 29 wherein the code is provided by a delivery service or merchant.

34. The method of claim 29 wherein the code is provided by an owner of the locking device.

35. The method of claim 29 wherein the access code expires after it is used.

29. A method, comprising:

receiving at a computer-based unit a code to be used as an access code for a locking device; and

transmitting the access code to the locking device.