Electronic key control and management system for vending machines and the like

• US 20050285716A1
• Filed: 07/20/2005
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Triteq Lock & Security LLC
• Original Assignee: Triteq Lock & Security LLC
• Inventors: Myers, Gary L., Denison, William D., Roatis, Calin V.
• Application Number:
  US11/185,110
• Publication Number:
  US 20050285716A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.2
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0096 Mechanical aspects of locks whose actuation is dependent on geographical location, e.g. by means of a GPS system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24206 Identification by portable memory in a key
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25062 Detect physical location of field device
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2613 Household appliance in general
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6209 to a single file or object, e.g. in a secure envelope, encrypted and accessed using a key, or with access control rules appended to the object itself
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/77 in smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2101 Auditing as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2105 Dual mode as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2117 User registration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00865 remotely by wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0088 centrally
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/08 With time considerations, e.g. temporary activation, valid time window or time limitations
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00857 where the code of the data carrier can be programmed
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/18 : specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/26 : Interlocks, e.g. for locking the doors of compartments other than that to be used
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 : by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 : Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 : Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 : for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

A mobile electronic control device, such as an electronic key, is used to access or otherwise control the operations of a field device, such as an appliance, power tool, shipping container, etc. In a control event in which the mobile control device interacts with the field device via wired or wireless communications, the control device obtains the current location and the field device ID. The communications between the mobile control device and the field device may be secured with encryption. The location information is used by the mobile control device to determine whether the field device should be accessed or enabled. Alternatively, the location information may be stored separately in a location sensing device, and the control event data recorded by the key and the location information recorded by the location sensing device are later combined when they are downloaded into a management system for auditing.

Claims

1. A method performed by a mobile control device for controlling an operation of a field device:

obtaining current location data representing a current location of the field device;

receiving a device ID from the field device;

determining, based on the current location data, whether the field device is at a valid location; and

if the field device is at a valid location, transmitting a control code to the field device for controlling said operation of the field device.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the mobile control device is an electronic key.

3. A method as in claim 1 wherein the field device is an appliance, and wherein the operation being controlled is to enable a function of the field device.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the field device is a secured container having a closure, and wherein the operation being controlled is to unlock the closure of the secured container.

5. A method as claim 1, wherein the field device is a power tool, and wherein the operation being controlled is to enable the power tool to be operated.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein the step of obtaining includes receiving the current location data from a location sensing device separate from the mobile control device.

7. A method as in claim 1, wherein the step of obtaining includes receiving the current location data from the field device.

8. A method as in claim 1, wherein the step of determining includes comparing the current location data with valid location data representing a valid location associated with the device ID.

9. A method as in claim 1, wherein the steps of receiving the device ID and transmitting the control code are performed via encrypted transmissions between the mobile control device and the field device.

10. A method as in claim 1, further including the step of storing the device ID and the location data in a memory of the mobile control device as part of a control event record.

11. A mobile control device for controlling an operation of a field device, comprising:

a microprocessor;

a non-volatile memory;

a communication port for transmitting communications with the field device;

a position sensing interface for receiving location data from a position sensing component;

wherein the microprocessor is programmed to perform steps of obtaining through the position sensing interface current location data representing a current location of the field device;

receiving a device ID from the field device;

determining, based on the current location data, whether the field device is at a valid location; and

if the field device is at a valid location, transmitting a control code to the field device for controlling said operation of the field device.

12. A mobile control device as in claim 11, wherein the position sensing component is separate from the mobile control device.

13. A mobile control device as in claim 11, wherein the non-volatile memory contains valid location data representing a valid location associated with the device ID, and wherein the microprocessor compares the current location data with the valid location data to determine whether the field device is at the valid location.

14. A mobile control device as in claim 11, wherein the microprocessor performs the steps of receiving the device ID and transmitting the control code via encrypted transmissions between the mobile control device and the field device.

15. A mobile control device as in claim 11, wherein the microprocessor is further programmed to store the device ID and the current location data in the non-volatile memory as part of a control event record.

16. A field device having an operation controllable by a mobile control device, comprising:

a controller having a microprocessor, a memory, a communication port, and an interface to a location sensing component; and

an actuator operable by the controller for performing a function,

the microprocessor of the controller being programmed to interact with the mobile control device by performing steps of obtaining current location data via the interface to the location sensing component;

transmitting a device ID to the mobile control device;

receiving a control code from the mobile control device;

one or both of the device ID and the control code being transmitted in an encrypted format; and

operating the actuator to perform said function in response to receiving the control code from the mobile control device.

17. A field device as in claim 16, wherein the device ID is stored in the memory of the controller.

18. A field device as in claim 16, wherein the microprocessor of the controller is programmed to perform the steps of transmitting and receiving via encrypted communications between the controller and the mobile control device.

19. A field device as in claim 16, wherein said function is to unlock a closure of the field device.

20. A field device as in claim 16, wherein said function is to enable the field device to be operated.

21. A field device having an operation controllable by a mobile control device, comprising:

a controller having a microprocessor, a memory, a communication port, and an interface to a location sensing component, the memory storing data indicating an allowed location for the field device; and

an actuator operable by the controller for performing a function,

the microprocessor of the controller being programmed to perform steps of transmitting a device ID to the mobile control device;

obtaining current location data via the interface to the location sensing component;

determining whether the field device is at a valid location based on the current location data and the allowed location data; and

operating the actuator to perform said function if the field device is at a valid location.

22. A field device as in claim 21, wherein the device ID is stored in the memory of the controller.

23. A field device as in claim 21, wherein the microprocessor of the controller is programmed to perform the steps of transmitting and receiving via encrypted communications between the controller and the mobile control device.

24. A field device as in claim 21, wherein said function is to enable the field device for operation.

25. A mobile control device for controlling an operation of a field device, comprising:

a microprocessor;

a non-volatile memory;

a communication port for transmitting communications with the field device; and

a position sensing interface for receiving location data from a position sensing component;

wherein the microprocessor is programmed to perform steps of obtaining through the position sensing interface current location data representing a current location of the field device;

receiving a device ID from the field device;

transmitting a value in an encrypted format to the field device, said value including the current location data; and

transmitting to the field device a control code for controlling a function of the field device.

26. A mobile control device as in claim 25, wherein the position sensing component is separate from the mobile control device.

27. A mobile control device as in claim 25, wherein the microprocessor performs the steps of receiving the device ID and transmitting the control code via encrypted transmissions between the mobile control device and the field device.

28. A mobile control device as in claim 25, wherein the microprocessor is further programmed to store the device ID and the current location data in the non-volatile memory as part of a control event record.