Method for using a table of data to control access and a locking mechanism using same

• US 20060250217A1
• Filed: 05/09/2006
• Published: 11/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Safetystream Mobile Limited
• Original Assignee: Safetystream Mobile Limited
• Inventors: Hodgson, John William Nelson, Routt, Thomas James, Hamling, Christopher Murray Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 7,920,048 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.730
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0023 Containers, boxes, cases or the like, e.g. for compact discs or video-cassettes, specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00912 for safes, strong-rooms, vaults or the like
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5031 Receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7102 And details of blocking system [e.g., linkage, latch, pawl, spring]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7107 And alternately mechanically actuated by a key, dial, etc.

Abstract

A container has a lid and a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism includes a male wall with a switch. A female wall mounts to the inside wall of the container and, when closed, encompasses the male wall. The female wall has a magnet that activates the switch. A lever contained inside the male wall moves into and out of a slot formed in the female wall. The switch completes a circuit that generates a close signal to the lever when the lid is closed. A button extends through a hole in the lid such that the button can be depressed to indicate locking and cannot be depressed when unlocked. When unlocked, the button cannot be depressed because the lever blocks the button. To open the container when closed, the actuation mechanism moves the lever in response to an entered code that must match a stored code or calculated content-specific code.

Claims

1. A secure container comprising:

a) a box defining an interior with a lid for enclosing the interior; and

b) a locking mechanism for selectively allowing the lid to move between a closed position and an open position, wherein the locking mechanism includes;

i) a first housing mounted to the interior of the box, the first housing having means for actuating a switch and defining a locking slot;

ii) a second housing mounted to the lid and configured to nest at least partially within the first housing in the closed position, the second housing having an actuation mechanism for selectively moving a lever into and out of the locking slot, a switch positioned to close a circuit that instructs the actuation mechanism to move the lever into the locking slot when the lid is in the closed position, and a button slidably mounted and extending through a hole formed in the lid such that the button can be depressed in the locked position and not depressed in the unlocked position, wherein

in the open position, the button cannot be depressed to indicate the locked position because the lever blocks the button from moving to indicate the locked position,

in the closed position, the lever is in the locking slot to retain the lid, the button can be depressed to indicate the locked position, and

to open the secure container from the closed position, the actuation mechanism moves the lever from the locking slot based upon receipt and validation of a code.

2. A secure container as recited in claim 1, further comprising a code receiving device coupled to the secure container, wherein the code is received from a control computer via a check point, which interacts directly with the code receiving device, and validation is based upon the control computer having a first series of codes and the secure container having a second series of codes that are identical to the first series, each code in the series being able to open the secure container once.

3. A secure container as recited in claim 2, further comprising an RFID tag that interacts with the code receiving device such that the secure container can be opened with the RFID tag.

4. A secure container as recited in claim 3, wherein the code receiving device includes an RFID tag reader and a signature of the RFID tag is read by the RFID tag reader to store the signature to allow the RFID tag to subsequently open the secure container.

5. A secure container as recited in claim 3, wherein the RFID tag is associated with a user and each time the secure container is opened, the code receiving device stores data related to the user and a time of opening.

6. A secure container as recited in claim 2, wherein the first series of codes is selected from the group consisting of randomly generated codes, pseudo-randomly generated codes and combinations thereof.

7. A secure container as recited in claim 1, wherein the button is normally biased to the unlocked position.

8. A secure container as recited in claim 1, wherein a plurality of opening codes are calculated on a stationary or mobile cargo content-specific basis through physical and/or logical association of a plurality of RFID tags and/or RFID readers with a plurality of goods, objects, and/or documents contained in a unit of value, wherein each RFID tag and/or reader enables a plurality of identifying numbers and values, and where a plurality of digit calculation algorithms is performed against a plurality of goods, objects, and/or documents contained in a unit of value.

9. A secure container as recited in claim 1, wherein a plurality of opening codes are calculated on a stationary or mobile cargo content-specific basis, wherein a plurality of n digit identifying numbers and values physically and/or logically associated with a plurality of goods, objects, and/or documents, are calculated to pre-set a modulo-n calculation method to derive a result zero (0) modulo-n.

10. A secure container as recited in claim 1, wherein a plurality of codes to open the secure container are calculated on a stationary or mobile cargo content-specific basis, wherein a plurality of calculated check digits are summed successively in modulo-n arithmetic followed by an Exclusive OR (XOR) logic operation, where the XOR logic operation outputs a sum modulo-n based on inputs, and wherein a remainder modulo-n generates a content-specific code increment/decrement offset.

11. A locking mechanism for securing a container comprising:

a flexible arm depending from a lid of the container and having a protrusion that forms opposing surfaces, one of said surfaces being an arm ledge and the other a camming surface;

a housing within the container defining a compartment for retaining components of the locking mechanism and a housing hole;

a protrusion on the housing and forming a housing ledge within the compartment for selectively engaging the arm ledge when the lid is closed;

a button slidably mounted and extending into the compartment via the housing hole, wherein the button forms a button ledge to engage the camming surface and, in turn, dislodge the arm ledge from the housing ledge to allow opening the lid;

a collar disposed on the button for retaining the button within the housing hole;

a receptacle within the compartment forming an inward stop surface for the button;

a solenoid coupled to the receptacle for moving a pin between a locked position in which the button is prevented from actuation and an unlocked position in which the button can be activated; and

a controller for actuating the solenoid, wherein the solenoid moves the pin to the unlocked position based upon receipt of a valid open code.

12. A locking mechanism as recited in claim 11, further comprising a tamper switch with an indicator lamp and a lug formed on the housing for retaining the receptacle within the compartment.

13. A locking mechanism as recited in claim 11, further comprising an RFID tag that interacts with the controller such that the locking mechanism can be opened with the RFID tag.

14. A locking mechanism as recited in claim 13, wherein the controller includes an RFID tag reader and a signature of the RFID tag is read by the RFID tag reader to store the signature to allow the RFID tag to subsequently open the locking mechanism.

15. A locking mechanism as recited in claim 14, wherein the RFID tag is associated with a user and each time the locking mechanism is opened, the controller stores data related to the user and a time of opening.

16. A locking mechanism as recited in claim 11, wherein the opening code is a series of codes that are randomly generated.

17. A locking mechanism as recited in claim 11, wherein the button is normally biased to the unlocked position.

18. A method for accessing an interior of a secure container comprising the steps of:

entering an opening code into a code receiving device associated with a locking mechanism of the container;

comparing the opening code with a box code stored in the locking mechanism to determine if a match occurs;

if a match occurs, releasing the locking mechanism to allow opening of a lid for the secure container and, thereby, access to the interior.

19. A method as recited in claim 18, further comprising the step of automatically locking the locking mechanism upon closing the lid.

20. A method as recited in claim 18, further comprising the step of initially reading the box code from an RFID card with a RFID reader coupled to the secure container to enter the box code, wherein the subsequent entering of the opening code is by scanning the RFID card with the RFID reader.

21. A method as recited in claim 18, further comprising the step of allowing the opening code to work only once.

22. A method as recited in claim 18, further comprising the step of allowing the opening code to work a predefined number of times.

23. A method as recited in claim 18, further comprising the step of allowing the opening code to work until another code is input and another predefined event occurs.

24. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the opening code and the box code are a series of identical codes to be used sequentially.