Electronic storage box, opening and closing method of electronic storage box, and computer program product thereof

• US 20070006328A1
• Filed: 06/29/2005
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Asian Integration Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Asian Integration Company Limited
• Inventors: Sogo, Norihito
• Granted Patent: US 7,671,719 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1082 Motor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/308 Swinging catch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5031 Receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5544 Pivoted
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7068 Actuated after correct combination recognized [e.g., numerical, alphabetical, or magnet[s] pattern]

Abstract

An electronic storage box, an electronic storage box opening and closing method, and computer program product, comprising: safety, portability, convenience, economical efficiency and presentation effects are provided. In case a cryptograph setting request signal is received from a PC 21, the electronic storage box 1 stores cryptograph information included in the cryptograph setting request signal. In case an opening and closing request signal is received from a PC 21, the electronic storage box 1 determines whether or not the cryptograph information included in the opening and closing request signal and the cryptograph information stored in a key storage portion 103 match with each other. In case it is determined that these pieces of the cryptograph information match with each other, the electronic storage box 1 allows a lid 12 to shift either to an opened state or a closed state according to the opening and closing state of the lid 12.

Claims

1. An electronic storage box, comprising a main body having a storage portion inside and an opening portion;

and a lid controlled in shifting to a state in which said opening portion is covered in a closed state, and moreover, said opening portion is not covered by a lock mechanism, and being in a state in which said opening portion is not covered in an opened state, and moreover, released from a control by the lock mechanism,

said electronic storage box, comprising;

cryptograph storage means for storing cryptograph information included in a cryptograph setting request signal in case the cryptograph setting request signal is received from an external device;

determining means for determining whether or not cryptograph information included in an opening and closing request signal and the cryptograph information stored in said cryptograph storage means match with each other in case the opening and closing request signal is received from an external device; and

opening and closing means for shifting the lid either to an opened state or a closed state according to the opening and closing state of said lid in case said determining means determines that these pieces of said cryptograph information match with each other.

2. The electronic storage box according to claim 1, wherein said opening and closing means releases a control by said lock mechanism in case said lid is in a closed state, and shifts said lid into an opened state by driving said lid after being released, and drives said lid in a direction to cover said opening portion in case said lid is in an opened state, and shifts said lid into a closed state by performing a control by said lock mechanism after being driven.

3. The electronic storage box according to claim 1, wherein said external device is any one of a personal computer, a mobile communication terminal, and game equipment.

4. The electronic storage box according to claim 1, being operated by power supplied through a cable connected with said external device.

5. The electronic storage box according to claim, wherein said opening and closing means, including:

a gear for transferring the torque of a motor, while reducing the rotational speed of the motor;

a slide shaft for converting the torque of said gear into a reciprocal motive power and transmitting it;

an angle change shaft for changing the angle of the reciprocal motive power transferred by said slide shaft;

a link mechanism having one end connected to said angle change shaft and changing the reciprocal motive power changed in angle by the angle change shaft into a rotational movement; and

a clutch connected to the other end of said link mechanism and transferring a rotational motion power changed by the link mechanism to the rotating shaft of said lid.

6. The electronic storage box according to claim 5, wherein said clutch includes a first clutch portion connected to the other end of said link mechanism and a second clutch portion rotating in association with said rotating shaft, and said first clutch portion and said second clutch portion are provided with an engaging portion comprising a plurality of V-shaped teeth mutually engaged,

wherein said opening and closing means further includes an elastic body that is coupled to said second clutch portion, and for energizing the engaging portions provided in said first clutch portion and said second clutch portion so as to be put into a mutually engaged state, and in case a motive power is applied to said second clutch portion from said lid through said rotating shaft, said V-shaped inclination is adjusted so that the engaged state of the engaging portions is released.

7. An electronic storage box opening and closing method for shifting the closing and opening state of said lid with respect to the electronic storage box comprising:

a main body having a storage portion inside and an opening portion; and

a lid controlled in shifting to a state in which said opening portion is covered in a closed state, and moreover, said opening portion is not covered by a lock mechanism, and being in a state in which said opening portion is not covered in an opened state, and moreover, released from a control by the lock mechanism,

said electronic storage box, comprising;

a cryptograph storage step for storing cryptograph information included in the cryptograph setting request signal in case a cryptograph setting request signal is received from an external device;

determining step for determining whether or not the cryptograph information included in the opening and closing request signal and the cryptograph information stored in said cryptograph storage step match with each other in case the opening and closing request signal is received from the external device;

opening and closing state determining step for determining the opening and closing state of said lid in case it is determined that the pieces of said cryptograph information match with each other in said determining step; and

an opening and closing state shifting step for shifting said lid to a closed state in case it is determined that said lid is in an opened state in said opening and closing state determining step and shifting said lid to an opened state in case it is determined that said lid is in a closed state in said opening closing state determining step.

8. A computer program product, allowing a computer to function as cryptograph storage means for storing cryptograph information for driving a lid provided in an external device in a direction to open,

game proceeding status management means for managing proceeding status information representing the progress of said game outputted by executing the game,

proceeding status determining means for determining whether or not the proceeding status information managed by said game proceeding status management means indicates a predetermined status specified in advance, and

cryptograph information output means for outputting the cryptograph information stored in said cryptograph storage means to the external device so as to drive the lid of said external device in a direction to open in case said proceeding status determining means determines that said proceeding status information indicates the predetermined status specified in advance.