Method for accessing a user operable device of controlled access

• US 20090074193A1
• Filed: 10/23/2008
• Published: 03/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bjorn Bunte, Holger Krummel, Tilman Bollmann
• Original Assignee: Bjorn Bunte, Holger Krummel, Tilman Bollmann
• Inventors: Bunte, Bjorn, Krummel, Holger, Bollmann, Tilman
• Granted Patent: US 8,014,528 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/278
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/00 Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points handling coins or valuable papers, e.g. banknotes, G07D; apparatus for vending or hiring articles or services activated by coins, credit cards, paper currency or the like G07F7/00, G07F17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/21 having a variable access code
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration

Abstract

A method is provided for accessing a user operable device having limited access ability. The method comprises transmitting an inquiry from a mobile device of a user via a wide area transmission network to a key authority for obtaining an access key for accessing functions of the user operable device, receiving a request for information from the key authority, transmitting the requested information to the key authority, wherein the information is used by the key authority for co-coding the access key with one or more conditions for operating the user operable device, receiving the access key assigned by the key authority via the wide area transmission network, and transmitting the access key to a controller unit of the user operable device via a short range communication network for accessing the functions of the user operable device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

transmitting an inquiry from a mobile device of a user via a wide area transmission network to a key authority for obtaining an access key for accessing functions of a user operable device having limited accessibility;

receiving a request for information from the key authority;

transmitting the requested information to the key authority, wherein the information is used by the key authority for co-coding the access key with one or more conditions for operating the user operable device;

receiving the access key assigned by the key authority via the wide area transmission network;

storing the access key; and

transmitting the access key to a controller unit of the user operable device via a short range communication network for accessing the functions of the user operable device;

wherein a validation key is generated by the controller unit for comparing with the access key, and if the access key is validated, the access to the functions of the user operable device is granted according the conditions co-coded in the access key.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving from the controller unit information concerning operable functions accessible by the user via the short range communication network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the requested information includes identification and payment information of the user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the inquiry to the key authority includes transmitting a desired period of time value defining the period of validity of the access key.

5. A method, comprising:

receiving an access key via a short range communication network from a mobile device of a user, the access key being issued by a key authority and co-coded with one or more conditions for operating a user operable device having limited accessibility;

generating a validation key;

comparing the validation key with the access key; and

if the access key is valid, granting access to the functions of the user operable device according the one or more conditions co-coded in the access key.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

transmitting information concerning the validity of the access key via the short range communication network to the mobile device.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

transmitting information concerning operable functions accessible by the user via the short range communication network to the mobile device.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the validation key is generated based on device identification data of the user operable device.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the validation key is generated based on time information.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the validation key is generated based on a period of validity.

11. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving a reference key from the key authority via a wide area transmission network, wherein the reference key is part of a data used for generating the validation key.

12. A controller, comprising:

a receiver, configured to receive an access key via a short range communication network from a mobile device of a user, the access key being issued by a key authority and co-coded with one or more conditions for operating a user operable device having limited accessibility,

a key generator, configured to generate a validation key,

a validation unit, configured to validate the access key by comparing the access key with the validation key, and

a controlling unit, configured to provide access to the functions of the user operable device according to one or more conditions co-coded in the access key, if the access key is valid.

13. The controller of claim 12, further comprising:

a transmitter, configured to transmit to the mobile device via the short range communication network information concerning the validity of the access key and/or information concerning operable functions accessible by the user.

14. The controller of claim 12, wherein the receiver is further configured to receive a reference key from the key authority via a wide area transmission network, wherein the reference key is part of a data used for generating the validation key.

15. A controller, comprising:

means for receiving an access key via a short range communication network from a mobile device of a user, the access key being issued by a key authority and co-coded with one or more conditions for operating a user operable device having limited accessibility,

means for generating a validation key,

means for validating the access key by comparing the access key with the validation key, and

means for providing access to the functions of the user operable device according to one or more conditions co-coded in the access key, if the access key is valid.

16. The controller of claim 15, further comprising:

means for transmitting to the mobile device via the short range communication network information concerning the validity of the access key and/or information concerning operable functions accessible by the user.

17. The controller of claim 15, further comprising:

means for receiving a reference key from the key authority via a wide area transmission network, wherein the reference key is part of a data used for generating the validation key.

18. A method, comprising:

receiving, from a mobile device of a user via a wide area transmission network, an inquiry for an access key for accessing functions of a user operable device having limited accessibility;

transmitting a request for information of the user to the mobile device via the wide area transmission network;

receiving the requested information of the user from the mobile device;

generating the access key, the access key being co-coded with one or more conditions for operating the user operable device based on the received information of the user;

transmitting the access key to the mobile device via the wide area transmission network.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the information of the user includes identification and payment information of the user.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the inquiry includes a desired period of time value defining a period of validity of the access key.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein generating the access key comprising generating different access keys for accessing different functions of the user operable device.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the different access keys are sorted hierarchically according to hierarchically sorted functions of the user operable device.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein a device identification is co-coded in the access key.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein a period of validity of a total access period is co-coded in the access key.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein a period of validity of a first access period is co-coded in the access key.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein a number of access procedures is co-coded in the access key.

27. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

transmitting a reference key to a controller unit controlling the user operable device via the wide area transmission network, wherein the reference key is part of a data used by the controller unit for generating a validation key.

28. A key authority, comprising communication means capable for communicating with a mobile device of a user via a wide area transmission network, wherein the key authority is configured to:

receive from the mobile device an inquiry for an access key for accessing functions of a user operable device having limited accessibility;

transmit a request for information of the user to the mobile device;

receive the requested information of the user from the mobile device;

generate the access key, the access key being co-coded with one or more conditions for operating the user operable device based on the received information of the user; and

transmit the access key to the mobile device via the wide area transmission network.

29. The key authority of claim 28, wherein the key authority is configured to:

transmit a reference key to a controller unit controlling the user operable device via the wide area transmission network, wherein the reference key is part of a data used by the controller unit for generating a validation key.

30. The key authority of claim 28, wherein the key authority is a service provider.

31. The key authority of claim 28, wherein said key authority is a call center operable manually or automatically by a voice assistant.

32. The key authority of claim 28, wherein said key authority is a WEB server accessible via a WEB page.

33. The key authority of claim 28, wherein said key authority is a WAP server accessible via a WAP page.

34. A key authority, comprising:

means for receiving from the mobile device an inquiry for an access key for accessing functions of a user operable device having limited accessibility;

means for transmitting a request for information of the user to the mobile device;

means for receiving the requested information of the user from the mobile device;

means for generating the access key, the access key being co-coded with one or more conditions for operating the user operable device based on the received information of the user; and

means for transmitting the access key to the mobile device via the wide area transmission network.

35. The key authority of claim 34, further comprising:

means for transmitting a reference key to a controller unit controlling the user operable device via the wide area transmission network, wherein the reference key is part of a data used by the controller unit for generating a validation key.