Method and apparatus for managing the use of an electronic lock for a mobile radio telephone

• US 4,724,537 A
• Filed: 09/18/1984
• Issued: 02/09/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Monet, Paul L.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/651,711
• Time in Patent Office: 1,239 Days
• Field of Search: 179/2 E, 179/2 EC, 179/90 D, 179/2 CA, 179/18 DA, 179/2 A, 179/2 DP, 340/825.31, 379/58, 379/66, 379/59, 379/60, 379/63
• US Class Current: 455/565
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/0069 actuated in a predetermined sequence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/673 the user being required to key in a code
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones

Abstract

A method and apparatus for managing an electronic radio telephone lock in which the electronic lock can be rendered operative or inoperative only by first entering a predetermined code so as to prevent unauthorized use as well as accidental or unauthorized locking, code changes, etc.

Claims

1. A method of managing the use of a mobile radio telephone comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a mobile radio telephone having a plurality of input keys;

(b) providing an electronic lock responsive to the successive operation of a predetermined sequence of said keys to lock and unlock the telephone;

(c) requiring entry of the predetermined sequence of keys prior to unlocking the telephone; and

(d) requiring entry of the predetermined sequence of keys prior to locking the telephone;

whereby both unauthorized use and inadvertent or unauthorized locking of the telephone may be achieved without a physical key.

2. A method of managing the use of a mobile radio telephone comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a mobile radio telephone;

(b) providing an electronic lock responsive to a single predetermined code sequence;

(c) requiring entry of the code sequence as a condition precedent to the enabling of the telephone; and

(d) requiring entry of the code sequence as a condition precedent to the disabling of the telephone,

whereby both unauthorized use and inadvertent or unauthorized disabling of the telephone may be achieved without a physical key.

3. A method of preventing unauthorized use of an electronic lock comprising the steps of:

providing an electronic lock responsive to a plurality of preselected electronic signals in a preselected sequence for opening said lock;

opening said lock by applying said plurality of preselected electronic signals in said preselected sequence; and

closing said lock only upon the receipt by said lock of said plurality of preselected electronic signals in said preselected sequence, so that said lock cannot be closed except by persons knowing said plurality of preselected electronic signals in said preselected sequence.

4. A security device for a telephone instrument comprising:

selectively operable inhibit means to prevent the use of said instrument;

signal recognition means operable to receive a plurality of signals representing a predetermined code; and

control means, responsive to said signal recognition means, to operate said inhibit means and to disable said inhibit means only upon the receipt of said predetermined code.

5. An electronic lock device to prevent unauthorized use of a telephone instrument, comprising:

digital input means for the receipt of input signals from a user of said instrument;

locking means operative to selectively prevent use of said instrument;

logic means responsive to said digital input means and controlling said locking means, said logic means enabling said locking means upon the receipt of a predetermined sequence of input signals by said digital input means and disabling said locking means upon the receipt of said predetermined sequence of input signals.

6. In an electronic lock for a telephone having an input means providing a plurality of different signals, each signal representing an input signal from a user, a memory means for storing a plurality of memory signals, each said memory signal representing at least one of said input signals and a control means for selectively inhibiting operation of the telephone, a method of preventing accidental or unauthorized operation of said control means comprising the steps of:

receiving a predetermined plurality of input signals;

comparing said plurality of input signals with said plurality of memory signals; and

operating said control means only if each of said plurality of input signals matches said plurality of memory signals, thereby to prevent persons not knowing the plurality of memory signals from operating said lock.