Apparatus for checking identification signal and method thereof

• US 5,963,141 A
• Filed: 05/09/1997
• Issued: 10/05/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Takamatsu, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dalencourt, Yves
• Application Number:
  US08/854,167
• Time in Patent Office: 879 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.31, 340/825.54, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 341/176
• US Class Current: 340/5.26
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00388 code verification carried out according to the challenge/response method
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00412 the transmitted data signal being encrypted
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/005 whereby the code is a random code
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00785 by light
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

An identification signal checking apparatus includes an apparatus (1) to be detected having a first wireless transmitting and receiving unit (4), a first signal processing unit (3) and a first memory unit (5) for storing an identification signal and includes a detecting device (10) having a second wireless transmitting and receiving unit (11), a second signal processing unit (12), a second memory unit (13) for storing an identification signal, and a communication permission signal generating means (14), being arranged such that the apparatus (1) to be detected transmits a communication request signal, when receiving a communication permission signal transmitted from the detecting apparatus (10) based on the communication request signal within a predetermined period, the apparatus (1) to be detected transmits the identification signal stored in the first memory unit (5) to the detecting apparatus (10), and the detecting apparatus (10) checks whether or not the transmitted identification signal coincides with the identification signal stored in the second memory unit (13).

Claims

1. An identification signal checking apparatus comprising:

a first device having a first wireless transmitting and receiving unit, a first signal processing unit and a first memory unit for storing an identification signal, wherein said first device transmits a communication request signal; and

a second device having a second wireless transmitting and receiving unit, a second signal processing unit, a second memory unit for storing an identification signal, and a communication permission signal generating means, wherein said second device transmits a communication permission signal to said first device in response to said communication request signal,

wherein said second device begins transmitting said communication permission signal after a first predetermined period following reception of said communication request signal and completes transmission of said communication permission signal within a second predetermined time period after said first predetermined time period;

wherein upon receiving said communication permission signal transmitted from said second device, said first device transmits the identification signal stored in said first memory unit to said second device, and

wherein said second device checks whether or not the transmitted identification signal coincides with the identification signal stored in said second memory unit.

2. An identification signal checking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said communication permission signal is a random number signal, said first device encrypts said identification signal by using said random number signal and transmits it, and said second device decrypts said encrypted identification signal and checks whether or not said decrypted identification signal coincides with the identification signal stored in said second memory unit.

3. An identification signal checking apparatus according to claim 2, wherein in accordance with a predetermined function, said identification signal is encrypted by using said random number signal.

4. An identification signal checking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and second wireless transmitting and receiving units are respectively infrared-ray transmitting and receiving units.

9. An identification signal checking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first device is a key apparatus, said second device is a lock apparatus, said lock apparatus is provided with a locking means and/or an unlocking means, said lock apparatus controls said locking means and/or said unlocking means based on a check output indicative of whether or not the transmitted identification signal coincides with the identification signal stored in said second memory unit.

11. An identification signal checking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first predetermined time period is approximately 40 ms.

12. An identification signal checking apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said second predetermined time period is approximately 50 ms.

5. An identification signal checking method of an identification signal checking apparatus comprising a first device having a first wireless transmitting and receiving unit, a first signal processing unit and a first memory unit for storing an identification signal, and a second device having a second wireless transmitting and receiving unit, a second signal processing unit, and a second memory unit for storing an identification signal comprising the steps of:

transmitting a communication request signal from said first device to said second device;

transmitting a communication permission signal from said second device to said first device in response to said communication request signal, in which said second device begins transmitting said communication permission signal after a first predetermined period following reception of said communication request signal and completes transmission of said communication permission signal within a second predetermined time period after said first predetermined time period,

transmitting, upon reception of said communication permission signal, the identification signal stored in said first memory unit from said first device to said second device; and

checking in said second device whether or not the transmitted identification signal coincides with the identification signal stored in said second memory unit.

6. An identification signal checking method according to claim 5, wherein said communication permission signal is a random number signal, said first device encrypts said identification signal by using said random number signal and transmits it, and said second device decrypts said encrypted identification signal and checks whether or not said decrypted identification signal coincides with the identification signal stored in said second memory unit.

7. An identification signal checking method according to claim 6, wherein in accordance with a predetermined function, said identification signal is encrypted by using said random number signal.

8. An identification signal checking method according to claim 5, wherein said first and second wireless transmitting and receiving units are respectively infrared-ray transmitting and receiving units.

10. An identification signal checking method according to claim 5, wherein said first device is a key apparatus, said second device is a lock apparatus, said lock apparatus is provided with a locking means and/or an unlocking means, said lock apparatus controls said locking means and/or said unlocking means based on a check output indicative of whether or not the transmitted identification signal coincides with the identification signal stored in said second memory unit.

13. An identification signal checking method according to claim 5, wherein said first predetermined time period is approximately 40 ms.

14. An identification signal checking method according to claim 5, wherein said second predetermined time period is approximately 50 ms.