Security system with randomized synchronization code

• US 6,097,307 A
• Filed: 08/15/1997
• Issued: 08/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation (Texas Instruments, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation (Texas Instruments, Inc.)
• Inventors: Utz, Hubert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Asongwed, Anthony A.
• Application Number:
  US08/915,552
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.34, 340/825.3, 340/825.04, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/92, 340/539, 340/426, 341/176, 455/95, 455/97
• US Class Current: 340/5.8
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00214 by one push button
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00253 dynamically, e.g. variable code - rolling code
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00984 fob
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/06 Involving synchronization or resynchronization between transmitter and receiver; reordering of codes
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code

Abstract

A transmitting unit of a wireless security system having randomized successive ("rolling") verification codes transmits a different synchronization code each time that the transmitter unit is powered up. After power up, a pseudo-random value is generated by a pseudo-random number generator. The pseudo-random value is at least in part dependent upon a manipulation of a manually-operable switch of the transmitting unit. The pseudo-random value is incorporated into the first synchronization code transmitted after the first power up. If power to the transmitting unit is then interrupted and then resupplied, for example by removing and then replacing a battery, then the pseudo-random number generator generates another pseudo-random value, the value again depending at least in part upon a manipulation of the manually-operable switch. The pseudo-random value is then incorporated into the first synchronization code transmitted after the second power up. The first verification code used to gain access to the automobile is generated based on an initially fixed start value specific to the transmitting unit as well as on the initially randomized pseudo-random value.

Claims

1. A method, comprising the steps of:

(a) powering up an integrated circuit;

(b) causing said integrated circuit to transition through a first number of states to generate a first binary number;

(c) using said first binary number to generate a first synchronization code and to output said first synchronization code onto an output terminal of said integrated circuit;

(d) after step (c), generating a second binary number by causing said integrated circuit to transition a predetermined number of times;

(e) using said second binary number to generate a verification code and to output said verification code onto said output terminal of said integrated circuit;

(f) after steps (a) through (e), powering down said integrated circuit;

(g) after step (f), powering up said integrated circuit;

(h) after step (g), causing said integrated circuit to transition through a second number of states to generate a third binary number; and

(i) using said third binary number to generate a second synchronization code and to output said second synchronization code onto said output terminal of said integrated circuit, wherein said integrated circuit comprises a first pseudo-random number generator and a second pseudo-random number generator, said method further comprising the steps of;

(b1) after step (a) and before said first synchronization code is generated, loading said first pseudo-random number generator with a predetermined value; and

(h1) after step (g) and before said second synchronization code is generated, loading said first pseudo-random number generator with said predetermined value; and

wherein step (d) of generating a second binary number further comprises the steps of;

causing said first pseudo-random number generator to transition to a new state; and

causing said second pseudo-random number generator to transition to a new state.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said predetermined value is stored in a nonvolatile memory.

3. A method of operation of a transmitting unit for a wireless security system, comprising the steps of:

(a) generating a synchronization code A in said transmitting unit after power is supplied to said transmitting unit at one time but before power is supplied a second time, said synchronization code A being the first synchronization code generated in said transmitting unit after power is supplied said one time;

(b) generating a plurality of randomized rolling verification codes in said transmitting unit after step (a), each of said plurality of randomized rolling verification codes being generated by causing said transmitting unit to transition a respective predetermined number of states; and

(c) generating a synchronization code B in said transmitting unit after power is supplied to said transmitting unit said second time, said synchronization code B being the first synchronization code generated in said transmitting unit after power is supplied said second time, said synchronization code B being different than said synchronization code A.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein each successive one of said plurality of randomized rolling verification codes is caused by a respective depressing of a switch of said transmitting unit.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the steps of:

receiving said synchronization code A and one of said plurality of randomized rolling verification codes in a receiving unit of said wireless security system;

in said receiving unit, generating a reference code from said synchronization code A; and

in said receiving unit, comparing said reference code with said one of said plurality of randomized rolling verification codes.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of:

in the event said reference code and said one of said plurality of randomized rolling verification codes do not match in said comparing step, generating other reference codes in said receiving unit and comparing each of said other reference codes with said one of said plurality of randomized rolling verification codes until either a reference code matches said one of said plurality of randomized rolling verification codes or until a predetermined number of reference codes have been compared.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said step of generating said reference code in said receiving unit comprises the step of:

loading said synchronization code A said reference code generated by causing said receiving unit to transition a predetermined number of states.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

programming a key identifier code into said transmitting unit, and programming a key identifier code into said receiving unit;

transmitting said key identifier code programmed into said transmitting unit along with said one of said plurality of randomized rolling verification codes from said transmitting unit to said receiving unit; and

in said receiving unit, comparing said key identifier code transmitted from said transmitting unit to said key identifier code programmed into said receiving unit.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said key identifier code is transmitted before said one of said plurality of randomized rolling verification codes.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said key identifier code programmed into said transmitting unit is stored in a non-volatile memory of said transmitting unit.

11. The method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

transmitting a function code along with said one of said plurality of randomized rolling verification codes from said transmitting unit to said receiving unit; and

said receiving unit enabling a function indicated by said function code if said comparing step indicates that said reference code matches said one of said plurality of randomized rolling verification codes.

12. The method of claim 3, wherein step (a) further comprises the steps of:

(a1) shifting a first pseudo-random number generator to generate a first serial bit stream;

(a2) shifting a second pseudo-random number generator to generate a second serial bit stream; and

(a3) converting said first and second serial bit streams into said synchronization code A, and wherein step (c) further comprises the steps of;

(c1) shifting said first pseudo-random number generator to generate a third serial bit stream;

(c2) shifting said second pseudo-random number generator to generate a fourth serial bit stream; and

(c3) converting said third and fourth serial bit streams into said synchronization code B.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said second pseudo-random number generator generates a sequence of values in step (a) before step (a2) for a period of time which is at least in part dependent upon a manipulation of a switch, said second serial bit stream being different from said fourth serial bit stream, said first serial bit stream being identical to said third serial bit stream.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said converting step (a3) includes time multiplexing said first and second serial bits streams to form said synchronization code A, and wherein said converting step (c3) includes time multiplexing said third and fourth serial bit streams to form said synchronization code B.

15. A transmitting unit for a wireless security system, comprising:

a manually-operable switch;

an integrated circuit having an input terminal and an output terminal, said input terminal being coupled to receive an activation signal from said switch, said integrated circuit outputting a randomized synchronization code onto said output terminal after said integrated circuit is powered up one time, said integrated circuit outputting a plurality of randomized rolling verification codes onto said output terminal after said randomized synchronization code is output but before said integrated circuit is powered up a second time; and

a battery coupled to provide power to said integrated circuit.

16. The transmitting unit of claim 15, further comprising a transmitter circuit having an input terminal, wherein, said integrated circuit comprises:

a pseudo-random number generator circuit having an output terminal; and

a multiplexer circuit having a data input terminal and a data output terminal, said data input terminal of said multiplexer circuit being coupled to said output terminal of said pseudo-random number generator circuit, said data output terminal of said multiplexer circuit communicating with said input terminal of said transmitter circuit.

17. The transmitting unit of claim 16, wherein said battery has a voltage, said integrated circuit further comprising a low battery voltage detector having an input terminal coupled to said battery, said low battery voltage detector outputting a signal in the event said voltage falls below a predetermined level.

18. The transmitting unit of claim 15, wherein said integrated circuit comprises:

a pseudo-random number generator, wherein depressing said switch a first time after said integrated circuit is powered up said one time causes said pseudo-random number generator to stop generating a sequence of pseudo-random numbers, and wherein said depressing said manually-operable switch a first time after said integrated circuit is powered up said second time causes said pseudo-random number generator to stop generating another sequence of pseudo-random numbers.

19. The transmitting unit of claim 15, wherein said integrated circuit comprises:

a pseudo-random number generator, wherein releasing said manually-operable switch a first time said integrated circuit is powered up said one time causes said pseudo-random number generator to stop generating a sequence of pseudo-random numbers, and wherein releasing said manually-operable switch a first time after said integrated circuit is powered up said second time causes said pseudo-random number generator to stop generating a sequence of pseudo-random numbers.

20. The transmitting unit of claim 15, wherein said switch is a push-button, and wherein said integrated circuit comprises:

a pseudo-random number generator which is enabled to generate a sequence of pseudo-random numbers for a period of time of approximately the same duration as a period of time said switch is depressed.

21. The transmitting unit of claim 15, wherein said integrated circuit comprises:

a number generator which outputs a binary value when said integrated circuit is powered down after said integrated circuit is powered up said one time and before said integrated circuit is powered up said second time; and

a nonvolatile memory coupled to said number generator, said nonvolatile memory supplying said binary value to said number generator when said integrated circuit is powered up said second time.

22. The transmitting unit of claim 15, wherein said integrated circuit comprises a low battery voltage detector having an input terminal coupled to a battery, said low battery voltage detector outputting a signal in the event a voltage of said battery falls below a predetermined level, each of said plurality of randomized rolling verification codes output onto said output terminal of said integrated circuit being one field of a respective one of a plurality of messages, each of said plurality of messages comprising a randomized rolling verification code field also comprising a data field, at least one of said data fields being indicative of a low battery voltage in the event of said signal being output.

23. The transmitting unit of claim 22, wherein said integrated circuit further comprises a non-volatile memory storing a key identifier code, and each of said plurality of messages comprising a randomized rolling verification code field also comprising a key identifier code field, bits of said key identifier code field being indicative of said key identifier code stored in said non-volatile memory.

24. A method of operation of a wireless security system, said security system comprising a mobile transmitting unit and a receiving unit, comprising:

generating first synchronization code information in said transmitting unit after power is supplied at one time to said transmitting unit;

transmitting said first synchronization code information from said transmitting unit to said receiving unit;

in said transmitting unit, using said first synchronization code information to generate verification code information in accordance with an encryption method;

in said receiving unit, using said first synchronization code information to generate reference code information exactly equal to said verification code information in accordance with said encryption method;

transmitting said verification code information from said transmitting unit to said receiving unit;

in said receiving unit, comparing said verification code information received from said transmitting unit to said reference code information generated in said receiving unit; and

in said transmitting unit, generating and transmitting second synchronization code information different from said first synchronization code information after power is interrupted and then supplied to said transmitting unit.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said first synchronization code information transmitted after power is supplied at one time to said transmitting unit is the first synchronization code information transmitted from said transmitting unit after power is supplied to said transmitting unit at said one time, and wherein said second synchronization code information transmitted after power is supplied to said transmitting unit said second time is the first synchronization code information transmitted from said transmitting unit after power is supplied to said transmitting unit said second time.

26. A transmitting unit for a wireless security system, comprising:

a manually-operable switch;

means having an input terminal and an output terminal, said input terminal being coupled to receive an activation signal from said switch, said means outputting a randomized synchronization code onto said output terminal after said means is powered up, said synchronization code being at least in part dependent on a tuning of said activation signal, said means also outputting a rolling verification code onto said output terminal after said randomized synchronization code is output onto said output terminal; and

a battery coupled to provide power to said means.

27. The transmitting unit of claim 26, wherein said means comprises:

means for storing a fixed start code, and having an output terminal;

means for generating a first pseudo-random number based on said fixed start code, having an input terminal and an output terminal, said input terminal of said means for generating a first pseudo-random number being coupled to said output terminal of said means for storing;

means for generating a second pseudo-random number generator based on a manipulation of said switch, and having an output terminal; and

means for generating either said randomized synchronization code or said rolling verification code having a first input terminal and a second input terminal, said output terminal of said means for generating a first pseudo-random number being coupled to said first input terminal of said means for generating either said randomized synchronization code or said rolling verification code, said output terminal of said means for generating a second pseudo-random number being coupled to said second input terminal of said means for generating either said randomized synchronization code or said rolling verification code.

28. A transmitting unit for a wireless security system, comprising:

a manually-operable switch; and

means having an input and an output, said input being coupled to receive an activation signal from said switch, said means outputting a synchronization code onto said output after said means is powered up, the value of said synchronization code being at least in part dependent on a timing of said activation signal, said means also outputting rolling verification codes onto said output after said synchronization code is output onto said output.

29. The transmitting unit of claim 28, wherein said means comprises a pseudo-random number generator and said synchronization code value comprises a pseudo-random number value generated by said pseudo-random number generator.

30. The transmitting unit of claim 29, wherein said pseudo-random number generator determines said pseudo-random number value dependent at least in part on said timing.

31. The transmitting unit of claim 30 wherein said pseudo-random number generator generates a plurality of said successive pseudo-random number values from a predetermined start value and determines the last pseudo-random number value, at the time said activation signal is received from said switch, for said inclusion in said synchronization code value.

32. The transmitting unit of claim 29, wherein said pseudo-random number value is included in a nonencrypted form in said synchronization code.