Electronic key, electronic locking apparatus, electronic security system, and key administering server

• US 7,543,755 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2002
• Issued: 06/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Nishiyama, Takashi, Doi, Kenji, Suzuki, Kenshi, Nishimura, Tokuhisa, Hashimoto, Masaru, Tsuji, Yoshiko, Nakajima, Ryouji
• Primary Examiner(s): ST CYR, DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US10/329,927
• Publication Number:
  US 20030122651A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,356 Days
• Field of Search: 235/492, 235/487, 235/380, 235/382, 235/382.5, 235/444, 235/446, 235/451, 23547201-47202
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/65 using means for sensing the user's hand
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00857 where the code of the data carrier can be programmed

Abstract

An electronic security system is provided with an electronic key and an electronic locking apparatus. The electronic key includes an identification data registry for storing one or more identification data for locking and unlocking. The electronic locking apparatus includes a key data registry for storing a key data having a predetermined relationship with an identification data of an electronic key corresponding to the electronic locking apparatus. The system includes with a reader/writer for reading and writing the identification data in and from the identification data registry. This system ensures an improved convenience by making a single key compatible with a plurality of objects.

Claims

1. An electronic key for use with an electronic locking apparatus, comprising:

an identification data registry which stores one or more identification data for locking and unlocking;

a data transmitter which transmits identification data to an electronic locking apparatus;

an interface which serves as an interface to write and read of identification data into and from the identification data registry;

a communication electrode connected with the data transmitter and forms a transmission path passing through a person between the communication electrode and the electronic locking apparatus;

an electronic key controller which controls communication between the electronic locking apparatus and the data transmitter to lock and unlock the electronic locking apparatus, and transfer identification data between the identification data registry and the interface to read and write of identification data,

wherein the data transmitter transmits the identification data to the electronic locking apparatus via the transmission path formed by the communication electrode.

2. An electronic key according to claim 1,

wherein the electronic key controller allows transfer of identification data from the identification data registry to the interface upon a request of reading of the identification data to the interface.

3. An electronic key according to claim 1, further comprising

a fixed data registry which stores an identifier for regulating the writing and reading of identification data.

4. An electronic key according to claim 3,

wherein the interface is operable to receive an identifier, and the electronic key controller allows transfer of identification data from the identification data registry to the interface when the received identifier coincides with the identifier stored in the fixed data registry.

5. An electronic key according to claim 3,

wherein the interface is operable to receive identification data and an identifier, and the electronic key controller allows transfer of the received identification data from the interface to the identification data registry when the received identifier coincides with the identifier stored in the fixed data registry.

6. An electronic key according to claim 3, further comprising

an operation key registry which stores an operation key for regulating communication with a key administering server including a key database which stores a pair of identification data and an identifier, wherein the interface is operable to receive identification data and an identifier, and the electronic key controller allows transfer of the operation key from the operation key registry to the interface when the received identifier coincides with the identifier stored in the fixed data registry.

7. An electronic key according to claim 3,

wherein the identifier includes a production number given to a corresponding electronic key.

8. An electronic key according to claim 3,

wherein the identifier includes a production number given to a corresponding electronic locking apparatus.

9. An electronic key according to claim 1, further comprising

a detector which detects a start signal from the electronic locking apparatus, wherein:

the data transmitter includes;

a data transmitting device for transmitting identification data while modulating the data; and

a communication electrode for outputting the modulated signal;

the detector receives the start signal via the communication electrode; and

the electronic key controller suspends supplying of power to the identification data registry and the data transmitting device until the detector detects the start signal.

10. An electronic key according to claim 9, further comprising

a timer which outputs a time-up signal to the electronic key controller upon the lapse of a predetermined time,

wherein the electronic key controller starts supplying of power to the identification data registry and the data transmitting device when the detector detects the start signal, and suspends supplying of power to the identification data registry and the data transmitting device after the timer outputs the time-up signal.

11. An electronic locking apparatus for use with an electronic key operable to generate an identification data, comprising:

a locking mechanism to achieve locking and unlocking;

a key data storage which stores a key data having a predetermined relationship with the identification data of the electronic key corresponding to the electronic locking apparatus;

a data receiver which receives an identification data from an electronic key;

a touch electrode connected with the data receiver and forms a transmission path passing through a person between the touch electrode and the electronic key; and

an electronic locking apparatus controller which effects locking and unlocking of the locking mechanism when the received identification data satisfies the predetermined relationship with the key data stored in the key data storage,

wherein the data receiver receives the identification data from the electronic key via the transmission path formed by the touch electrode.

12. An electronic locking apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a detector that detects contact of a person to output a detection signal to the electronic locking apparatus controller, wherein the data receiver includes:

the touch electrode to which a person makes contact to input an identification data in the form of a modulated signal; and

a data receiving device which receives the inputted identification data and demodulates the identification data, and

wherein the electronic locking apparatus controller suspends supplying of power to the key data storage and the data receiving device until the detector detects contact of the person.

13. An electronic locking apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising

a generator which generates a start signal for activating an electronic key and outputs it via the touch electrode.

14. An electronic locking apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising

a timer which outputs a time-up signal to the electronic locking apparatus controller upon the lapse of a predetermined time after the generation of the start signal,

wherein the electronic locking apparatus controller starts supplying of power to the key data storage and the data receiving device when the detector detects the contact of the person, and suspends supplying of power to the key data storage and the data receiving device when the time-up signal is outputted from the timer.

15. An electronic security system, comprising:

an electronic key and an electronic locking apparatus,

wherein the electronic key includes;

an identification data registry which stores one or more identification data for locking and unlocking;

a data transmitter which transmits identification data to an electronic locking apparatus;

an interface which serves as an interface for writing and reading of identification data into and from the identification data registry; and

an electronic key controller which controls communication between the electronic locking apparatus and the data transmitter, and transfer of identification data between the identification data registry and the interface, wherein the electronic locking apparatus includes;

a locking mechanism for locking and unlocking;

a key data storage which stores a key data having a predetermined relationship with an identification data of an electronic key corresponding to the electronic locking apparatus;

a data receiving device which receives an identification data from the electronic key;

an electronic locking apparatus controller which effects locking and unlocking of the locking mechanism when the received identification data satisfies the predetermined relationship with the key data stored in the key data storage; and

a reader/writer which reads and writes the identification data in and from the identification data registry, and

wherein a transmission path is formed between communication electrodes, a key bearer, and a touch electrode that permits the data receiving device to receive identification data from the electronic key.

16. An electronic security system according to claim 15,

wherein the reader/writer includes a data reading/writing device for writing an identification data read from one electronic key into another electronic key.

17. An electronic security system according to claim 15,

wherein the data transmitter of the electronic key includes two communication electrodes which makes contact with a person, the data receiver of the electronic locking apparatus includes a touch electrode which a person made contact with the electronic key touches.

18. An electronic security system according to claim 15, further comprising

a key administering server including a key database which stores a pair of an identification data and an identifier for regulating reading and writing of the identification data, wherein the reader/writer further includes:

a communicator which establishes communication with the key administering server via a communication network;

an operation portion for inputting an identifier; and

a data reading/writing device for reading an identification data from the key database and writing the read identification in the identification data registry of an electronic key if the identifier inputted by the operation portion coincides with an identifier paired with the identification data stored in the key database.

19. An electronic security system according to claim 18,

wherein the key administering server further includes a user database which stores user information concerning a user of each electronic key, and

the operating portion is operable to input user information, and the data reading/writing device reads an identification data from the key database and writes the read identification in the identification data registry of an electronic key if the identifier inputted by the operation portion coincides with an identifier paired with the identification data stored in the key database, and user information inputted by the operation portion coincides with the user information stored in the user database.

20. An electronic security system according to claim 19,

wherein the key administering server further includes:

an access monitoring device which monitors an access of each user registered in the user database to the key database;

a fee calculating device which calculates a fee based on the access of each user at every interval of a predetermined time; and

a balancing device which is capable of communication with a financial institute server of a financial institute where the user has an account, and automatically collects the fees calculated by the fee calculating device from the financial institute server.

21. An electronic security system according to claim 19,

wherein the communication network includes a carrier server of a communication service company providing the communication network between the reader/writer and the key administering server, and the carrier server includes:

an access monitoring device which monitors an access of each user registered in the user database to the key database;

a fee calculating device which calculates a fee based on the access of each user at every interval of a predetermined time; and

a balancing device which is capable of communication with a financial institute server of a financial institute where the user has an account, and automatically collects the fees calculated by the fee calculating device from the financial institute servers, and notifies the calculated fee to the key administering server.

22. An electronic security system according to claim 18,

wherein the key administering server further includes an owner database which stores owner information concerning an owner of each electronic locking apparatus, and

the operating portion is operable to input owner information, and the data reading/writing device reads an identification data from the key database and writes the read identification in the identification data registry of an electronic key if the identifier inputted by the operation portion coincides with an identifier paired with the identification data stored in the key database, and owner information inputted by the operation portion coincides with the owner information stored in the owner database.

23. An electronic security system according to claim 18,

wherein the identifier includes a production number given to an electronic locking apparatus which is activated by the identification data corresponding to the identifier.