Methods of using an intelligent locking system

• US 7,760,069 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2006
• Issued: 07/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Typhoon Industries LLC
• Original Assignee: Typhoon Industries LLC
• Inventors: Adams, Mark, Thomas, Laurence, Cayne, Jordan, Laidlaw, Robert, MacAlpine, Colin
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown; Vernal U
• Application Number:
  US11/490,697
• Publication Number:
  US 20060255905A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,460 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.22, 340/5.52, 340/5.73, 340/825.29, 340/5.82, 382/124, 382/115, 382/125, 700/241, 700/242, 700/17, 235/382
• US Class Current: 340/5.22
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2011/02 related to amusement parks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5031 Receptacle

Abstract

A method of using an electronic locking system to access one of a plurality of lockers includes programming the electronic locking system by recording at least one biometric characteristic of a user when the user is located at the plurality of lockers, and associating the recorded at least one biometric characteristic of the user with the one of a plurality of lockers so that the user is authorized to access the one of a plurality of lockers. The method includes re-recording the at least one biometric characteristic of the user and comparing the re-recorded at least one biometric characteristic of the user with the recorded at least one biometric characteristic of the user, and unlocking the one of a plurality of lockers if the re-recorded at least one biometric characteristic of the user matches the recorded at least one biometric characteristic of the user.

Claims

1. A method of using an electronic locking system to access one of a plurality of lockers, the method comprising:

programming said electronic locking system by recording at least one biometric characteristic of a user when said user is located at said plurality of lockers;

associating said recorded at least one biometric characteristic of said user with said one of a plurality of lockers;

re-recording said at least one biometric characteristic of said user and comparing said re-recorded at least one biometric characteristic of said user with said recorded at least one biometric characteristic of said user; and

unlocking said one of a plurality of lockers if said re-recorded at least one biometric characteristic of said user matches said recorded at least one biometric characteristic of said user.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one biometric characteristic comprises at least one fingerprint.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said at least one fingerprint comprises a fingerprint pattern.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said at least one fingerprint comprises information related to the electrical capacitance of ridges and valleys of said at least one fingerprint.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said one of a plurality of lockers is locked before the re-recording said at least one biometric characteristic step.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising selecting a language for use during one or more steps of the method.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising making a monetary payment for using said one of a plurality of lockers.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a length of time for using said one of a plurality of lockers;

making a monetary payment having an amount that is related to the selected length of time.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said user is authorized to repeatedly lock and unlock said one of a plurality of lockers during the selected length of time.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising re-programming said electronic locking system using at least one biometric characteristic of a second user when said second user is located at said plurality of lockers so that said at least one biometric characteristic of said second user is associated with said one of a plurality of lockers and so that said second user is authorized to access said one of a plurality of lockers and said first user is no longer authorized to access said one of a plurality of lockers.

11. A method of controlling access to one of a plurality of lockers using an electronic locking system comprising:

programming said electronic locking system by recording at least one biometric characteristic of a user when said user is located at said plurality of lockers;

associating said recorded at least one biometric characteristic with said one of a plurality of lockers so that only said user is authorized to access said one of a plurality of lockers;

after the programming step, using said at least one biometric characteristic of said user for unlocking said one of a plurality of lockers.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said at least one biometric characteristic comprises at least one fingerprint.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said at least one fingerprint comprises a fingerprint pattern.

14. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said at least one fingerprint comprises information related to the electrical capacitance of ridges and valleys of said at least one fingerprint.

15. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said one of a plurality of lockers is locked before the re-recording said at least one biometric characteristic step.

16. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising selecting a language for use during one or more steps of the method.

17. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising making a monetary payment for using said one of a plurality of lockers.

18. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

selecting a length of time for using said one of a plurality of lockers;

making a monetary payment having an amount that is related to the selected length of time.

19. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising re-programming said electronic locking system by newly recording at least one biometric characteristic of a second user when said second user is located at said plurality of lockers and associating said newly recorded at least one biometric characteristic with said one of a plurality of lockers so that only said second user is authorized to access said one of a plurality of lockers and so that said first user is no longer authorized to access said one of a plurality of lockers.

20. A method of controlling access to one of a plurality of lockers using an electronic locking system comprising:

recording and associating a biometric characteristic of a user with one of said plurality of lockers when said user is located at said plurality of lockers, thereby permitting only said user to open said one of a plurality of lockers,

re-recording said biometric characteristic of said user; and

unlocking said one of a plurality of lockers if the re-recorded said biometric characteristic of said user matches the recorded said biometric characteristic of said user.

21. The method as claimed in claim 20, further comprising re-programming said system by newly recording a biometric characteristic of a second user when said second user is located at said plurality of lockers and associating said newly recorded biometric characteristic with said one of a plurality of lockers, thereby permitting only said second user to open said one of a plurality of lockers.

22. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein said at least one biometric characteristic comprises at least one fingerprint.

23. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein said at least one fingerprint comprises a fingerprint pattern.

24. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein said at least one fingerprint comprises information related to the electrical capacitance of ridges and valleys of said at least one fingerprint.