Abstract:
The method is for activating a device. A communication device ( 14 ) is provided that is in communication with a server unit ( 20 ) that has a processor for generating a number series ( 38 ). An application device ( 16 ) has a processor ( 19 ) for generating a number series ( 36 ). The communication device ( 14 ) is not communicating directly with the application device ( 16 ). The user sends a message ( 32 ) including the identification number ( 30 ) to the server ( 20 ). The server ( 20 ) identifies a code number pointed at by a pointer ( 44 ) and sends back the code number. The pointer ( 44 ) steps forward in the number series ( 38 ) at predetermined time intervals. The user enters the code number into the application device ( 16 ). The processor ( 19 ) compares the code number with a number pointed at by a pointer ( 37 ) and sends an activation signal to an activation device ( 16 ) to activate the application device.

Description:
PRIOR APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/066,842, filed 14 Mar. 2008. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a method of gaining access to a device such as unlocking a bathroom door or buying goods disposed inside a locked vending machine by activating the vending machine to dispense goods disposed therein. 
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0003]    Publicly available services such as, hotel room, rental cottages, public bathrooms and vending machines often require the user to pay to gain access such as unlocking the door or dispensing a food item inside the locked vending machine. Users many times do not have the correct or enough change to gain such access. This can be very inconvenient especially for distressed users. There is a need for a more effective way for the users to gain access to such services and places. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0004]    The method of the present invention provides a solution to the above-outlined problems. More particularly, the method is for activating a device. A communication device is provided that is in communication with a server unit that has a processor for generating a number series. An application device has a processor for generating a number series. The communication device is not communicating directly with the application device. The user reads an identification number and sends a message including the identification number or, for example, a room or house number to the server. The user may also include information related to an amount to be spent and/or rental period. The server identifies a code number pointed at by a pointer and sends back the code number. The server may encrypt the additional information provided into the code number. The pointer steps forward in the number series at predetermined time intervals. The user enters the code number into the application device. For example, a keyboard may be used to enter the code number. The processor compares the code number with a number pointed at by a pointer and sends an activation signal to an activation device to activate the application device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of the components of the system of the present invention; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view showing number series for decoding a locking device of the system of the present invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of a subscription procedure to activate the system of the present invention; and 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of an alternative embodiment of the system of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0009]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , the system  10  has a user  12  with a communication device  14  such as a mobile telephone. The user may desire to gain access to a service or device  16  such as unlocking a locked bathroom or hotel room door that has a lock  18  with a microprocessor  19  and an identification number  55 . It should be noted that the lock  18  is only used for illustrative purposes and that the method of the present invention may be used for a variety of applications such as activating and de-activating a vending machine, an electrical device, a shower, gambling device or any other suitable application. 
         [0010]    The communication device  14  is in communication with a server  20  and the user is preferably charged a fee  22  by a service operator  24  that in turn may send a compensation fee  26  to, for example, a subscriber and/or maintenance entity  28  or any other type of owner or user. The maintenance entity  28  may maintain the device  16 . It may also be possible to make the compensation fee  26  identical with the fee  22  and that the service operator  24  charges a leasing fee for the lock  18  to the maintenance entity  28 . Preferably, every lock has a unique identification code. 
         [0011]    More particularly, the user may start by reading an identification number or code  30  on the lock  18  and then, for example, send an SMS message  32  or any other suitable message to a number  34  displayed on the lock  18  or device  16 . The server  20  receives the message  32  including the code  30  and returns an unlocking code  35  for the lock  18 . The user enters the code  35  into the lock  18  that unlocks the door or device  16  so that the user  12  may gain access thereto. 
         [0012]    One important feature of the present invention is that the required unlocking code  35  changes with each user so that the users cannot use the same code to unlock the lock each time. As best shown in  FIG. 2 , the system  10  may have a first endless number series  36  at the microprocessor  19  that has a pointer  37  and a second endless number series  38  at the server  20  that has a pointer  44 . One feature is that the various codes  40   a,    40   b,    40   c,    40   d  of the series  36  preferably match codes  42   a ,  42   b ,  42   c ,  42   d , respectively. In this way, the series  36  is preferably identical to the series  38 . The pointers  37 ,  44  point to the code that is currently being used. Preferably, the pointers should point to the same codes so that pointer  37  points to code  40   b  when the pointer  44  points code  42   b  which is identical to code  40   b . After each use the pointers move one step forward such as from code  40   b  to  40   c  and from code  42   b  to  42   c  at the same time. 
         [0013]    The user  12  does not know which code opens the lock  18  at a particular time so that the user needs the code from the server  20 . The pointer  37  may be set to point to the code, such as code  40   c , that currently opens the lock. The server sends code  42   c  which is identical to the code  40   c  and the user can enter the code  42   c  to open the lock  18 . 
         [0014]    There may be situations when the pointer  44  is not synchronized with the pointer  37 . For example, the user  12  may receive the code  42   c  but never opens the lock  18  which triggers the pointer  37  to move from the code  40   c  to code  40   d . The pointer  37  therefore stays at pointing to code  40   c  while the pointer  44  has moved to point to code  42   d . Next time a user wants to unlock the door, the server  20  will send code  42   d  which does not match code  40   c  of the series  36 . Consequently, the user cannot open the lock. This problem may be solved by providing a set of codes, as indicated by a bracket  46  that are acceptable to unlock the lock  18 . For example, the bracket  46  may include the codes  40   b ,  40   c ,  40   d ,  40   e ,  40   f  and  40   g  so that up to six users in a row may obtain the codes from the server  20  without using the device  16 . Of course, the acceptable interval symbolized by the bracket  46  may include more codes or fewer codes. When the server  20  now sends the code  42   d  the user may enter the code  42   d  since the corresponding identical code  40   d  is within the set of the bracket  46 . 
         [0015]    After each time the device  16  is used, the bracket  46  may move forward one step in the series  36  similar to the stepping forward by the pointer  37 . Also, the microprocessor  19  may move the pointer  37  to the code, such as code  40   c , so that the pointer  37  is again automatically synchronized with the pointer  44  each time the device  16  is used. Preferably, the pointer  37  points to a code that is in the middle of the bracket  46  so that the position of the bracket  46  is adjusted accordingly. 
         [0016]    It should be noted that there is no need to display any of the codes. Another important feature is that there is no electronic, radio, optical or any other type of remote wired/wireless or automatic communication between the communication device  14  and the lock  18 . The user must enter the code  42  received from the server  20  manually into the lock  18  in order to unlock the lock. 
         [0017]    Instead of using a number series it is possible to use the same random algorithm at the lock and the server so that the lock may generate a random code that is disclosed to the user. This random code is then sent to the server that in turn runs the same random algorithm to generate a second code. This second code is sent back to user&#39;s telephone. In the meantime, the lock has run the algorithm to generate the second code also. The user enters the second code into the lock that is matching the second code generated by the lock. As a result, the lock unlocks itself or provides the user access to the device. 
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of an alternative embodiment of the system  10 . A user, such as a restaurant or other suitable users, may register with a computer  50  for the service by entering the Internet  52  to contact a website  54  of the service provider. The user may log in for registration  53  at a website  54 . The user may enter a code or serial number  56  that is printed on the locks to gain access to serial numbers of the locks  18 , user information  58  and accounts  60  to receive payments from the various locks. Of course, the code sent could be any suitable number. The user may also gain access to status information  62  and statistical information  64 . The statistical information may show which product or toilet that is mostly or the least used. If, for example, a vending machine has run out of a product, the lock may be programmed to send a code back to the service provider that indicates that there is time to refill or recharge batteries. The service provider may offer the service of refilling or taking care of whatever needs to be done. This may be sent by email or any other suitable communication device. An important feature is that the registration process is self-administered and that no personal contact with the service provider is necessary. 
         [0019]    It may also be possible to require the user to include an amount to be spent in the SMS request. For example, a dollar amount to be spent on goods in a vending machine so that the user not only sends the identification code of the vending machine but also a dollar amount to be spent. The dollar amount may then be encrypted into unlocking code that is eventually sent to the buyer so that the code becomes dynamic. The terminal may then decrypt the unlocking code that is received so that the vending machine knows that the credit amount is the dollar amount requested by the buyer and can then compare that the code is correct, as described above. Preferably, the buyer cannot buy one or many goods for a value that is higher than the dollar amount. 
         [0020]    It may also be possible for the pointers  37  and  44  to move forward at certain time intervals such as every minute or every hour. This is particularly suitable when the user wants to gain access to, for example, a hotel room or rental cottage during a certain rental period. The unlocking code that is provided to the user may be valid only during the entire rental period such as from a certain time of the day and then for a certain time period such as five days. 
         [0021]    When the unlocking code is very long, the lock may give the user the option to enter not only the entire unlocking code once but also a short code that, for example, must be entered within ten seconds. The unlocking code could also be associated with another code carrier such as a RFID card or magnetic card. The short code could also be valid during the rental period so that the user can unlock the door by simply entering the short code. The system will then associate the short code with the full code so that the short code may be translated to the full code. The short code may be a personal password or, for example, be the last four digits of the full code. It may also be possible for each family member to have a different personalized password that is valid during the time period. 
         [0022]    The time period, that is provided to the server in addition to the identification of the rental cottage, may be encrypted into the code sent by the user&#39;s mobile telephone so that when the door lock receives the code from the server it first decrypts the time period and can then look back in the series of codes to see what the correct code was at the start of the time period. As indicated above, the time period may also be used to determine the length of the time period during which the same code may be used to unlock the door lock. 
         [0023]    With reference to  FIG. 4 , a system  100  is shown wherein the pointers step forward in the number series at certain intervals. More particularly, the system  100  has a computer  150  that is connected to a server  120  via the Internet  152 . A display  154  illustrates a selection step  151  that includes selecting an object  153 , such as an un-manned rental service of rooms and cottages, and a rental period  155 . In a payment step  157 , the user may pay the service provider such as by using a credit card. In an addressing step  159 , the user provides an electronic address  161  or a telephone number  163  to which a code  165  is sent so that the user can unlock a door of the object/cottage. The code  165  may be set to be valid during the rental period only so that the door cannot be opened before or after the rental period with the code  165  by using the unlocking code  165 . 
         [0024]    While the present invention has been described in accordance with preferred compositions and embodiments, it is to be understood that certain substitutions and alterations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims.