Patent Publication Number: US-6903651-B2

Title: Method of unlocking electronic lock

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an unlocking method of unlocking an object to be unlocked, for example a cashbox. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Conventional methods of unlocking a cashbox include, for example, a method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-128764. This method is as follows. A person who receives money in a cashbox goes to the spot, and makes a call to a reception desk in a telephone office from a public phone. The person who receives money into a cashbox makes a telephone conversation with a receptionist at the reception desk, and during the telephone conversation, the person who receives money into a cashbox uses a push button dial to send an ID number, or passes a cipher by voice. Then, the receptionist at the reception desk checks the ID number or cipher, and if it is found to be authorized one, he or she sends a lock releasing command to the public phone and simultaneously invalidates this ID number or cipher to set a new ID number or cipher. The mechanism of a lock A of the public phone is released by this lock releasing command, and the person who receives money into a cashbox uses a duplicate key to release a lock B. In this way, the cashbox is unlocked. 
     However, the conventional unlocking method described above has a problem such that a full-service operator is required for unlocking a cashbox, thus making it impossible to achieve labor savings. In addition, one person can unlock the cashbox if he or she can know one ID number, and thus there is some limitation in ensuring security. 
     The present invention has been made in view of the above aspects, and the object thereof is to provide an unlocking method capable of achieving labor savings by unmanning a system on the side of an object to be unlocked, and ensuring high security. 
     The unlocking method of the present invention is characterized in that an object to be unlocked capable of sending/receiving an identification code by radio, and a plurality of electronic lock devices capable of sending/receiving identification codes by radio are provided, and a plurality of identification codes are used to perform an unlocking operation in the object to be unlocked. 
     In this unlocking method, the plurality of electronic lock devices send different identification codes repeatedly in a linked manner using as a starting identification code an identification code sent from the object to be unlocked if the received identification code is correct, and the object to be unlocked receives an identification code sent from the last electronic lock device, and undergoes the unlocking operation if the identification code is correct. 
     As another example, the plurality of electronic lock devices send different identification codes repeatedly in a linked manner using as a starting identification code an identification code sent from the object to be unlocked if the received identification code is correct, and the object to be unlocked receives the plurality of identification codes sent from the plurality of electronic lock devices, and undergoes the unlocking operation if the identification codes are correct. 
     As still another example, the plurality of electronic lock devices send different identification codes repeatedly in a linked manner using as a starting identification code an identification code sent from the object to be unlocked if the received identification code is correct and the owner of the electronic lock device is to be found an authorized owner from a detected biological feature, and the object to be unlocked receives an identification code sent from the last electronic lock device, and undergoes the unlocking operation if the identification code is correct. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing a first cashbox apparatus for explaining the first embodiment of the unlocking method of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart showing in detail an unlocking operation in the first cashbox apparatus; 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing a second cashbox apparatus for explaining the second embodiment of the unlocking method of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart showing in detail the unlocking operation in the second cashbox apparatus; 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram showing a third cashbox apparatus for explaining the third embodiment of the unlocking method of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing in detail the unlocking operation in the third cashbox apparatus. 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     The embodiment of the unlocking method according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.  FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing a first cashbox apparatus for explaining the first embodiment of the unlocking method of the present invention. The first cashbox apparatus consists of a cashbox  10 , a first electronic lock device  20  and a second electronic lock device  30 . The number of electronic lock devices can easily be increased or decreased according to the level of security, but two electronic lock devices are used in this embodiment. 
     The cashbox  10  has a send/receive unit  11 , a control unit  12 , a locking/unlocking mechanism unit  13  and a memory  14 . “A” and “C” are stored in the memory  14  as identification codes (hereinafter referred to as ID). The cashbox  10  sends ID=A stored in the memory  14  constantly as ID 1  from the send/receive unit  11 . On the other hand, when the send/receive unit  11  receives an ID, and the ID is found to be “C” in the control unit  12  as a result of comparison with ID=C stored in the memory  14 , the locking/unlocking mechanism unit  13  is operated by the control unit  12  to unlock the cashbox  10 . 
     The first electronic lock device  20  is owned by a first unlocking person  20   a . The first electronic lock device  20  has a send/receive unit  21 , a determination unit  22  and a memory  23 . “A” and “B” are stored as IDs in the memory  23 . When the first electronic lock device  20  receives an ID at the send/receive unit  21 , and it is determined by the determination unit  22  that the ID is “A” as a result of comparison with ID=A stored in the memory  23 , then ID=B stored in the memory  23  is sent from the send/receive unit  21  as ID 2 . That is, the first electronic lock device  20  sends ID=B as ID 2  when receiving an authorized ID (ID=A) from the cashbox  10 . 
     The second electronic lock device  30  is owned by a second unlocking person  30   a . The second electronic lock device  30  has a send/receive unit  31 , a determination unit  32  and a memory  33  as in the case of the first electronic lock device  20 , but “B” and “C” are stored as IDs in the memory  33 . When the second electronic lock device  30  receives an ID at the send/receive unit  31 , and it is determined by the determination unit  32  that the ID is “B” as a result of comparison with ID=B stored in the memory  33 , then ID=C stored in the memory  33  is sent from the send/receive unit  31  as ID 3 . That is, the second electronic lock device  30  sends ID=C as ID 3  when receiving an authorized ID (ID=B) from the first electronic lock device  20 . 
     Furthermore, the send/receive units  11 ,  21  and  31  each perform communication by a near two-way radio communication system between a master (server) and a slave (client). For the frequency band, the ISM (2.4 GHz band) which requires no specific license and is capable of being used in common almost all over the world is used. In this radio communication system, terminal identification codes are individually assigned so that a specific terminal can be identified. The terminal identification number is stored in a nonvolatile memory so that it cannot be rewritten. 
     In addition, the radio communication system has a capability of detecting that a communication partner has entered a communication area before data communication is carried out. After the communication partner is detected, an object of connection is selected or whether the object of connection is suitable is determined, and connection processing (calling) is performed for carrying out data communication. 
     Provided that a part performing detection is a master, the master has detection and connection buttons. The user presses the detection button, whereby the master sends a detection signal and waits until a response signal is received. A part to be detected (slave) performs reception operations periodically for receiving the detection signal, and sends its terminal identification number as the response signal when receiving the detection signal. 
     When receiving the response signal successfully, the master displays the terminal identification number by providing, for example, an indicator or the like. If the user wants to make a connection, he or she selects an object of connection and presses the connection button, whereby the master launches connection processing to start data communication. 
     This example is to establish communications between the master and a plurality of slaves, and links made around the master. 
     When connection for communication is started, the master assigns a temporary address to the slave. The slave determines from the received address whether data is bound for the slave, and captures the data if it is bound for the slave, and abandons the data if it is not bound for the slave. Even while data communication is performed between the master and the slave, a slave can be added at any time by carrying out a terminal detection/connection procedure in the above communication area. In addition, the temporary address assigned to the slave can be abandoned at the time when data communication is completed. In this way, communications with numerous terminals can be performed by adding and releasing the slave repeatedly in a time-divided manner. 
     The unlocking operation of the cashbox  10  in this apparatus will now be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.  2 . The cashbox  10  sends ID=A constantly as ID 1  (step S 1 ). The first electronic lock device  20  receives this ID 1  (step S 2 ). Then, the first electronic lock device  20  determines whether the received ID 1  is ID=A, namely the authorized ID from the cashbox  10  (step S 3 ). If it is determined that the ID 1  is ID=A, then the first electronic lock device  20  sends ID=B as ID 2  (step S 4 ). The second electronic lock device  30  receives this ID 2  (step S 5 ). Then, the second electronic lock device  30  determined whether the received ID 2  is ID=B, namely authorized ID from the first electronic lock device  20  (step S 6 ). If it is determined that the ID 2  is ID=B, then the second electronic lock device sends ID=C as ID 3  (step S 7 ). The cashbox  10  receives this ID 3  (step S 8 ). Then, the cashbox  10  determines whether the received ID 3  is ID=C, namely authorized ID from the electronic lock device  30  (step S 9 ). If it is determined that the ID 3  is ID=C, then the locking/unlocking unit  13  is operated by the control unit  12  to carry out unlocking in the cashbox  10  (step S 10 ). 
     According to the above apparatus, as described above, the unlocking operation is performed in the cashbox  10  only when the first electronic lock device  20  and the second electronic lock device  30  owned by the first unlocking person  20   a  and the second unlocking person  30   a , respectively, are used together along with a plurality of IDs, and as a result the IDs are sent and received correctly. Therefore, security is enhanced. In addition, the number of electronic lock devices can be increased and decreased according to the level of confidentiality, and thus an appropriate level of security can be maintained. In addition, the system on the side of the cashbox  10  can be unmanned, thus making it possible to achieve labor savings. 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing a second cashbox apparatus for explaining the second embodiment of the unlocking method of the present invention. In this second cashbox apparatus, the cashbox  10  receives both ID 2  sent by the first electronic lock device  20  and ID 3  sent by the second electronic lock device  30 , and the locking/unlocking mechanism unit  13  is operated by the control unit  12  of the cashbox  10  to unlock the cashbox  10  when it is determined that the ID 2  and ID 3  are ID=B and ID=C, namely the cashbox  10  receives authorized IDs from both the first and second electronic lock devices  20  and  30 . Other processes are carried out in the same way as the first cashbox apparatus of  FIG. 1 , and same parts in the figure are given same symbols as those in FIG.  1 . Furthermore, IDs “B” and “C” for comparison are stored in the memory  14  of the cashbox  10  for determining whether ID 2  and ID 3  received from the first and second electronic lock devices  20  and  30  are “B” and “C”. 
     A detailed unlocking operation in the second cashbox apparatus is shown in the flowchart of FIG.  4 . To explain this, the cashbox  10  sends ID=A constantly as ID 1  (step S 21 ). The first electronic lock device  20  receives the ID 1  (step S 22 ). Then, the first electronic lock device  20  determines whether the received ID 1  is ID=A, namely an authorized ID from the cashbox  10  (step S 23 ). If it is determined that the ID 1  is ID=A, then the first electronic lock device  20  sends ID=B as ID 2  (step S 24 ). The second electronic lock device  30  receives the ID 2  (step S 25 ). At the same time, the ID 2  is received by the cashbox  10 , and is stored in the memory  14  of the cashbox  10  (step S 26 ). The second electronic lock device  30  determines the received ID 2  is ID=B, namely an authorized ID from the first electronic lock device  20  (step S 27 ). If it is determined that the ID 2  is ID=B, then the second electronic lock device  30  sends ID=C as ID 3  (step S 28 ). The cashbox  10  receives the ID 3  (step S 29 ), and stores the ID 3  in the memory  14  of the cashbox  10  (step S 30 ). At the same time, the cashbox  10  determines whether the ID 3  stored in the memory  14  is ID=C, and the ID 2  stored in the memory  14  at step S 26  is ID=B, namely authorized IDs have been received from the first and second electronic lock devices  20  and  30  (step S 31 ). If it is determined that the ID 2  is ID=B, and the ID 3  is ID=C, then the locking/unlocking mechanism unit  13  is operated by the control unit  12  to perform unlocking in the cashbox  10  (step S 32 ). 
     According to the second cashbox apparatus described above, the cashbox  10  receives IDs from both the first electronic lock device  20  and the second electronic lock device  30 , thus making it possible to further enhance security. 
       FIG. 5  is a block diagram showing a third cashbox apparatus for explaining the third embodiment of the unlocking method of the present invention. In the third cashbox apparatus, sensors  24  and  34  are attached to the first electronic lock device  20  and the second electronic lock device  30 , respectively. The sensor  24  attached to the first electronic lock device  20  detects a biological feature (e.g. fingerprint) of the owner of the first electronic lock device  20  to determine whether the owner of the first electronic lock device  20  is an authorized owner (first unlocking person  20   a ). Specifically, information obtained from the sensor  24  is compared with information of the biological feature of the authorized owner stored in the memory  23  in advance in the determination unit  22  to determine whether the owner of the first electronic lock device  20  is an authorized owner. When it is determined that the owner is an authorized owner in the way described above, and the received ID is an authorized ID (ID=A) from the cashbox  10 , then the first electronic lock device  20  sends ID=B as ID 2 . 
     Similarly, the sensor  34  attached to the second electronic lock device  30  detects a biological feature (e.g. fingerprint) of the owner of the second electronic lock device  30  to determine whether the owner of the second electronic lock device  30  is an authorized owner (second unlocking person  30   a ). Specifically, information obtained from the sensor  34  is compared with information of the biological feature of the authorized owner stored in the memory  33  in advance in the determination unit  32  to determine whether the owner of the second electronic lock device  30  is an authorized owner. When it is determined that the owner is an authorized owner in the way described above, and the received ID is an authorized ID (ID=B) from the first electronic lock device  20 , then the second electronic lock device  30  sends ID=C as ID 3 . Other configurations of the third cashbox are same as their counterparts of the first cashbox apparatus of  FIG. 1 , and the same parts in the figure are given same symbols as those of FIG.  1 . 
     A detailed operation in the third cashbox apparatus is shown in the flowchart of FIG.  6 . To explain this, the cashbox  10  sends ID=A constantly as ID 1  (step S 41 ). The first electronic lock device  20  receives the ID 1  (step S 42 ). Then, the first electronic lock device  20  determines whether the received ID 1  is ID=A, namely an authorized ID from the cashbox  10  (step S 43 ). If the ID 1  is ID=A, then the first electronic lock device  20  further determines whether the owner is an authorized owner based on information from the sensor  24  (step S 44 ). If it is determined that the owner is an authorized owner as well, then the first electronic lock device  20  sends ID=B as ID 2  (step S 45 ). The second electronic lock device  30  receives the ID 2  (step S 46 ). Then, the second electronic lock device  30  determines whether the received ID 2  is ID=B, namely an authorized ID from the first electronic lock device  20  (step S 47 ). If the ID 2  is ID=B, then the second electronic lock device  30  further determines whether the owner is an authorized owner based on information from the sensor  34  (step S 48 ). If it is determined that the owner is an authorized owner as well, then the second electronic lock device  30  sends ID=C as ID 3  (step S 49 ). The cashbox  10  receives the ID 3  (step S 50 ). Then, the cashbox  10  determines whether the received ID 3  is ID=C, namely an authorized ID from the second electronic lock device  30  (step S 51 ). If it is determined that the ID 3  is ID=C, the locking/unlocking mechanism unit  13  is operated by the control unit  12  to perform unlocking in the cashbox  10  (step S 52 ). 
     According to the third cashbox apparatus described above, whether the owner is an authorized owner is also determined by the first and second electronic lock devices  20  and  30  before the ID is sent from the first and second electronic lock devices  20  and  30 , and therefore security is enhanced. 
     Furthermore, the case of unlocking a cashbox has been described in the above embodiments, but the unlocking method of the present invention may be used for unlocking other objects to be unlocked such as a gateway door as a matter of course. 
     According to the unlocking method of the present invention, as described above, the radio and a plurality of identification codes are used to perform unlocking, whereby the system on the side of the object to be unlocked can be unmanned to achieve labor savings, and also security can be enhanced.