Patent ID: 6885281

Claim:
A method of controlling a safe having open and closed states, said method comprising the steps of: providing an electronic lock for said safe through which a plurality of different types of transactions can be performed, including at least (a) currency processing and (b) changing of the state of the safe; providing a control unit external to said safe and coupled to said electronic lock for communication between the control unit and the electronic lock, said control unit monitoring said transactions with said electronic lock to allow a determination to be made through the control unit that a transaction has been performed; sending user identification information to the control unit to verify authority of a user to send signals to the electronic lock from the control unit; sending signals to said electronic lock from said control unit after authority of a user to send signals from the control unit to the electronic lock has been verified; and controlling said safe remotely from the safe in response to said signals to perform the transactions without requiring intervention by a user of the safe at the safe.