Method of unlocking electronic lock | Patent Publication Number 20040012484

US 20040012484 A1
Patent NumberUS 06903651 B2
Application Number10381337
Filled DateJul 31, 2001
Priority DateJul 31, 2001
Publication DateJan 22, 2004
Original AssigneeKabushiki Kaisha Kenwood
Inventor/ApplicantsKentaro Matsuoka
Kentaro Matsuoka
International
2
H04Q
H04B
National
3
340/5.61
340/825.72
340/573.
Field of Search
0
A method of unlocking an electronic lock capable of saving a labor by unmanning a system on the side of an object to be unlocked and increasing a security, comprising the step of unlocking by using a radio and a plurality of identification codes, wherein a cashbox (10) transmits IDA as ID1, a first electronic lock device (20) transmits IDB as ID2 when receiving IDA as ID, a second electronic lock device (30) transmits IDC as ID3 when receiving IDB as ID, and the cashbox (10) performs an unlocking operation when receiving IDC as ID.
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TECHNICAL FIELD 0001 The present invention relates to an unlocking method of unlocking an object to be unlocked, for example a cashbox.
BACKGROUND ART 0002 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. 0003 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. 0004 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. 0005 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. 0006 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. 0007 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. 0008 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 0009 FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first cashbox apparatus for explaining the first embodiment of the unlocking method of the present invention; 0010 FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing in detail an unlocking operation in the first cashbox apparatus; 0011 FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a second cashbox apparatus for explaining the second embodiment of the unlocking method of the present invention; 0012 FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing in detail the unlocking operation in the second cashbox apparatus; 0013 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 0014 FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing in detail the unlocking operation in the third cashbox apparatus.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 0015 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. 0016 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 IDA stored in the memory 14 constantly as ID1 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 IDC stored in the memory 14, the locking/unlocking mechanism unit 13 is operated by the control unit 12 to unlock the cashbox 10. 0017 The first electronic lock device 20 is owned by a first unlocking person 20a. 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 IDA stored in the memory 23, then IDB stored in the memory 23 is sent from the send/receive unit 21 as ID2. That is, the first electronic lock device 20 sends IDB as ID2 when receiving an authorized ID (IDA) from the cashbox 10. 0018 The second electronic lock device 30 is owned by a second unlocking person 30a. 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 IDB stored in the memory 33, then IDC stored in the memory 33 is sent from the send/receive unit 31 as ID3. That is, the second electronic lock device 30 sends IDC as ID3 when receiving an authorized ID (IDB) from the first electronic lock device 20. 0019 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. 0020 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. 0021 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. 0022 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. 0023 This example is to establish communications between the master and a plurality of slaves, and links made around the master. 0024 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. 0025 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 IDA constantly as ID1 (step S1). The first electronic lock device 20 receives this ID1 (step S2). Then, the first electronic lock device 20 determines whether the received ID1 is IDA, namely the authorized ID from the cashbox 10 (step S3). If it is determined that the ID1 is IDA, then the first electronic lock device 20 sends IDB as ID2 (step S4). The second electronic lock device 30 receives this ID2 (step S5). Then, the second electronic lock device 30 determined whether the received ID2 is IDB, namely authorized ID from the first electronic lock device 20 (step S6). If it is determined that the ID2 is IDB, then the second electronic lock device sends IDC as ID3 (step S7). The cashbox 10 receives this ID3 (step S8). Then, the cashbox 10 determines whether the received ID3 is IDC, namely authorized ID from the electronic lock device 30 (step S9). If it is determined that the ID3 is IDC, then the locking/unlocking unit 13 is operated by the control unit 12 to carry out unlocking in the cashbox 10 (step S10). 0026 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 20a and the second unlocking person 30a, 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. 0027 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 ID2 sent by the first electronic lock device 20 and ID3 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 ID2 and ID3 are IDB and IDC, 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 ID2 and ID3 received from the first and second electronic lock devices 20 and 30 are B and C. 0028 A detailed unlocking operation in the second cashbox apparatus is shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4. To explain this, the cashbox 10 sends IDA constantly as ID1 (step S21). The first electronic lock device 20 receives the ID1 (step S22). Then, the first electronic lock device 20 determines whether the received ID1 is IDA, namely an authorized ID from the cashbox 10 (step S23). If it is determined that the ID1 is IDA, then the first electronic lock device 20 sends IDB as ID2 (step S24). The second electronic lock device 30 receives the ID2 (step S25). At the same time, the ID2 is received by the cashbox 10, and is stored in the memory 14 of the cashbox 10 (step S26). The second electronic lock device 30 determines the received ID2 is IDB, namely an authorized ID from the first electronic lock device 20 (step S27). If it is determined that the ID2 is IDB, then the second electronic lock device 30 sends IDC as ID3 (step S28). The cashbox 10 receives the ID3 (step S29), and stores the ID3 in the memory 14 of the cashbox 10 (step S30). At the same time, the cashbox 10 determines whether the ID3 stored in the memory 14 is IDC, and the ID2 stored in the memory 14 at step S26 is IDB, namely authorized IDs have been received from the first and second electronic lock devices 20 and 30 (step S31). If it is determined that the ID2 is IDB, and the ID3 is IDC, then the locking/unlocking mechanism unit 13 is operated by the control unit 12 to perform unlocking in the cashbox 10 (step S32). 0029 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. 0030 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 20a). 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 (IDA) from the cashbox 10, then the first electronic lock device 20 sends IDB as ID2. 0031 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 30a). 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 (IDB) from the first electronic lock device 20, then the second electronic lock device 30 sends IDC as ID3. 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. 0032 A detailed operation in the third cashbox apparatus is shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6. To explain this, the cashbox 10 sends IDA constantly as ID1 (step S41). The first electronic lock device 20 receives the ID1 (step S42). Then, the first electronic lock device 20 determines whether the received ID1 is IDA, namely an authorized ID from the cashbox 10 (step S43). If the ID1 is IDA, then the first electronic lock device 20 further determines whether the owner is an authorized owner based on information from the sensor 24 (step S44). If it is determined that the owner is an authorized owner as well, then the first electronic lock device 20 sends IDB as ID2 (step S45). The second electronic lock device 30 receives the ID2 (step S46). Then, the second electronic lock device 30 determines whether the received ID2 is IDB, namely an authorized ID from the first electronic lock device 20 (step S47). If the ID2 is IDB, then the second electronic lock device 30 further determines whether the owner is an authorized owner based on information from the sensor 34 (step S48). If it is determined that the owner is an authorized owner as well, then the second electronic lock device 30 sends IDC as ID3 (step S49). The cashbox 10 receives the ID3 (step S50). Then, the cashbox 10 determines whether the received ID3 is IDC, namely an authorized ID from the second electronic lock device 30 (step S51). If it is determined that the ID3 is IDC, the locking/unlocking mechanism unit 13 is operated by the control unit 12 to perform unlocking in the cashbox 10 (step S52). 0033 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. 0034 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. 0035 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.
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