System and method for managing distributed encrypted combination over-locks from a remote location
OwnerBradford A. Minsley, Clifton P. Minsleyinventors
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Abstract
The disclosure generally relates to a system and method for managing distributed encrypted combination over-locks from a remote location. In an exemplary embodiment, the invention is directed to a distributed management system for self-storage facilities that provide customers with immediate access to an over-locked space upon payment of delinquent past due balances.
Claims20
A system for retrieving a decrypted unlock code for a physical lock from a remote server in a self-storage facility having a plurality of storage units, the system comprising:
- a database stored at the remote server communicatively coupled to a network, wherein the database is configured to store a lock identifier and an encrypted unlock code, where the lock identifier is associated with a customer account identifier, and where the encrypted unlock code is generated using an encryption technique utilizing the lock identifier as an input;
- a mobile device communicatively coupled to the database via the network, wherein the mobile device is configured to transmit the customer account identifier to the database via the network;
- a processor coupled to the database, wherein the processor is configured to receive the customer account identifier from the mobile device, and further configured to determine if a customer account associated with the customer account identifier has a delinquent status, the processor further configured to decrypt the encrypted unlock code;
- a transceiver coupled to the database, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit the decrypted unlock code to the mobile device if the processor determines that the customer account does not have a delinquent status.
A system for retrieving a decrypted unlock code for a combination lock for use in a self-storage facility having a plurality of storage units, the system comprising:
- a mobile device communicatively coupled to a server, wherein the mobile device is configured to transmit a customer account identifier to the server;
- a database communicatively coupled to the server;
- a processor coupled to the database, wherein the processor is configured to receive the customer account identifier from the mobile device, and further configured to determine if a customer account associated with the customer account identifier has a delinquent status, the processor further configured to retrieve an encrypted unlock code associated with the combination lock if the customer account does not have a delinquent status, wherein the encrypted unlock code and the combination lock have previously been associated using an encryption methodology, and wherein the encrypted unlock code is generated using a lock identifier as an input, and wherein the processor is further configured to decrypt the encrypted unlock code;
- and
- a transceiver coupled to the processor, the transceiver configured to transmit the decrypted unlock code to mobile device via the server,
- wherein the mobile device is configured to display the decrypted unlock code on the interface.
A method for retrieving a decrypted unlock code for a combination over-lock for use in a self-storage facility having a plurality of storage units from a remote server, the method comprising:
- receiving a customer account identifier on an interface for a software application stored on a mobile device;
- transmitting the customer account identifier from the mobile device to the remote server;
- receiving the customer account identifier at a processor at the remote server;
- determining if an account associated with the customer account identifier has a delinquent status by the processor,
- retrieving, if the account does not have a delinquent status, an encrypted unlock code for the combination over-lock, wherein the encrypted unlock code is generated using an encryption technique utilizing a lock identifier as an input;
- decrypting the encrypted unlock code by the processor;
- transmitting the decrypted unlock code by the remote server to the mobile device;
- and
- displaying the decrypted unlock code on the interface for the software application on the mobile device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.