Electronic keys for electronic locks and methods of using the same

A method of using a set of electronic keys to operate an electronic lock, comprising:

• inserting, by a first user, an active electronic key into an active electronic keyhole of the electronic lock, wherein the active electronic key comprises an electrical power source to provide electrical power supply to the electronic lock through an active electronic key power supply port of the active electronic key, and an active digital key to the electronic lock through an active communication channel of the active electronic key, wherein the active electronic key comprises a digital key storage module, a digital key control module, a digital key en/decryption module, and an electrical power module;
• inserting, by a second user while the active electronic key is inserted in the active electronic keyhole of the electronic lock, a passive electronic key into a passive electronic keyhole of the electronic lock to receive electrical power supply from the electronic lock through an electrical power module of the passive electronic key and a passive electronic key power supply port from the electronic lock, and to provide a passive digital key to the electronic lock through a passive communication channel of the passive electronic key, wherein the passive electronic key comprises a digital key storage module, a digital key control module, a digital key en/decryption module, and an electrical power module;
• instructing, by the digital key control module of the active electronic key through the active communication channel of the active electronic key, the electronic lock to compare the active digital key received and the passive digital key received with a prestored active digital key and a prestored passive digital key in a digital key storage module of the electronic lock, wherein the electronic lock comprises the digital key storage module, a digital key control module, a digital key en/decryption module, a digital key authentication module, an electrical power module, and an electronic lock control module;
• and
• operating, by an electronic lock control module of the electronic lock, an electronic lock tongue through an electronic locking mechanism to lock and unlock the electronic lock, when a digital key authentication module of the electronic lock determines that the active digital key received and the passive digital key received are the same as a prestored active digital key and a prestored passive digital key respectively.