Security system

A method of enabling or activating a protected function, said method comprising:

• receiving an access request from a wireless communication device at an access control device;
• transmitting an authentication challenge from said access control device to said wireless communication device in response to said access request;
• receiving an authentication response based on said authentication challenge and an authorization code;
• comparing said received authentication response with an expected authentication response;
• and
• generating a control signal to permit access to said protected function if said received authentication response matches said expected authentication response.

A method of programming a wireless communication device with an authorization code used to enable or activate a protected function, said method comprising:

• storing a master code in a central controller;
• receiving an initialization request from said wireless communication device;
• computing an authorization code based on said master code, said central controller in response to receipt of said initialization request;
• communicating said authorization code to said wireless communication device.

A device for enabling or activating a protected function, said device comprising:

• memory to store an authorization code;
• a wireless transmitter to transmit an access request and an authentication response to an access control device;
• a wireless receiver to receive an authentication challenge from said access control device responsive to said access request;
• a processor to compute said authentication response based on said authentication challenge received from said access control device and said authorization code.

An access control device to secure a protected function, said access control device comprising:

• a wireless transceiver to communicate with a wireless communication device;
• a processor programmed to:
• generate an authentication challenge in response to an access request from said wireless communication device;
• transmit said authentication response via said wireless transceiver to said wireless communication device;
• receive an authentication response from said wireless communication device via said wireless transceiver;
• compare said received authentication response to an expected authentication response based on said authentication challenge and an authorization code;
• and
• generate a control signal to permit access to said protected function if said expected authentication response matches said received authentication response.

A device for issuing authorization code to activate or enable a protected function, said device comprising:

• memory to store a master code;
• an interface to communicate with a wireless communication device;
• a processor programmed to:
• compute an authorization code based on said master code in response to receipt of an initialization request from said wireless communication device;
• transmit said authorization code to said wireless communication device.