Electronic key system, apparatus and method
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsHerman Rodriguez, Newton James Smith, Jr., Clifford Jay Spinac
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system, apparatus and method for using an electronic key to open electronic locking devices is provided. With the system, apparatus and method, a key code is sent to a user's wireless communication device and is later used to open a corresponding locking device. The key code is generated by a key supplier based on a master key obtained from a master key supplier, e.g. an electronic lock manufacturer. The key code may include a master key portion, a secondary key portion, an activation/expiration portion, a wireless device identifier portion, a time of issue portion, and a time of last use portion.
Claims54
A method of operating an electronic locking device using a wireless communication device, comprising:
- receiving a master key code from a master key supplier;
- generating a secondary key code from the master key code;
- transmitting the secondary key code to the wireless communication device;
- and
- transmitting the secondary key code to the electronic locking device, wherein the secondary key code is used by the wireless communication device to operate the electronic locking device in lieu of by a tangible device.
A method of operating an electronic locking device using a wireless communication device, comprising:
- receiving a master key code from a master key supplier;
- generating a secondary key code from the master key code;
- transmitting the secondary key code to the wireless communication device, wherein the secondary key code is used by the wireless communication device to operate the electronic locking device in lieu of by a tangible device;
- receiving a key code from the wireless communication device;
- authenticating the key code based on the secondary key code;
- and
- transmitting a command to operate the electronic locking device if the key code is authentic.
An apparatus for operating an electronic locking device using a wireless communication device, comprising:
- means for receiving a master key code from a master key supplier;
- means for generating a secondary key code from the master key code;
- first means for transmitting the secondary key code to the wireless communication device, wherein the secondary key code is used by the wireless communication device to operate the electronic locking device in lieu of by a tangible device;
- and
- second means for transmitting the secondary key code to the electronic locking device using at least one of a wired communication link and wireless communication link.
An apparatus for operating an electronic locking device using a wireless communication device, comprising:
- means for receiving a master key code from a master key supplier;
- means for generating a secondary key code from the master key code;
- and
- first means for transmitting the secondary key code to the wireless communication device, wherein the secondary key code is used by the wireless communication device to operate the electronic locking device in lieu of by a tangible device, wherein the secondary key code includes a secondary key code portion an activation/expiration portion, a wireless communication device identification portion that identifies the wireless communication device, a time of issue portion, and a time of last use portion.
An apparatus for operating an electronic locking device using a wireless communication device, comprising:
- means for receiving a master key code from a master key supplier;
- means for generating a secondary key code from the master key code;
- first means for transmitting the secondary key code to the wireless communication device, wherein the secondary key code is used by the wireless communication device to operate the electronic locking device in lieu of by a tangible device;
- means for receiving a key code from the wireless communication device;
- means for authenticating the key code based on the secondary key code;
- and
- means for transmitting a command to operate the electronic locking device if the key code is authentic.
A computer program product in a computer readable medium for operating an electronic locking device using a wireless communication device, comprising:
- first instructions for receiving a master key code from a master key supplier;
- second instructions for generating a secondary key code from the master key code;
- and
- third instructions for transmitting the secondary key code to the wireless communication device, wherein the secondary key code is transmitted from the wireless communication device to the electronic locking device to operate the electronic locking device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.