Patent · US Expired

Locking mechanism for use with non-permanent access code

US6696918B2 · kind B2 · utility

62Cited by
10References
36Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 16, 2001
Grant dateFeb 24, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 16, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA47G2029/149
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A request for an access code for a locking mechanism is received; and a non-permanent use access code for the locking mechanism is subsequently issued. The non-permanent use access code may be issued from a list of currently available access codes for the locking mechanism in response to a request therefor, for example by a merchant or delivery service. Such a code may be issued by a server, which server is further responsible for updating the list of available access codes in response to an indication that a code has been used or has otherwise expired. Such a code may also be issued by a locking mechanism controller The list of currently available access codes is preferably a subset of all access codes for the locking mechanism, which codes may be generated using a cryptographically strong random number generator.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.