Locking mechanism for use with non-permanent access code

Patent 6696918 Issued on February 24, 2004. Estimated Expiration Date:

August 16, 2021. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

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Inventors

Assignee

Vistant Corporation

Application

No. 09/931849 filed on 08/16/2001

US Classes:

340/5.21, Varying authorization340/543, Permutation340/545.6Door, cover, or lid for self-contained article (e.g., refrigerator, mailbox, drawer, cabinet, or box)

Examiners

Primary: Mullen, Thomas

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Blakely Sokoloff Taylor & Zafman LLP

International Classes

A47G 29/00 (20060101)
A47G 29/14 (20060101)
G07F 7/10 (20060101)
G07C 9/00 (20060101)

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.