Claims
- 1. An electronic combination lock comprising:
- an input dial for inputting numbers of a combination into said lock;
- a display for displaying numbers;
- an electronic control means for receiving said numbers of said combinations and for comparing said numbers with numbers of an authorized combination;
- said electronic control means including:
- an encrypting combination generator responsive to an entered combination for encrypting predetermined data and for generating a combination derived from said predetermined data;
- a comparator for comparing said entered combination with said generated combination and responsive to a compare equal to generate a signal permitting said lock to open,
- said encrypting and generating means responsive to a last accepted combination, a parameter unique to said lock, a master combination, a variable value, said variable value changed in a predictable manner upon each opening of said lock to form a result and manipulation of said result, to generate said authorized combination.
- 2. The lock of claim 1 wherein said electronic control means comprises storage means for storing said entered combination upon said entered combination equalling said generated authorized combination.
- 3. The lock of claim 1 wherein said electronic control means further includes a counter, contents of said counter incremented upon each comparing equal of said entered combination and said generated combination, said counter contents being said variable value.
- 4. The lock of claim 1 wherein said electronic control means further includes means for generating a new master combination responsive to said authorized combination meeting a predetermined criteria.
- 5. The lock of claim 4 wherein said criteria is that a sum of predesignated digits of said authorized combination equals a predetermined value.
- 6. A method of providing an electronic combination lock with a single use authorized combination for opening said lock comprising the steps of:
- receiving a new combination into said lock;
- responsive to said receiving said new combination, generating an authorized combination based upon previously used authorized combination, a value unique to said lock, a randomly alterable master combination, a variable value unique to said lock and a mathematical combining of predesignated digits of said entered combination;
- comparing said generated, authorized combination with said entered combination, and
- responsive to said compare equal condition therebetween, replacing said previously used authorized combination with said generated authorized combination, and
- providing an electrical authorization signal to condition said lock to be opened.
- 7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the steps of:
- testing said authorized combination for equality to at least one condition;
- responsive to said condition being equalled, altering said randomly alterable master combination to create an altered master combination, and
- replacing said randomly alterable master combination with said altered master combination.
- 8. The method of claim 6 additionally including steps of incrementing said variable value by a fixed increment upon successful comparison of said new combination and said authorized combination.
- 9. The method of claim 7 additionally including steps of incrementing said variable value by a fixed increment upon successful comparison of said new combination and said authorized combination.
- 10. A computer system for generating a combination for operation of a lock comprising:
- a memory for storing one fixed numerical value unique to a designated lock and at least three variable numerical values;
- a computer processor;
- a control program for controlling said processor to perform a predetermined sequence of operations involving a predetermined fixed numerical value and at least two variable numerical values;
- said sequence of operations including at least a first operation of combining one variable numerical value and one fixed numerical value, producing a first result; a mathematical combining of a second variable value with said first result producing a second result, a rearranging of digits of said second variable numerical value, a mathematical combining of said second result and said rearranged value, producing a third result, adding two digits of said third result to two predesignated digits of said third result, producing a fourth result, and providing said result for the opening of a lock.
- 11. The computer system of claim 10 wherein said control program defines said first operation of combing as exclusive ORing.
- 12. The computer system of claim 10 wherein said control program defines said first operation of combining as a mathematical combining.
- 13. The computer system of claim 10 wherein said two operations of mathematical combining are each addition or subtraction with the two operations being different.
- 14. An electronic combination lock having a computer for controlling operation of said lock, said computer comprising:
- A bolt, a bolt withdrawal mechanism including an actuator responsive to said computer for enabling withdrawal of said bolt;
- said computer further comprising:
- a memory for storing one fixed numerical value unique to a designated lock and at least three variable numerical values;
- a computer processor;
- a control program for controlling said processor to perform a predetermined sequence of operations involving a predetermined fixed numerical value and at least two variable numerical values;
- said sequence of operations including at least a first operation of combining one variable numerical value and one fixed numerical value, producing a first result; a mathematical combining of a second variable value with said first result producing a second result, a rearranging of digits of said second variable numerical value, a mathematical combining of said second result and said rearranged value, producing a third result, adding two digits of said third result to two predesignated digits of said third result, producing a fourth result;
- said computer processor responsive to said control program to compare said fourth result to a combination generated on a computer system performing identical operations in an identical sequence, using identical fixed and variable values;
- said computer responsive to a finding of equality of said fourth result and said combination to signal said actuator to enable said bolt withdrawal.
- 15. An electronic combination lock comprising:
- an input for entering numbers of a combination into said lock;
- an electronic control for receiving said numbers of said combination and for comparing said numbers with numbers of an authorized combination;
- said electronic control including:
- an encrypting combination generator responsive to an entered combination for encrypting predetermined data and for generating a combination derived from said predetermined data;
- a comparator for comparing said entered combination with said generated combination and responsive to a compare equal condition to generate a signal permitting said lock to open,
- said encrypting and generating means responsive to a last accepted combination, a parameter unique to said lock, a master combination, a variable value, said variable value changed in a predictable manner upon each opening of said lock to form an interim value and manipulation of said interim value, to generate said authorized combination.
- 16. The lock of claim 15 wherein said electronic control comprises storage means for storing said entered combination upon said entered combination equalling said generated authorized combination.
- 17. The lock of claim 15 wherein said electronic control further includes a counter, contents of said counter incremented upon each comparing equal of said entered combination and said generated combination, said counter contents being said variable value.
- 18. The lock of claim 15 wherein said electronic control further includes a combination generator for generating a new master combination responsive to said authorized combination meeting a predetermined criteria.
- 19. The lock of claim 18 wherein said criteria is that a sum of predesignated digits of said authorized combination equals a predetermined value.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/139,450 filed Oct. 20, 1993, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (19)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
0459781 |
Dec 1991 |
EPX |
0546701 |
Jun 1993 |
EPX |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
139450 |
Oct 1993 |
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