Vending machines with field-programmable locks

• Main Authors: DENISON WILLIAM D, SILVERS BRADLEY S, BROWNFIELD LAWRENCE D
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 25.12.2003
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDEDFOR ELSEWHERE; CALCULATING; CHECKING-DEVICES; COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS; COMPUTING; CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; CONTROLLING; COUNTING; ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE; ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING; ELECTRICITY; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS ORELEMENTS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; REGULATING; SELECTING; SIGNALLING; TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILARSIGNALS; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLES IN GENERAL; VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISEPROVIDED FOR; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS

A vending machine uses a field-programmable electronic lock that learns a key code from a corresponding electronic key. The electronic lock has a learning process activation device that is accessible only when the door of the vending machine is in the open position. Using the learning process activation device, a service person activates the electronic lock to perform a key code learning operation, in which the electronic lock receives a key code transmitted from an electronic key and stores the key code in a non-volatile memory for future access control of the vending machine. Data encryption is employed in the communications between the key and the lock to ensure the security of the communications. Customized access limitations and a list of lock IDs are programmed into the electronic key to restrict when and how it can be used to access the vending machines. Access history data of the vending machines are collected for audit purposes by uploading the data from the vending machines to an electronic key. A communication device installed in the vending machine for communicating with a home base computer allows the operation of the electronic lock to be remotely controlled for access control and auditing purposes.