Apparatus and method for user control of appliances

Abstract

Apparatus and a method of controlling operation of a wide variety of appliances so the appliance can only be used by an authorized individual, and then only under certain specified conditions. The apparatus and method provide safe use of the appliance since presumably the person authorized to use the appliance is trained in its use, and where circumstances warrant, knows how to use the appliance safely. It is a particular advantage of the invention to prevent unsafe use of the appliance, even by an authorized user.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application is a continuation in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 931,499, filed on Aug. 16, 2001, from which priority is claimed and which claimed priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 227,623 filed on Aug. 18, 2000, both of which are herein incorporated by reference.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH [0002] Not Applicable. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] This invention relates to access control, and more particularly to user control of appliances. The appliances include a wide range of appliances such as personal computers, firearms including handguns, rifles, shotguns, and other armaments, as well as other user controlled devices. An apparatus and method of the present invention facilitate usage of an appliance only by an authorized user or users. A particular example of the invention described herein relates to firearm safety by which only someone authorized to use a firearm c...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015] Among the several objects of the present invention may be noted the apparatus and a method of controlling operation of a wide variety of appliances so the appliance can only be used by an authorized individual, and then only under certain specified conditions. The apparatus and method provide safe use of the appliance since presumably the person authorized to use the appliance is trained in its use, and where circumstances warrant, knows how to use the appliance safely. It is a particular advantage of the invention to prevent unsafe use of the appliance, even by an authorized user.

[0016] The apparatus and method of the invention are, in one application, used for firearm safety. The apparatus, when used with a firearm enables an authorized user to enable (authorize) the firearm, so it can be used while the person is on duty. Most importantly, the apparatus and method of the invention only enables the weapon to be fired when the authorized user is in a preferred spatial position with respect to the weapon; i.e., behind the firearm with the discharge muzzle pointed away from the authorized user. Thus, even if the firearm is taken away from the authorized user, and the authorized user remains in close proximity, the firearm cannot be used against the authorized user.

[0017] Another feature of the invention is that more than one individual can be authorized to use the same appliance. In law enforcement or military scenarios, this means one person can use a firearm configured with an apparatus of the present invention during one interval, and another person may use the firearm at another time.

[0018] A further feature of the invention is the use of encoded transmissions between the appliance and the authorized user. A coding scheme is employed which prevents spoofing so that an unauthorized user cannot authorize the appliance.

[0019] A method of the invention requires continuous, periodic re-authorization to maintain the appliance in an authorized state. The encoding of the signals sent back and forth between the appliance and authorized user is constantly changed to prevent tampering, or unauthorized use or duplication.

[0020] A further feature of the invention is that authorization of the appliance can be overridden in certain circumstances. For example, authorization to activate a firearm may be overridden in a schoolroom or courthouse.

Problems solved by technology

Thus, even if the firearm is taken away from the authorized user, and the authorized user remains in close proximity, the firearm cannot be used against the authorized user.

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