Electronic lock system

Abstract

To provide an electronic lock system used in a shared storage or the like, which can achieve power saving for itself.SOLUTION: An electronic lock system 1 comprises: an electronic lock unit 2 that locks or unlocks a storage 11; a portable terminal 3 carried by a user who uses the storage; and an authentication server 4 that authenticates the user. The electronic lock unit 2 includes an electronic lock 21, a control unit 22 that controls the electronic lock 21, and a communication unit (first, second communication units 24, 25) that can communicate with the portable terminal 3. The control unit 22 is activated in response to communication between the first communication unit 24 and the portable terminal 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an electronic lock system for use in storage facilities and the like. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a technology for an electronic lock system that can be locked and unlocked using a mobile terminal such as a smartphone. For example, Patent Document 1 introduces a technology for an electronic lock system that receives power contactlessly from a mobile terminal and unlocks an article storage fixture based on authentication information received from an external terminal. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-75218 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, in order to increase the degree of freedom in arranging storage cabinets, etc., it is preferable to use batteries as the power source for electronic lock systems used in storage cabinets, etc. However, because battery replacement is time-consuming and costly, there has been a demand for power-saving electronic lock systems and reducing the frequency of battery replacement.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to reduce the power consumption of an electronic lock system used in a storage facility or the like. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the electronic lock system of the present disclosure comprises an electronic lock unit that locks or unlocks the storage cabinet and a mobile terminal carried by the user who uses the storage cabinet, wherein the electronic lock unit includes an electronic lock, a control means that controls the electronic lock, and a communication means capable of communicating with the mobile terminal, wherein the communication means includes a first communication means that communicates with the mobile terminal that has approached the storage cabinet, and the control means is activated in response to communication by the first communication means as a trigger. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the electronic lock system of the present disclosure, the control means is configured to be activated by communication by the first communication means as a trigger, thereby reducing power consumption and enabling the entire electronic lock system to be power-efficient. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of an electronic lock system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic lock system. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a display screen of an application. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the electronic lock system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] An embodiment of an electronic lock system embodying the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, a cabinet 11 refers to an individual storage location that includes a door 11a and a storage section 11b.

[0010] As shown in Fig. 1, the electronic lock system 1 includes an electronic lock unit 2 that locks and unlocks a storage unit 11, a mobile terminal 3 carried by a user who uses the storage unit 11, and an authentication server 4 that authenticates the user. The storage unit 11 can be, for example, a shared locker, a safe, a bookcase, etc. The mobile terminal 3 can be, for example, a smartphone, a tablet, etc.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 2, the electronic lock unit 2 includes an electronic lock 21, a control unit 22 that controls the electronic lock 21, communication units (first communication unit 24, second communication unit 25) that can communicate with the mobile terminal 3, a battery 26 that supplies power to the electronic lock unit 2, and a storage device 23 as storage means that stores the app 12, which is communication information used to communicate with the authentication server 4. A nickel battery or the like can be used as the battery 26. A non-volatile memory such as a flash memory or a hard disk can be used as the storage device 23. An electronic lock unit 2 is provided for each storage cabinet 11. The communication information is not limited to the app 12, and for example, website information provided by the authentication server 4 can also be selected.

[0012] The electronic lock 21 includes a gear 21a for locking or unlocking, and a motor 21b for driving the gear.

[0013] The first communication unit 24 communicates with a portable terminal 3 that approaches the storage 11. Specifically, the first communication unit 24 has an antenna (not shown) and communicates with a portable terminal 3 that approaches directly above the antenna using a short-range wireless communication method such as NFC (Near Field Communication). At this time, the first communication unit 24 transmits pairing information for Bluetooth (registered trademark) to the portable terminal 3.

[0014] The second communication unit 25 pairs with the mobile terminal 3 using the pairing information, and then transmits the app 12 to the mobile terminal 3. The second communication unit 25 also receives locking / unlocking information 14 for locking or unlocking the electronic lock 21 from the mobile terminal 3. The second communication unit 25 communicates with the mobile terminal 3 via Bluetooth (registered trademark).

[0015] The control unit 22 is activated by communication between the first communication unit 24 and the mobile terminal 3 as a trigger. The control unit 22 activates the second communication unit 25, reads the application 12 from the storage device 23, and transmits it to the mobile terminal 3. When the control unit 22 receives the locking / unlocking information 14, it drives the motor 21b to lock or unlock the electronic lock 21. At this time, the control unit 22 locks or unlocks the electronic lock 21 as specified by the user U using the command button 12b (see FIG. 3) of the application 12. After locking or unlocking the electronic lock 21, the control unit 22 pauses the second communication unit 25.

[0016] The control unit 22 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The ROM is a non-volatile memory or the like, and stores various programs, files used by the programs, parameters, etc. The RAM temporarily stores data used when the various programs are executed. The application 12 can also be stored in the ROM of the control unit 22.

[0017] The application 12 transmits authentication information 13 to the authentication server 4. The authentication information 13 can be configured to include ID information for distinguishing the storage unit 11 used by the user U from other storage units 11. The application 12 also transmits locking / unlocking information 14 to the electronic lock unit 2 via the second communication unit 25.

[0018] The application 12 causes the mobile terminal 3 to function as an authentication device. The application 12 generates authentication information 13 by, for example, attaching a signature to ID information. The signature uses biometric information such as the user's face information or fingerprint information. The authentication server 4 authenticates the user U based on the signature, and if the authentication is successful, generates lock / unlock information 14 and encrypts the generated lock / unlock information 14 using a public key. The application 12 decrypts the encrypted lock / unlock information 14 using a private key held within the application 12.

[0019] As shown in Fig. 3, the application 12 displays a message 12a and command buttons 12b on the monitor 31 of the mobile terminal 3. Fig. 3(a) is a display screen immediately after the application 12 is installed on the mobile terminal 3, Fig. 3(b) is a display screen when the electronic lock 21 is locked or unlocked, and Fig. 3(c) is a display screen when authentication of the user U fails or when the storage unit 11 is being used by another user U'.

[0020] The authentication server 4 includes a user authentication unit 41 for authenticating the user U, and a storage device 43 as a storage means for storing the user U′ who is using the repository 11 in association with the ID information of the repository 11.

[0021] If the authentication is successful, the user authentication unit 41 reads out the user U' linked to the ID information of the storage unit 11 from the storage device 43, and compares the authenticated user U with the user U' currently using the storage unit 11. If the user U' does not exist or if the comparison is successful (user U = user U'), the user authentication unit 41 transmits the locking / unlocking information 14 to the mobile terminal 3. On the other hand, if the authentication fails or the comparison fails (user U ≠ user U'), the user authentication unit 41 transmits error information to the application 12.

[0022] The authentication server 4 is provided on the Internet. The authentication server 4 includes a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The ROM is a non-volatile semiconductor memory or the like, and stores various programs that function as the user authentication unit 41, as well as files and parameters used by the programs. The RAM temporarily stores data used when the various programs are executed. The ROM can also be used as a storage device 43.

[0023] Next, the process of locking or unlocking the electronic lock 21 in the electronic lock system 1 configured as above will be described with reference to FIG.

[0024] When the user U brings the mobile terminal 3 close to the storage 11 (S1), the first communication unit 24 and the mobile terminal 3 communicate with each other (S2). The control unit 22 is activated by the communication between the first communication unit 24 and the mobile terminal 3 as a trigger (S3), and transmits the application 12 to the mobile terminal 3 via the second communication unit 25, and the application 12 is installed on the mobile terminal 3 (S4).

[0025] The application 12 generates authentication information 13 with a signature and transmits the authentication information 13 to the authentication server 4 (S5). The authentication server 4 authenticates the user U based on the authentication information 13 (S6). If the authentication fails (S7: No), the application 12 transmits error information to the application 12 and terminates the process.

[0026] On the other hand, if the authentication is successful (S7: Yes), the authentication server 4 checks whether another user U' is using the storage device 11. The authentication server 4 reads out the user U' linked to the storage device 11 from the storage device 43, and compares the authenticated user U with the user U' currently using the storage device 11. If the comparison fails (S8: No), the authentication server 4 sends error information to the application 12 and ends the process.

[0027] On the other hand, if the verification is successful or if there is no user U' currently using the storage unit 11 (S8: Yes), the authentication server 4 generates the locking / unlocking information 14. The authentication server 4 encrypts the generated locking / unlocking information 14 with a public key and transmits it to the application 12 (S9).

[0028] The application 12 decrypts the locking / unlocking information 14 using the private key, and transmits the decrypted locking / unlocking information 14 to the electronic lock unit 2 via the second communication unit 25. The control unit 22 of the electronic lock unit 2 drives the motor 21b of the electronic lock 21 based on the locking / unlocking information 14, and operates the gear 21a to lock or unlock the electronic lock 21 (S10).

[0029] Therefore, according to the electronic lock system 1 of this embodiment, the control unit 22 is started up using communication between the first communication unit 24 and the mobile terminal 3 as a trigger, thereby reducing power consumption of the electronic lock system 1. Furthermore, the control unit 22 is put into a sleep state after locking or unlocking, thereby reducing power consumption of the electronic lock system 1. This reduces consumption of the battery 26, reducing the effort required for battery replacement and the cost of purchasing batteries.

[0030] The present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiment, and the shape and configuration of each part can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. For example, the control unit 22 and storage device 23 of the electronic lock unit 2 can be arranged in an external device and shared by multiple storage cabinets 11. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 1. Electronic lock system 2 Electronic lock unit 3. Mobile devices 4 Authentication Server 11 Storage (a: door, b: storage area) 12 Apps (a: Messages, b: Command buttons) 13 Authentication Information 14 Locking and unlocking information 21 Electronic lock (a: gear, b: motor) 22 Control Unit 23 Storage device 24 First Communications Department 25 Second Communications Department 26 Batteries 31 Monitor 41 User authentication section 43 Storage device U User

Claims

1. The storage facility includes an electronic lock unit that locks and unlocks the storage facility, and a mobile terminal carried by a user who uses the storage facility. The electronic lock unit includes an electronic lock, a control means for controlling the electronic lock, and a communication means capable of communicating with the mobile terminal, the communication means includes a first communication means for communicating with a mobile terminal that has approached the storage facility; The electronic lock system is characterized in that the control means is activated by communication by the first communication means as a trigger.

2. the communication means includes second communication means that communicates with the mobile terminal after the control means is activated, an authentication server for authenticating a user; the second communication means transmits, to the mobile terminal, communication information used for communicating with the authentication server; The electronic lock system according to claim 1 , wherein the control means locks or unlocks the electronic lock when the authentication server has successfully authenticated the user.

3. The electronic lock system according to claim 1 , wherein the control means suspends the control means after locking or unlocking the electronic lock.

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