JP2002147075A - Unlocking service method for lock - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an unlocking service method for a lock allowing easy unlocking of the lock when a request is received from a user who cannot unlock the lock due to loss of a key or the like. SOLUTION: When unlocking request is received from the user 40 of the lock, a service center 50 reads key code information of the lock used by the user 40 out of a database 52, and the nearest lock store 30 (a spare key maker) makes a spare key for the user 40 based on the key code information and the user unlocks the lock by using the spare key.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lock unlocking service method for easily unlocking a lock when, for example, a user of the lock loses his / her key outside.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, when a resident of a house (locker) loses a key on the go while keeping the lock of the entrance door locked, the locker who received the request is Unlocking was performed by inserting a special metal tool into the keyhole and performing an operation called picking.

However, in recent years, burglary cases in which locks such as entrance doors are unlocked illegally by the picking operation of a thief have frequently occurred. Replacement of locks with high picking resistance, such as adoption of a magnet type tumbler that moves with the attraction and repulsion of each other, is underway.

[0004]

However, with such a lock having high picking resistance, the effect of preventing damage to burglar is improved.
It is difficult to unlock by picking, and the lock must be unlocked by means such as destroying the entire lock. For this reason, there is a problem in that the unlocking operation and the repairing operation after unlocking require a lot of labor and cost.

In general, a lock is assigned an individual key code to each lock, regardless of whether the tumbler is a spring type or a magnet type, and a key manufactured based on the key code ( That is, it is configured such that it can be locked and unlocked with a key having the same key code). Therefore, even if the user loses the key, it seems that if the key code is known, a duplicate key can be produced based on the key code and unlocked using the duplicate key. However, in reality, each user does not record the key code of the lock attached to the front door of the house, and the lock manufacturer or the like identifies the sold lock user (installation destination). Because we didn't know, we couldn't make a duplicate key using a key code.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and enables a lock to be easily locked when a request is received from a user who cannot be unlocked due to loss of a key or the like. It is an object of the present invention to provide an unlocking service method for a lock that enables unlocking.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, an unlocking service method for a lock according to the present invention is arranged such that an individual key code is assigned to each of them, and the lock can be unlocked with a key having the same key code. For a plurality of configured locks, key code information for specifying a key code assigned to each lock and user information such as the address and name of a user who uses the lock are stored in a database in association with each other. When receiving a request for unlocking from the user, the key code information of the lock used by the user is read from the database based on the user information relating to the user, and a duplicate key is produced based on the key code information. The unlocking is performed using this duplicate key.

In the above method, the personal identification code determined by each user is included in the user information and stored in a database, and when an unlock request is received from the user, the personal identification is performed using the personal identification code. Things.

In the above method, an unlock request from a user is received at a service center, the key code information is read out from a database at the service center, and the unlock key is sent to a duplicate key maker nearest to the user who made the unlock request. Transmit the read key code information,
The duplicate key maker produces a duplicate key based on the transmitted key code information.

In the present invention, the "service center" is defined as an area which covers a relatively large area such as the whole of Japan or the Kanto area, Chubu area, and Kansai area. Means the organization that oversees That is, the service center accepts an unlock request from a user in the area where the service is provided by telephone or facsimile, accesses the database from the terminal device, reads the key code information of the lock used by the user, Communicate to the producer. Although the service center is not specifically limited, it is open 24 hours a day, and is outsourced to an organization having a nationwide organization (for example, a security company or an automobile road service company). , It is preferable to be installed in the facility of the organization.

On the other hand, in the present invention, the "duplicate key maker" is divided into a plurality of areas for which the service center is responsible, and is arranged in relatively small areas such as prefectures or municipalities. Refers to individuals or organizations that produce duplicate keys in their respective regions.
The duplicate key maker is not specifically limited, either, but it is desirable to appropriately select a trader (for example, a locksmith) having a certain level of knowledge and technology regarding various locks to be the duplicate key maker.

Further, the type of the "duplicate key" in the present invention is not limited to a general key having irregularities (key peaks) corresponding to a lock having a spring-type tumbler, but a plurality of keys corresponding to a lock having a magnetic tumbler. Keys with embedded permanent magnets (so-called magnet keys), magnetic card type or IC card type keys corresponding to card type electric code locks, radio wave type or infrared type keys corresponding to so-called keyless entry type locks A key (locking / unlocking code transmitter) and the like are also included.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the method of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram illustrating a lock unlocking service method according to the present embodiment,
In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a maker that manufactures locks (with a key), 20 denotes a sales company that sells (wholesale) locks purchased from the manufacturer 10, and 30 denotes sales (retail) of locks that are purchased from the sales company 20. A lock store (duplicate key maker) for performing the installation and the like, a user 40 who attaches a lock to an entrance door or the like, and a user 50 who controls the unlocking service business according to the present embodiment and which is necessary for the service. Service centers that manage information (data) are shown. In the figure, a solid line (single line) arrow indicates a flow of a product (lock), a broken line arrow indicates a flow of information or documents relating to the conclusion of an unlocking service contract, and a double line arrow indicates an unlocking service. Information managed in the system (management data)
The two-dot chain line arrow indicates the flow of information and the flow of the service when the user 40 requests the unlocking service.

The sales company 20 has a sales department 21 and a management department 22. The management department 22 has a user database (hereinafter abbreviated as "user DB") 24 for storing user information and key code information described later. Is provided. The service center 50 includes a user DB 52 that uses the user DB 24 of the sales company 20 as a master and copies and stores the information.
Is provided with a computer system 51 having a map DB 53 for storing map data of a region (in this embodiment, nationwide in Japan) in which the area is in charge. Furthermore, the locksmith store 30 is selected from among a number of locksmith stores nationwide so as to minimize the local uneven distribution, and a specific locksmith store that has signed a contract for the unlocking service with the sales company 20. And
Each locksmith store 30 is provided with a duplicate key production device 31 capable of producing a duplicate key by inputting a key code.

Although only one maker 10 is shown in FIG. 1, the sales company 20 may purchase locks from a plurality of manufacturers 10. Further, for example, when purchasing from a foreign manufacturer, a lock may be purchased through a trading company or an agency. Although only one user 40 is shown in FIG. 1, it goes without saying that a large number of users 40 to be subjected to the unlocking service are scattered all over the country.

Next, the present embodiment will be described along the flow of actual products and information. First, a product (a set of locks and keys to which a matching key code is assigned) manufactured by the manufacturer 10 is delivered to the sales company 20, and is sold from the sales department 21 of the sales company 20 to each locksmith store 30. At this time, each product is accompanied by a warranty card that describes its model (product number) and an individual key code assigned to each product (lock and key). The warranty also serves as an unlocking service contract between the sales company 20 and the user 40, and is of a copy type so that a "copy" can be obtained. User 4
It comes with an identification card to prove your identity.

The user 40 purchases the product from the nearest locksmith shop 30 with or without a construction company, for example, when building or renovating a house. At this time, the locksmith shop 30 asks the user 40 to enter user information such as a name, an address, a telephone number, a personal identification code (arbitrarily determined by each user 40) into the warranty card, and after taking a “copy” thereof, Hand the warranty card (with identification card) to the user 40. As a result, the unlocking service contract valid until receiving the unlocking service once is concluded between the sales company 20 and the user 40. The password is composed of an appropriate number of numbers and / or combinations of English characters.
It is used as a so-called password to confirm the identity of the user when requesting unlocking.

Next, the locksmith store 30 sends a copy of the warranty card by mail, facsimile,
Is sent to the management department 22. Management department 22 that was sent
Are the key type (code indicating the type of key) specified from the model described in the copy, the key code and each user information described in the copy, and the locksmith store 30 that has sold the lock to the user 40. Is stored (stored) in the user DB 24 in association with each other.
Then, a registration completion notice is sent to the user 40 by mail or the like. This registration completion notice also describes the telephone number of the service center 50 to be dialed when the user 40 makes an unlock request.

The management section 22 has a user DB 24
Is transmitted to the computer system 51 of the service center 50 in a state where the information (data) stored in the service center 50 is recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or data transmission by communication means such as a telephone line. The service center 50 associates the received information with a map number corresponding to the address of each user 40 and associates the information with the computer system 51.
In the user DB 52. The map number is used to read a map of an area including the address of the user 40 (that is, the location of the lock) from nationwide map data stored in the map DB 53 of the computer system 51 in advance.

FIG. 2 shows the data structure (storage content) of the user DB 52. As you can see from this figure,
For each lock, its key type and key code, and user information such as name, address, telephone number, password,
The lock store code and the map number are stored (stored) in the user DB 52 in association with each other.

Next, the flow from the request of the unlocking service to the execution will be described. For example, when the user 40 goes out with the lock of the entrance door locked and loses the key at the place where he / she is, the user 40 requests the service center 50 to unlock the service by communication means such as a telephone. At the service center 50 receiving the request, the address, name, telephone number, etc. of the user 40 (user information)
And the user DB
From 52, a series of data relating to the user 40 is read. Then, in order to verify the identity, the user 40 is asked for a personal identification code, and if the answer matches the personal identification code read from the user DB 52, the user 40 is identified as the personal identification and a request for the unlocking service is issued. Accept.

Then, from the lock store code in the series of data read from the user DB 52, the lock store 30 closest to the user 40 who has requested the unlocking is specified,
The lock store 30 is communicated by telephone, facsimile, e-mail, or the like, using user information such as the name, address, and telephone number of the user 40 and the key type and key code of the key used by the user 40 corresponding to the lock. Key code information) to instruct production of a duplicate key and execution of an unlocking service. Further, using the map number read from the user DB 52 as a key, the map data including the address of the user 40 is read from the map DB 53, and the read map data is transmitted by communication means such as facsimile or E-mail (the map data is attached as a file). It is sent to the locksmith store 30.

At the locksmith shop 30 receiving an instruction from the service center 50, based on the key type and the key code, the duplicate key producing apparatus 31 installed at the locksmith shop 30 is used.
To produce a duplicate key. Then, when the duplicate key is formed, the serviceman of the locksmith shop 30 goes to the user address (the place where the lock needs to be unlocked) while referring to the map sent from the service center 50 and arrives at the site. First, when the user 40 is met, the identification card is requested to be presented for identification. (If you do not have an identification card, you will be asked to show your driver's license or health insurance card instead.) Then, if any one of these confirms that the user 40 is the person himself, he brought it. Unlock the lock with the duplicate key.

The unlocking service itself has been completed as described above. However, if a third party who has picked up the lost key by the user 40 has a possibility of unauthorized unlocking using the key,
It is desirable to replace the lock (cylinder) after unlocking. In the case of this exchange, the sale of the product by the locksmith 30
A series of flows, such as filling in the necessary information on the warranty card and storing the user information and the key code information in the database, are performed in the same manner as in the case of newly installing the lock described above. The unlocking service contract between them will be renewed.

It is needless to say that the present invention is not limited by the above embodiments. For example, in the above description, the maker 10, the sales company 20, and the service center 50 are separately provided. May be provided with a service center 50, or the maker 10 and the sales company 20 may be the same company. In the above description, the locksmith 30 is referred to as a duplicate key producer according to the present invention.
However, the duplicate key producer is not limited to this, and for example, a branch or a sales office of a sales company may be used as the duplicate key producer. It is also conceivable that a branch or a sales office of a company that operates the service center 50 on behalf of the sales company 20 is used as the duplicate key producer.

In the above description, the user 40 makes an unlocking request to the service center 50. However, the user 40 makes an unlocking request directly to the locksmith 30 (duplicate key maker), and the requested locksmith 30 Inquires of the service center 50 for key code information and the like, and the service center 5 receiving the inquiry
An embodiment is also conceivable in which 0 notifies key code information and the like to the locksmith store 30. Locksmith 30 (duplicate key maker)
Produces a duplicate key, the user 40 goes out to receive the duplicate key, and the user 40 unlocks itself.

Further, in the above description, the information relating to the key type is also stored in the user DB 52 together with the key code. However, if the unlocking service is intended for only one type of lock,
No key type storage is required. In the above description, the key code is stored in the user DB 52 as it is. However, the key code information according to the present invention may be any information as long as the key code can be specified. Therefore, the key code is encrypted based on a predetermined rule. User D
It is also conceivable to store it in B. In this case, an effect is obtained that the security is further improved as compared with the case where the key code is stored as it is.

Further, it is conceivable to store a secret question and its answer in the user DB 52 in addition to the password. A secret question is a question that is not special, but the answer can only be known by someone close to you or your family, such as "Your elementary school Questions like "ha" or "what is your pet's name?" By storing such a question and its answer for each user, even if the user forgets the password at the time of the unlock request, the identity can be confirmed according to the password.

Further, the unlocking service method of the present invention is not limited to a so-called cylinder lock having a spring-type or magnet-type tumbler, and may be a magnetic card type, an IC card type, a keyless entry type (a key code is transmitted by radio waves or infrared rays). It can be applied to locks of various types, such as those that transmit. However, in order to cope with such locks, it is necessary for each duplicate key maker to have a duplicate key producing device capable of producing a duplicate key (for example, a magnetic card) of each system.

[0030]

As described above, in the lock unlocking service method according to the present invention, when a request is received from a user who cannot be unlocked due to loss of a key or the like, user information concerning the user is obtained. The key code information of the lock used by the user is read from the database based on the key code, a duplicate key is produced based on the key code information, and the lock is unlocked using the duplicate key. Is also easily unlocked.

Also, the personal identification code determined by each user is stored in the database together with the user information, and when an unlock request is received from the user, the personal identification is performed using the personal identification code. It is possible to improve the security by eliminating the risk of passing the duplicate key.

Further, the unlock request from the user is accepted at the service center, the key code information is read from the database at the service center, and the key code information is transmitted to the nearest duplicate key maker to the user who made the unlock request. However, since the duplicate key producer produces the duplicate key based on the transmitted key code information, there is a risk that the management information is leaked to the outside as compared with a case where the individual key producers manage the key code information, for example. Security can be reduced, and the security can be further improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an unlocking service method for a lock according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a data structure of a user database.

[Explanation of symbols]

 30 locksmith shop (duplicate key maker) 40 user 50 service center 52 user database

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Yumi Ueda 200 Nozaki 200-2, Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A key code for specifying a key code assigned to each lock, for each of a plurality of locks each assigned an individual key code and configured to be unlocked and unlocked by a key having the same key code. The information and the user information such as the address and name of the user who uses the lock are stored in a database in association with each other, and when an unlock request is received from the user, the information is stored on the basis of the user information relating to the user. A key unlocking service method comprising: reading key code information of a lock used by the user from the database; producing a duplicate key based on the key code information; and performing unlocking using the duplicate key. 2. The personal identification code according to claim 1, wherein the personal identification code determined by each user is included in the user information and stored in a database, and when an unlock request is received from the user, the personal identification is performed by the personal identification code. The unlocking service method of the described lock. 3. A service center accepts an unlock request from a user, reads out key code information from a database at the service center, and reads the key code information to a duplicate key maker nearest to the user who made the unlock request. The lock unlocking service method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the key code information is transmitted, and the duplicate key producer produces a duplicate key based on the transmitted key code information.