Intelligent locking system using biometrics
An electronic locking system comprising a plurality of lockers, a controller in communication with the plurality of lockers for electronically controlling locking and unlocking of the plurality of lockers, and a biometric sensor in communication with the controller for recording a biometric characteristic of a user when the user is located at the plurality of lockers. The controller associates the recorded biometric characteristic of the user with one of the plurality of lockers thereby permitting only the user to open the one locker.
1 . An electronic locking system comprising:
a plurality of lockers;
a controller in communication with said lockers for electronically controlling locking and unlocking of said lockers;
a biometric sensor in communication with said controller for recording a biometric characteristic of a user when said user is located at said plurality of lockers, wherein said controller associates said recorded biometric characteristic of said user with one of said lockers thereby permitting only said user to open the one of said lockers.
2 . The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said controller authorizes unlocking the one of said lockers if said user newly records a biometric characteristic that matches said previously recorded biometric characteristic.
3 . The system as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said user must be located at said plurality of lockers when initially recording and newly recording said biometric characteristic.
4 . The system as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a memory device for storing biometric characteristics recorded by said biometric sensor.
5 . The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said controller includes a program for comparing a newly recorded biometric characteristic with a previously recorded biometric characteristic and unlocking said one of a plurality of lockers associated with said previously recorded biometric characteristic.
6 . The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said biometric characteristic comprises at least one fingerprint.
7 . The system as claimed in claim 6 , wherein said at least one fingerprint comprises a fingerprint pattern.
8 . The system as claimed in claim 6 , wherein said at least one fingerprint comprises information related to the electrical capacitance of ridges and valleys of said at least one fingerprint.
9 . The system as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a user interface for selecting a language.
10 . The system as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a user interface for making a monetary payment.
11 . The system as claimed in claim 10 , wherein said user interface accepts a monetary instrument selected from the group consisting of coins, bills, credit cards and magnetic cards.
12 . The system as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a user interface for selecting a length of time for using one of said lockers and receiving a monetary payment having an amount that is related to the selected length of time.
13 . The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said system is reprogrammable by recording a biometric characteristic of a second user when said second user is located at said plurality of lockers, wherein said controller associates said recorded biometric characteristic of said second user with the one of said lockers thereby permitting only said second user to open the one of said lockers and said first user is no longer authorized to access said one of a plurality of lockers.
14 . An electronic locking system using biometrics comprising:
a plurality of lockers;
a controller in communication with said plurality of lockers for electronically controlling locking and unlocking of said plurality of lockers;
a biometric sensor in communication with said controller for initially recording a biometric characteristic of a user when said user is located at said plurality of lockers, wherein said controller associates said initially recorded biometric characteristic of said user with one of said lockers and permits said user to access the one of said lockers only if a subsequently recorded biometric characteristic matches said initially recorded biometric characteristic.
15 . The system as claimed in claim 14 , wherein said user is located at said plurality of lockers when initially recording and subsequently recording said biometric characteristic.
16 . The system as claimed in claim 14 , wherein said biometric characteristic comprises a fingerprint.
17 . The system as claimed in claim 16 , wherein said fingerprint comprises a fingerprint pattern.
18 . The system as claimed in claim 16 , wherein said fingerprint comprises information related to the electrical capacitance of ridges and valleys of said fingerprint.
19 . The system as claimed in claim 14 , further comprising an interface for selecting a language, selecting a length of time for using one of said lockers and making a monetary payment.
20 . The system as claimed in claim 14 , wherein said system is reprogrammable using a biometric characteristic of a second user when said second user is located at said plurality of lockers, wherein said controller associates said biometric characteristic of said second user with the one of said lockers thereby permitting only said second user to open the one of said lockers and said first user is no longer authorized to access the one of said lockers.
21 . An electronic locking system comprising:
a plurality of lockers;
a controller in communication with said plurality of lockers for electronically controlling locking and unlocking of said plurality of lockers;
a user interface in communication with said controller;
a biometric sensor in communication with said controller for recording a biometric characteristic of a user when said user is located at said plurality of lockers, wherein said controller associates said recorded biometric characteristic of said user with one of said lockers thereby permitting only said user to open the one of said lockers upon newly recording a biometric characteristic that matches said recorded biometric characteristic.
22 . The system as claimed in claim 21 , wherein said user must be located at said plurality of lockers when initially recording and newly recording said biometric characteristic.
23 . The system as claimed in claim 21 , wherein said user interface includes an opening for receiving a monetary payment.
24 . The system as claimed in claim 21 , wherein said controller has a routine that enables said user to select a length of time for using one of said lockers and make a monetary payment having an amount related to the selected length of time.
25 . The system as claimed in claim 24 , wherein said controller authorizes said user to repeatedly lock and unlock the one of said lockers during the selected length of time.
26 . The system as claimed in claim 21 , wherein said system is reprogrammable using a biometric characteristic of a second user that is recorded when said second user is located at said plurality of lockers, wherein said controller associates said recorded biometric characteristic of said second user with the one of said lockers thereby permitting only said second user to access the one of said lockers and said first user is no longer authorized to access the one of said lockers.
27 . The system as claimed in claim 21 , wherein said biometric characteristic comprises at least one fingerprint.
28 . The system as claimed in claim 27 , wherein said at least one fingerprint comprises a fingerprint pattern.
29 . The system as claimed in claim 27 , wherein said at least one fingerprint comprises information related to the electrical capacitance of ridges and valleys of said at least one fingerprint.