Secure locking system employing radiant energy and electrical data transmission

Claim 1

An improved security system for use in mobile commerce consisting of an electromechanical lock and electronic key and an integrated program-erase procedure whereby overall systemic complexity and security are increased through the use of electromagnetic wavelengths to erase and reprogram volatile lock memories, comprising: a computing means located at a first location for programming said lock means and said key means using a first electromagnetic radiating means for programming said lock means with a cipher code and using accoustical wave generating means for programming said key means with a corresponding cipher code; said computing means also having a second electromagnetic radiating means for erasing said lock means cipher code; a reprogrammable key means having an accoustical wave receiving microphone and electronic memory storing means for receiving and storing cipher data from the computing means to operate said lock means; and an accoustical speaker means located at said first location and connected to said computing means for communicating with said microphone on said key means when said key means is at a second location remote from said first location wherein said key means can be programmed to operate said lock means when said lock means is located at said second location and wherein the cipher code can be changed by the computing means only at said first location.