A recent patent application has been unveiled revealing Apple’s plan to replace traditional door locks with an electronic device. The conceptual idea is being coined as the iKey and thoughts are that one day perhaps, a single “electronic key” would be required to unlock all doors for which you have access, be it a front door, office door, car door, etc.

Essentially, doors could be retrofitted with an electronic device or alternatively, as part of the product design phase, this electronic device could be installed. Access control would then be based upon a personal identification number or PIN code with the transmitted digital information being encrypted to avoid the risk of signal theft.

The speculation is the next generation iPhone will contain this capability. The official application with the US Patent Office states:

The device can communicate with an external device to open a lock. By way of example, the electronic device may be a model of an iPhone.

The external device may be any suitable electronic device such as a portable media player, personal data assistant or electronic lock that may be used to access a door, car, house or other physical area.

The Apple proposal would make use of Near Field Communication technology which allows two nearby electronic devices to exchange necessary information.

The idea of a keyless entry system isn’t new, security access cards used in office environments are quite common. We are also starting to see the major car manufacturers deploy versions of this new technology in their new vehicles as well.

Apple’s hope is to have the iKey replace as many of these keyless systems making it so that consumers would only have to carry a single device for all locks. You just have to wonder what the backup plan would be if your Apple iPhone malfunctioned.

Via: Telegraph, Electric Pig