Object identification system

• US 10,503,384 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2017
• Issued: 12/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hy-Ko Products Company
• Original Assignee: Object Identification System
• Inventors: Bass, Michael A., Ryai, Richard W., Hanish, Michael B., Thompson, Chester O. D., Mutch, William R., Shaner, David E., Work, Joseph M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Theriault, Steven B
• Application Number:
  US15/708,670
• Publication Number:
  US 20180067636A1
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2428 Query predicate definition using graphical user interfaces, including menus and forms G06F16/2423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/245 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/70 in which the articles are formed in the apparatus from components, blanks, or material constituents

Abstract

A system and method for identifying objects possessing minute but significant details is described. At its core, the system includes a user interface, means for comparatively identifying the object and means for displaying results. Notably, because the system does not rely upon highly specialized or complex equipment, the invention is expected to have particular applicability in a wide variety of every-day situations. Moreover, the system is explicitly designed for user friendliness, so as to eliminate that need for extensive training for any prospective user of the system. The system should have particular applicability in key blank identification and key duplication processes.

Claims

1. An interactive key identification system comprising:

a database containing known values representative of key blanks, said database operative to receive at least one input representative of a master key and to compare said input with said known values representative of key blanks and to produce an output representative of at least one key blank for replication of said master key;

a kiosk including an operator interface in communication with said database, said operator interface configured to indicate said output representative of at least one key blank for replication of said master key and wherein said kiosk includes said database;

a storage location including storage space that stores an inventory of physical key blanks and displays indicia identifying different types of the inventory of the physical key blanks, wherein each physical key blank includes a bar code and is selectable for replication; and

a bar code scanner in communication with the database and configured to recognize said bar code of a key blank selected from said storage location for replication of said master key,

wherein said database operatively verifies that said key blank selected from said storage location is proper by comparing said bar code of said key blank selected from said storage location with said output representative of said at least one key blank for replication of said master key.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said bar code scanner is located on the kiosk.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said database is operative to communicate key cutting information to a key cutting device to make a duplicate key.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a key cutting machine configured to cut a profile of said master key into said key blank.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said database is operative to record at least some of the number, or type or other characteristic of the key blanks cut.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a retrieval system adapted to retrieve key blanks from said storage location.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said bar code is disposed on said key blank or on a label associated with said key blank.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said input representative of said master key is at least one of an image of said master key, a selection of options representative of said master key, and entered data representative of said master key.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said kiosk is at least one of a self-serve device and an associate operated machine.

10. An interactive key identification system comprising:

a database including a processor that is operative to receive an input representative of a master key, identify a target key blank through comparison of known values against said input representative of said master key, and identify a target bar code associated with the target key blank, wherein said input representative of said master key is at least one of an image of said master key, a selection of options representative of said master key, and entered data representative of said master key;

a kiosk including a user interface configured to interact with said database for producing an output signal indicative of said key blank to be retrieved; and

a storage display adapted to hold a physical set of key blanks, wherein key blanks of said physical set of key blanks include bar codes; and

a bar code scanner in communication with said processer and operative to scan said bar code, wherein said processer compares, in response to the bar code scanner scanning, said bar code to said target bar code to identify whether a selected physical key blank selected from the physical set of key blanks matches said target key blank.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said input includes a specified variable that is an identification of an intended use of said master key, said specified variable being known or physically observable based upon inspection of said master key or of its intended use.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said specified variable is related to a make or model of an automobile.

13. The system of claim 10 further comprising a key cutting machine configured to cut the profile of said master key into said selected physical key blank.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said database is operative to record at least some of the number, type or other characteristics of cut key blanks.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein said storage location comprises a display rack.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein said kiosk is at least one of a self-serve device and an associate operated machine.

17. An interactive key identification system comprising:

a database of known key blanks including known identifiers of key blanks, said database includes a processor that is operative to match an input representative of a master key with said identifiers of key blanks to identify at least one identified key blank, wherein said at least one identified key blank is associated with at least one bar code, wherein said input representative of said master key is at least one of an image of said master key, a selection of options representative of said master key, and entered data representative of said master key;

a kiosk that includes an interactive user interface adapted to display an identifier associated with said at least one identified key blank;

a storage assembly that includes a stock of selectable key blanks that include bar codes that are at least one of disposed on the key blanks or on labels associated with the key blanks; and

a bar code scanner that detects a bar code of a selected key blank,

wherein the processor compares said bar code of the selected key blank selected from said storage assembly with said at least one bar code of said at least one identified key blank to determine whether the selected key blank matches said at least one identified key blank.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said database is operative to verify proper key blank selection.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein said database is operative to direct an automated device driver to retrieve the selected key blank from said storage assembly.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said automated device driver includes an auto-retrieval system that includes movable subpanels configured to revolve so as to present one location or a series of related locations to a user.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the automated device driver is a retrieval system that includes a combination of motors to cause an arm-like device to retrieve the selected key blank from said storage assembly.

22. The system of claim 17 further comprising a key cutting machine configured to cut the profile of said master key into said selected key blank.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said database is operative to record at least some of the number, type or other characteristic of key blanks cut by a cutting machine.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein said bar code scanner includes at least one of a bar code scanner disposed on said kiosk or a bar code scanner connected to said kiosk.

25. The system of claim 17, wherein said kiosk is at least one of a self-serve device and an associate operated machine.

26. The system of claim 17, wherein said database is disposed within said kiosk.

27. An interactive key duplication system comprising:

a kiosk including at least one operator interface connected in communication with a database and processor, said operator interface capable of receiving a user input;

a storage location that includes an inventory of key blanks with associated bar codes on at least one of the key blanks or a label associated with the key blanks;

said database and processor having a memory and containing known values representative of key blanks and operatively connected to receive one or more inputs and to compare said input(s) with said known values representative of key blanks and to produce an output signal representative of at least one key blank selected for retrieval;

a bar code scanner capable of recognizing a bar code of a key blank retrieved from said storage location, said bar code scanner connected in communication with said processor to determine whether said key blank retrieved from said storage location matches said output signal based on a comparison of said recognized bar code to said known values, wherein said bar code scanner produces an output in response to recognizing said bar code, and wherein said processor compares said output to said output signal representative of said at least one key blank.