System for managing physical assets

• US 20040150508A1
• Filed: 01/31/2003
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Security Incorporated (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Briskey, Teri Lynne, Bellamy, Dirk L., Westfall, Scott D., Beebe, Sean, Sinn, Dean, Mosgrove, Isaac J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,123,127 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.21
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/23 using manual input of alphanumerical codes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/241 whereby access privileges are related to the identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00936 for key cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 Wireless channel access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7768 Key-removal preventing

Abstract

A key management system for controlling access to vehicle keys includes a key set, a key container and an electronic access device. The key set includes vehicle keys to a particular vehicle and a key tag associated with the vehicle keys having an electronically readable identifier. The key container has a key set storage area secured by an electronic lock and a circuit that detects when the key set is stored in the key set storage area. The access device is carried by a user to access the key container, and has a memory that is updated with at least the identifier of the key tag when the key container is successfully accessed.

Claims

1. A key management system for controlling access to a vehicle key stored proximal to a remotely located vehicle, comprising:

a key container located proximal to one of the remotely located vehicles, the key container having a key storage area for storing a vehicle key associated with the respective vehicle and being secured by an electronic lock, the key container having a memory that is capable of recording information when the key storage area is accessed;

a key tag associated with the vehicle key, the key tag having an electronically stored identifier and being detectible by the key container when placed in the key storage area; and

a portable electronic key holdable by a user for accessing the key container, the electronic key being capable of establishing a communications link with the electronic lock of the key container and having a memory,

wherein information about access events is stored in at least one of the memory or the memory of the electronic key.

2. A key management system for controlling access to vehicle keys, comprising:

a key set that includes a vehicle key to a particular vehicle and a key tag associated with the vehicle key, the key tag having an electronically readable identifier stored thereon and an electrical contact portion;

a key container that can be located on or near the vehicle, the key container having a key set storage area secured by an electronic lock, the key container capable of detecting the key set when the key set is properly stored in the key set storage area; and

a portable electronic access device carried by a user to access the key container, the access device having a memory that is updated with at least the identifier of the key tag when the key container is successfully accessed and the key set is removed from the key set storage area.

3. The key management system of claim 2, wherein the access device supplies electrical power to operate the circuit of the key container.

4. The key management system of claim 2, wherein the user establishes a physical communications link between the access device and the key container when attempting access.

5. The key management system of claim 2, wherein the key container includes a memory that stores at least the identifier of the key tag of the stored key set.

6. The key management system of claim 5, wherein the memory of the key container includes a lock out list identifying an unauthorized access device or an unauthorized user.

7. The key management system of claim 2, wherein the memory of the access device records the approximate time that a successful access was made.

8. The key management system of claim 2, wherein the key container includes an attachment portion shaped to allow the key container to be supported over an edge of a window in the vehicle.

9. The key management system of claim 2, wherein the access device is programmed with access privileges corresponding to the user'"'"'s identity.

10. The key management system of claim 2, wherein the key container cannot be accessed by the access device unless the user validates his identity.

11. The key management system of claim 2, wherein the memory of the access device includes stored privileges, and wherein at least some of the privileges are set to expire periodically.

12. The key management system of claim 2, further comprising a central computer and an associated database for administering the key management system, the central computer allowing an administrator to set the user'"'"'s access privileges and track the user'"'"'s access activity.

13. The key management system of claim 12, wherein the user logs into the central computer to reestablish his expired access privileges.

14. The key management system of claim 2, wherein the user seeking to access the key container uses the access device to communicate the user'"'"'s identifying information and to select one of a predetermined group of codes corresponding to the purpose of the access.

15. The key management system of claim 2, wherein the access device is programmed to expire periodically, and wherein information stored in the memory of an expired access device is automatically uploaded to a database.

16. The key management system of claim 15, wherein the information stored in the memory of an expired access device is automatically uploaded to a database when the access device is reauthorized.

17. The key management device of claim 2, wherein the access device includes a key pad input device, a display and exposed electrical contacts connectible to the key container to establish a communications link between the key pad and the key container.

18. The key management system of claim 2, wherein the key container is capable of communicating with the key set when the electrical contact portion of the key tag is placed to complete an electrical circuit of the key container.

19. The key management system of claim 2, wherein the electronic access device communicates with the key container via infrared, radio frequency or other wireless transmission mode.

20. An asset management system for controlling access to a physical asset at a remote location, comprising:

an asset repository located at the remote location, the asset repository having an asset storage area secured by an electronic lock and a memory that is capable of recording information when the storage area is accessed;

a physical tag that is capable of being attached to the asset, the tag having an electronically stored identifier and being detectible by the asset repository when the tag is in the asset storage area; and

a portable electronic access device holdable by a user for accessing the key container, the electronic key being capable of establishing a communications link with the electronic lock of the asset repository and having a memory,

wherein information about access events is stored in at least one of the memory of the asset repository or the memory of the electronic key, and

wherein the electronic access device provides power to the asset repository.