Key control system using separated ID and location detection mechanisms

• US 20050024211A1
• Filed: 08/23/2004
• Published: 02/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Key Control Holding Incorporated (Reynolds & Reynolds Company)
• Original Assignee: Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch (Deutsche Bank)
• Inventors: Maloney, William C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,049,961 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/10 Key holders; Key boards key cases A45C11/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10079 the collision being resolved in the spatial domain, e.g. temporary shields for blindfolding the interrogator in specific directions
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00936 for key cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00

Abstract

An object control and tracking system and related methods using separate object identification and location detection mechanisms for objects, such as keys, that are maintained in a secure enclosure, such as a key drawer. A plurality of object slots are located on the top tray of the enclosure to receive object tags that include both an RFID tag and an object to be tracked. The objects (e.g., keys) are attached to a portion of the object tags that are outside of the enclosure. Presence detectors are used to determine if an object tag is present in the corresponding slot of the enclosure. RFID sensors located on opposite interior side walls of the enclosure interrogate each RFID tag to determine the presence of each RFID tag within the enclosure. The object control and tracking system includes a controller, a memory for storing an object control database, and related processing logic operating on the controller to control scanning of the presence detectors to determine an object tag'"'"'s presence in a corresponding slot, to identify each object present in the enclosure and to compare the identified objects with an object control database to determine each object removed or replaced since the previous database update.

Claims

1. An object tracking system comprising:

a receptacle having a plurality of slots for storing a plurality of objects, each object having an associated object tag;

at least one first detector for detecting and identifying each object tag in the receptacle;

a plurality of second detectors for detecting a location within the receptacle of object tags placed in, or remove from, the receptacle; and

a controller, coupled to the first and second detectors, wherein the controller is programmed to correlate information received from the first and second detectors to identify the particular slot of the receptacle in which each object tag is located.

2-66. -66. (Canceled)