Electronic key-control and management system for vending machines

• US 20050165806A1
• Filed: 12/13/2004
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Triteq Lock & Security LLC
• Original Assignee: Triteq Lock & Security LLC
• Inventors: Myers, Gary L., Denison, William D., Roatis, Calin V.
• Granted Patent: US 7,373,352 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6209 to a single file or object, e.g. in a secure envelope, encrypted and accessed using a key, or with access control rules appended to the object itself
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/77 in smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2101 Auditing as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2105 Dual mode as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2117 User registration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00865 remotely by wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0088 centrally
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/08 With time considerations, e.g. temporary activation, valid time window or time limitations
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00857 where the code of the data carrier can be programmed
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/18 specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

An electronic key control and management system for vending machines and like enclosures uses a computer and database to limit operation and parameters of electronic keys, customize the key limits, refresh keys, and collect, store and sort a host of data in various combinations, and according to preselected parameters to perform management of the keys and audit trail data.

Claims

1. A key management system for management of electronic keys used to access electronic locks of vending machines, comprising:

a computer having a software program for key management functionality;

a database containing key management data; and

a cradle communicating with the computer for interfacing the computer with an electronic key;

the software program having computer-executable instructions for performing an automatic key refreshing operation with the steps of;

receiving an initial transmission from a key through the cradle, the initial transmission initiating the automatic key refreshing operation;

receiving a key identification number from the key through the cradle;

retrieving from the database information of a user of the key and operation limit parameters for said user based on the key identification number; and

sending the operation limit parameters through the cradle to the key for writing into a memory of the key.

2. A key management system as in claim 1, wherein the cradle communicates with the key through wireless transmissions.

3. A key management system as in claim 2, wherein the cradle is connected to a communication port of the computer.

4. A key management system as in claim 1, wherein the key contains audit trails data collected from vending machines accessed using said key, and wherein the software program has further computer-executable instructions for receiving the audit trails data from the key, and storing the received audit trails data into the database.

5. A key management system as in claim 4, wherein the software program includes computer-executable instructions for comparing the audit trails data received from the key with data stored in the database to determine whether the received audit trails data contains duplicate data that is duplicate to the data stored in the database, and removing the duplicate data before storing the received audit trails data into the database.

6. A key management system as in claim 4, wherein the software program has further computer-executable instructions for identifying from the received audit trails data a lock identification for an electronic lock not stored in the database, and presenting a user interface screen for prompting a user to enter data regarding the electronic lock.

7. A key management system as in claim 1, wherein the cradle initiates an encrypted challenge-response communication with the key upon receiving the initial transmission from the key.

8. A key management system as in claim 1, wherein the software program includes computer-executable instructions for presenting a user interface screen for prompting an authorized user to set operation limit parameters for an electronic key, and saving the operation limit parameters for the electronic key into the database.

9. A key management system as in claim 8, wherein the software program includes computer-executable instructions for presenting a user interface screen for a system administrator to add or delete a user having authority for setting operation limit parameters for electronic keys.

10. A key management system as in claim 1, wherein the database is at a location remote from the computer and accessible by the software program via a network.

11. A key management system as in claim 10, wherein the network is the Internet.

12. A key management system as in claim 10, wherein the computer includes a local data buffer for storing key management data downloaded from the database.

13. A key management system as in claim 1, where the software program includes computer-executable instructions for selecting and displaying operation limit parameters for a plurality of electronic keys.

14. A key management system for management of electronic keys used to access vending machines, comprising:

a plurality of key management stations including at least first and second key management stations, each key management station having a computer with a software program for key management functionality and a cradle communicating with the computer for interfacing the computer with an electronic key, the first key management station having access to a first database containing key management data, and the second key management station having access to a second database containing key management data,

the software program on the computer of the first key management station having computer-executable instructions for receiving operation limit parameters designated to a key identification number, storing the operation limit parameters with the key identification number into the first database, and generating an electronic data structure containing the key identification number and the operation limit parameters for said key for delivery to the second key management station for synchronizing the second database with the first database.

15. A key management system as in claim 14, wherein the software program of the first key management station has computer-executable instructions for presenting a user interface screen for prompting a user to manually enter the operation limit parameters for the key.

16. A key management system as in claim 14, wherein the electronic data structure is stored on a transportable medium for delivery to the second key management station.

17. A key management system as in claim 14, wherein the electronic data structure is transmitted to the second key management station via a network.

18. A key management system as in claim 14, wherein the software program of the first key management station further includes computer-executable instructions for receiving a second electronic data structure containing key management data, and importing the key management data in the second electronic data structure into the first database.

19. A method of preventing unauthorized operation of a key management station for managing operations of electronic keys used to access vending machines, the key management station having components including a computer with a software program for key management functionality and a cradle for interfacing the computer with an electronic key, the method comprising:

inputting into the computer at least two component identification numbers for respective components of the key management station;

calculating, by the computer, a system identification number based on the at least two component identification numbers;

transmitting the system identification number to a control center;

receiving from the control center a registration number generated using the system identification number; and

entering the received registration number into the computer for storing into a memory of the key management station,

wherein the software program has computer-executable instructions to perform steps of generating a calculated registration number from the at least two component identification numbers upon startup of the computer, comparing the calculated registration number with the registration number stored in the memory, and aborting operation if the calculated registration number does not match the stored registration number.

20. A method as in claim 19, wherein the database is stored in the memory of the computer, and the received registration number is stored into the database.

21. A method as in claim 19, wherein one of the at least two component identification numbers identifies a component of the key management station external to the computer.

22. A method as in claim 19, further including the steps of presenting a user interface screen for prompting a user to enter the at least two component identification numbers, and displaying the system identification number for viewing by the user.

23. A key management system for management of electronic keys used to access vending machines, comprising:

a plurality of key management stations including at least first and second key management stations, each key management station having a computer with a software program for key management functionality and a cradle communicating with the computer for interfacing the computer with an electronic key, the first and second key management stations both having access to a shared database containing the key management data,

the software program on the computer of either key management station having computer-executable instructions for receiving operation limit parameters designated to a key identification number, storing the operation limit parameters with the key identification number into the shared database.