Storing and accessing keys

• US 20050269414A1
• Filed: 06/08/2004
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Key Control Holding Incorporated (Reynolds & Reynolds Company)
• Original Assignee: Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch (Deutsche Bank)
• Inventors: Gill, Timothy, Kell, Curtis, Mariduena, Arthur, Probert, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 7,152,802 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00936 for key cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses

Abstract

There is disclosed a key access fob, key access devices, a key access system, key access methods. A fob may comprise a receiver, a transmitter, and a light pipe running from a bottom end of the fob to a top end of the fob. A docking unit may comprise a plurality of receivers configured to receive a fob. Each receiver may include three openings. The docking unit may also comprise a plurality of receiving units, one receiving unit for each of the receivers, each receiving unit including a transmitter, a receiver, and a light emitting diode (LED). A key access system may include one or more docking units in one or more drawers in one or more cabinets, the cabinets coupled to a computing device running an application program. The application program in conjunction with other devices may execute key access methods.

Claims

1. A fob to hold a key and to be used in a key access system, the fob comprising:

a receiver to receive information

a transmitter to send a unique identifier

a light pipe running from a bottom end of the fob to a top end of the fob to receive light and to emit light at the top end of the fob.

2. The fob of claim 1 wherein:

the transmitter comprises an infrared transmitter

the receiver comprises an infrared receiver.

3. The fob of claim 1 further comprising:

a security loop through which one or more keys may be attached.

4. The fob of claim 3 wherein the security loop is metal and the external portions of the fob are plastic.

5. The fob of claim 4 further comprising:

a circuit formed when the security loop is closed and broken when the security loop is open

processor to write to a storage device when the circuit is broken.

6. The fob of claim 1 further comprising:

a lens at the top end of the fob appurtenant to the light pipe through which light from the light pipe is dispersed.

7. The fob of claim 1 further comprising:

a magnet located internal to the fob and located at a lower portion of the fob.

8. The fob of claim 1 further comprising:

a protrusion to align the fob within a receiver, the protrusion located at a lower portion of the fob.

9. The fob of claim 8 further comprising:

a magnet located internal to the fob and within the protrusion.

10. A fob to hold a key and to be used in a key access system, the fob comprising:

an infrared transceiver to receive information and to send a unique identifier

a light pipe running from a bottom end of the fob to a top end of the fob to receive light and to emit light at the top end of the fob

a protrusion to align the fob within a receiver, the protrusion located at a lower portion of the fob

a magnet located internal to the fob and within the protrusion

a security loop through which one or more keys may be attached.

12. The fob of claim 10 wherein the security loop is metal and the external portions of the fob are plastic.

13. The fob of claim 12 further comprising:

a circuit formed when the security loop is closed and broken when the security loop is open

a processor to write to a storage device when the circuit is broken.

11. A fob to hold a key and to be used in a key access system, the fob comprising:

an infrared receiver to receive information

an infrared transmitter to send a unique identifier

a light pipe running from a bottom end of the fob to a top end of the fob to receive light and to emit light at the top end of the fob

a protrusion to align the fob within a receiver, the protrusion located at a lower portion of the fob

a magnet located internal to the fob and within the protrusion

a security loop through which one or more keys may be attached.

14. A docking unit comprising:

a plurality of receivers, each receiver configured to receive a fob, each receiver including an alignment groove, a receiver opening, a transmitter opening, and a light opening

a board including a plurality of receiving units, one receiving unit for each of the receivers, each receiving unit including a transmitter, a receiver, a light source, and a first processor

a controller coupled to each of the receiving units, the controller including a second processor.

15. The docking unit of claim 14 wherein

the transmitter comprises an infrared transmitter

the receiver comprises an infrared receiver.

16. The docking unit of claim 14 wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode (LED).

17. The docking unit of claim 14 wherein the controller is coupled for communication with a computing device through a cabinet controller.

18. The docking unit of claim 14 wherein the computing device comprises a personal computer.

19. The docking unit of claim 14 further comprising:

a magnetic sensor included in each of receivers, the magnetic sensors located adjacent to the alignment grooves and coupled to the first processors, the magnetic sensor to signal when the receiver is populated with a fob.

20. A docking unit comprising:

a plurality of receivers, each receiver configured to receive a fob, each receiver including a receiver opening, a transmitter opening, a light opening, an alignment groove, and a magnetic sensor, the magnetic sensor located adjacent to the alignment groove and coupled to a first processor, the magnetic sensor to signal when the fob is in the receiver

a board including a plurality of receiving units, one receiving unit for each of the receivers, each receiving unit including an infrared transmitter, an infrared receiver, a light emitting diode (LED), and the first processor

a controller coupled to each of the receiving units, the controller including a second processor.

21. A docking unit comprising:

a plurality of receivers, each receiver configured to receive a fob, each receiver including a transceiver opening, a light opening, an alignment groove, and a magnetic sensor, the magnetic sensor located adjacent to the alignment groove and coupled to a first processor, the magnetic sensor to signal when the fob is in the receiver

a board including a plurality of receiving units, one receiving unit for each of the receivers, each receiving unit including an infrared transceiver, a light emitting diode (LED), and the first processor

a controller coupled to each of the receiving units, the controller including a second processor.

22. A drawer to store a plurality of keys comprising:

one or more docking units, each docking unit including

a plurality of receivers configured to receive one of a plurality of fobs, each fob having one or more keys attached thereto

a board including a plurality of receiving units, one receiving unit for each of the receivers, each receiving unit including a transmitter, a receiver, a light source, and a processor

a controller coupled with each of the receiving units.

23. The drawer of claim 22 wherein:

the transmitter comprises an infrared transmitter

the receiver comprises an infrared receiver.

24. The drawer of claim 22 wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode (LED).

25. The drawer of claim 22 further comprising a cabinet controller coupled with each of the controllers of the docking units, the cabinet controller to communicate with a computing device.

26. The drawer of claim 25 wherein the computing device comprises a personal computer.

27. The drawer of claim 22 wherein each receiver comprises a magnetic sensor located adjacent to an alignment groove included in each receiver, the magnetic sensor to signal when the receiver is populated with one of the fobs.

28. A system comprising:

a computing device to run an application program

a cabinet coupled to the computing device, the cabinet including at least one drawer, the drawer including at least one docking unit, the docking unit comprising

a plurality of receivers, each receiver configured to receive a fob, each receiver including an alignment groove, a receiver opening, a transmitter opening, and a light opening

a board including a plurality of receiving units, one receiving unit for each of the receivers, each receiving unit including a transmitter, a receiver, a light source, and a first processor

a controller coupled to each of the receiving units, the controller including a second processor.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein

the transmitter comprises an infrared transmitter

the receiver comprises an infrared receiver.

30. The system of claim 28 wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode (LED).

31. The system of claim 28 wherein the cabinet further comprises a cabinet controller such that the controller is coupled for communication with the computing device through the cabinet controller.

32. The system of claim 28 wherein the computing device comprises a personal computer.

33. The system of claim 28 wherein each of the receivers includes a magnetic sensor, the magnetic sensor located adjacent to the alignment grooves and coupled to the first processor, the magnetic sensor to signal when the receiver is populated with a fob.

34. The system of claim 28 further comprising:

an access unit coupled to the computing device.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein the access unit is one or more selected from the group of a biometric device, a card reader, and a fob access unit.

36. A method comprising:

receiving a notification that a fob is in a receiver in a docking unit in a drawer in a cabinet, the notification triggered by a signal from a magnetic sensor included with the receiver

requesting a unique identifier from the fob via infrared communications with the fob

forwarding the unique identifier and a receiver location to an application program running on a computing device

requesting information about an item associated with a key attached to the fob, the requesting achieved via a user interface on the computing device

receiving item description information from the user

storing the unique identifier, the receiver location and the item description information in a database.

37. The method of claim 36 further comprising:

receiving a notification that the receiver is vacant triggered by a signal from the magnetic sensor

updating the database reflecting that the fob and the key are checked out.

38. The method of claim 36 wherein the item is one or more of an automobile, a motorcycle, a boat, and a recreational vehicle.

39. The method of claim 36 further comprising

receiving a request to access the key

determining the receiver location of the fob to which the key is attached by accessing the database

instructing the cabinet to open the drawer in which the key is located instructing the receiver to illuminate its light emitting diode (LED) to illuminate the fob to which the key is attached.

40. A method comprising:

receiving a request to access a key

determining a receiver location of a fob to which the key is attached by accessing a database

instructing a cabinet to open a drawer in which the key is located

instructing a receiver in a docking unit to illuminate its light emitting diode (LED) to illuminate the fob to which the key is attached.

41. The method of claim 40 further comprising:

receiving a notification from the receiver that the receiver is vacant, the notification triggered by a signal from a magnetic sensor included with the receiver

updating the database reflecting that the fob and the key are checked out based on the receiver location included in the notification.