Electronic Key-Management System

• US 20080258869A1
• Filed: 01/24/2008
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Miodrag Ognjenovic
• Original Assignee: Miodrag Ognjenovic
• Inventors: Ognjenovic, Miodrag
• Application Number:
  US12/019,008
• Publication Number:
  US 20080258869A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.73
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/10 Key holders; Key boards key cases A45C11/32
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00936 for key cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses

Abstract

A device that is part of an electronic key-management system comprises an interface, and a key holder and key carrier device. The interface is capable of receiving a control signal from an external control system, such as a building access control system, a building security system, a building integration system, a building control system and by local manual control unit. The key holder device is capable of being responsive to the control signal received from the external management system by unsecuring a key associated with the key holder/carrier device. In one embodiment, the key associated with the key holder/carrier device comprises at least one wireless RF transponder capable of providing identification information associated with the key holder/carrier in response to an identification query.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

an interface module capable of receiving of a control signal from an external access control system; and

a key-holder device capable of being responsive to the control signal received from the access management system by unsecuring a key associated with the key holder device.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the external access control system comprises one of a building access control system, a building security system, a building integration system, and a building control system.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the interface module comprises at least one signal converter for at least one of a positive and a negative input, and timer.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the interface module comprises at least one of an open collectors input, and a dry contact relay input.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the interface module comprises one of an RF input and an infrared input.

6. The device according to claim 1, further comprising the key associated with the key holder device.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the key comprises a key carrier comprising at least one wireless RF transponder capable of providing identification and tracking information associated with the key carrier in response to an identification query.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the key comprises a key carrier,

wherein the key-holder device comprises a space capable of holding the key carrier, and

the device further comprising a sensor capable of sensing whether the key carrier is positioned within the space of the key-holder device, and capable of outputting a signal indicative of whether the key carrier is sensed within the space of the key-holder device.

9. The device according to claim 8, further comprising a visual indicator device that is responsive to the signal indicative of whether the key carrier is sensed within the space of the key-holder device by indicating whether the key carrier is sensed within the space of the key-holder device.

10. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a visual indicator device that is responsive to the control signal by indicating a state of the key-holder device.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is part of a key-management device.

12. A device, comprising:

an interface module capable of receiving of a control signal from an external access control system, the external access control system being external to the device;

a key device comprising a key and a key carrier;

a securing mechanism capable of receiving the key carrier in a locking space, the securing mechanism being further capable of securing the key carrier in the locking space, and unsecuring the key carrier from the locking space, and being responsive to the control signal received by the interface module by unsecuring the key carrier from the locking space;

a sensor capable of sensing whether the key carrier has been received by the locking space, and capable of outputting a signal indicative of whether the key carrier has been sensed as being received by the locking space;

a first visual indicator device responsive to the signal indicative of whether the key carrier has been received by the locking space by providing a visual indication of whether the key carrier has been received by the locking space; and

a second visual indicator device that is responsive to the control signal received by the interface module by indicating a secured/unsecured state of the securing mechanism.

13. The device according to claim 12, further comprising a timer capable of being responsive to the control signal received by the interface module by generating a timer signal a predetermined period of time after the control signal is received by the interface module, and

wherein the locking mechanism is further capable of being responsive to the timer signal by changing from an unsecured state to a secured state.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the key carrier comprises at least one wireless RF transponder capable of providing identification and tracking information associated with the key carrier in response to an identification query.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the interface module comprises at least one of an open collectors input, a dry contact relay input, an RF input and an infrared input.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the device is part of a key-management device.

17. The device according to claim 16, wherein the external access control system comprises one of a building access control system, a building security system, a building integration system, and a building control system.

18. A device comprising a key carrier capable of being associated with a key, the key carrier comprising at least one wireless RF transponder capable of providing identification and tracking information associated with the key carrier in response to an identification query.

19. The device according to claim 18, further comprising:

an interface module capable of receiving of a control signal from an external access control system; and

a key-holder device capable of securing the key carrier and capable of being responsive to the control signal received from the access management system by unsecuring the key carrier.

20. The device according to claim 19, further comprising the key associated with the key carrier, and

wherein the external access control system comprises one of a building access control system, a building security system, a building integration system, and a building control system.