METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATED ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20100155471A1
• Filed: 12/23/2008
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: Piverotto, Adam D., Craig, Jack W., Heinz, Theresa A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,191,781 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/381
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration

Abstract

An automated access control system and method in one embodiment includes a storage rack comprising a plurality of storage compartments, a user port, a memory including program instructions for placing a key within one of the plurality of storage compartments, associating the key with the one of the plurality of storage compartments, identifying a user, associating the user and the stored key, removing the stored key from the one of the plurality of storage compartments, and making the removed key accessible to the user at the user port, and a processor operably connected to the memory for executing the program instructions.

Claims

1. An automated access control system comprising:

a storage rack comprising a plurality of storage compartments;

a user port;

a memory including program instructions for

placing a key within one of the plurality of storage compartments,

associating the key with the one of the plurality of storage compartments,

identifying a user,

associating the user and the stored key,

removing the stored key from the one of the plurality of storage compartments, and

making the removed key accessible to the user at the user port; and

a processor operably connected to the memory for executing the program instructions.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an inventory control assembly, the inventory control assembly configured to access each of the plurality of storage compartments and the user port.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a plurality of key retaining mechanisms, each of the plurality of key retaining mechanisms configured to be removably positioned within at least one of the plurality of storage compartments.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the inventory control assembly comprises a gripper mechanism configured to couple with each of the plurality of key retaining mechanisms.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory further includes program instructions for:

uniquely identifying a key received by the automated access control system.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the program instructions for uniquely identifying a key received by the automated access control system comprise program instructions for receiving input from a user for use in uniquely identifying the received key.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the program instructions for uniquely identifying a key received by the automated access control system comprise program instructions for receiving data from a wireless link for use in uniquely identifying the received key.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a radio frequency identification receiver for receiving data from a wireless link established with the key for use in uniquely identifying the received key.

9. A method of automatically controlling access to a key comprising:

controlling an inventory control assembly to place a key within one of a plurality of storage compartments;

associating the key with the one of the plurality of storage compartments;

identifying a user;

associating the user and the stored key;

controlling the inventory control assembly to remove the key from within the one of a plurality of storage compartments; and

providing access to the removed key at a user port.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein controlling the inventory control assembly to remove the key from within the one of a plurality of storage compartments comprises:

coupling a key retaining mechanism located in an identified one of the plurality of storage compartments with a gripper mechanism; and

withdrawing the key retaining mechanism from the identified storage compartment with the gripper mechanism.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein coupling a key retaining mechanism comprises:

extending the gripper mechanism toward the identified storage compartment.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

uniquely identifying a key to be placed within one of a plurality of storage compartments; and

storing the unique identification of the key, wherein associating the user and the stored key comprises;

associating user specific data with the stored unique key identification data.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein uniquely identifying a key comprises:

inputting user specific data to a self-service kiosk.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein uniquely identifying a key comprises:

receiving data from a wireless link.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein uniquely identifying a key comprises:

receiving data from a wireless link established with the key.

16. A method of automatically controlling access to a key comprising:

placing a key within a kiosk;

identifying the placed key;

moving the identified key to a selected storage compartment;

storing data associating the identified key with the selected storage compartment in an inventory database;

identifying the selected storage compartment using the stored association data;

retrieving the key from the storage compartment based upon the identity of the storage compartment; and

releasing the retrieved key to a user.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

positioning the retrieved key proximate to a user port in the kiosk.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising;

updating the inventory database to reflect release of the retrieved key to the user.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein identifying the placed key comprises:

obtaining key identification data from the key;

comparing the obtained key identification with stored key identification; and

enabling moving the identified key to a selected storage compartment based upon the comparison.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein identifying the placed key comprises:

emitting a signal from the kiosk; and

receiving key identification data from the key in response to the emitted signal.