SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DUPLICATING TRANSPONDER KEYS AND MANAGING KEY INFORMATION THEREOF

• US 20160004892A1
• Filed: 07/06/2015
• Published: 01/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KeyMe, LLC
• Original Assignee: Keyme Incorporated (KeyMe, LLC)
• Inventors: Marsh, Gregory, Borer, Kristopher, Salzbank, Zachary, Pruitt, Paige
• Granted Patent: US 9,563,885 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices

Abstract

Systems and methods for duplicating transponder keys and managing key information thereof are provided. In some embodiments, the system comprises: a kiosk comprising: an antenna; and at least one hardware processor is programmed to: determine that the transponder key is to be scanned; receive information related to the transponder key; retrieve signal properties for the transponder key based on the received information related to the transponder key; cause the antenna to emit a first signal; detect a second signal; receive location information; cause information encoded in the second signal to be used to create the duplicate transponder key; and cause the duplicate transponder key to be delivered based on the location information.

Claims

1. A system for scanning a transponder key, the system comprising:

a kiosk comprising;

an antenna; and

at least one hardware processor that is programmed to;

determine that the transponder key is to be scanned;

receive information related to the transponder key;

retrieve signal properties associated with the transponder key based on the received information related to the transponder key;

cause the antenna to emit a first signal based on the retrieved signal properties;

detect a second signal based on the retrieved signal properties in response to causing the antenna to emit the first signal;

receive an instruction to create a duplicate of the transponder key;

receive location information to which the duplicate of the transponder key is to be delivered;

cause information encoded in the second signal to be used to create the duplicate transponder key; and

cause the duplicate transponder key to be delivered based on the location information.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the hardware processor is further programmed to confirm that a position of the transponder key is within a threshold distance of the antenna based on the retrieved signal properties.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein kiosk further comprises:

a key slot disposed in a surface of the kiosk, wherein the antenna is positioned such that a key head of the transponder key at least partially inserted into the key slot is proximate to the antenna; and

a key scanner that captures geometric information about a shaft of a transponder key at least partially inserted into the key slot, wherein the key scanner comprises an image sensor;

wherein the hardware processor is further programmed to;

determine geometric information about the transponder key based on an image of the transponder key captured by the image sensor; and

cause the geometric information about the transponder key to be used to create the duplicate transponder key.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the transponder key is a key for an automobile and the information related to the transponder key includes the make, model and year of the automobile.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the location information includes at least a mailing address.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the hardware processor is further programmed to:

cause the information encoded in the second signal to be stored in a storage device in association with the geometric information; and

cause the information encoded in the second signal and the geometric information about the transponder key to be retrieved from the storage device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the hardware processor is further programmed to determine the information encoded in the second signal.

8. A method for scanning a transponder key, the method comprising:

determining that a transponder key is to be scanned;

receiving information related to the transponder key;

retrieving signal properties associated with the transponder key based on the received information related to the transponder key;

causing an antenna to emit a first signal based on the retrieved signal information;

detecting a second signal based on the retrieved signal properties in response to causing the antenna to emit the first signal;

receiving an instruction to create a duplicate of the transponder key;

receiving location information to which the duplicate of the transponder key is to be delivered;

causing information encoded in the second signal to be used to create the duplicate transponder key; and

causing the duplicate transponder key to be delivered based on the location information.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising confirming that a position of the transponder key is within a threshold distance of the antenna based on the retrieved signal properties.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving an image of the transponder key captured by an image sensor included in the key scanner;

determining geometric information about the transponder key based on an image of the transponder key captured by the image sensor; and

causing the geometric information about the transponder key to be used to create the duplicate transponder key.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the transponder key is a key for an automobile and the information related to the transponder key includes the make, model and year of the automobile.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the location information includes at least a mailing address.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

causing the information encoded in the second signal to be stored in a storage device in association with the geometric information; and

causing the information encoded in the second signal and the geometric information about the transponder key to be retrieved from the storage device.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining the information encoded in the second signal.

15. A system for duplicating a transponder key, the system comprising:

at least one hardware processor that is programmed to;

receive, from a kiosk, a request for signal properties for interrogating a transponder key;

receive, from the kiosk, information about the transponder key;

determine signal properties associated with the transponder key using the information about the transponder key, wherein the signal properties include at least a format of a signal that is used to activate the transponder key;

send, to the kiosk, the signal properties associated with the transponder key;

receive, from the kiosk, encoded information included in a signal received by the kiosk from the transponder key;

receive location information;

identify a key blank based on the information about the transponder key;

create a duplicate of the transponder key using the encoded information; and

cause the duplicate key to be delivered based on the location information.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the location information includes at least a mailing address.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the location information is received from the kiosk.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the location information is retrieved from a storage device based on identifying information received from the kiosk.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the hardware processor is further configured to:

receive identifying information from the kiosk that identifies a user; and

store the encoded information in a storage device in association with an account of the user.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein hardware processor is further programmed to program a transponder chip in the key blank based on the encoded information.