Managing access to physical assets
First Claim
1. A key management system for controlling access to vehicle keys, comprising:
- a key set that includes a vehicle key to a particular vehicle and a key tag associated with the vehicle key, the key tag having an electronically readable identifier stored thereon and an electrical contact portion;
a key container that can be located on or near the vehicle, the key container having a key set storage area secured by an electronic lock, the key container operable to detect the key set when the key set is properly stored in the key set storage area; and
an open architecture electronic access device carried by a user to access the key container, the access device having a memory that is updated with at least the identifier of the key tag when the key container is successfully accessed and the key set is removed from the key set storage area;
wherein the access device is programmed to expire periodically, and wherein information stored in the memory of an expired access device is automatically uploaded to a database.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A decentralized key management system for controlling access to multiple vehicles among multiple users includes vehicle keys for the respective vehicles, individual locking key containers for the vehicles, electronic access devices for assignment to the users and a database. Each of the containers has a storage area within which a vehicle key or keys for one vehicle can be stored operable to unlock key containers if authorized. The access devices are operable to unlock the key containers if authorized. The access devices are programmable with information from the database such that an assigned access device is programmed with a specific user'"'"'s access privileges for obtaining access to one or more of the vehicles in the system.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A key management system for controlling access to vehicle keys, comprising:
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a key set that includes a vehicle key to a particular vehicle and a key tag associated with the vehicle key, the key tag having an electronically readable identifier stored thereon and an electrical contact portion; a key container that can be located on or near the vehicle, the key container having a key set storage area secured by an electronic lock, the key container operable to detect the key set when the key set is properly stored in the key set storage area; and an open architecture electronic access device carried by a user to access the key container, the access device having a memory that is updated with at least the identifier of the key tag when the key container is successfully accessed and the key set is removed from the key set storage area; wherein the access device is programmed to expire periodically, and wherein information stored in the memory of an expired access device is automatically uploaded to a database. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A key management system for controlling access to vehicle keys, comprising:
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a key set that includes a vehicle key to a particular vehicle and a key tag associated with the vehicle key, the key tag having a memory having a stored electronically readable identifier and of operable to store tracking information; and a key container that can be located on or near the vehicle, the key container having a key set storage area secured by an electronic lock, the key container operable to detect the key set when the key set is properly stored in the key set storage area; and an electronic access device carried by a user to access the key container, the access device having a memory that is updated with at least the identifier of the key tag when the key container is successfully accessed and the key set is removed from the key set storage area. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A key management system for controlling access to a vehicle key stored proximal to a remotely located vehicle, comprising:
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a key container located proximal to one of the remotely located vehicles, the key container having a key storage area for storing a vehicle key associated with the respective vehicle and being secured by an electronic lock; a key tag associated with the vehicle key, the key tag having a memory with an electronically stored identifier and operable to record information when the key storage area is accessed; and an electronic key for accessing the key container, the electronic key operable to establish a communications link with the key tag via the key container and having a memory, wherein information about access events is stored in at least one of the memory of the key tag or the memory of the electronic key. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification