Asset management system

• US 7,116,228 B1
• Filed: 02/20/2002
• Issued: 10/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Key Control Holding Incorporated (Reynolds & Reynolds Company)
• Original Assignee: Key Control Holding Incorporated (Reynolds & Reynolds Company)
• Inventors: Singleton, Steve D.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US10/079,920
• Time in Patent Office: 1,686 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.8, 340/568.1, 340/571, 340/540
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

The invented system and its components utilize RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology to store and locate assets or asset control devices within security enclosures of a wide range of sizes and configurations.

Claims

1. An asset management system comprising:

a plurality of asset tags each made of material that transmits light;

a security container having an interior at least partially defined by a back panel;

a top panel disposed within said security container adjacent the back panel, the top panel defined by an outer surface and an inner surface and having a plurality of open receptacles each for receiving and storing an asset tag;

a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) positioned in said security container and enclosed between the top panel and the back panel, each LED being positioned below an open receptacle and aligning with an asset tag located in said receptacle; and

a controller coupled to said LEDs, said controller being programmed to identify a selected asset tag by lighting the LED aligned therewith, the selected asset tag being illuminated by light from the LED to identify its location visually to a user.

2. An asset management system as claimed in claim 1 and wherein said asset tags are made of plastic.

3. An asset management system as claimed in claim 1 and wherein said security container is openable.

4. An asset management system as claimed in claim 3 and wherein said security container is an openable drawer.

5. An asset management system as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising a scanner board in said security container, said LEDs being located on said scanner board.

6. An asset management system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said asset tag is defined by a first end and a second end, wherein said first end is positioned below the top panel adjacent said LED when said asset tag is seated in a receptacle.

7. An asset management system as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising an identification tag in each of said asset tags, each said identification tag storing a identification code uniquely associated with the corresponding asset tag, and at least one reader in said security container for detecting the identification codes associated with asset tags in said security container, said reader conveying the detected identification codes to said controller.

8. An asset management system as claimed in claim 7 and wherein said at least one reader comprises a plurality of readers, each reader being associated with a receptacle and positioned to align with an asset tag located in said receptacle for reading the identification code associated with said asset tag.

9. A method of identifying the location of a selected key tag stored in a key management system and made of a light transmitting material, said method comprising the step of

positioning a light source internally within the key management system below a panel configured to receive a key tag;

inserting a key tag into the panel so that a first portion of the key tag extends below the panel adjacent the light source a second visible portion of the key tag extends above said panel;

activating the light source aligned with the key tag to project onto said first end of said key tag,

utilizing said key tag to transmit light at least partially along the length of the key tag to the second visible portion of the key tag to illuminate the second visible portion of the key tag making the key tag identifiable to a user.

10. The method of claim 9 and further comprising the step of flashing the light source.

11. The method of claim 9 and wherein the light source is an LED.

12. A system for tracking keys comprising:

a key tag to be associated with a key and made at least partially of an optically transparent material;

a security container in which is defined an internal compartment;

a receptacle in said security container, said key tag configured to fit in said receptacle;

a light source positioned within said internal compartment in said security container and below said receptacle, said light source positioned to project light into said key tag when said key tag is seated in said receptacle and said light source is activated; and

a controller operatively coupled to said light source, said controller being programmed to identify said key tag visually to a user by activating said light source to illuminate said key tag.

13. A system for tracking keys as claimed in claim 12 and wherein said light source comprises and LED.

14. A system for tracking keys as claimed in claim 12 and further comprising a readable identification code in said key tag and a reader in said security container, said controller being operatively coupled to said reader for receiving said identification code to identify said key tag.

15. A system for tracking keys as claimed in claim 14 and further comprising:

a plurality of said key tags each to be associated with a key and each being made at least partially of an optically transparent material;

a plurality of said receptacles is said security container, said key tags configured to fit in said receptacles;

a plurality of said light sources in said security container, each light source corresponding to one of said receptacles and being positioned to project light into a key tag when said key tag is in said receptacle and said light source is activated; and

said controller being operatively coupled to said plurality of light sources and being programmed to identify a key tag in a receptacle by activating the light source corresponding to said receptacle to illuminate said key tag.

16. In a key management system wherein a plurality of key tags are disposed to be received in a panel having a plurality of open receptacles in a security container and wherein each key tag, when received in a receptacle, has a first portion that extends below the panel and a second portion that extends above said panel, the improvement wherein said key tags are light pipes and wherein said security container houses a plurality of light sources below the top panel and where each light source is aligned with one of said receptacles, each light source being positioned to emit light into the first portion of a key tag located above the light source in the receptacle associated with the light source to illuminate the second portion of the key tag and identify it visually to a user.

17. A key tag for use in a key management system, said key tag comprising a tubular body having a first end and a second end and a bore extending at least partially therebetween to form a light pipe for transmitting light from said first end towards said second end, said tubular body further including a fastener for attaching a key to said key tag.