Storing and accessing keys

• US 7,152,802 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2004
• Issued: 12/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Key Control Holding Incorporated (Reynolds & Reynolds Company)
• Original Assignee: Key Control Holding Incorporated (Reynolds & Reynolds Company)
• Inventors: Gill, Timothy, Kell, Curtis, Mariduena, Arthur, Probert, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): ST CYR, DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US10/864,558
• Publication Number:
  US 20050269414A1
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 235/492
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00936 for key cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses

Abstract

There is disclosed a key access fob, key access devices, a key access system, key access methods. A fob may comprise a receiver, a transmitter, and a light pipe running from a bottom end of the fob to a top end of the fob. A docking unit may comprise a plurality of receivers configured to receive a fob. Each receiver may include three openings. The docking unit may also comprise a plurality of receiving units, one receiving unit for each of the receivers, each receiving unit including a transmitter, a receiver, and a light emitting diode (LED). A key access system may include one or more docking units in one or more drawers in one or more cabinets, the cabinets coupled to a computing device running an application program. The application program in conjunction with other devices may execute key access methods.

Claims

1. A fob to hold a key and to be used in a key access system, the fob comprising:

a housing having a top end and a bottom end;

a receiver to receive information, said receiver mounted in said housing;

a transmitter to send a unique identifier said transmitter mounted in said housing; and

a light pipe running from the bottom end of the housing to the top end of the housing to receive light at the bottom end of the housing and to emit light at the top end of the housing.

2. The fob of claim 1 wherein:

the transmitter comprises an infrared transmitter;

the receiver comprises an infrared receiver.

3. The fob of claim 1 further comprising:

a security loop through which one or more keys may be attached.

4. The fob of claim 3 wherein the security loop is metal and the external portions of the fob are plastic.

5. The fob of claim 4 further comprising:

a closed circuit formed by said security loop; and

a processor to write to a storage device when the circuit is broken.

6. The fob of claim 1 further comprising:

a lens at the top end of the fob appurtenant to the light pipe through which light from the light pipe is dispersed.

7. The fob of claim 1 further comprising:

a magnet located internal to the fob and located at a lower portion of the fob.

8. The fob of claim 1 further comprising:

a protrusion to align the fob within a receiver, the protrusion located at a lower portion of the fob.

9. The fob of claim 8 further comprising:

a magnet located internal to the fob and within the protrusion.

10. A fob to hold a key and to be used in a key access systems, the fob comprising:

a housing;

an infrared transceiver to receive information and to send a unique identifier, said transceiver mounted in said housing;

a light pipe running from a bottom end of the housing to a top end of the housing to receive light and to emit light at the top end of the housing;

a protrusion on said housing to align the fob within a receiver, the protrusion located at a lower portion of the housing;

a magnet located internal to the housing; and

a security loop extending from said housing through which one or more keys may be attached.

11. The fob of claim 10 wherein the security loop is metal and the external portions of the fob are plastic.

12. The fob of claim 11 further comprising:

a closed circuit formed by said security loop; and

a processor to write to a storage device when the circuit is broken.

13. A fob to hold a key and to be used in a key access system, the fob comprising:

a housing;

an infrared receiver to receive information, said receiver mounted in said housing;

an infrared transmitter to send a unique identifier, said transmitter mounted in said housing;

a light pipe running from a bottom end of the housing to a top end of the housing to receive light and to emit light at the top end of the housing;

a protrusion on said housing to align the housing within a receiver,

the protrusion located at a lower portion of the housing;

a magnet located internal to the housing and within the protrusion; and

a security loop on said housing through which one or more keys may be attached.

14. A docking unit comprising:

a plurality of elongated receivers, each receiver having a first end and a second end and configured to receive a fob, each receiver having an opening at the first end and including an alignment groove, each receiver further including at the second end a receiver opening, a transmitter opening, and a light opening;

a board positioned below the second end of the plurality of receivers, said board including a plurality of receiving units, one receiving unit positioned below each receiver on said board, each receiving unit including a transmitter, a receiver, a light source, and a first processor;

a controller coupled to each of the receiving units, the controller including a second processor.

15. The docking unit of claim 14 wherein

the transmitter comprises an infrared transmitter;

and

the receiver comprises an infrared receiver.

16. The docking unit of claim 14 wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode (LED).

17. The docking unit of claim 14 wherein the controller is coupled for communication with a computing device through a cabinet controller.

18. The docking unit of claim 14 wherein the computing device comprises a personal computer.

19. The docking unit of claim 14 further comprising:

a magnetic sensor included in each of receivers, the magnetic sensors located adjacent to the alignment grooves and coupled to the first processors, the magnetic sensor to signal when the receiver is populated with a fob.

20. A docking unit comprising:

a plurality of receivers, each receiver having a first end and a second end and configured to receive a fob at said first end, each receiver including at the second end a receiver opening, a transmitter opening, a light opening, said receiver further including an alignment groove, and a magnetic sensor, the magnetic sensor located adjacent to the alignment groove and coupled to a first processor, the magnetic sensor to signal when a fob is in the receiver; and

a board positioned below the second end of the plurality of receivers, said board including a plurality of receiving units, a receiving unit positioned on the board below each receiver, each receiving unit including an infrared transmitter, an infrared receiver, a light emitting diode (LED), and the first processor a controller coupled to each of the receiving units, the controller including a second processor.

21. A docking unit comprising:

a plurality of receivers, having a first end and a second end and configured to receive a fob at said first end, each receiver including at the second end a transceiver opening, a light opening, said receiver further including an alignment groove, and a magnetic sensor, the magnetic sensor located adjacent to the alignment groove and coupled to a first processor, the magnetic sensor to signal when a fob is in the receiver;

a board positioned below the second end of the plurality of receivers, said board including a plurality of receiving units, wherein a receiving unit is positioned on said board below a receiver, said receiving units each including an infrared transceiver, a light emitting diode (LED), and the first processor; and

a controller coupled to each of the receiving units, the controller including a second processor.

22. A drawer to store a plurality of keys comprising:

one or more docking units, each docking unit comprising

a plurality of receivers having a first end and a second end and configured to receive one of a plurality of fobs at said first end, each fob having one or more keys attached thereto;

a board positioned below the second end of the plurality of receivers, said board including a plurality of receiving units, each receiving units configured to be positioned on said board below a receiver, each receiving unit including a transmitter, a receiver, a light source, and a processor; and

a controller coupled with each of the receiving units.

23. The drawer of claim 22 wherein:

the transmitter comprises an infrared; and

the receiver comprises an infrared receiver.

24. The drawer of claim 22 wherein the tight source comprises a light emitting diode (LED).

25. The drawer of claim 22 further comprising a cabinet controller coupled with each of the controllers of the docking units, the cabinet controller to communicate with a computing device.

26. The drawer of claim 25 wherein the comporting device comprises a personal computer.

27. The drawer of claim 22 wherein each receiver comprises a magnetic sensor located adjacent to an alignment groove included in each receiver, the magnetic sensor to signal when the receiver is populated with one of the fobs.

28. A system comprising:

a computing device to run an application program;

a cabinet coupled to the computing device, the cabinet including at least one drawer, the drawer including at least one docking unit, the docking unit comprising;

a plurality of receivers having a first end and a second end and each receiver configured to receive at the first end a fob, each receiver including an alignment groove, and at the second end, a receiver opening, a transmitter opening, and a light;

a board positioned below the second end of the plurality of receivers, said board including a plurality of receiving units, wherein a receiving unit is positioned on said board below a receiver, each receiving unit including a transmitter, a receiver, a light source, and a first processor; and

a controller coupled to each of the receiving units, the controller including a second processor.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein

the transmitter comprises an infrared transmitter;

and

the receiver comprises an infrared receiver.

30. The system of claim 28 wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode(LED).

31. The system of claim 28 wherein the cabinet further comprises a cabinet controller such that the controller is coupled for communication with the computing device through the cabinet controller.

32. The system of claim 28 wherein the computing device comprises a personal computer.

33. The system of claim 28 wherein each of the receivers includes a magnetic sensor, the magnetic sensor located adjacent to the alignment grooves and coupled to the first processor, the magnetic sensor to signal when the receiver is populated with a fob.

34. The system of claim 28 further comprising:

an access unit coupled to the computing device.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein the access unit is one or more selected from the group of a biometric device, a card reader, and a fob access unit.

36. A method comprising:

receiving a notification that a fob is in a receiver in a docking unit in a drawer in a cabinet, the notification triggered by a signal from a magnetic sensor included with the receiver requesting a unique identifier from the fob via infrared communications with the fob forwarding the unique identifier and a receiver location to an application program running on a computing device;

requesting information about an item associated with a key attached to the fob, the requesting achieved via a user interface on the computing device;

receiving item description information from the user;

storing the unique identifier, the receiver location and the item description information in a database;

receiving a request to access the key;

determining the receiver location of the fob to which the key is attached by accessing the database;

instructing the cabinet to open the drawer in which the key is located;

instructing the receiver to illuminate its light emitting diode (LED) to illuminate the fob to which the key is attached; and

transmitting light generated from below the fob through the fob utilizing a light pipe disposed therein.

37. The method of claim 36 further comprising:

receiving a notification that the receiver is vacant triggered by a signal from the magnetic sensor; and

updating the database reflecting that the fob and the key are checked out.

38. The method of claim 36 wherein the item is one or more of an automobile, a motorcycle, a boat, and a recreational vehicle.