Electronic key-control and management system for vending machines
DCFirst Claim
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1. A key management system for management of electronic keys used to access electronic locks of vending machines, comprising a computer having a software program for key management functionality;
- a database containing key management data; and
a cradle communicating with the computer for interfacing the computer with an electronic key;
the software program having computer-executable instructions for performing an automatic key refreshing operation;
receiving a the steps of receiving an initial transmission from a key through the cradle, the initial transmission initiating the automatic key refreshing operation;
receiving a key identification number from the key through the cradle;
retrieving from the database information of a user of the key and operation limit parameters for said user based on the key identification number; and
sending the operation limit parameters through the cradle to the key for writing into a memory of the key, wherein the key contains audit trails data collected from vending machines accessed using said key, and wherein the software program has further computer-executable instructions for receiving the audit trails data from the key, and storing the received audit trails data into the database.
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Abstract
An electronic key control and management system for vending machines and like enclosures uses a computer and database to limit operation and parameters of electronic keys, customize the key limits, refresh keys, and collect, store and sort a host of data in various combinations, and according to preselected parameters to perform management of the keys and audit trail data.
64 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A key management system for management of electronic keys used to access electronic locks of vending machines, comprising a computer having a software program for key management functionality;
- a database containing key management data; and
a cradle communicating with the computer for interfacing the computer with an electronic key;
the software program having computer-executable instructions for performing an automatic key refreshing operation;
receiving a the steps of receiving an initial transmission from a key through the cradle, the initial transmission initiating the automatic key refreshing operation;
receiving a key identification number from the key through the cradle;
retrieving from the database information of a user of the key and operation limit parameters for said user based on the key identification number; and
sending the operation limit parameters through the cradle to the key for writing into a memory of the key, wherein the key contains audit trails data collected from vending machines accessed using said key, and wherein the software program has further computer-executable instructions for receiving the audit trails data from the key, and storing the received audit trails data into the database. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- a database containing key management data; and
- 13. A key management system for management of electronic keys used to access vending machines, comprising a plurality of key management stations including at least first and second key management stations, each key management station having a computer with a software program for key management functionality and a cradle communicating with the computer for interfacing the computer with an electronic key and for receiving an initial transmission from the key for initiating an automatic key refreshing operation, the first key management station having access to a first database containing key management data, and the second key management station having access to a second database containing key management data, the software program on the computer of the first key management station having computer-executable instructions for receiving operation limit parameters designated to a key identification number, storing the operation limit parameters with the key identification number into the first database, and generating an electronic data structure containing the key identification number and the operation limit parameters for said key for delivery to the second key management station for synchronizing the second database with the first database, and wherein the key contains audit trails data collected from vending machines accessed using said key, and wherein the software program has further computer-executable instructions for receiving the audit trails data from the key, and storing the received audit trails data into the database.
- 18. A key management system for management of electronic keys used to access vending machines, comprising a plurality of key management stations including at least first and second key management stations, each key management station having a computer with a software program for key management functionality and a cradle communicating with the computer for interfacing the computer with an electronic key, and for receiving an initial transmission and a key identification number from a key through the cradle, the initial transmission initiating an automatic key refreshing operation, the first and second key management stations both having access to a shared database containing the key management data, the first key management station having a first database address pointer and the second key management station having a second database address pointer that is the same as the first database address pointer, the software program on the computer of either key management station having computer-executable instructions for receiving operation limit parameters designated to a key identification number, storing the operation limit parameters with the key identification number into the shared database, wherein the key contains audit trails data collected from vending machines accessed using said key, and wherein the software program has further computer-executable instructions for receiving the audit trails data from the key, and storing the received audit trails data into the database.
Specification