Method and apparatus for automated access control system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An automated access control system comprising:
- a storage rack comprising a plurality of storage compartments;
a user port;
a key retaining mechanism for retaining a key as the key is transported with the key retaining mechanism from one of the storage compartments to the user port where the key is released to a user and the key retaining mechanism is held within the automated access control system;
a memory including program instructions forplacing the key retained in the key retaining mechanism within one of the plurality of storage compartments,associating the key with the one of the plurality of storage compartments,identifying a user,associating the user and the key,removing the key from the one of the plurality of storage compartments, andmaking the key accessible to the user at the user port; and
a processor operably connected to the memory for executing the program instructions.
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Abstract
An automated access control system and method in one embodiment includes a storage rack comprising a plurality of storage compartments, a user port, a memory including program instructions for placing a key within one of the plurality of storage compartments, associating the key with the one of the plurality of storage compartments, identifying a user, associating the user and the stored key, removing the stored key from the one of the plurality of storage compartments, and making the removed key accessible to the user at the user port, and a processor operably connected to the memory for executing the program instructions.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An automated access control system comprising:
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a storage rack comprising a plurality of storage compartments; a user port; a key retaining mechanism for retaining a key as the key is transported with the key retaining mechanism from one of the storage compartments to the user port where the key is released to a user and the key retaining mechanism is held within the automated access control system; a memory including program instructions for placing the key retained in the key retaining mechanism within one of the plurality of storage compartments, associating the key with the one of the plurality of storage compartments, identifying a user, associating the user and the key, removing the key from the one of the plurality of storage compartments, and making the key accessible to the user at the user port; and a processor operably connected to the memory for executing the program instructions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of automatically controlling access to a key comprising:
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controlling an inventory control assembly to place a key within one of a plurality of storage compartments; locking a key in a key retaining mechanism; associating the key in the key retaining mechanism with the one of the plurality of storage compartments; identifying a user; associating the user and the stored key; controlling the inventory control assembly to remove the key and the retaining mechanism from within the one of a plurality of storage compartments; and providing access to the removed key at a user port thereby allowing the user to unlock and remove the key while the key retaining mechanism is held within the inventory control assembly. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of automatically controlling access to a key comprising:
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placing a key in a key retaining mechanism within a kiosk; identifying the placed key; moving the identified key in the key retaining mechanism to a selected storage compartment; storing data associating the identified key with the selected storage compartment in an inventory database; identifying the selected storage compartment using the stored association data; retrieving the key from the storage compartment based upon the identity of the storage compartment; and releasing the retrieved key to a user while the key retaining mechanism is held within the kiosk. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification