Remote kiosk for rental of securable devices

• US 8,854,185 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Best Lockers, LLC (Assa Abloy AB)
• Original Assignee: Best Lockers, LLC (Assa Abloy AB)
• Inventors: Mullin, James, Zaniker, John, Conrad, James, Bobb, Daryle
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): POINT, RUFUS C
• Application Number:
  US13/841,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20130254123A1
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.73, 340/5.81, 340/5.7
• US Class Current: 340/5.81
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/206 comprising security or operator identification provisions, e.g. password entry
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 Rental transactions; Leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00912 for safes, strong-rooms, vaults or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/33 by means of a password

Abstract

A system and method for assigning controlled access to a securable device may include (i) multiple securable devices and (ii) a kiosk configured to enable a user to rent a securable device from among the securable devices. The kiosk may be physically remote from the securable devices.

Claims

1. A system for assigning controlled access to a securable device, said system comprising:

a plurality of securable devices; and

a kiosk configured to enable a user to rent a securable device from among said plurality of securable devices, said kiosk being physically remote from said plurality of securable devices and being in selective communication with the securable device being rented by the user to communicate data associated with the rental of the securable device by the user via said kiosk to the securable device to enable the user to access the securable device responsive to the user entering the data into the securable device.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein being physically remote includes each of (i) said plurality of securable devices and (ii) said kiosk having separate and distinct housings.

3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a second kiosk configured to enable the user to non-simultaneously rent the securable device from among said plurality of securable devices, said second kiosk being physically remote from said plurality of securable devices.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein said second kiosk is physically remote from said kiosk.

5. The system according to claim 3, wherein said kiosk and said second kiosk operate in parallel communication with one another with respect to said plurality of securable devices.

6. The system according to claim 3, wherein said kiosk, said second kiosk, and said plurality of securable devices are in selective communication with one another via a common communications network.

7. The system according to claim 6, further comprising a system controller configured to communicate with each of said kiosk and said second kiosk.

8. The system according to claim 3, wherein each of said kiosk and said second kiosk are configured to communicate with each securable device of said securable devices.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said kiosk is further configured to operate a virtual server thereon.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein said kiosk is further configured to communicate a PIN as the data to the securable device, and wherein said securable device is configured to enable the user to enter the PIN into the securable device and to provide the user with access to the securable device independent of further communication with said kiosk.

21. The system according to claim 1, wherein the kiosk, in communicating the data to the securable device, is configured to communicate a unique PIN to the securable device.

22. The method according to claim 1, wherein communicating the data to the securable device includes communicating a unique PIN to the securable device.

11. A method for assigning controlled access to a securable device, said method comprising:

providing a plurality of securable devices; and

enabling, via a kiosk, a user to rent a securable device from among the plurality of securable devices, the kiosk being physically remote from the plurality of securable devices and being in selective communication with a securable device being rented by the user to communicate data associated with the rental of the securable device by the user via said kiosk to the securable device to enable the user to access the securable device responsive to the user entering the data into the securable device.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein being physically remote includes providing each of (i) the plurality of securable devices and (ii) the kiosk with separate and distinct housings.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising enabling, via a second kiosk, the user to non-simultaneously rent the securable device from among the plurality of securable devices, the second kiosk being physically remote from the plurality of securable devices.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising remotely positioning the second kiosk from the kiosk.

15. The method according to claim 13, further comprising operating the kiosk and second kiosk in parallel communication with one another with respect to the plurality of securable devices.

16. The method according to claim 13, further comprising enabling the kiosk, second kiosk, and plurality of securable devices to be in selective communication with one another via a common communication network.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising providing a system controller configured to communicate with each of the kiosk and second kiosk.

18. The method according to claim 13, further comprising communicating, by each of the kiosk and second kiosk, with each securable device of the securable devices.

19. The method according to claim 11, further comprising operating a virtual server on the kiosk.

20. The method according to claim 11, wherein further comprising communicating, by the kiosk, a PIN as the data to the securable device, and enabling, by the securable device, the user to enter the PIN into the securable device and providing the user with access to the securable device independent of further communication with the kiosk.