Systems and methods for duplicating transponder keys and managing key information thereof

• US 9,563,885 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2015
• Issued: 02/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KeyMe, LLC
• Original Assignee: Keyme Incorporated (KeyMe, LLC)
• Inventors: Marsh, Gregory, Borer, Kristopher, Salzbank, Zachary, Pruitt, Paige
• Primary Examiner(s): FILE, ERIN M
• Application Number:
  US14/792,319
• Publication Number:
  US 20160004892A1
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices

Abstract

Systems and methods for duplicating transponder keys and managing key information thereof are provided. In some embodiments, the system comprises: a kiosk comprising: an antenna; and at least one hardware processor is programmed to: determine that the transponder key is to be scanned; receive information related to the transponder key; retrieve signal properties for the transponder key based on the received information related to the transponder key; cause the antenna to emit a first signal; detect a second signal; receive location information; cause information encoded in the second signal to be used to create the duplicate transponder key; and cause the duplicate transponder key to be delivered based on the location information.

Claims

1. A system for scanning a transponder key, the system comprising:

a self-service kiosk for use by a consumer user comprising;

an antenna;

a touchscreen; and

at least one hardware processor that is programmed to;

receive, via the touchscreen, a request from the user of the self-service kiosk to scan a transponder key;

receive, via the touchscreen, information related to the transponder key;

determine signal properties associated with the transponder key based on the received information related to the transponder key;

cause the antenna to emit a first signal based on the determined signal properties;

detect a second signal that is transmitted by the transponder key in response to the first signal, based on the determined signal properties;

receive, via the touchscreen, an instruction to create a duplicate of the transponder key;

receive, via the touchscreen, location information to which the duplicate of the transponder key is to be delivered;

cause information encoded in the second signal to be used to create the duplicate of the transponder key; and

cause the duplicate of the transponder key to be delivered based on the location information.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one hardware processor is further programmed to confirm that a position of the transponder key is within a threshold distance of the antenna.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the kiosk further comprises:

a key slot disposed in a surface of the kiosk, wherein the antenna is positioned such that a key head of the transponder key at least partially inserted into the key slot is proximate to the antenna; and

an image sensor that captures an image of the transponder key at least partially inserted into the key slot;

wherein the at least one hardware processor is further programmed to;

determine geometric information about the transponder key based on the image of the transponder key captured by the image sensor; and

cause the geometric information about the transponder key to be used to create the duplicate of the transponder key.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the transponder key is a key for an automobile and the information related to the transponder key includes the make, model and year of the automobile.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the location information includes at least a mailing address.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the hardware processor is further programmed to:

cause the information encoded in the second signal to be stored in a storage device in association with the geometric information; and

cause the information encoded in the second signal and the geometric information about the transponder key to be retrieved from the storage device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the hardware processor is further programmed to determine the information encoded in the second signal.

8. A method for scanning a transponder key, the method comprising:

receiving from a consumer user via a touchscreen of a self-service kiosk a request from the user of the self-service kiosk to scan a transponder key;

receiving, via the touchscreen, information related to the transponder key;

determining signal properties associated with the transponder key based on the received information related to the transponder key;

causing an antenna to emit a first signal based on the determined signal information;

detecting a second signal transmitted by the transponder key in response to the first signal, based on the determined signal properties;

receiving, via the touchscreen, an instruction to create a duplicate of the transponder key;

receiving, via the touchscreen, location information to which the duplicate of the transponder key is to be delivered;

causing information encoded in the second signal to be used to create the duplicate of the transponder key; and

causing the duplicate of the transponder key to be delivered based on the location information.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising confirming that a position of the transponder key is within a threshold distance of the antenna.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving an image of the transponder key captured by an image sensor included in the kiosk;

determining geometric information about the transponder key based on the image of the transponder key captured by the image sensor; and

causing the geometric information about the transponder key to be used to create the duplicate of the transponder key.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the transponder key is a key for an automobile and the information related to the transponder key includes the make, model and year of the automobile.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the location information includes at least a mailing address.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

causing the information encoded in the second signal to be stored in a storage device in association with the geometric information; and

causing the information encoded in the second signal and the geometric information about the transponder key to be retrieved from the storage device.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining the information encoded in the second signal.

15. A system for duplicating a transponder key, the system comprising:

at least one hardware processor that is programmed to;

receive, from a kiosk, a request for signal properties for interrogating a transponder key;

receive, from the kiosk, consumer-user-provided information about the transponder key;

determine signal properties associated with the transponder key using the information about the transponder key, wherein the signal properties include at least a format of a signal that is used to activate the transponder key;

send, to the kiosk, the signal properties associated with the transponder key;

receive, from the kiosk, encoded information included in a signal received by the kiosk from the transponder key;

receive location information;

identify a key blank based on the information about the transponder key;

create a duplicate of the transponder key using the encoded information; and

cause the duplicate of the transponder key to be delivered based on the location information.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the location information includes at least a mailing address.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the location information is received from the kiosk.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the location information is retrieved from a storage device based on identifying information received from the kiosk.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one hardware processor is further configured to:

receive identifying information from the kiosk that identifies a user; and

store the encoded information in a storage device in association with an account of the user.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one hardware processor is further programmed to program a transponder chip in the key blank based on the encoded information.