System for managing physical assets
First Claim
1. A key management system for controlling access to a vehicle key stored proximal to a remotely located vehicle, comprising:
- a key container located proximal to one of the remotely located vehicles, the key container having a key storage area for storing a vehicle key associated with the respective vehicle and being secured by an electronic lock, the key container having a memory that is capable of recording information when the key storage area is accessed;
a key tag associated with the vehicle key, the key tag having an electronically stored identifier and being detectible by the key container when placed in the key storage area; and
a portable electronic key holdable by a user for accessing the key container, the electronic key being capable of establishing a communications link with the electronic lock of the key container and having a memory, wherein information about access events is stored in at least one of the memory or the memory of the electronic key.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A key management system for controlling access to vehicle keys includes a key set, a key container and an electronic access device. The key set includes vehicle keys to a particular vehicle and a key tag associated with the vehicle keys having an electronically readable identifier. The key container has a key set storage area secured by an electronic lock and a circuit that detects when the key set is stored in the key set storage area. The access device is carried by a user to access the key container, and has a memory that is updated with at least the identifier of the key tag when the key container is successfully accessed.
81 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A key management system for controlling access to a vehicle key stored proximal to a remotely located vehicle, comprising:
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a key container located proximal to one of the remotely located vehicles, the key container having a key storage area for storing a vehicle key associated with the respective vehicle and being secured by an electronic lock, the key container having a memory that is capable of recording information when the key storage area is accessed;
a key tag associated with the vehicle key, the key tag having an electronically stored identifier and being detectible by the key container when placed in the key storage area; and
a portable electronic key holdable by a user for accessing the key container, the electronic key being capable of establishing a communications link with the electronic lock of the key container and having a memory, wherein information about access events is stored in at least one of the memory or the memory of the electronic key.
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2. A key management system for controlling access to vehicle keys, comprising:
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a key set that includes a vehicle key to a particular vehicle and a key tag associated with the vehicle key, the key tag having an electronically readable identifier stored thereon and an electrical contact portion;
a key container that can be located on or near the vehicle, the key container having a key set storage area secured by an electronic lock, the key container capable of detecting the key set when the key set is properly stored in the key set storage area; and
a portable electronic access device carried by a user to access the key container, the access device having a memory that is updated with at least the identifier of the key tag when the key container is successfully accessed and the key set is removed from the key set storage area. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An asset management system for controlling access to a physical asset at a remote location, comprising:
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an asset repository located at the remote location, the asset repository having an asset storage area secured by an electronic lock and a memory that is capable of recording information when the storage area is accessed;
a physical tag that is capable of being attached to the asset, the tag having an electronically stored identifier and being detectible by the asset repository when the tag is in the asset storage area; and
a portable electronic access device holdable by a user for accessing the key container, the electronic key being capable of establishing a communications link with the electronic lock of the asset repository and having a memory, wherein information about access events is stored in at least one of the memory of the asset repository or the memory of the electronic key, and wherein the electronic access device provides power to the asset repository.
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Specification