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;
a key tag associated with the vehicle key, the key tag having an electronically stored identifier and being detectable by the key container when placed in the key storage area; and
a portable electronic key transportable from a key authorization site where the key is authorized to locations of key containers to allow an authorized user to access a selected key container, the electronic key being operable to establish 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 of the key container or the memory of the electronic key, andwherein the electronic lock is prevented from being actuated to secure the key container unless the key tag is placed in the key storage area.
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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.
104 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; a key tag associated with the vehicle key, the key tag having an electronically stored identifier and being detectable by the key container when placed in the key storage area; and a portable electronic key transportable from a key authorization site where the key is authorized to locations of key containers to allow an authorized user to access a selected key container, the electronic key being operable to establish 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 of the key container or the memory of the electronic key, and wherein the electronic lock is prevented from being actuated to secure the key container unless the key tag is placed in the key storage area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. 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 operable to detect 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, wherein the access device is programmed to expire periodically, and wherein information stored in the memory of an expired access device is automatically uploaded to a database. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A key management system for controlling access to a vehicle key stored proximal to a remotely located vehicle, comprising:
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an authorization site; a key tag associated with a vehicle key and operable to record access event information during an access or attempted access of the vehicle key; a key container operable to read information stored in the key tag; and a portable electronic key operable to transport stored information received from the key tag between the key container at a first location and the authorization site at a second location.
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Specification