Master key identification and feedback system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10010949-B2
Application number	US-201615387403-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 21, 2016
Priority date	Jul 15, 2010
Publication date	Jul 3, 2018
Grant date	Jul 3, 2018

Abstract

A key model identification and feedback system includes a key identification housing, a master key receiving aperture, a master key identifier, a processor in communication with the master key identifier, and a feedback module. The processor is configured to access a database defining a plurality of known key models, compare the physical characteristics of the master key with physical characteristics of the known key models in the database to identify a model of the master key, and communicate the model of the master key to the feedback module coupled to the key identification housing. The feedback module, responsive to the communication from the processor, outputs an indication of the model of the master key and directions to a location remote from the key identification housing where a key blank having the same model of the master key is available for duplicating the master key.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A master key model identification and feedback system comprising:
a key identification housing comprising a master key identifier coupled to the housing and comprising a user interface configured to at least one of capture physical characteristics of the master key and receive input through the user interface regarding identification of the master key; and
a processor, in communication with the master key identifier, the processor configured to identify the master key, and communicate the identified master key to a feedback module coupled to the key identification housing;
wherein the processor is configured to determine whether the identified master key matches at least one of a plurality of available key blanks; and the processor communicates the identification of the master key and directions to a location remote from the key identification housing where a key blank matching the identified master key is available for duplicating the master key to the feedback module when the identified master key is not among one of the plurality of available key blanks; and
a key duplication system operatively associated with the key identification housing and housing the plurality of available key blanks, and configured to dispense an available key blank when a user selects one of the available key blanks.

2. The master key model identification and feedback system of claim 1 , wherein the feedback module comprises a printer configured to print the identified master key on a ticket.

3. The master key model identification and feedback system of claim 2 , wherein the printer is further configured to print the directions to the remote location on the ticket.

4. The master key model identification and feedback system of claim 1 , wherein the master key identifier comprises a scanner that captures the physical characteristics of the master key.

5. The master key model identification and feedback system of claim 1 , wherein the indication of the identified master key comprises one or more of: a manufacturer name, a model name, a SKU, a graphic representation of the master key, a barcode, and a unique identification number.

6. The master key model identification and feedback system of claim 1 , wherein if the processor is unable to identify the model of the master key from the physical characteristics of the master key, the feedback module outputs an indication that the model of the master key is unknown and directions to the location remote from the key identification housing where additional identification assistance is available to identify the model of the master key.

7. A master key model identification, duplication, and feedback system comprising:
a key identification housing comprising a master key identifier coupled to the housing and comprising a user interface configured to at least one of receive input through the user interface about the master key and capture physical characteristics of the master key;
a key duplication system operatively associated with the key identification housing, housing a plurality of available key blanks of the known key models, and configured to dispense an available key blank when a user selects the available key blank;
a processor, in communication with the master key identifier, the processor configured to:
access a database defining a plurality of known key models; and at least one of:
compare the physical characteristics of the master key with physical characteristics of the known key models in the database to identify a model of the master key; and
compare the input received from the user with the known key models in the database to identify a model of the master key;
determine whether the model of the master key matches a model of at least one of the plurality of available key blanks; and communicate the model of the master key to a feedback module, comprising a printer and coupled to the key identification housing, when the model of the master key does not match a model of at least one of the plurality of available key blanks;
wherein the feedback module, responsive to the communication from the processor, prints on a ticket an indication of the model of the master key and directions to a location remote from the key identification housing where a key blank having the same model of the master key is available for duplicating the master key.

8. The master key model identification, duplication, and feedback system of claim 7 , wherein the indication of the model of the master key comprises one or more of: a manufacturer name, a model name, a SKU, a graphic representation of the master key, a barcode, and a unique identification number.

9. The master key model identification, duplication, and feedback system of claim 7 , wherein if the processor is unable to identify the model of the master key from the physical characteristics of the master key, the feedback module prints on a ticket an indication that the model of the master key is unknown and directions to the location remote from the key identification housing where additional identification assistance is available to identify the model of the master key.

10. A master key identification and feedback system comprising:
a key identification housing comprising a master key identifier having a user interface configured to receive user input for master key identification;
a processor, in communication with the master key identifier, the processor configured to identify a master key based on the user input;
wherein the processor is configured to determine whether the identified master key matches at least one of a plurality of available key blanks; and the processor communicates the identification of the master key to a feedback module when the identified master key is not among one of the plurality of available key blanks, the feedback module outputting the identification of the master key through a visual display and communicating that the master key can be duplicated at another location in a store; and

a key blank cutter configured to cut one of the plurality of key blanks when the identified master key matches at least one of the plurality of available key blanks.

11. The master key model identification and feedback system of claim 10 , wherein the feedback module is configured to electronically communicate the identification of the master key via a text message.

12. The master key model identification and feedback system of claim 10 , wherein the feedback module is configured to electronically communicate the identification of the master key via an email.

13. The master key model identification and feedback system of claim 10 , wherein the output includes an indication of which equipment to use for cutting the key blank at the another location.

14. The master key model identification and feedback system of claim 10 , wherein the identification of the master key comprises one or more of: a manufacturer name, a model name, a SKU, a graphic representation of the master key, a barcode, and a unique identification number.

15. The master key model identification and feedback system of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to determine if the identified master key requires a transponder chip, and wherein the feedback module is configured to communicate the identified master key requires the transponder chip.

16. The master key model identification and feedback system of claim 10 , wherein the master key identifier comprises a scanner.

17. A master key identification and feedback system comprising:
a key identification housing comprising a master key identifier hav

Assignees

• Hillman Group Inc

Inventors

• Hagen George Lynn
• Mueller Michael
• Yeary Mark
• Booth Kenneth C

Classifications

• B23C3/35 Primary

  Milling grooves in keys · CPC title

• G06V10/80

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• G06V20/39 Primary

  Urban scenes · CPC title

• G06F18/25

  Fusion techniques · CPC title

• G06V20/582

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