Constructing physical keys by way of digital keys

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11454047-B2
Application number	US-201916446684-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 20, 2019
Priority date	Jun 20, 2019
Publication date	Sep 27, 2022
Grant date	Sep 27, 2022

Abstract

A digital key management system for physical keys is provided. A processor registers a physical lock. A processor generates a digital key based on a physical key structure to be used with the physical lock. A processor configures the physical lock to decode an inserted physical key. A processor verifies the inserted physical key, in response to a digital key for the decoded physical key matching the generated digital key.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
receiving, by one or more processors, a registration of a physical lock from a user;
determining, by the one or more processors, a verification source based on a connection quality to a network connected with the physical lock, wherein (i) the connection quality is based on an intermittence of a connection between the physical lock and a network-connected server and (ii) the verification source is selected from the physical lock or the network-connected server;
generating, by the one or more processors, a first digital key based on a physical key structure to be used with the physical lock;
sending, by the one or more processors, the first digital key to a 3D printing device to print a copy of a physical key, wherein the 3D printing device generates a model of the physical key structure based on the first digital key;
in response to the physical key being inserted into the physical lock, determining, by the one or more processors, a second digital key based on a physical key structure of the inserted physical key, wherein the second digital key is determined based on bitting of the inserted physical key;
comparing, by the one or more processors, the second digital key to the first digital key; and
in response to the second digital key for the inserted physical key matching the first digital key registered to the physical lock, verifying, by the one or more processors, the inserted physical key.

2. A computer program product comprising:
one or more computer-readable storage media and program instructions stored on the one or more computer-readable storage media, the program instructions comprising:
program instructions to receive a registration of a physical lock from a user;
program instructions to determine a verification source based on a connection quality to a network connected with the physical lock, wherein (i) the connection quality is based on an intermittence of a connection between the physical lock and a network-connected server and (ii) the verification source is selected from the physical lock or the network-connected server;
program instructions to generate a first digital key based on a physical key structure to be used with the physical lock;
program instructions to send the first digital key to a 3D printing device to print a copy of a physical key, wherein the 3D printing device generates a model of the physical key structure based on the first digital key;
in response to the physical key being inserted into the physical lock, program instructions to determine, a second digital key based on a physical key structure of the inserted physical key, wherein the second digital key is determined based on bitting of the inserted physical key;
program instructions to compare the second digital key to the first digital key; and
in response to the second digital key for the inserted physical key matching the first digital key registered to the physical lock, program instructions to verify the inserted physical key.

3. A computer system comprising:
one or more computer processors;
one or more computer readable storage media; and
program instructions stored on the computer readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more processors, the program instructions comprising:
program instructions to receive a registration of a physical lock from a user;
program instructions to determine a verification source based on a connection quality to a network connected with the physical lock, wherein (i) the connection quality is based on an intermittence of a connection between the physical lock and a network-connected server and (ii) the verification source is selected from the physical lock or the network-connected server;
program instructions to generate a first digital key based on a physical key structure to be used with the physical lock;
program instructions to send the first digital key to a 3D printing device to print a copy of a physical key, wherein the 3D printing device generates a model of the physical key structure based on the first digital key;
in response to the physical key being inserted into the physical lock, program instructions to determine, a second digital key based on a physical key structure of the inserted physical key, wherein the second digital key is determined based on bitting of the inserted physical key;
program instructions to compare the second digital key to the first digital key; and
in response to the second digital key for the inserted physical key matching the first digital key registered to the physical lock, program instructions to verify the inserted physical key.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Valecha Vinod A
• Bansal Rinkesh I
• Panchal Sanjay B
• Thaker Chintan

Classifications

• E05B19/205

  Lock decoders · CPC title

• E05B17/22 Primary

  Means for operating or controlling lock or fastening device accessories, i.e. other than the fastening members, e.g. switches, indicators {(E05B39/00 - E05B45/00 take precedence)} · CPC title

• B33Y50/02

  for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes · CPC title

• H04L9/0825 Primary

  using asymmetric-key encryption or public key infrastructure [PKI], e.g. key signature or public key certificates · CPC title

• B29C64/386

  Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing · CPC title