Master key identification and feedback system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9558236-B1
Application number	US-201213440932-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Apr 5, 2012
Priority date	Jul 15, 2010
Publication date	Jan 31, 2017
Grant date	Jan 31, 2017

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 one or more of capture physical characteristics of the master key and receive input through the user interface regarding identification of the master key;
a processor, in communication with the master key identifier, the processor configured to access a database defining a plurality of known key models, one or more of compare the physical characteristics of the master key with physical characteristics of the known key models in the database and/or compare the input received from the user with the known key models in the database to identify a model of the master key, and communicate the model of the master key to a feedback module coupled to the key identification housing;
wherein the processor is configured to determine whether the model of the master key matches a model of at least one of a plurality of available key blanks; and
the processor communicates 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 to the feedback module when the model of the master key is not among one of the plurality of available keys; and
a key duplication system operatively associated with the key identification housing and housing the plurality of available key blanks of the plurality of known key models, 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 model of the 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 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.

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. The master key model identification and feedback system of claim 1 , further comprising a master key receiving aperture on the housing sized to receive the master key.

8. The master key model identification and feedback system of claim 1 , wherein the feedback module outputs at least one of the indication and the directions through at least one of a visual display coupled to the key identification housing, a printed display, a printer, a wireless communication device, a wired communication device, email and text message.

9. The master key model identification and feedback system of claim 1 , wherein the directions comprise at least one of a map and text.

10. The master key model identification and feedback system of claim 1 , wherein the directions comprise at least one of instructions to a consumer for where to go in order to obtain the key blank, and instructions for how to obtain the key blank.

11. The master key model identification and feedback system of claim 1 , wherein the feedback module outputs the indication of the model of the master key to at least one of the location remote from the key identification housing, electronically to a separate terminal, and to electronic storage in association with an account of a consumer associated with the master key.

12. The master key model identification and feedback system of claim 1 , wherein the feedback module further outputs instructions for a sales associate regarding at least one of the key blank and the master key.

13. The master key model identification and feedback system of claim 1 , wherein the feedback module further outputs an indication of which equipment to use for cutting the key blank.

14. A method for verifying a master key model and providing feedback to a customer, the method comprising:
one or more of receiving input from a user to identify a model of a master key, and capturing physical characteristics of the master key with a master key identifier;
accessing, with a processor, a database defining a plurality of known key models;
comparing, with the processor, one or more of the input from the user with the known key models in the database and the physical characteristics of the master key with physical characteristics of the known key models in the database, to identify the model of the master key;
communicating, with the processor, the model of the master key to a feedback module coupled to the key identification housing;
providing a key duplication system operatively associated with the key identification housing and housing a plurality of available key blanks of known key models;
dispensing, with the key duplication system, a selected available key blank matching the model of the master key when a user selects the selected available key blank;
communicating, with the processor, the model of the master key to the feedback module when the model of the master key is not among the plurality of available key blanks; and
responding to the communication from the processor, with the feedback module, by outputting 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 as the master key is available for duplicating the master key when the model of the master key is not among the plurality of available key blanks.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein outputting an indication and directions comprises printing, with the feedback module, the indication of the model of the master key on a ticket.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein outputting an indication and directions further comprises printing the directions to the remote location on the ticket.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the master key identifier comprises a scanner that captures the physical characteristics of the master key.

18. The method of claim 14 , 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.

19. The method of claim 14 , further comprising, if the processor is unable to identify the model of the master key from the physical characteristics of the master key, outputting, with the feedback module, 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.

20. The method of claim 14 , wherein outputting at least one of the indication an

Assignees

• Hagen George Lynn
• Mueller Mike
• Yeary Mark
• Booth Kenneth C
• Hillman Group Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• B23C3/35

  Milling grooves in keys · CPC title

• G06V10/80

  Fusion, i.e. combining data from various sources at the sensor level, preprocessing level, feature extraction level or classification level (multimodal speaker identification or verification G10L17/10) · CPC title

• G06V20/39 Primary

  Urban scenes · CPC title

• G06F18/25

  Fusion techniques · CPC title

• G06V20/582

  of traffic signs · CPC title