System for managing physical assets

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, 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.

2. The key management system of claim 1 , wherein the portable electronic key supplies electrical power to the key container.

3. The key management system of claim 1 , wherein the user establishes a physical communications link between the portable electronic key and the key container when attempting access.

4. The key management system of claim 1 , wherein the memory of the key container stores at least the identifier of the key tag.

5. The key management system of claim 4 , wherein the memory of the key container includes a lock out list identifying an unauthorized portable electronic key or an unauthorized user.

6. The key management system of claim 1 , wherein the memory of the portable electronic key records the approximate time that a successful access was made.

7. The key management system of claim 1 , wherein the key container includes an attachment portion shaped to allow the key container to be supported over an edge of a window in the vehicle.

8. The key management system of claim 1 , wherein the portable electronic key is programmed with access privileges corresponding to the user's identity.

9. The key management system of claim 1 , wherein the key container cannot be accessed by the portable electronic key unless the user validates his identity.

10. The key management system of claim 1 , wherein the memory of the portable electronic key includes stored privileges, and wherein at least some of the privileges are set to expire periodically.

11. The key management system of claim 1 , further comprising a central computer and an associated database for administering the key management system, the central computer allowing an administrator to set the user's access privileges and track the user's access activity.

12. The key management system of claim 11 , wherein the user logs into the central computer to reestablish his expired access privileges.

13. The key management system of claim 1 , wherein the user seeking to access the key container uses the portable electronic key to communicate the user's identifying information and to select one of a predetermined group of codes corresponding to the purpose of the access.

14. The key management device of claim 1 , wherein the portable electronic key includes a key pad input device, a display and exposed electrical contacts connectible to the key container to establish a communications link between the key pad and the key container.

15. The key management system of claim 1 , wherein the key tag comprises an electrical contact portion, and wherein the key container is capable of communicating with the key tag when the electrical contact portion of the key tag is placed in the key storage area to complete an electrical circuit of the key container.

16. The key management system of claim 1 , wherein the portable electronic key communicates with the key container via infrared, radio frequency or other wireless transmission mode.

17. The key management system of claim 1 , wherein information, including key tag identifying information, is relayed to an authorization site via the key container and the portable electronic key.

18. A key management system for controlling access to vehicle keys, comprising:

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.

19. The key management system of claim 18 , wherein the information stored in the memory of an expired access device is automatically uploaded to a database when the access device is reauthorized.

20. A key management system for controlling access to a vehicle key stored proximal to a remotely located vehicle, comprising:

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.