Granted Patent B2

US 8,682,468 · App. 13/734,032 · Granted Mar 25, 2014

Abstract

Claims (142)

1. A system for creating keys, the system comprising:

a first kiosk comprising:

a key scanner that captures first geometric information about a first key and captures second geometric information about a second key; and

a first hardware processor that:

receives first security information specified by a first particular user and identifying the first particular user;

automatically determines a key type of the first key from a plurality of known key types based on the captured geometric information about the first key;

automatically determines bit heights of the first key based on the captured geometric information about the first key;

causes the first geometric information, including the key type of the first key and the bit heights of the first key, and first identifying information based on the first security information to be stored at a remote storage device;

receives second security information specified by a second particular user and identifying the second particular user;

automatically determines a key type of the second key from the plurality of known key types based on the captured geometric information about the second key;

automatically determines bit heights of the first key based on the captured geometric information about the second key; and

causes the second geometric information, including the key type of the second key and the bit heights of the second key, and second identifying information based on the second security information to be stored at a remote storage device;

a second kiosk comprising:

a second hardware processor that:

receives third security information, wherein the third security information corresponds to the first identifying information but not the second identifying information;

verifies that the third security information corresponds to the first identifying information;

identifies first stored geometric information about one or more keys that can be made in response to verifying that the third security information corresponds to the first security information, wherein the first stored geometric information includes the first geometric information but does not include the second geometric information; and

receives the first geometric information from the remote storage device based on the verification that the third security information corresponds to the first security information; and

a first key shaping device that creates a third key using the first geometric information, including the key type of the first key and the bit heights of the first key; and

a third kiosk comprising:

a third hardware processor that:

receives fourth security information, wherein the fourth security information corresponds to the second identifying information but not the third identifying information;

verifies that the fourth security information corresponds to the second identifying information;

identifies second stored geometric information about one or more keys that can be made in response to verifying that the fourth security information corresponds to the second security information, wherein the second stored geometric information includes the second geometric information but does not include the first geometric information; and

receives the second geometric information from the remote storage device based on the verification that the fourth security information corresponds to the second security information; and

a second key shaping device that creates a fourth key using the second geometric information, including the key type of the second key and the bit heights of the second key.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the remote storage device is a server.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the remote storage device is a portable electronic device.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second kiosk further comprises an input device, and wherein the second hardware processor also:

indicates to the user an identity of the one or more keys for which geometric information is stored in the first stored geometric information using a display coupled to the second hardware processor upon verifying the third security information; and

receives an identification from the input device of a key to create from the displayed identity information.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the input device comprises at least one of the following: a biometric sensor, a keypad, a keyboard, a touchscreen, an image sensor, and a near-field communication receiver.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the first security information, the second security information, the third security information, and the fourth security information comprises at least one of the following: a username, a password, biometric information of the user, a barcode, a Quick Response code, a radio signal encoded with account information, and a light signal encoded with account information.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the third key is created from a key blank stored in one of a plurality of magazines that are each configured to hold a plurality of key blanks

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of magazines are arranged on a rotating carousel.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first key shaping device comprises:

a computer numerical control device; and

a shaping tool.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first key shaping device comprises an additive manufacturing device, and wherein the third key is created from material used by the additive manufacturing device.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein a material used to create the third key includes at least one of the following: key blanks, plastic, and stock material.

12. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a movement device that moves material used to create the third key from a key material storage area to the first key shaping device.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the third security information and the first security information contain the same information.

14. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a computing device comprising the remote storage device and a fourth hardware processor that receives an instruction from a user device to cause third identifying information based on fifth security information identifying a third particular user to be associated with the first geometric information; and

wherein the second hardware processor is configured to:

receive sixth security information that corresponds to the third identifying information but not to the first identifying information and not to the second identifying information;

verify that the sixth security information corresponds to the third identifying information and that the third identifying information is associated with the first geometric information;

identify the first stored geometric information that includes the first geometric information in response to verifying that the sixth security information corresponds to the third identifying information;

receive the first geometric information from the storage device in response to verifying that the sixth security information corresponds to the third identifying information; and

cause a fifth key to be created using the first geometric information.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the key scanner comprises at least one of the following: a camera, a laser-based measuring device, a bitting detection finger, a plurality of mechanical pins, and a plurality of light sources and light detectors.

16. A system for creating keys, the system comprising:

a computing device comprising:

a storage device; and

a first hardware processor that:

receives first geometric information about a first key from a first source, wherein the first geometric information includes a first key type of the first key and first bit heights of the first key determined based on geometric information about the first key captured at the first source;

receives first identifying information identifying a first particular user based on first security information specified by the first particular user in connection with the first geometric information;

causes the first geometric information and the first identifying information to be stored at the storage device;

receives second geometric information about a second key from a second source, wherein the second geometric information includes a second key type of the second key and second bit heights of the second key determined based on geometric information about the second key captured at the second source;

receives second identifying information identifying a second particular user based on second security information specified by the second particular user in connection with the second geometric information; and

causes the second geometric information and the second identifying information to be stored at the storage device;

a first kiosk comprising:

a first communication network interface; and

a second hardware processor that:

receives third security information, wherein the third security information corresponds to the first identifying information but not the second identifying information;

verifies that the third security information corresponds to the first identifying information;

identifies first stored geometric information about one or more keys that can be made in response to verifying that the third security information corresponds to the first security information, wherein the first stored geometric information includes the first geometric information but does not include the second geometric information; and

receives the first geometric information from the storage device using the first communication network interface based on the verification that the third security information corresponds to the first security information; and

a first key shaping device that creates a third key based on the first geometric information, including the first key type and the first bit heights; and

a second kiosk comprising:

a second communication network interface;

a third hardware processor that:

receives fourth security information, wherein the fourth security information corresponds to the second identifying information but not the first identifying information;

verifies that the fourth security information corresponds to the second identifying information;

identifies second stored geometric information about one or more keys that can be made in response to verifying that the fourth security information corresponds to the second security information, wherein the second stored geometric information includes the second geometric information but does not include the first geometric information; and

receives the second geometric information from the storage device using the second communication network interface based on the verification that the fourth security information corresponds to the second security information; and

a second key shaping device that creates a fourth key based on the second geometric information, including the second key type and the second bit heights.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the communication network interface includes a wireless network interface.

18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the first key type and the first bit heights are determined using machine learning techniques to recognize features of the first key based on the geometric information about the first key captured at the first source.

19. A method for creating keys, the method comprising:

receiving, at a first kiosk, first security information specified by a first particular user and identifying the first particular user;

capturing, using a key scanner of the first kiosk, first geometric information about a first key;

automatically determining a key type of the first key from a plurality of known key types based on the first geometric information about the first key;

automatically determining bit heights of the first key based on the first geometric information about the first key;

causing, using a first hardware processor of the first kiosk, the first geometric information, including the key type of the first key and the bit heights of the first key, and first identifying information based on the first security information to be stored at a remote storage device;

receiving, at the first kiosk, second security information specified by a second user and identifying the second particular user;

capturing, using the key scanner of the first kiosk, second geometric information about a second key;

automatically determining a key type of the second key from the plurality of known key types based on the second geometric information about the second key;

automatically determining bit heights of the first key based on the second geometric information about the second key;

causing, using the first hardware processor of the first kiosk, the second geometric information, including the key type of the second key and the bit heights of the second key, and second identifying information based on the second security information to be stored at the remote storage device;

receiving, using a second hardware processor of a second kiosk, third security information, wherein the third security information corresponds to the first identifying information but not the second identifying information;

verifying, using the second hardware processor, that the third security information corresponds to the first identifying information;

identifying, using the second hardware processor, first stored geometric information about one or more keys that can be made in response to verifying that the third security information corresponds to the first identifying information, wherein the first stored geometric information includes the first geometric information but does not include the second geometric information;

receiving, using the second hardware processor, the first geometric information from the remote storage device based on the verification that the third security information corresponds to the first security information;

creating a third key using the first geometric information, including the key type of the first key and the bit heights of the first key;

receiving, using a third hardware processor of a third kiosk, fourth security information, wherein the fourth security information corresponds to the second identifying information but not the first identifying information;

verifying, using the third hardware processor, that the fourth security information corresponds to the second identifying information;

identifying, using the third hardware processor, second stored geometric information about one or more keys that can be made in response to verifying that the fourth security information corresponds to the second identifying information, wherein the second stored geometric information includes the second geometric information but does not include the first geometric information;

receiving, using the third hardware processor, the second geometric information from the remote storage device based on the verification that the fourth security information corresponds to the second security information; and

creating a fourth key using the second geometric information, including the key type of the second key and the bit heights of the second key.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the remote storage device is a server.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the remote storage device is a portable electronic device.

22. The method of claim 19 , the method further comprising:

indicating to the user an identity of the one or more keys for which geometric information is stored in the first stored geometric information using a display coupled to the second hardware processor upon verifying the third security information; and

receiving, from an input device coupled to the second hardware processor, an identification of a key to create from the displayed identity information.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the input device further comprises at least one of the following: a biometric sensor, a keypad, a keyboard, a touchscreen, an image sensor, and a near-field communication receiver.

24. The method of claim 19 , wherein each of the first security information, the second security information, the third security information, and the fourth security information comprises at least one of the following: a username, a password, biometric information of the user, a barcode, a Quick Response code, a radio signal encoded with account information, and a light signal encoded with account information.

25. The method of claim 19 , wherein the third key is created from a key blank stored in one of a plurality of magazines that are each configured to hold a plurality of key blanks

26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the plurality of magazines are arranged on a rotating carousel.

27. The method of claim 19 , wherein the third key is created using a key shaping device comprising:

a computer numerical control device; and

a shaping tool.

28. The method of claim 19 , wherein the third key is created using an additive manufacturing device, and wherein the third key is created from material used by the additive manufacturing device.

29. The method of claim 19 , wherein a material used to create the third key includes at least one of the following: key blanks, plastic, and stock material.

30. The method of claim 19 , wherein the method further comprises moving material used to create the third key from a key material storage area to a key shaping device.

31. The method of claim 19 , wherein the third security information and the first security information contain the same information.

32. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

receiving, using a fourth hardware processor, an instruction from a user device to cause third identifying information based on fifth security information identifying a third particular user to be associated with the first geometric information;

receiving, using the second hardware processor, sixth security information that corresponds to the third identifying information but not to the first identifying information and not to the second identifying information;

verifying, using the second hardware processor, that the sixth security information corresponds to the third identifying information and that the third identifying information is associated with the first geometric information;

identifying, using the second hardware processor, the first stored geometric information that includes the first geometric information in response to verifying that the sixth security information corresponds to the third identifying information;

receiving, using the second hardware processor, the first geometric information from the storage device in response to verifying that the sixth security information corresponds to the third identifying information; and

causing a fifth key to be created using the first geometric information.

33. The method of claim 19 , wherein the key scanner comprises at least one of: a camera, a laser-based measuring device, a bitting detection finger, a plurality of mechanical pins, and a plurality of light sources and light detectors.

34. A method for creating keys, the method comprising:

receiving, using a first hardware processor, first geometric information about a first key from a first source, wherein the first geometric information includes a first key type of the first key and first bit heights of the first key determined based on geometric information about the first key captured at the first source;

receiving, using the first hardware processor, first identifying information identifying a first user based on first security information specified by the first particular user;

causing, using the first hardware processor, the first geometric information and first identifying information based on the first security information to be stored in a storage device coupled to the first hardware processor;

receiving, using the first hardware processor, second geometric information about a second key from a second source, wherein the second geometric information includes a second key type of the second key and second bit heights of the second key determined based on geometric information about the second key captured at the second source;

receiving, using the first hardware processor, second identifying information identifying a second particular user based on second security information specified by the second particular user;

causing, using the first hardware processor, the second geometric information and second identifying information based on the second security information to be stored in the storage device coupled to the first hardware processor;

receiving, using a second hardware processor, third security information, wherein the third security information corresponds to the first identifying information but not the second identifying information;

verifying, using the second hardware processor, that the third security information corresponds to the first identifying information;

identifying, using the second hardware processor, first stored geometric information of one or more keys that can be made in response to verifying that the third security information corresponds to the first identifying information, wherein the first stored geometric information includes the first geometric information but does not include the second geometric information;

receiving, using a first communication network interface coupled to the second hardware processor, the first geometric information from the storage device based on the verification that the third security information corresponds to the first security information;

creating a third key based on the first geometric information, including the first key type and the first bit heights, received by the second hardware processor;

receiving, using a third hardware processor, fourth security information, wherein the fourth security information corresponds to the second identifying information but not the first identifying information;

verifying, using the third hardware processor, that the fourth security information corresponds to the second identifying information;

identifying, using the third hardware processor, second stored geometric information of one or more keys that can be made in response to verifying that the fourth security information corresponds to the second identifying information, wherein the second stored geometric information includes the second geometric information but does not include the first geometric information;

receiving, using a second communication network interface coupled to the third hardware processor, the second geometric information from the storage device based on the verification that the fourth security information corresponds to the second security information; and

creating a fourth key based on the second geometric information, including the second key type and the second bit heights, received by the third hardware processor.

35. The method of claim 34 , wherein the communication network interface includes a wireless network interface.

36. The method of claim 34 , wherein the first key type and the first bit heights are determined using machine learning techniques to recognize features of the first key based on the first geometric information.

Assignments (8)