Granted Patent B2

US 9,563,885 · App. 14/792,319 · Granted Feb 7, 2017

Abstract

Claims (66)

1. A system for scanning a transponder key, the system comprising:

a self-service kiosk for use by a consumer user comprising:

an antenna;

a touchscreen; and

at least one hardware processor that is programmed to:

receive, via the touchscreen, a request from the user of the self-service kiosk to scan a transponder key;

receive, via the touchscreen, information related to the transponder key;

determine signal properties associated with the transponder key based on the received information related to the transponder key;

cause the antenna to emit a first signal based on the determined signal properties;

detect a second signal that is transmitted by the transponder key in response to the first signal, based on the determined signal properties;

receive, via the touchscreen, an instruction to create a duplicate of the transponder key;

receive, via the touchscreen, location information to which the duplicate of the transponder key is to be delivered;

cause information encoded in the second signal to be used to create the duplicate of the transponder key; and

cause the duplicate of the transponder key to be delivered based on the location information.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one hardware processor is further programmed to confirm that a position of the transponder key is within a threshold distance of the antenna.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the kiosk further comprises:

a key slot disposed in a surface of the kiosk, wherein the antenna is positioned such that a key head of the transponder key at least partially inserted into the key slot is proximate to the antenna; and

an image sensor that captures an image of the transponder key at least partially inserted into the key slot;

wherein the at least one hardware processor is further programmed to:

determine geometric information about the transponder key based on the image of the transponder key captured by the image sensor; and

cause the geometric information about the transponder key to be used to create the duplicate of the transponder key.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the transponder key is a key for an automobile and the information related to the transponder key includes the make, model and year of the automobile.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the location information includes at least a mailing address.

6. The system of claim 3 , wherein the hardware processor is further programmed to:

cause the information encoded in the second signal to be stored in a storage device in association with the geometric information; and

cause the information encoded in the second signal and the geometric information about the transponder key to be retrieved from the storage device.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the hardware processor is further programmed to determine the information encoded in the second signal.

8. A method for scanning a transponder key, the method comprising:

receiving from a consumer user via a touchscreen of a self-service kiosk a request from the user of the self-service kiosk to scan a transponder key;

receiving, via the touchscreen, information related to the transponder key;

determining signal properties associated with the transponder key based on the received information related to the transponder key;

causing an antenna to emit a first signal based on the determined signal information;

detecting a second signal transmitted by the transponder key in response to the first signal, based on the determined signal properties;

receiving, via the touchscreen, an instruction to create a duplicate of the transponder key;

receiving, via the touchscreen, location information to which the duplicate of the transponder key is to be delivered;

causing information encoded in the second signal to be used to create the duplicate of the transponder key; and

causing the duplicate of the transponder key to be delivered based on the location information.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising confirming that a position of the transponder key is within a threshold distance of the antenna.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

receiving an image of the transponder key captured by an image sensor included in the kiosk;

determining geometric information about the transponder key based on the image of the transponder key captured by the image sensor; and

causing the geometric information about the transponder key to be used to create the duplicate of the transponder key.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the transponder key is a key for an automobile and the information related to the transponder key includes the make, model and year of the automobile.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the location information includes at least a mailing address.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

causing the information encoded in the second signal to be stored in a storage device in association with the geometric information; and

causing the information encoded in the second signal and the geometric information about the transponder key to be retrieved from the storage device.

14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising determining the information encoded in the second signal.

15. A system for duplicating a transponder key, the system comprising:

at least one hardware processor that is programmed to:

receive, from a kiosk, a request for signal properties for interrogating a transponder key;

receive, from the kiosk, consumer-user-provided information about the transponder key;

determine signal properties associated with the transponder key using the information about the transponder key, wherein the signal properties include at least a format of a signal that is used to activate the transponder key;

send, to the kiosk, the signal properties associated with the transponder key;

receive, from the kiosk, encoded information included in a signal received by the kiosk from the transponder key;

receive location information;

identify a key blank based on the information about the transponder key;

create a duplicate of the transponder key using the encoded information; and

cause the duplicate of the transponder key to be delivered based on the location information.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the location information includes at least a mailing address.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the location information is received from the kiosk.

18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the location information is retrieved from a storage device based on identifying information received from the kiosk.

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the at least one hardware processor is further configured to:

receive identifying information from the kiosk that identifies a user; and

store the encoded information in a storage device in association with an account of the user.

20. The system of claim 15 , wherein the at least one hardware processor is further programmed to program a transponder chip in the key blank based on the encoded information.

Assignments (8)