Patent ID: 11861961
Assignee: INSPECTREALESTATE.COM.AU PTY LTD
Field: Computer technology (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC G  A | IPC G

Claim 0:
1. A key management system comprising:
a plurality of keys, each key of the plurality of keys including an RFID tag associated therewith;
a plurality of key storage positions, each key storage position of the plurality of key storage positions configured to store at least one key of the plurality of keys associated with that key storage position;
a plurality of visual indicators each associated with one of the plurality of key storage positions, the plurality of visual indicators each comprising a light emitting diode (LED);
at least one RFID reader configured to read the RFID tags of the plurality of keys; and
at least one processor, coupled to the at least one RFID reader, the at least one processor configured to determine a presence of the plurality of keys in respective ones of the plurality of key storage positions,
wherein the at least one processor provides a graphical user interface including a key loan interface that enables the at least one key associated with each of the plurality of key storage positions to be checked out for use by a user for a certain loan period, the loan period being defined in a checkout process, and
wherein, for each of the plurality of key storage positions, an associated visual indicator of the plurality of visual indicators is configured to provide a visual indication of a current status of the at least one key associated with that key storage position, the current status including one of:
a “checked in” status, when the at least one key is in the key storage position and not checked out for use by the user, wherein the LED associated with the key storage position illuminates green to visually indicate the “checked in” status;
a “missing” status, when the at least one key is not in the key storage position and has not been validly checked out via the key loan interface, wherein the LED associated with the key storage position illuminates red to visually indicate the “missing” status;
an “overdue” status, when the at least one key is not in the key storage position, having been validly checked out via the key loan interface and removed from the key storage position previously, but the loan period for which the at least one key was checked out has expired, wherein the LED associated with the key storage position flashes purple to visually indicate the “overdue” status; or
an “error” status, when there is an error reading the RFID tag of the at least one key in the key storage position or when the RFID tag is not recognized or is invalid, wherein the LED associated with the key storage position flashes red to visually indicate the “error” status;

wherein to visually indicate when the at least one key in the key storage position has been validly checked out for use by the user via the key loan interface, and the loan period has commenced, but the at least one key has not yet been removed from the key storage position, the LED associated with the key storage position illuminates blue.