Patent ID: 9053592
Filing Date: 2015-06-09
Classification: A47G,E05B,G07C

Abstract:
1. A key management box for collectively storing and managing electronic keys each including an IC chip from/on which data is readable/writable, each electronic key being to be used by a user to unlock one or more locks of storage cabinets placed in an office, the key management box comprising: a main body for housing the electronic keys; a door attached in openable and closable manner to the main body to cover the electronic keys; opening/closing permission means for locking the door; a plurality of electronic-key holding means attached to the main body and covered by the door and configured to individually hold the electronic keys; personal authentication means provided on an outside of the main body and configured to perform personal authentication based on personal identification information input to the personal authentication means; data writing means configured to write, in the IC chip, authority information including at least the personal identification information input to the personal authentication means and storage cabinet identifying data to specify one storage cabinet or two or more storage cabinets accessible to the user, out of the storage cabinets; electronic-key disabling means provided on the outside of the main body and configured to communicate with the IC chip of one of the electronic keys, the electronic-key disabling means being configured to erase the authority information from the IC chip to disable the one electronic key when the electronic-key disabling means reads the authority information from the IC chip; and control means configured to determine that a lending mode is established to allow lending of the electronic key when the personal authentication means successfully executes the personal authentication, and cause the opening/closing permission means to unlock the door and then activate the data writing means to write the authority information in one of the electronic keys, or to determine that a returning mode is established to allow returning of the electronic key when the electronic-key disabling means erases the authority information from the electronic key and disables the electronic key while the personal authentication means does not read the personal identification information, and cause the opening/closing permission means to permit unlocking of the door.