Abstract:
An automated access control system and method in one embodiment includes a storage rack comprising a plurality of storage compartments, a user port, a memory including program instructions for placing a key within one of the plurality of storage compartments, associating the key with the one of the plurality of storage compartments, identifying a user, associating the user and the stored key, removing the stored key from the one of the plurality of storage compartments, and making the removed key accessible to the user at the user port, and a processor operably connected to the memory for executing the program instructions.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to self-service kiosks and more particularly to devices for dispensing and receiving articles, and more particularly to an automated device for control of access to keys. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Self-service terminals include kiosks. Kiosks provide a publicly accessible computing platform. Kiosks may be located within a retailer&#39;s transaction establishment or elsewhere, such as at airport terminals. Kiosks may be easily networked to World Wide Web (web) sites for displaying web pages and other web-delivered content from web sites. Web pages from web sites may be displayed using known and available web software, such as Microsoft® Internet Explorer software. 
     Automated devices such as the dispensing or vending machines disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,979,017, 4,120,452, and 4,630,042 permit an article to be selected from a variety of articles and dispensed to an individual user or consumer. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/686,862, discloses a system and method of dispensing disc-based media and other consumer products. A user can interact with an automated business system to select disc-based media for rental and/or purchase. The automated business system can retrieve the selection from the interior of the automated business system and dispense the selection through a port to the user. The automated business system can retrieve the selection from the port in a return process. 
     Some aspects of automated systems have been incorporated into fields wherein a hotel or vehicle key is provided to a consumer. Thus, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,752,876, 4,661,806, and 4,631,358 disclose devices which dispense stored keys to an externally accessible location when a hotel guest “checks in.” Key dispensers are typically gravity driven systems wherein the key is gravity fed to a customer though a chute. These systems may further include a slot or compartment whereby a key may be deposited. The deposited key, however, is not identified by the system upon deposition. Thus, once a key is returned, an employee must access the system to remove and sort the keys that have been returned. 
     An automated access control system which provides automated storing of an item such as a key and later access to the stored item is needed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An automated access control system and method in one embodiment includes a storage rack comprising a plurality of storage compartments, a user port, a memory including program instructions for placing a key within one of the plurality of storage compartments, associating the key with the one of the plurality of storage compartments, identifying a user, associating the user and the stored key, removing the stored key from the one of the plurality of storage compartments, and making the removed key accessible to the user at the user port, and a processor operably connected to the memory for executing the program instructions. 
     In a further embodiment, a method of automatically controlling access to a key includes controlling an inventory control assembly to place a key within one of a plurality of storage compartments, associating the key with the one of the plurality of storage compartments, identifying a user, associating the user and the stored key, controlling the inventory control assembly to remove the key from within the one of a plurality of storage compartments, and providing access to the removed key at a user port. 
     In yet another embodiment, a method of automatically controlling access to a key includes placing a key within a kiosk, identifying the placed key, moving the identified key to a selected storage compartment, storing data associating the identified key with the selected storage compartment in an inventory database, identifying the selected storage compartment using the stored association data, retrieving the key from the storage compartment based upon the identity of the storage compartment, and releasing the retrieved key to a user. 
     The above described features and advantages, as well as others, will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block representation of an automated access control system in the form of a self-service kiosk in accordance with principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  depicts a partial perspective view of the inventory control system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  depicts a simplified cross sectional view of a key retaining mechanism used in the inventory control system of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  depicts a front plan view of the key retaining mechanism used in the inventory control system of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart of an exemplary overview of a manner of operation of the automated access control system of  FIG. 1  for storing a key within the system; 
         FIG. 6  depicts a simplified cross sectional view of the key retaining mechanism of  FIG. 3  showing the key holder positioned by the gripper mechanism in an extended position; 
         FIG. 7  depicts a simplified cross sectional view of the key retaining mechanism of  FIG. 3  showing a key removably positioned in the extended key holder; 
         FIG. 8  depicts a front plan view of the key retaining mechanism of  FIG. 3  showing a key rotated to a locked position in the key holder; 
         FIG. 9  depicts a simplified cross sectional view of the key retaining mechanism of  FIG. 3  showing a key rotated to a locked position and the key holder withdrawn to a secure position; 
         FIG. 10  is a flowchart of an exemplary overview of a manner of operation of the automated access control system of  FIG. 1  for accessing a stored key within the system; 
         FIG. 11  depicts a simplified cross sectional view of the key retaining mechanism of  FIG. 3  showing a key rotated to a locked position and the key holder in a secure position after retrieving the key retaining mechanism from a storage compartment; 
         FIG. 12  depicts a simplified cross sectional view of the retrieved key retaining mechanism of  FIG. 11  with the key holder extended by the gripper mechanism; 
         FIG. 13  depicts a simplified cross sectional view of the key retaining mechanism of  FIG. 12  showing the key rotated to an unlocked position; and 
         FIG. 14  depicts a simplified cross sectional view of the key retaining mechanism of  FIG. 13  after the key has been removed from the key holder. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is depicted an automated access control system  100  which includes a self-service terminal  102 . The self-service terminal  102  may include an NCR  7401  computer. The self-service terminal  102  includes a processor circuit  104 , a touch screen  106 , and a memory  108 . The memory  108  stores program instructions which are executed by the processor  104 . The self-service terminal  102  may include a number of peripherals such as a card reader  110 , a printer  112 , a scanner  114 , an inventory control assembly  116 , and a change dispenser  118 . Other peripherals such as a cash acceptor, check reader, barcode reader, etc. may be included. 
     The processor circuit  104  may suitably be a general purpose computer processing circuit such as a microprocessor and its associated circuitry. The processor  104  is operable to carry out the operations attributed to it herein. The processor circuit  104  executes self-service application  120  which processes customer requests, such as rental related requests. For example, a customer may use the self-service application  120  to complete a rental agreement or to complete a rental return. Customer input may be provided through the use of the touch screen  106  which may display a keypad or other graphical interface. 
     The self-service application  120  displays instructions for entering customer requests such as key drop-off procedure, and controls recordation of transaction data which may include drop-off time, mileage, fuel tank level, and vehicle condition information, recordation of any payments due, dispensation of change due, printing of receipts, and rental information updates in an inventory database  122  which in this embodiment is located within a server  124 . The self-service application  120  communicates with the server  124  through a network connection which may be wireless. In one embodiment, the self-service application  120  utilizes the TCP/IP protocol. 
     The processor  104  further executes the web browser software  126  and the web wrapper software  128 . The web browser software  126  allows an operator to display information in a format established by the World Wide Web (WWW or “web”). The self-service application  120  may be written as a web application which displays rental information in the form of web pages  130 . Alternatively, the self-service application  120  may be a non-web application and operate without web browser software  126 . 
     The web browser software  126  may include commercially available web browser software, such as Microsoft® Internet Explorer web browser software. Microsoft® Internet Explorer web browser software is configured into a kiosk operation using a “-k” command line option. This option hides tool bars and menu bars to prevent customer access to those functions. 
     The web browser software  126  may also display a start or “home” page within web pages  130  which operates as a default page from which kiosk operation begins and to which operation returns when an operator is finished using the self-service terminal  102 . 
     The web wrapper software  128  provides security functions. During operation, the web wrapper software  128  prevents an operator from accessing kiosk files, or other applications, and from operating system software or basic input-output system (BIOS) firmware, and prevents the operator from causing the self-service terminal  102  to reboot. 
     The card reader  110  reads customer identification, credit, debit, SMART, and/or other types of cards carried by a customer. The card reader  110  may record payment information from a customer. The card reader  110  may further incorporate wireless technology to receive customer identification data from a wireless device carried by the customer. 
     The scanner  112  scans a customer&#39;s driver&#39;s license and/or other form of identification such as a passport. The scanner  112  may be operated in conjunction with the security system  132 , which may include one or more cameras or other sensors, to ascertain the identity of the customer. 
     The inventory control assembly  116  may suitably be a device similar to one of the devices disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/686,862, of Blust et al., filed on Mar. 15, 2007, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. One such device, inventory control assembly  116 , is shown in  FIG. 2 . The inventory control assembly  116  includes a guide rail pair  140  and a guide rail pair  142  supported by a frame  144 . The guide rail pair  142  supports a driven pulley assembly  146  and the guide rail pair  140  supports a passive pulley assembly  148 . 
     The guide rail pair  140  and the guide rail pair  142  support a carriage assembly support system  150 . The driven pulley assembly  146  and the passive pulley assembly  148  are used to position the carriage assembly support system  150  at a height along the guide rail pair  140  and the guide rail pair  142  under the control of the processor circuit  104 . 
     The carriage assembly support system  150  includes a guide rail pair  152 , a carriage assembly  154 , and a motor  156 . The motor  156  is operable to position the carriage assembly  154  at a location along the guide rail pair  152  under the control of the processor circuit  104  as discussed below. A gripper mechanism  158  is located on the carriage assembly  154 . 
     The frame  144  also supports a storage rack  160 . The storage rack  160 , in this embodiment, includes a number of identically shaped storage compartments  162 . The gripper mechanism  158  is configured to be extended into a selected one of the storage compartments  162  to grip an item located therein. A user port  164  is located in the storage rack  160 . The user port  164  is accessible, on one side, to the gripper mechanism  158  and, on the other side, to a user under the control of the processor circuit  104 . 
     In one embodiment, a key retaining mechanism  170 , shown in simplified form in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , is configured to be removably placed within a storage compartment  162 . The key retaining mechanism  170  includes a housing  172  which defines a tapered bore  174  which extends from one end of the housing  172  to a bore  176 . A key holder  178  is slidably positioned within the bore  176 . The key holder  178  includes a cylinder  180  with a shank bore  182  which opens to the tapered bore  174  through a slot  184 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , there is depicted a flowchart, generally designated  190 , setting forth an exemplary manner of operation of the automated access control system  100  to process a key into the system  100 . Thus, in a car pool scenario, the keys for the various automobiles available for use are placed in the inventory control assembly  116 . Similarly, a key for a rental vehicle may be placed into the inventory control system  116 . Initially, a key retaining mechanism  170  is provided in each of the storage compartments  162 . Processing a key into the system  100  may begin at block  192  when an operator initiates the procedure  190  using the touch screen  106 . Initiation of the procedure may include uniquely identifying the user to the system  100  using one or more of the touch screen  106 , the card reader  110 , the scanner  112 , and the security system  132 . In response, the processor circuit  104  executes program instructions stored in the memory  108  to control the inventory control assembly  116 . 
     At the block  194 , the gripper mechanism  158  is positioned adjacent to a storage compartment  162  containing an empty key retaining mechanism  170 . The processor circuit  104  may identify an appropriate compartment  162  using data stored in the inventory database  122 . The gripper mechanism  158  is controlled to extend into the selected storage compartment  162  and grip the key retaining mechanism  170  stored therein at block  196 . The gripper mechanism  158  may be configured in any acceptable manner for coupling with the key retaining mechanism  170  including the use of keyed components, magnets, movable arms, etc. 
     The key retaining mechanism  170  is then withdrawn from the storage compartment  162  and the driven pulley assembly  146  and the carriage assembly support system  150  are controlled at block  198  to position the key retaining mechanism  170  at the user port  164 . The gripper mechanism  158  at block  200  slides the key holder  178  from the secured position shown in  FIG. 3  to an extended position shown in  FIG. 6  wherein the key holder  178  has been moved into the tapered bore  174 . 
     Once in the extended position shown in  FIG. 6 , a key  202  may be inserted into the key holder  178 . Once the key  202  is inserted into the key holder  178  at block  204  (see  FIG. 7 ), the key  202  is used to rotate the cylinder  180  to a locked position at block  206  as shown in  FIG. 8 . Once locked, the key  202  is identified by the inventory control system  116  at block  208 . Identification of the key  202  may be accomplished in a number of different ways. In one embodiment, the key  202  incorporates a chip or an RFID device which is read by the inventory control system  116 . To this end, a reader may be positioned on the gripper mechanism  158  or within the key retaining mechanism  170 . Alternatively, the shape of the shank of the key  202  may be used to uniquely identify the key  202 . 
     Once the key  202  has been identified, the gripper mechanism  158  pulls the key holder  178  back into the bore  176  to a secured position as shown in  FIG. 9  at block  210 . As the key holder  178  is pulled into the bore  176 , any key chain attached to the key  202  is guided by the tapered bore  174  to a position within the confines of the housing  172  to prevent fouling of the inventory control system  116 . In the secured position, rotation of the key holder  178  is inhibited. 
     At block  212 , the processor circuit  104  controls the inventory control assembly  116  to move the gripper mechanism  158  from the position adjacent to the user port  164  to a position adjacent to the storage compartment  162  from which the key retaining mechanism  170  was obtained. The gripper mechanism  158  is controlled to deposit the key retaining mechanism  170  within the storage compartment  162  at block  214 . The gripper mechanism  158  is then withdrawn from the storage compartment  162  at block  216 . 
     At block  218 , the processor circuit  104  updates the inventory database  122  to reflect the location of the key  202  within the storage rack  160 . If desired, the key  202  located within the storage compartment  162  may further be associated with the user identified at block  192 . Association of the particular key  202  with the individual depositing the key  202  may be used in systems deployed to allow for after-hours drop off of vehicles such as at service stations or car rental return locations. 
     If desired, the key stored within the automated access control system  100  may be immediately accessed by the user. Thus, in the event a customer has inadvertently left an item in a vehicle, the customer can immediately obtain the key from the automated access control system  100 . 
     Access to a key previously stored within the automated access control system  100  is described with reference to the flowchart  230  of  FIG. 10 . At block  232 , the access process is initiated and at block  234  a user identity is established. User identity may be accomplished in a number of alternative ways. By way of example, an access code may be entered into the system using the touch screen  106 , a document may be scanned using the scanner  112  and verified using a program stored within the memory  108  or by transmission to a remote site for viewing by an individual, or a camera or biometric sensor in the security system  132  may obtain data identifying the user. 
     The automated access control system  100  identifies the key to which access will be provided at the block  236 . The appropriate key may be established in a variety of different ways depending upon the manner in which the automated access control system  100  is operated. In a rental embodiment or an after-hours vehicle pick-up embodiment, the processor circuit  104  may associate the customer with a previously stored reservation or job order. Alternatively, a rental customer may be guided by the automated access control system  100  to complete a rental agreement following which, a particular key is identified. 
     Once a particular key is identified, the location data for the identified key is obtained from the inventory database  122  at block  238 . The processor circuit  104  executes program instructions stored in the memory  108  at block  240  to control the gripper mechanism  158  to a position adjacent to the storage compartment  162  wherein the identified key has been stored. The gripper mechanism  158  is controlled to extend into the storage compartment  162  and grip the key retaining mechanism  170  holding the identified key at block  242 . The key retaining mechanism  170  is then withdrawn from the storage compartment  162  and the driven pulley assembly  146  and the carriage assembly support system  150  are controlled at block  244  to position the key retaining mechanism  170  at the user port  164 . The gripper mechanism  158  at block  246  slides the key holder  178  from the secured position (see  FIG. 11 ) to the extended position (see  FIG. 12 ) wherein the key holder  178  has been moved into the tapered bore  174 . 
     Once in the extended position shown in  FIG. 12 , the customer may be prompted remove the key  202  by first rotating the key  202  to the unlocked position at block  248 . Once the key  202  is in the unlocked position as shown in  FIG. 13 , the customer may remove the key  202  from the key retaining mechanism  170  at block  250 . At block  252 , the key holder  178  is withdrawn into the bore  176  and the processor circuit  104  controls the inventory control assembly  116  to move the gripper mechanism  158  from the user port to a position adjacent to the storage compartment  162  from which the key retaining mechanism  170  was obtained at block  254 . 
     The gripper mechanism  158  is controlled to deposit the key retaining mechanism  170  within the storage compartment  162  at block  256 . The gripper mechanism  158  is then withdrawn from the storage compartment  162  at block  258 . At block  260 , the processor circuit  104  updates the inventory database  122  to reflect the availability of the key retaining mechanism  170  for receiving another key. Additionally, the inventory database  122  is updated to reflect that the key  202  previously stored in the key retaining mechanism  170  has been removed by the customer identified in the block  234 . 
     The foregoing processes may be modified in a number of ways within the scope of the following claims. By way of example, many of the steps may be performed in different sequences. Additionally, the identity of the keys which are allowed to be used with the automated access control system  100  may be pre-established by storing data uniquely identified with the key in the inventory database  122 . In such embodiments, the process  190  is modified such that if a key is identified at the block  208  which does not match a pre-established key identity, the key is not secured at block  210  and a warning message is displayed for the user by the self-service application. 
     Additionally, the automated access control system  100  may be configured to perform additional tasks upon deposition of a key therein. By way of example, upon deposition of an identified key, the automated access control system  100  may be configured to issue a signal causing all of the vehicle doors to be locked and/or to disable vehicle operation. Additionally, the automated access control system  100  may be configured to issue a communication to a remote location notifying the remote location of the deposit of the key. Furthermore, the automated access control system  100  may be configured to establish communications with the vehicle to obtain various data including mileage, fluid levels, etc. This data may be used to facilitate, for example, the return procedure for a rental vehicle. 
     While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the subject invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the subject invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and that fall within the limits of the appended claims.