Patent ID: 8059883

Claim:
An electronic key identifier method for scanning, identifying and cataloguing keys in a reliable, convenient and economical manner comprising in combination: providing a housing unit in a generally rectangular configuration with a front, back, top, bottom, first side and second side, the first side having an aperture, and the back having a recess with a cover capable of receiving batteries for powering the system; providing a key adapted to be inserted into the aperture for being scanned, identified and catalogued; providing a key reader located within the housing unit adjacent to the aperture adapted to scan a key in the aperture and then to generate a new key image signal for transmission; providing a memory drive located within the housing unit and operatively coupled with the key reader, the memory drive selected from the class of drives including flash drives and hard drives and adapted to receive a key image signal from the key reader, the memory drive capable of storing information relating to key image signals; providing software installed in the memory drive adapted to interact with a user for comparing previously transmitted and stored key image signal transmissions with newly transmitted key image signal transmissions; providing a screen selected from the class of screens including LCD and plasma and CRT located on the top of the housing unit capable of displaying information provided by the software and user; providing a push pad located on the front of the housing unit with buttons including a first row with 1, 2 ABC, 3 DEF, and a second row with 4 GHI, 5 JKL, 6 MNO, and a third row with 7 PQRS, 8 TUV, 9 WXYZ and a fourth row with 0 and a bottom row with CLEAR, SPACE and ENTER, the buttons of the push pad allowing a user to input data and interact with the software; inserting a key into the reader which turns the electronic key identifier on; inputting a security code using the push pad when prompted to do so by the electronic key identifier and then pressing ENTER on the push pad; scanning the input key by reader in the electronic key identifier; displaying the name of the key that the user already programmed if using a known key; naming the key when asked to do so by the electronic key identifier using the push pad if using an unknown key; pressing ENTER on the push pad to submit and confirm the data that is being input in the electronic key identifier; and pulling the key out and turning the electronic key identifiers off.