Key duplication system
AssigneeThe Hillman Group, Inc.
InventorDaniel Freeman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A key-duplicating system comprises a network that includes a multiplicity of kiosks at a multiplicity of different locations, each of the kiosks having a customer interface and a processor coupled to the customer interface. A remote central server coupled to the kiosks is adapted to receive, from the kiosks, information identifying master keys to be duplicated. A key analysis module uses the information identifying master keys to be duplicated to derive information required to produce duplicates of the identified master keys, and a key duplicating module uses that information to produce duplicates of said identified master keys.
Claims14
A network of self-service key duplication kiosks, comprising:
- a plurality of kiosks at different locations;
- and
- a remote central server in network communication with the plurality of kiosks and configured to receive information from and send information to the plurality of kiosks,
- each of the plurality of kiosks comprising,
- a digital camera configured to take a digital image of a customer's key,
- a key duplication system configured to replicate a tooth pattern on the customer's key using a cutting code, and
- a communications interface configured to enable network communication with the remote central server for sending the digital image of the customer's key to the remote central server and, in response, receive the cutting code for the customer's key from the remote central server,
- the remote central server configured to receive the digital image from a kiosk, identify the cutting code from the digital image, and send the cutting code to the kiosk for use in duplicating the customer's key.
A self-service key duplication kiosk in a network that includes a plurality of kiosks at different locations and a remote central server in network communication with the plurality of kiosks, comprising:
- a digital camera configured to take a digital image of a customer's key,
- a key duplication system configured to replicate a tooth pattern on the customer's key using a cutting code, and
- a communications interface configured to enable network communication with the remote central server for sending the digital image of the customer's key to the remote central from server and, in response, receive the cutting code for the customer's key from the remote central server.
A method of duplicating a customer's key, comprising:
- receiving the customer's key in a self-service key duplication kiosk, the self-service key duplication kiosk being one of a plurality of kiosks at different locations and in network communication with a remote central server;
- taking, using a digital camera in the self-service key duplication kiosk, a digital image of the customer's key;
- sending the digital image from the self-service key duplication kiosk to the remote central server for determination of a cutting code for the customer's key;
- receiving, at the self-service key duplication kiosk, the cutting code from the remote central server, wherein the cutting code is determined by the remote central server based on the digital image;
- and
- automatically producing, by the self-service key duplication kiosk, a duplicate of the customer's key using the cutting code.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.