Methods for managing access to physical assets

US7042334B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• General Electric Company · US

Inventors

• Isaac J. Mosgrove · Salem, US
• Teri Lynne Briskey · Monmouth, US
• Dirk L. Bellamy · Salem, US
• Sean Beebe · Salem, US
• Scott D. Westfall · Salem, US
• Dean Sinn · Silverton, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 31, 2003
• Grant date: May 9, 2006
• Expiry date: Feb 22, 2024

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T70/7768
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A key management system for controlling access to vehicle keys includes a key set, a key container and an electronic access device. The key set includes vehicle keys to a particular vehicle and a key tag associated with the vehicle keys having an electronically readable identifier. The key container has a key set storage area secured by an electronic lock and a circuit that detects when the key set is stored in the key set storage area. The access device is carried by a user to access the key container, and has a memory that is updated with at least the identifier of the key tag when the key container is successfully accessed.