Managing access to physical assets

US7061367B2 · 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
• Ron Chapin · Gervais, US
• Adam Kuenzi · Silverton, US
• Jon Marc Luebeck · Stayton, US
• David Condon · Salem, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 14, 2003
• Grant date: Jun 13, 2006
• Expiry date: Nov 14, 2023

Classification

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

Abstract

A decentralized key management system for controlling access to multiple vehicles among multiple users includes vehicle keys for the respective vehicles, individual locking key containers for the vehicles, electronic access devices for assignment to the users and a database. Each of the containers has a storage area within which a vehicle key or keys for one vehicle can be stored operable to unlock key containers if authorized. The access devices are operable to unlock the key containers if authorized. The access devices are programmable with information from the database such that an assigned access device is programmed with a specific user's access privileges for obtaining access to one or more of the vehicles in the system.