Key duplicating system

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.

1 . A key-duplicating system comprising a network that includes
 a multiplicity of kiosks at a multiplicity of different locations, each of said kiosks having a customer interface and a processor coupled to said customer interface,   a remote central server coupled to said kiosks and adapted to receive, from said kiosks, information identifying master keys to be duplicated,   a key analysis module for using said information identifying master keys to be duplicated to derive information required to produce duplicates of said identified master keys, and   a key duplicating module for producing duplicates of said identified master keys by using said information required to produce duplicates of said identified master keys.   
     
     
         2 . The key-duplicating system of  claim 1  in which each of said kiosks stores a first number of different types of key blanks, and said customer interfaces of said kiosks are adapted to display a second number of different types of key blanks available for purchase from a remote location via said kiosks. 
     
     
         3 . The key-duplicating system of  claim 2  in which said customer interfaces of said kiosks are adapted to receive orders for duplicate keys to be made from key blanks selected from said key blanks available for purchase from said remote location and corresponding to master keys identified in said orders, and to transmit said orders to said remote central server, and said remote central server is adapted to provide said key duplicating module with the information required to produce duplicates of said identified master keys. 
     
     
         4 . The key duplicating system of  claim 2  in which said remote central server includes a website providing a virtual store displaying a number of different key blank designs for duplicate keys available for purchase via said web site, said website being adapted to accept orders for duplicates of master keys identified by said customers. 
     
     
         5 . The key duplicating system of  claim 4  in which information required to produce duplicates of master keys identified by said customers is stored in a memory coupled to said remote central server, said stored information being correlated with stored identifications of said customers. 
     
     
         6 . The key duplicating system of  claim 4  in which said information required to produce duplicates of master keys comprises photographs of a master key to be duplicated, and said key analysis module is adapted to 
     
     
         7 . The key-duplicating system of  claim 1  in which said master key information is stored in a memory coupled to said remote central server. 
     
     
         8 . The key-duplicating system of  claim 1  in which said key duplicating module is located in each of said kiosks and also at a remote location in communication with said remote central server. 
     
     
         9 . The key-duplicating system of  claim 1  in which said key analysis module is located in each of said kiosks and also at a remote location in communication with said remote central server. 
     
     
         10 . The key-duplicating system of  claim 1  in which said customer devices include mobile devices having digital cameras and software applications for facilitating the production of digital images of a master key to be duplicated, and transmitting the digital images to said remote central server for use by said key analysis module to determine the information required to produce duplicates of the imaged master key. 
     
     
         11 . The key-duplicating system of  claim 1  in which said kiosks include digital cameras for producing digital images of master keys to be duplicated, and transmitting the digital images to said remote central server for use by said key analysis module to determine the information required to produce duplicates of said master key. 
     
     
         12 . A key-duplicating system comprising a network that includes
 a multiplicity of kiosks at a multiplicity of different locations, each of said kiosks having a customer interface and a processor coupled to said customer interface,   a remote central server coupled to said kiosks and adapted to receive, from said kiosks or directly from customer devices, information identifying master keys to be duplicated,   a key analysis module for using said information identifying master keys to be duplicated to derive information required to produce duplicates of said identified master keys, and   a key duplicating module for producing duplicates of said identified master keys by using said information required to produce duplicates of said identified master keys.   
     
     
         13 . A key-duplicating method comprising
 providing a network including a multiplicity of kiosks at a multiplicity of different locations, each of said kiosks having a customer interface and a processor coupled to said customer interface,   transmitting information identifying master keys to be duplicated, from said kiosks to a remote central server coupled to said kiosks,   deriving information required to produce duplicates of said identified master keys, from said information identifying master keys to be duplicated, and   producing duplicates of said identified master keys by using said information required to produce duplicates of said identified master keys.   
     
     
         14 . The key-duplicating method of  claim 1  which includes storing a first number of different types of key blanks in said kiosks, and displaying via said customer interfaces of said kiosks a second number of different types of key blanks available for purchase from a remote location via said kiosks. 
     
     
         15 . The key-duplicating method of  claim 14  which includes receiving orders for duplicate keys to be made from key blanks selected from said key blanks available for purchase from said remote location and corresponding to master keys identified in said orders, transmitting said orders to said remote central server, and providing said key duplicating module with the information required to produce duplicates of said identified master keys. 
     
     
         15 . The key duplicating method of  claim 14  in which said remote central server provides a website presenting a virtual store displaying a number of different key blank designs for duplicate keys available for purchase via said web site, and accepting orders via said website for duplicates of master keys identified by said customers. 
     
     
         16 . The key duplicating method of  claim 15  in which said information required to produce duplicates of master keys identified by said customers is stored in a memory coupled to said remote central server, said stored information being correlated with stored identifications of said customers. 
     
     
         17 . The key duplicating method of  claim 15  in which said information required to produce duplicates of master keys comprises digital images of a master key to be duplicated, and which includes deriving information required to produce duplicates of the imaged master key from said digital images. 
     
     
         18 . The key-duplicating method of  claim 13  which includes storing said master key information in a memory coupled to said remote central server.