Systems and methods for duplicating keys

Abstract

Systems and methods for duplicating keys are provided. In some embodiments, a system for creating keys is provided, the system comprising: a kiosk comprising: a key scanner capturing geometric information of a key; and a hardware processor that: receives security information; automatically determines a key type and bit heights of the key and causes these, along with first identifying information based on the first security information, to be stored at a remote storage device; receives second security information corresponding to second identifying information; verifies the second security information and, in response, identifies stored geometric information about one or more keys that can be made, wherein the stored geometric information includes geometric information corresponding to the second security information; and a key shaping device that creates a third key using the second geometric information.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for creating keys, the system comprising:
 a kiosk comprising:
 a rotatable carousel configured to store a plurality of different types of key blanks; 
 a key scanner; 
 a key shaping device; 
 a key movement mechanism that moves key blanks from the rotatable carousel to the key shaping device; 
 a touchscreen; 
 a communication network interface; and 
 a hardware processor that is programmed to:
 cause the key scanner to capture first geometric information about a first key; 
 automatically determine that the first key is a first key type from a plurality of known key types based on the first geometric information about the first key; 
 receive an instruction, via the touchscreen, to create a second key based on the first key; 
 determine whether a key blank of the first key type is stored by the rotatable carousel; 
 in response to determining that the key blank of the first key type is stored by the rotatable carousel, rotate the rotatable carousel such that the key movement mechanism can access the key blank of the first key type; 
 cause the key movement mechanism to move the key blank of the first key type from the rotatable carousel to the key shaping device; 
 cause the key shaping device to create the second key from the key blank based on the first geometric information; 
 transmit, using the communication network interface, the first geometric information to a remote storage device; and 
 cause the first geometric information to be stored at the remote storage device in association with an automatically generated identifier that is not based on identifying information provided by a user. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the key scanner comprises at least one camera. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the remote storage device is a server. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the key shaping device comprises:
 a computer numerical control device; and   a shaping tool.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the hardware processor is further programmed to:
 receive an email address via the touchscreen; and   cause the automatically generated identifier to be sent to the email address.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the hardware processor is further programmed to:
 cause the key scanner to capture second geometric information about a third key;   automatically determine that the third key is a second key type from the plurality of known key types based on the second geometric information about the third key;   receive an instruction, via the touchscreen, to create a fourth key based on the second key and to ship the fourth key to an address input via the touchscreen;   cause the second geometric information to be stored at the remote storage device in association with a second automatically generated identifier that is not based on identifying information provided by a user; and   cause the second geometric information to be used to create the fourth key at a central location for shipping to the address provided via the touchscreen.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable carousel is configured to attach to a plurality of removable magazines that are each configured to store one or more types of key blanks, and wherein the hardware processor is further programmed to determine whether the key blank of the first key type is stored in one of the plurality of removable magazines currently attached to the rotatable carousel. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the hardware processor is further programmed to:
 automatically determine bit heights of the first key based on the captured geometric information about the key; and   cause the key shaping device to create the second key based on the bit heights of the first key.   
     
     
         9 . A method for creating keys, the method comprising:
 causing, using a hardware processor of a kiosk, a key scanner disposed within the kiosk to capture first geometric information about a first key;   automatically determining that the first key is a first key type from a plurality of known key types based on the second geometric information about the first key;   receiving an instruction, via a touchscreen, to create a second key based on the first key;   determining whether a key blank of the first key type is stored by a rotatable carousel disposed within the kiosk;   in response to determining that the key blank of the first key type is stored by the rotatable carousel, rotating the rotatable carousel such that a key movement mechanism that moves key blanks from the rotatable carousel to a key shaping device disposed within the kiosk can access the key blank stored by the rotatable carousel;   causing the key movement mechanism to move the key blank of the first key type from the rotating carousel to the key shaping device;   causing the key shaping device to create the second key from the key blank based on the first geometric information;   transmitting, using a communication network interface of the kiosk, the first geometric information to a remote storage device; and   causing the first geometric information to be stored at the remote storage device in association with an automatically generated identifier that is not based on identifying information provided by a user.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the key scanner comprises at least one camera. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the remote storage device is a server. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the key shaping device comprises:
 a computer numerical control device; and   a shaping tool.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 receiving an email address via the touchscreen; and   causing the automatically generated identifier to be sent to the email address.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 causing the key scanner to capture second geometric information about a third key;   automatically determining that the third key is a second key type from the plurality of known key types based on the captured geometric information about the third key;   receiving an instruction, via the touchscreen, to create a fourth key based on the second key and to ship the fourth key to an address input via the touchscreen;   causing the second geometric information to be stored at the remote storage device in association with an automatically generated identifier that is not based on identifying information provided by a user; and   causing the second geometric information to be used to create the fourth key at a central location for shipping to the address provided via the touchscreen.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the rotatable carousel is configured to attach to a plurality of removable magazines that are each configured to store one or more types of key blanks, and wherein determining whether the key blank of the first key type is stored by the rotatable carousel further comprises determining whether the key blank of the first key type is stored in one of the plurality of removable magazines currently attached to the rotatable carousel. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 automatically determining bit heights of the first key based on the captured geometric information about the key; and   causing the key shaping device to create the second key based on the bit heights of the first key.