摘要 |
Technology for producing and/or reproducing a lock and/or matching key in which a user enters a personally selected alphanumeric input, such as a password or passphrase, or other personally memorable data, to an input processor. The alphanumeric input is converted by a deterministic transformation function, such as a hashing function, to an alphanumeric output which corresponds to a key cutting code. A manufacturing apparatus makes a lock and key corresponding to this code. When the same personally selected alphanumeric input is entered by the user, the deterministic transformation function outputs the same key cutting code which is used to make a duplicate key. The duplicate key may be made by a 3D printer and the deterministic transformation function may be part of a network-provided service. In this way, key reproduction can be accomplished without storing a key cutting code. |