Equipment monitoring method and apparatus

• US 20030151494A1
• Filed: 02/03/2003
• Published: 08/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ASSA Abloy Limited (Assa Abloy AB)
• Original Assignee: Traka Ltd. (Assa Abloy AB)
• Inventors: Kent, John Bradley
• Granted Patent: US 7,042,356 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.32
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/00 Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points handling coins or valuable papers, e.g. banknotes, G07D; apparatus for vending or hiring articles or services activated by coins, credit cards, paper currency or the like G07F7/00, G07F17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00936 for key cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0042 for hiring of objects
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices

Abstract

A system for controlling and monitoring usage of equipment comprises an electronic key for controlling operation of the equipment and a central storage location for a plurality of keys. Access to the keys is controlled so that only authorised personnel can obtain a key and may be directed to select a particular key. In any event, the key is associated with a particular authorised person. At the equipment, the key is inserted and data contained in the key is read and the equipment enabled under microprocessor control. Data relating to the activity of the equipment can be written to circuitry in the key for transfer back to the central storage location when a the key is returned.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring usage of a piece of remote apparatus, comprising an activation device, central storage means for retaining the activation device, and a separate control means controlling operation of the piece of apparatus,

characterised in that the activation device contains electronic circuitry storing data identifying the device and the electronic control means is provided with means for rendering said data and being actuable in response thereto.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of activation devices at least portions of which are physically identical but which are distinguishable by the data they contain.

3. A system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the electronic control means includes data collection means for collecting data characteristic of usage of the remote apparatus and means for transferring collected data to the activation device when present.

4. A system according to claim 1,2 or 3, wherein the electronic control means is connected to a receptacle for receiving the activation device, the receptacle being responsive to the presence of the activating device in order to provide a first signal to the control means.

5. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the central storage means includes means for transferring data between a central computing device and the or each activating device when present at the central storage means.

6. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the activation devices has a rewritable memory for storing data.

7. A system according to claim 5, wherein each of the activation devices has two memory sections, one for storing data unique to the device and one for storing data dependent upon the piece of apparatus associated with the activation device.

8. An activation device for a piece of equipment comprising a mechanical portion arranged to be received in the equipment and an electronic memory for storing data, the memory having a first section for storing data to be read by reading means provided at the piece of equipment and a second section for storing data written to the memory, in use, by the piece of equipment.