Method, apparatus and system for controlling access to a cabinet
First Claim
1. A cabinet comprising:
- one or more lockable compartments;
at least one locking/unlocking apparatus for the one or more lockable compartments;
a computer or wireless interface communicably coupled to the locking/unlocking apparatus that receives a message and controls the locking/unlocking apparatus based on the message; and
a power supply electrically connected to the at least one locking/unlocking apparatus and the computer or wireless interface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a system, method and apparatus for controlling access to a cabinet having one or more lockable compartments, at least one locking/unlocking apparatus for the one or more lockable compartments, a computer or wireless interface communicably coupled to the locking/unlocking apparatus and a power supply electrically connected to the at least one locking/unlocking apparatus and the computer or wireless interface. A computer, PDA, phone, handheld computer or RFID device receives user access data, stores the received user access data, other access activity information and the user access data for one or more authorized users on a data storage device, and compares the received user access data with the user access data for the one or more authorized users and sends a message to the computer or wireless interface based on the comparison.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A cabinet comprising:
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one or more lockable compartments;
at least one locking/unlocking apparatus for the one or more lockable compartments;
a computer or wireless interface communicably coupled to the locking/unlocking apparatus that receives a message and controls the locking/unlocking apparatus based on the message; and
a power supply electrically connected to the at least one locking/unlocking apparatus and the computer or wireless interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for controlling access to a cabinet, comprising
a computer, PDA, phone, handheld computer or RFID device; - and
the cabinet comprising;
one or more lockable compartments, at least one locking/unlocking apparatus for the one or more lockable compartments, and a computer or wireless interface communicably coupled to the locking/unlocking apparatus that receives a message from the computer, PDA, phone, handheld computer or RFID device and controls the locking/unlocking apparatus based on the message. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for controlling access to a cabinet having one or more lockable compartments and at least one locking/unlocking apparatus, comprising a computer or wireless interface that receives a message from a computer, PDA, phone, handheld computer or RFID device and controls the locking/unlocking apparatus based on the message.
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16. A method for controlling access to a cabinet having one or more lockable compartments, at least one locking/unlocking apparatus, a computer or wireless interface, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a message from a computer, PDA, phone, handheld computer or RFID device via the computer or wireless interface; and
controlling at least one of the lockable compartments based on the received message. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A kit for retrofitting a cabinet having one or more compartments to a controlled access cabinet having one or more lockable compartments, comprising:
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at least one locking/unlocking apparatus suitable for mounting within the cabinet to convert the one or more compartments to one or more lockable compartments;
a computer or wireless interface suitable for mounting on or within the cabinet to control the at least one locking/unlocking apparatus based on a received message; and
a computer program for a computer, PDA, phone, handheld computer or RFID device that receives user access data, stores received user access data, other access activity information and user access data for one or more authorized users, compares the received user access data with the user access data for the one or more authorized users and sends the message to the cabinet based on the comparison.
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20. A method for retrofitting a cabinet having one or more compartments to a controlled access cabinet having one or more lockable compartments, comprising:
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installing at least one locking/unlocking apparatus within the cabinet to convert the one or more compartments to one or more lockable compartments;
installing a computer or wireless interface on or within the cabinet;
connecting the computer or wireless interface to the at least one locking/unlocking apparatus such that the computer or wireless interface controls the operation of the at least one locking/unlocking apparatus in response to a message; and
installing a computer program on a computer, PDA, phone, handheld computer or RFID device that receives user access data, stores received user access data, other access activity information and user access data for one or more authorized users, compares the received user access data with the user access data for the one or more authorized users and sends the message to the cabinet based on the comparison.
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Specification