Method, apparatus and system for controlling access to a storage unit
First Claim
1. A modular storage unit comprising:
- one or more lockable compartments;
at least one locking/unlocking apparatus for the one or more lockable compartments;
a unit controller communicably coupled to the locking/unlocking apparatus that receives a message from a remote controller 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 unit controller.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a system, method and apparatus for controlling access to a storage unit having one or more lockable compartments, at least one locking/unlocking apparatus for the one or more lockable compartments, a unit controller and a power supply electrically connected to the at least one locking/unlocking apparatus and the unit controller. The unit controller is communicably coupled to the locking/unlocking apparatus and receives a message from a remote controller and controls the locking/unlocking apparatus based on the message. The modular storage unit may include an overhead storage unit, a storage pedestal, a storage cabinet, a lateral storage unit, a file cabinet or a desk drawer. The remote controller may include a user device, network device that stores one or more security profiles containing user access data for one or more authorized users, one or more trigger event/action protocols, other access activity information or a combination thereof.
75 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A modular storage unit comprising:
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one or more lockable compartments;
at least one locking/unlocking apparatus for the one or more lockable compartments;
a unit controller communicably coupled to the locking/unlocking apparatus that receives a message from a remote controller 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 unit controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for controlling access to one or more modular storage units within one or more modular workstations, comprising
a remote controller; -
each modular storage unit comprising;
one or more lockable compartments, at least one locking/unlocking apparatus for the one or more lockable compartments, and a unit controller communicably coupled to the locking/unlocking apparatus that receives a message from the remote controller and controls the locking/unlocking apparatus based on the message; and
a communications network communicably coupling the remote controller to the unit controller of each modular storage unit. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for controlling access to a modular storage unit having one or more lockable compartments and at least one locking/unlocking apparatus, comprising a unit controller that receives a message from a remote controller and controls the locking/unlocking apparatus based on the message.
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21. A method for controlling access to a modular storage unit having one or more lockable compartments, at least one locking/unlocking apparatus and a unit controller, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a message from a remote controller; and
controlling at least one of the lockable compartments based on the received message. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A kit for retrofitting a modular workstation having one or more modular storage units with one or more compartments to a controlled access modular workstation having one or more lockable compartments, comprising:
at least one locking/unlocking apparatus suitable for mounting within each modular storage unit to convert the one or more compartments to one or more lockable compartments;
a unit controller suitable for mounting on or within each modular storage unit to control the at least one locking/unlocking apparatus based on a message received from a remote controller; and
a computer program for the remote controller to determine whether or not to send the message to the unit controller wherein the message comprises an instruction to lock or unlock one or more of the lockable compartments or information that can be used to determine whether to lock or unlock one or more of the lockable compartments.
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29. A method for retrofitting a modular workstation having one or more modular storage units with one or more compartments to a controlled access modular workstation having one or more lockable compartments, comprising:
installing at least one locking/unlocking apparatus within each modular storage unit to convert the one or more compartments to one or more lockable compartments;
installing a unit controller on or within each modular storage unit;
connecting the unit controller to the at least one locking/unlocking apparatus such that the unit controller controls the operation of the at least one locking/unlocking apparatus in response to a message from a remote controller; and
installing a computer program on the remote controller to determine whether or not to send the message to the unit controller wherein the message comprises an instruction to lock or unlock one or more of the lockable compartments or information that can be used to determine whether to lock or unlock one or more of the lockable compartments.
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30. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for controlling access to a modular storage unit having one or more lockable compartments, at least one locking/unlocking apparatus and a unit controller, the computer program comprising a code segment for determining whether or not to send a message to the unit controller wherein the message comprises an instruction to lock or unlock one or more of the lockable compartments or information that can be used to determine whether to lock or unlock one or more of the lockable compartments.
Specification