Computer workstation and method

• US 8,269,599 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2007
• Issued: 09/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shirley C. Goza
• Original Assignee: Roger Goza
• Inventors: Goza, Roger
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, QUANG
• Application Number:
  US11/863,306
• Publication Number:
  US 20080189797A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,817 Days
• Field of Search: 726/35, 726/9, 340/5.2, 340/5.73, 340/5.8, 340/568.1, 312/223.3, 221/2
• US Class Current: 340/5.2
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00174 Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys mechanical locks with electric permutation E05B49/00; arrangements for sensing or reading record carriers G06K7/00; electronic switching H03K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00904 for hotels, motels, office buildings or the like

Abstract

A system and/or method to control access to secured compartments in a facility. Computers positioned throughout the facility are interfaced to respective locking mechanisms to operate the locking mechanism in response to access codes, which may be transmitted over the network. Additional steps may involve programming an authorization computer for providing access codes in whole or part for use with the computers. One or more access points may be functionally coupled to a computer system and/or to the locking mechanism and accessible to users for entry of requests for access to the secured compartment.

Claims

1. A securable compartment within a computer workstation and controlled by said computer workstation, comprising:

an articulating cabinet;

a locking mechanism operatively connected to said securable compartment for selectively locking and unlocking said securable compartment;

a computer for said computer workstation, said computer being supported within said articulating cabinet and providing a computer function other than securing said securable compartment;

an access point functionally coupled to said computer and mounted externally to said securable compartment, said access point being operable for entry of requests for access to said securable compartment when said securable compartment is locked by said locking mechanism, and wherein said computer is responsive to entry of an authorized access request at said access point to cause said locking mechanism to unlock said securable compartment;

at least one authorization computer programmed to provide a plurality of access codes to comprise at least part of said authorized access request, said computer being functionally coupled to said at least one authorization computer, said computer being further programmed for utilizing respective ones of said plurality of access codes for determining whether an access request is authorized or unauthorized;

wherein said securable compartment is defined within said articulating cabinet; and

wherein said securable compartment prevents access to one or more components of said computer when locked.

2. The securable compartment within said computer workstation of claim 1, further comprising a keyboard for said computer, wherein said securable compartment prevents access to said keyboard when locked, and further comprising a second securable compartment which is positioned externally to said articulating cabinet.

3. The securable compartment within said computer workstation of claim 1, further comprising a computer monitor for said computer, wherein said computer is mounted within said articulating cabinet and said securable compartment prevents access to said computer monitor when locked, and wherein said computer is functionally coupled to a central server.

4. The securable compartment within said computer workstation of claim 3, wherein said central server is programmed to maintain a database of authorized access requests.

5. A method for a computer workstation for controlling at least one securable compartment within said computer workstation, comprising:

providing an articulating cabinet;

mounting a computer for said computer workstation within said articulating cabinet;

said computer being supported within said articulating cabinet;

mounting a locking mechanism for selectively locking and unlocking said at least one securable compartment;

functionally coupling said computer to said locking mechanism and providing a computer function other than securing said at least one securable compartment;

providing an access point mounted externally to said securable compartment to users for entry of requests for access to said at least one securable compartment when said at least one securable compartment is locked by said locking mechanism; and

programming said computer to be responsive to entry of an authorized access request at said access point to cause said locking mechanism to release and unlock said at least one securable compartment;

wherein said at least one securable compartment is defined within said articulating cabinet; and

wherein said at least one securable compartment configured to control one or more components of said computer when locked.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising a keyboard for said computer, wherein said at least one securable compartment prevents access to said keyboard when locked, and further comprising defining a second securable compartment externally to said articulating cabinet.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising a computer monitor for said computer, wherein said at least one securable compartment prevents access to said computer monitor when locked, and wherein said computer is functionally couple to a central server.

8. The method of claim 7, programming said central server to maintain a database of authorized access requests.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

functionally coupling said computer to at least one authorization computer;

programming said authorization computer to provide a plurality of access codes for entry as at least part of said authorized access request;

programming said computer to receive at least respective ones of said plurality of access codes, and further programming said computer for utilizing said respective ones of said plurality of access codes for determining whether an access request is authorized or unauthorized.

10. A system for controlling access to a plurality of secured compartments within a facility, comprising:

at least one articulating cabinet configurable in both an open position and a closed secured position to define at least one of said plurality of secured compartments;

a plurality of computers electronically connected together to create a network, said plurality of computers being positioned within said facility; and

at least one of said computers being supported within said at least one articulating cabinet and providing a computer function other than securing said plurality secured compartments;

a plurality of locking mechanisms electronically interfaced to respective of said plurality of computers, said plurality of secured compartments being locked and unlocked by respective ones of said plurality of locking mechanisms to selectively secure said computers within said secured compartments, respectively;

a plurality of input devices mounted externally to said plurality of secured compartments for respective ones of said plurality of computers, said plurality of input devices being operable to input a plurality of access codes; and

at least one authorization computer, said at least one authorization computer being programmed to produce at least a portion of said plurality of access codes for said plurality of computers, said plurality of computers being programmed to operate respective ones of said plurality of locking mechanisms responsively to a respective access code from respective ones of said plurality of input devices; and

wherein at least one of said plurality of secured compartments encloses computer components to secure a respective one of said plurality of computers, said computer components comprises at least one of a keyboard or a computer monitor for said respective one of said plurality of computers, and wherein when said at least one of said plurality of secured compartments is locked, then access is prevented to said at least one of said keyboard or said computer monitor for said respective one of said plurality of computers.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a plurality of walls throughout said facility, and wherein at least one of said plurality of secured compartments is built into one of said walls, wherein said at least one of said plurality of secured compartments comprises two doors comprising a stocking door and a dispensing door, and wherein said two doors permit access to said at least one of said plurality of secured compartments in pass through fashion through said wall.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a plurality of cabinets in which respective ones of said plurality of computers are positioned.

13. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

at least one computer programmed to keep a record of usage of said plurality of access codes.

14. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

at least one computer programmed to keep a record of failed attempts to access said plurality of secured compartments.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein:

respective of said plurality of input devices comprise at least one of a keyboard, biometric sensor, RFID, camera, dongle, wireless communication device, proximity card, and magnetic strip.

16. A method for controlling access to a plurality of secured compartments within a facility, comprising:

providing at least one articulating cabinet configurable in both an open position and a closed secured position to form at least one of said plurality of secured compartments within said at least one cabinet; and

mounting at least one of said plurality of computers being supported within said at least one cabinet, wherein said at least one computer comprises at least one of a key board or a computer monitor, and wherein when said at least one of said plurality of secured compartments are locked, then access is prevented to said at least one of said keyboard or said computer monitor;

distributing said plurality of secured compartments through said facility;

electronically interconnecting a plurality of computers to create a network;

distributing said plurality of computers that provide a computer function other than securing said plurality of secured compartments through said facility;

electronically interfacing a plurality of locking mechanisms to respective ones of said plurality of computers;

mounting said plurality of secured compartments such that said plurality of secured compartments are locked and unlocked by respective ones of said plurality of locking mechanisms;

interfacing a plurality of input devices to respective ones of said plurality of computers;

providing said plurality of input devices externally to respective secured compartments to be operable to input a respective access code for locking and unlocking a respective locking mechanism;

programming at least one authorization computer to provide at least portions of a plurality of access codes to said plurality of computers; and

programming said plurality of computers to receive respective of said plurality of access codes through said network and to lock and unlock respective of said plurality of locking mechanisms responsively to receiving said access code through respective of said plurality of input devices.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

mounting at least one of said plurality of secured compartments within one of a plurality of walls of said facility, wherein said at least one of said plurality of secured compartments comprises two doors on opposite sides comprising a stocking door and a dispensing door, and wherein said two doors permit access to said at least one of said plurality of secured compartments in pass through fashion through said wall.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

providing a plurality of cabinets in which respective of said plurality of computers are positioned.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

utilizing at least one of said plurality of secured compartments to enclose computer components of a respective one of said plurality of computers to limit access to said respective one of said plurality of computers, wherein said respective one of said plurality of computers comprises at least one of a keyboard or a computer monitor, and wherein when said at least one of said plurality of secured compartments are locked, then access is prevented to said at least one of said keyboard or said computer monitor.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

programming at least one computer to keep a record of usage of said plurality of access codes.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

programming at least one computer to keep a record of failed attempts to access said plurality of secured compartments.

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

providing that respective ones of said plurality of input devices comprise at least one of a keyboard, biometric sensor, RFID, camera, dongle, wireless communication device, proximity card, and magnetic strip.