Secure web accessed box

• US 8,704,635 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2009
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Key Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Key Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Eckerdt, George H., Mastrodonato, George
• Primary Examiner(s): SYED, NABIL H
• Application Number:
  US12/464,370
• Publication Number:
  US 20090237207A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,806 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.73, 340/5.2, 340 521- 527, 340/5.7, 340/5.8, 340 581- 586, 340/5.28, 340/5.42, 340/5.31, 70/85, 702/41
• US Class Current: 340/5.73
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/33 by means of a password
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks

Abstract

A web accessed security box includes a web server that can communicate with a web browser to control access and account for asset events that occur when the box is used. A personal identifier must be satisfied to open a drawer of the box. A latching system uses both an access solenoid for normal opening and closing in response to the personal identifier, and an emergency release solenoid having a separate power supply to open the box when the access solenoid is disabled. Several features make the box secure against weather and tampering.

Claims

1. A security box for controlling access to a security asset and for producing asset event information, the security box comprising:

an openable closure;

an access solenoid arranged to control the openable closure;

a personal identifier arranged to actuate the access solenoid to allow opening of the openable closure to gain access to the security asset;

a web server arranged to produce, transmit, and receive the asset event information;

an emergency solenoid configured to receive an emergency voltage to release the openable closure to gain access to the security box, and

a latch element engaged by both the access solenoid and the emergency solenoid so that the access solenoid releases from the latch and moves with the openable closure when the access solenoid is actuated, and the latch moves with the access solenoid and the openable closure when the emergency solenoid is actuated.

2. The security box of claim 1 wherein the web server is adapted to be accessed by a web browser so that a user of the web browser can remotely perform at least one of the following actions:

request and receive information about the security box from the web server; and

request and receive asset event information from the web server.

3. The security box of claim 1 wherein the openable closure is spring biased toward movement in an opening direction so that pushing the openable closure against the spring bias when the access solenoid is actuated allows a pin of the access solenoid to retract and thereby allows the spring bias to move the openable closure toward an open position.

4. The security box of claim 1 wherein the access solenoid, the personal identifier, and the web server are configured to receive power from a power over ethernet connection.

5. The security box of claim 1, further comprising a housing having a housing rim, and wherein:

the openable closure is a drawer that closes flush within the housing;

the housing rim and a periphery of the drawer are tapered and coated with a non-stick material.

6. The security box of claim 1 wherein the web server communicates with a network via a cellular modem.

7. The security box of claim 1 wherein the openable closure comprises a drawer, and wherein the security box further comprises:

a housing for the drawer, the housing including a receptacle configured to receive power over ethernet;

a wiring tray detented in a position within the housing and pluggable into the receptacle, and wherein the wiring tray includes a flexible cable providing communication with the web server and the access solenoid.

8. The security box of claim 1 wherein the access solenoid can be actuated from a remote location.

24. The security box of claim 1, wherein the security asset comprises at least one object selected from the group consisting of a key, a smart card, and a tool.

9. A security box for containing and controlling access to a security asset, the security box comprising:

an openable closure;

a latch;

an access solenoid engaging the latch to hold the openable closure closed;

a personal identifier arranged to actuate the access solenoid to release the access solenoid from the latch and thereby allow the openable closure to open; and

an emergency solenoid configured to receive an emergency voltage to release the latch engaged by the access solenoid so that the openable closure can be opened by moving the latch with the access solenoid and the openable closure when the access solenoid is unactuated but the emergency solenoid is actuated.

10. The security box of claim 9, further comprising a web server adapted to be accessed by a web browser so that a user of the web browser can remotely perform at least one of the following actions:

request and receive information about the security box from the web server; and

request and receive asset information from the web server.

11. The security box of claim 10, wherein the at least one action able to be remotely performed further comprises an action selected from the group consisting of:

updating information used by the personal identifier to selectively actuate the access solenoid;

implementing remote instructions on the security box.

12. The security box of claim 9 wherein the emergency solenoid is further configured to receive the emergency voltage from a battery remote from the security box.

13. The security box of claim 9 wherein the openable closure comprises a drawer.

14. The security box of claim 13, further comprising a housing, and wherein a face of the drawer closes flush with the housing.

15. The security box of claim 14 wherein a gap around the drawer face is tapered and coated with a non-stick material.

16. A security box for controlling access to a security asset, the security box comprising:

a) an openable closure;

b) an access solenoid arranged to control the openable closure;

c) a personal identifier arranged to actuate the access solenoid to allow opening of the openable closure to gain access to the security asset;

d) a web server adapted to be accessed by a web browser so that a user of the web browser can remotely perform at least one of the following actions;

1) request and receive information about the security box from the web server; and

2) request and receive asset event information from the web server;

e) an emergency solenoid; and

f) a latch element engaged by both the access solenoid and the emergency solenoid so that the access solenoid releases from the latch and moves with the openable closure when the access solenoid is actuated, and the latch moves with the access solenoid and the openable closure when the emergency solenoid is actuated.

17. The security box of claim 16 wherein the openable closure is spring biased toward movement in an opening direction so that pushing the openable closure against the spring bias when the access solenoid is actuated allows a pin of the access solenoid to retract and thereby allows the spring bias to move the openable closure toward an open position.

18. The security box of claim 16 wherein the access solenoid, the personal identifier, and the web server are configured to receive power from a power over ethernet connection.

19. The security box of claim 16, further comprising a housing having a housing rim, and wherein:

the openable closure is a drawer that closes flush within the housing;

the housing rim and a periphery of the drawer are tapered and coated with a non-stick material.

20. The security box of claim 16 wherein the web server communicates with a network via a cellular modem.

21. The security box of claim 16 wherein the openable closure comprises a drawer, and wherein the security box further comprises:

a housing for the drawer, the housing including a receptacle configured to receive power over ethernet;

a wiring tray detented in a position within the housing and pluggable into the receptacle, and wherein the wiring tray includes a flexible cable providing communication with the web server and the access solenoid.

22. The security box of claim 16 wherein the access solenoid can be actuated from a remote location.

23. The security box of claim 16, wherein the security asset comprises at least one object selected from the group consisting of a key, a smart card, and a tool.