Hardware equipment hire cabinet
First Claim
1. A hardware equipment hire cabinet, comprising:
- a hardware equipment storage area comprising a plurality of equipment bays for the removal and return of pieces of equipment;
a hire tracking system comprising a first equipment sensor configured to detect removal of a piece of equipment from an equipment bay and to electronically store hire data concerning such removal; and
a quarantine system comprising a dedicated quarantine area distinct from the hardware equipment storage area, and a second equipment sensor configured to detect the presence of a quarantined piece of equipment in the quarantine area, to electronically store quarantine data distinct from the hire data, to produce a specific quarantine alert automatically upon detection of the piece of equipment in the quarantine area, and to produce an automatic alert if a quarantined piece of equipment is removed from the dedicated quarantine area.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Hardware equipment hire cabinet. An automated hardware equipment hire cabinet is provided in which the hiring of pieces of hardware equipment is monitored by the use of individual tags being read by tag readers such that their removal and replacement can be monitored and hire times and service intervals monitored. In at least one exemplary embodiment of a hardware equipment hire cabinet of the present disclosure, the cabinet comprises a hardware equipment storage area comprising a plurality of equipment bays, a hire tracking system comprising a first equipment sensor configured to detect removal of a piece of equipment from an equipment bay and to electronically store hire data concerning such removal, and a quarantine system comprising a dedicated quarantine area and a second equipment sensor configured to detect the presence of a quarantined piece of equipment in the quarantine area and to electronically store quarantine data.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A hardware equipment hire cabinet, comprising:
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a hardware equipment storage area comprising a plurality of equipment bays for the removal and return of pieces of equipment; a hire tracking system comprising a first equipment sensor configured to detect removal of a piece of equipment from an equipment bay and to electronically store hire data concerning such removal; and a quarantine system comprising a dedicated quarantine area distinct from the hardware equipment storage area, and a second equipment sensor configured to detect the presence of a quarantined piece of equipment in the quarantine area, to electronically store quarantine data distinct from the hire data, to produce a specific quarantine alert automatically upon detection of the piece of equipment in the quarantine area, and to produce an automatic alert if a quarantined piece of equipment is removed from the dedicated quarantine area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A hardware equipment hire cabinet, comprising:
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a hardware equipment storage area comprising a plurality of equipment bays for the removal and return of pieces of equipment; a hire tracking system comprising a first equipment sensor configured to detect removal of a piece of equipment from an equipment bay and to electronically store hire data concerning such removal; and a quarantine system comprising; a dedicated quarantine area distinct from the hardware equipment storage area, and a second equipment sensor configured to detect the presence of a quarantined piece of equipment in the quarantine area and to electronically store quarantine data distinct from the hire data, the second equipment sensor further configured to recognize multiple pieces of equipment, the quarantine system is configured to produce an automatic alert upon detection of a quarantined piece of equipment, and to produce an automatic alert if a quarantined piece of equipment is removed from the dedicated quarantine area. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A hardware equipment hire cabinet, comprising:
- a hardware equipment storage area comprising a plurality of equipment bays for the removal and return of pieces of equipment;
a hire tracking system comprising a first equipment sensor configured to detect removal of a piece of equipment from an equipment bay and to electronically store hire data concerning such removal; anda quarantine system comprising; a dedicated quarantine area distinct from the hardware equipment storage area, and a second equipment sensor configured to detect the presence of a quarantined piece of equipment in the quarantine area and to electronically store quarantine data distinct from the hire data, the second equipment sensor further configured to recognize multiple pieces of equipment, the quarantine system configured to produce an automatic alert upon detection of a quarantined piece of equipment, to produce an automatic alert if a quarantined piece of equipment is removed from the dedicated area, and to cut power to the equipment bay if an associated piece of equipment is quarantined to prevent further electrical charging. - View Dependent Claims (17)
- a hardware equipment storage area comprising a plurality of equipment bays for the removal and return of pieces of equipment;
Specification