Controlling access to a control panel compartment

• US 8,970,702 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2011
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Multitrode Pty Ltd. (Xylem, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Multitrode Pty Ltd. (Xylem, Inc.)
• Inventors: Parkinson, Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): Perungavoor, Sath V
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, JEFFERY A
• Application Number:
  US13/242,765
• Publication Number:
  US 20120075474A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,257 Days
• Field of Search: 348/156
• US Class Current: 348/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00563 using personal physical data of the operator, e.g. finger prints, retinal images, voicepatterns
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/253 visually

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for controlling access to a compartment of a control panel. The method includes the step of posing, with a controller, an indemnification query to a user. The controller receives a response to the indemnification query. The method further includes the step of enabling, with the controller, access to the compartment subsequent to receiving said response.

Claims

1. A method for controlling access to a compartment of a control panel, the method including steps of:

posing, with a controller, an indemnification query to a user;

receiving, with the controller, a response to the indemnification query; and

enabling, with the controller, access to the compartment subsequent to receiving said response.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further including a step of capturing an identity of the user.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the capturing involves capturing at least one photographic image of the user.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the photographic image is transmitted to a remote site for visual verification by a supervisor.

5. The method as claimed in claim 3, further involving determining from the captured photographic image that the user is not wearing appropriate safety gear.

6. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the identity relates to distinctive clothing worn by the user or a face of the user.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, further including a step of receiving a task selection from the user.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the step of posing is performed responsive to determining that the task selection is dangerous.

9. The method as claimed in claim 7, further including a step of receiving a compartment selection relating to an identity of the compartment.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, further including a step of displaying mandatory requirements for undertaking the task selection for the compartment selection.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the indemnification query relates to safety equipment worn by the user.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein, prior to the step of enabling, the method includes the steps of:

posing a supervisor indemnification query to a supervisor; and

receiving a response to the supervisor indemnification query.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1, further including a step of posing another indemnification query to either the user or another user.

14. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of enabling involves electronically unlocking a door of the compartment responsive to receiving input from the user.

15. The method as claimed in claim 1, further including a step of disabling power supply to the compartment in response to enabling access to the compartment.

16. The method as claimed in claim 1, further including a step of storing an access record including access information relating to the enabled access.

17. A control panel having internal compartments, the control panel configured to:

pose an indemnification query to a user;

receive a response to the indemnification query; and

enable access to at least one of the compartments subsequent to receiving said response.

18. A controller for controlling access to a compartment, the controller configured to:

pose an indemnification query to a user;

receive a response to the indemnification query; and

enable access to the compartment subsequent to receiving said response.

19. The controller as claimed in claim 18, wherein the compartment is a sewage well compartment.

20. An access control method including steps of:

posing, with a controller, at least one indemnification query to at least one user;

receiving, with the controller, a response to the indemnification query; and

enabling, with the controller, access to at least one compartment subsequent to receiving said response.