ROOM ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A system for controlling user access to a room, the system comprising a database for associating users with predetermined periods of time and a local user device mounted proximate to the room and electronically coupled to a lock mechanism of a door to the room, the system being configured to:
- determine using the database, in response to first user input provided to the local device, that the room is scheduled for use by that user;
unlock the door to the room based on the determination; and
lock the door after the scheduled period has elapsed;
the system being further configured to;
display, via the local device, available periods of time during which the room is available for use;
receive, at the local device, a selection from a local user to select an available period of time to use the room; and
associate, in the database, the local user with the predetermined period of time based on the selection.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for controlling user access to a room, the system includes a database for associating users with predetermined periods of time and a local user device mounted proximate to the room and electronically coupled to a lock mechanism of a door to the room. The system is configured to determine using the database, in response to first user input provided to the local device, that the room is scheduled for use by that user, to unlock the door to the room based on the determination and to lock the door after the scheduled period has elapsed. The system is further configured to display, via the local device, available periods of time during which the room is available for use, receive, at the local device, a selection from a local user to select an available period of time to use the room, and associate, in the database, the local user with the predetermined period of time based on the selection.
65 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A system for controlling user access to a room, the system comprising a database for associating users with predetermined periods of time and a local user device mounted proximate to the room and electronically coupled to a lock mechanism of a door to the room, the system being configured to:
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determine using the database, in response to first user input provided to the local device, that the room is scheduled for use by that user; unlock the door to the room based on the determination; and lock the door after the scheduled period has elapsed; the system being further configured to; display, via the local device, available periods of time during which the room is available for use; receive, at the local device, a selection from a local user to select an available period of time to use the room; and associate, in the database, the local user with the predetermined period of time based on the selection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
the system further comprising a third local user device mounted proximate to, and inside of, the second room, the system being configured to; determine, in response to fifth user input provided to the third local device, that the user desires to leave the second room; and update the database to indicate that the user has left the second room.
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15. A system according to claim 1 wherein the local user device is an integral device comprising a touch-screen display, a network connection and a door lock mechanism interface.
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16. A system according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of additional local user devices mounted proximate to, and associated with, respective ones of a plurality of additional rooms, each additional local user device being electronically coupled to a lock mechanism of a door to the associated room, the system being configured to:
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determine using the database, in response to first user input provided to a given local device, that the associated room is scheduled for use by that user; unlock the door to the associated room based on the determination; and lock the door after the scheduled period has elapsed; the system being further configured to; display, via the given local device, available periods of time during which the associated room is available for use; receive, at the given local device, a selection from a local user to select an available period of time to use the associated room; and associate, in the database, the local user with the predetermined period of time based on the selection.
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17. A system according to claim 16 wherein:
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the system further comprises a remote server that maintains a first database, being a remote database, the local user devices being configured to communicate with the remote server to update the first database in response to a selection from a local user to select an available period of time to use the associated room; the system further comprises a local master device configured to communicate with the local user devices and to maintain a second database, being a local database, that associates users with predetermined periods of time for each room, the local master device being configured to communicate with the remote server to update the second database from the first database; each local user device being further configured to; receive a selection from a local user to select an available period of time to use the associated room; and communicate with the remote server to associate, in the first database, the local user with the predetermined period of time based on the selection,
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18. A system according to claim 17 wherein:
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each of the local user devices are configured to send identification data to the local master device and to the remote server; and the local master device is configured to; maintain a list of data identifying each of the local user devices; and determine whether the identification data of a given local device with which it is communicating corresponds to an entry in the list of data; wherein if the identification of the given local device with which it is communicating does not correspond to an entry in the list of data the local master device is further configured to query the first database to determine that the associated room is scheduled for use by that user; and wherein if the first database indicates that the associated room is scheduled for use by that user, the local master device is further configured to update the list of data identifying each of the local user devices to include an entry for the given local user device.
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19. A system according to claim 18 wherein the local master device is configured to update the second database from the first database by requesting data for local user devices identified in the list of data maintained by the local master device.
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20. A method for controlling user access to a room, the method comprising:
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receiving user input at a local device mounted proximate to the room; determining, using a database associating users with predetermined periods of time, in response to the user input, that the room is scheduled for use by that user; unlocking the door to the room based on the determination; and locking the door after the scheduled period has elapsed; the method further comprising; displaying, via the local device, available periods of time during which the room is available for use; receiving, at the local device, a selection from a local user to select an available period of time to use the room; and sending data to associate, in the database, the local user with the predetermined period of time based on the selection. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A local user device that is mountable proximate to a room and electronically coupleable to a lock mechanism of a door to the room, the device being configured to:
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receive user input identifying the user; query a database to determine that the room is scheduled for use by that user; unlock the door to the room based on the determination; and lock the door after the scheduled period has elapsed; the device being further configured to; display available periods of time during which the room is available for use; receive a selection from a local user to select an available period of time to use the room; and associate, in the database, the local user with the predetermined period of time based on the selection.
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23. A remote server coupled to a database for associating users with predetermined periods of time, the remote server being configured to:
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communicate with a plurality of local user devices over a network, the local user devices being mounted proximate to respective rooms and electronically coupled to a lock mechanism of a door to their respective rooms; receive, from a given local user device, a selection from a local user to select an available period of time to use the room; and associate, in the database, the local user with the predetermined period of time based on the selection.
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24. A system for controlling user access to one or more rooms, the system comprising:
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one or more local user devices mounted proximate to, and associated with, respective ones of a plurality of rooms making up a local set of rooms, each local user device being electronically coupled to a lock mechanism of a door to the associated room; a remote server coupled to a first database that associates users with predetermined periods of time for each room in a global set of rooms, the local set of rooms being a subset of the global set of rooms; a local master device coupled to a second database that associates users with predetermined periods of time for each room in the local set of rooms, the local master device being configured to communicate with the remote server to update the second database from the first database; each local user device being configured to; in response to user input, communicate with the local master device to determine, using the second database, that the associated room is scheduled for use by a user; and unlock the door to the associated room based on the determination; each local user device being further configured to; receive a selection from a local user to select an available period of time to use the associated room; and communicate with the remote server to associate, in the first database, the local user with the predetermined period of time based on the selection. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification