Access control system

• US 8,854,180 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2010
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pro Tech Systems of Maryland, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pro Tech Systems of Maryland, Inc.
• Inventors: Bacarella, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAMSON, SARA B
• Application Number:
  US12/684,944
• Publication Number:
  US 20100176917A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,731 Days
• Field of Search: 340/1.1, 340/5.1, 340/5.2, 340/5.6
• US Class Current: 340/5.6
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0002 with electromagnets
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/026 the bolt moving rectilinearly
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 51/02 by pneumatic or hydraulic means E05B17/0029 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 63/14 Arrangement of several locks or locks with several bolts, e.g. arranged one behind the other locks having bolts with multiple head E05B15/108; with provision for latching E05B59/00, E05B61/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/0075 for safes, strongrooms, vaults, fire-resisting cabinets or the like safes, closures and fastenings therefor E05G
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 1/005 Portable strong boxes, e.g. which may be fixed to a wall or the like E05G1/08, E05G1/14 take precedence; devices to prevent theft or loss of bags, trunks, baskets, or the like A45C13/18; coin boxes for coin freed apparatus G07F9/06
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 1/026 Closures protective doors, windows, or like closures against air raid or other war-like action E06B5/10; shutters, movable grilles, other safety closures E06B9/02
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 1/04 Closure fasteners locks E05B
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 2700/00 Safes or accessories thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00912 for safes, strong-rooms, vaults or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/30 not involving the use of a pass
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/32 in combination with an identity check
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/38 with central registration

Abstract

An access controlled storage device may include multiple doors, each having a different lock, to insure safety and security of the contents of the storage device. In one example, the access controlled storage may include a first outer door having a physical lock and a second interior door having an electronic lock. The physical lock and the electronic lock may require different keys. Additionally or alternatively, unlocking the interior door may require unlocking of the first door in an authorized manner. Access and inventory data may be transmitted to or received from remote devices through wireless communication networks.

Claims

1. A pharmaceutical storage and transport system comprising:

a housing configured to physically connect to a vehicle and having a climate-controlled internal pharmaceutical storage compartment;

a plurality of doors connected to the housing, wherein a first door includes a first physical lock and a second door includes an electronic lock, wherein unlocking the first and second doors are required to access the climate-controlled internal pharmaceutical storage compartment; and

a data access device configured to receive unlocking information from the electronic lock and to store the unlocking information, wherein the data access device is configured to be electrically connected to the vehicle in a fail secure manner conditioned upon receiving power from the vehicle,

wherein when it is determined that the vehicle is in a powered-off state, the data access device is configured to prevent access to the climate-controlled internal pharmaceutical storage compartment by placing the climate-controlled internal pharmaceutical storage compartment into a locked state, and

wherein when it is determined that the vehicle is in a powered on state and a request to access the climate-controlled internal pharmaceutical storage compartment is authorized, the data access device is configured to unlock the electronic lock to provide access to the climate-controlled internal pharmaceutical storage compartment.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic lock is associated with an electronic scanner device configured to read identification information from an electronic key.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein unlocking the second door requires unlocking the first door.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a wireless communication device configured to perform at least one of:

transmitting information relating to accessing the climate-controlled internal pharmaceutical storage compartment to a remote device; and

receiving information relating to accessing the climate-controlled internal pharmaceutical storage compartment from the remote device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the data access device is further configured to receive information specifying a change in inventory in the climate-controlled internal pharmaceutical storage compartment.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the data access device is in a separate location from the housing.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the powered-off state of the vehicle includes an engine of the vehicle not running.

8. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause at least one computing device to:

detect opening of a first door of an access controlled storage device configured to store a pharmaceutical, the first door having a first lock, the access controlled storage device being configured to connect to a vehicle;

determine whether the opening of the first door was authorized;

in response to determining that the opening of the first door was authorized, wait for a request to open a second door;

receive the request to open the second door, the request including a request to unlock a second lock of the second door, wherein the second lock includes an electronic lock;

determine whether the request to open the second door is authorized;

in response to determining that the request to open the second door is authorized, determine whether the vehicle is in a powered on state and, responsive to determining that the vehicle is in a powered on state, unlock the second door and provide access to a climate-controlled interior pharmaceutical storage compartment of the access controlled storage device;

record the access to the climate-controlled interior pharmaceutical storage compartment; and

responsive to determining that the vehicle is not in the powered on state, prevent access to the climate-controlled interior pharmaceutical storage compartment of the access controlled storage device.

9. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8, wherein determining whether the opening of the first door was authorized includes determining whether a first key was used to unlock the first lock.

10. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8, wherein recording the access to the climate-controlled interior pharmaceutical storage compartment includes transmitting access information to a data storage device.

11. The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of claim 10, wherein transmitting access information to the data storage device includes transmitting the access information over a wireless connection.

12. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10, wherein the data storage device is located remotely from the access controlled storage device.

13. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8, wherein determining whether the request to open the second door is authorized includes transmitting the request to a remote server and receiving a response indicating whether the request is authorized.

14. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8, further comprising recording a change in inventory of the access controlled storage device.

15. A method comprising:

detecting, by an access control device configured to be electrically connected to a vehicle, a first opening of a first door of an access controlled storage device configured to store a pharmaceutical, the first door having a first lock, the access controlled storage device being configured to connect to the vehicle;

determining, by the access control device, whether the first opening of the first door was authorized;

in response to determining that the first opening of the first door was authorized, waiting for a first request to open a second door;

receiving a first request to unlock a second lock of the second door to open the second door, wherein the second lock includes an electronic lock;

determining whether the first request is authorized;

in response to determining that the first request is authorized, determining whether the vehicle is in a powered on state and, responsive to determining that the vehicle is in a powered on state, unlocking the second door and providing access to a climate-controlled interior pharmaceutical storage compartment of the access controlled storage device;

recording the access to the climate-controlled interior pharmaceutical storage compartment;

detecting, by the access control device, a second opening of the first door of the access controlled storage device;

determining, by the access control device, whether the second opening of the first door was authorized;

in response to determining that the second opening of the first door was authorized, waiting for a second request to unlock the second lock to open the second door;

receiving the second request to unlock the second lock to open the second door;

determining whether the second request is authorized;

in response to determining that the second request is authorized, determining whether the vehicle is in the powered on state and, responsive to determining that the vehicle is not in the powered on state, preventing access to the climate-controlled interior pharmaceutical storage compartment of the access controlled storage device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein determining whether the first opening of the first door and the second opening of the first door were authorized includes determining whether a first key was used to unlock the first lock.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein recording the access to the climate-controlled interior pharmaceutical storage compartment includes wirelessly transmitting access information to a data storage device using a wireless communication device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the data storage device is located remotely from the access controlled storage device.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein determining whether the first request to open the second door and the second request to open the second are authorized includes transmitting the requests to a remote server and receiving a response indicating whether the requests are authorized.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising recording a change in inventory of the access controlled storage device.