Control systems for operation of loading dock equipment, and associated methods of manufacture and use

A loading dock control panel for controlling operation of loading dock equipment at a loading dock, the loading dock equipment including at least a first piece of loading dock equipment and a second piece of loading dock equipment, the loading dock control panel comprising:

• one or more interfaces configured to provide control signals for least the first and second pieces of loading dock equipment;
• and
• a display screen and one or more processors configured to provide a sequence of control elements for display on the display screen,
• wherein at least part of the sequence of control elements includes
• a first sub-sequence when there is a first condition, wherein the first sub-sequence displays a first control element operable to activate the first piece of loading dock equipment and then, after user interaction with the first control element and activation of the first piece of loading dock equipment, displays a second control element operable to activate the second piece of loading dock equipment, and
• a second sub-sequence different from and overriding at least part of the first sub-sequence when there is a second condition, wherein the second sub-sequence displays a third control element for receiving an authorization code, wherein the loading dock control panel, in response to receiving the authorization code:
• determines an authorization level corresponding to the authorization code,
• enables functionality of the loading dock control panel corresponding to the authorization level, and
• displays a fourth control element corresponding to the enabled functionality of the loading dock control panel, and
• wherein user interaction with one or more of the control elements cause corresponding ones of the one or more interfaces to provide one or more of the control signals.

A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to perform operations for controlling operation of loading dock equipment at a loading dock, the loading dock equipment including at least a first piece of loading dock equipment and a second piece of loading dock equipment, the operations comprising:

• providing a sequence of control elements for display on a display screen of a loading dock control panel, wherein at least part of the sequence of control elements includes
• a first sub-sequence when there is a first condition, wherein the first sub-sequence displays a first control element operable to activate the first piece of loading dock equipment and then, after user interaction with the first control element and activation of the first piece of loading dock equipment, displays a second control element operable to activate the second piece of loading dock equipment, and
• a second sub-sequence different from and overriding at least part of the first sub-sequence when there is a second condition, wherein the second sub-sequence displays a third control element for receiving an authorization code, wherein the loading dock control panel, in response to receiving the authorization code:
• determines an authorization level corresponding to the authorization code,
• enables functionality of the loading dock control panel corresponding to the authorization level, and
• displays a fourth control element corresponding to the enabled functionality of the loading dock control panel;
• and
• providing one or more of the control signals from the loading dock control panel to operate components of the loading dock equipment in response to user interaction with one or more of the control elements.