Method, apparatus and system for controlling access to a cabinet

A system for controlling access to multiple cabinets, comprising

• a network;
• a computer communicably coupled to the network;
• and
• two or more cabinets, each cabinet comprising:
• one or more lockable compartments,
• at least one locking/unlocking apparatus for the one or more lockable compartments, and
• a user access device communicably coupled to the network and the locking/unlocking apparatus, the user access device comprising a user interface that receives user access data, a data storage device that stores received user access data, other access activity information and user access data for one or more authorized users, and a processor that compares the received user access data with the user access data for the one or more authorized users and controls the locking/unlocking apparatus based on the comparison.

An apparatus for controlling access to a cabinet having one or more lockable compartments and at least one locking/unlocking apparatus, comprising:

• one or more user interfaces that receive user access data;
• a data storage device that stores received user access data, other access activity information and user access data for one or more authorized users;
• and
• a processor that compares the received user access data with the user access data for the one or more authorized users and controls the locking/unlocking apparatus based on the comparison.

A method for controlling access to a cabinet having one or more lockable compartments, at least one locking/unlocking apparatus, one or more user interfaces, a data storage device and a processor, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving user access data from one of the user interfaces;
• comparing the received user access data with user access data for one or more authorized users stored in the data storage device;
• unlocking at least one of the lockable compartments whenever the received user access data matches the user access data for one of the authorized users;
• and
• storing the received user access data and other access activity information in the data storage device.

A method for retrofitting a cabinet having one or more compartments to a controlled access cabinet having one or more lockable compartments, comprising:

• installing at least one locking/unlocking apparatus within the cabinet to convert the one or more compartments to one or more lockable compartments;
• and
• installing a user access device on or within the cabinet;
• connecting the user access device to the at least one locking/unlocking apparatus such that the user access device controls the operation of the at least one locking/unlocking apparatus;
• and
• the user access device comprising a user interface that receives user access data, a data storage device that stores received user access data, other access activity information and user access data for one or more authorized users, and a processor that compares the received user access data with the user access data for the one or more authorized users and controls the locking/unlocking apparatus based on the comparison.