Method, apparatus and system for controlling access to a cabinet

A system for controlling access to a cabinet, comprising

• a computer, PDA, phone, handheld computer or RFID device;
• and
• the cabinet comprising:
• one or more lockable compartments,
• at least one locking/unlocking apparatus for the one or more lockable compartments, and
• a computer or wireless interface communicably coupled to the locking/unlocking apparatus that receives a message from the computer, PDA, phone, handheld computer or RFID device and controls the locking/unlocking apparatus based on the message.

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

• at least one locking/unlocking apparatus suitable for mounting within the cabinet to convert the one or more compartments to one or more lockable compartments;
• a computer or wireless interface suitable for mounting on or within the cabinet to control the at least one locking/unlocking apparatus based on a received message;
• and
• a computer program for a computer, PDA, phone, handheld computer or RFID device that receives user access data, stores received user access data, other access activity information and user access data for one or more authorized users, compares the received user access data with the user access data for the one or more authorized users and sends the message to the cabinet based on the comparison.

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;
• installing a computer or wireless interface on or within the cabinet;
• connecting the computer or wireless interface to the at least one locking/unlocking apparatus such that the computer or wireless interface controls the operation of the at least one locking/unlocking apparatus in response to a message;
• and
• installing a computer program on a computer, PDA, phone, handheld computer or RFID device that receives user access data, stores received user access data, other access activity information and user access data for one or more authorized users, compares the received user access data with the user access data for the one or more authorized users and sends the message to the cabinet based on the comparison.