Method, system and apparatus for equipment monitoring and access control

A system for controlling access to physical assets, comprising:

• an access control server configured to store (i) an asset record containing an asset identifier corresponding to a physical asset and (ii) an account record containing an account identifier corresponding to a user of the physical asset;
• and
• a collector device mounted on the physical asset and configured to store the asset identifier, wherein the physical asset bears a graphical indicator of the asset identifier that is accessible by a user of the physical asset;
• wherein the access control server is configured to (i) receive a combined request for authorization and access to the physical asset from a client computing device, wherein the combined request contains the asset identifier and the account identifier, (ii) determine, based on a comparison between the asset record and the account record, whether to authorize the combined request, and (iii) when the authorization determination is affirmative, transmit an instruction to permit access to the physical asset to the collector device;
• wherein the collector device is configured to (i) receive the instruction to permit access to the physical asset from the access control server and (ii) operate an intercept device integrated in the physical asset to thereby permit access to the physical asset.

An access control server for controlling access to physical assets, comprising:

• a memory configured to store (i) an asset record containing an asset identifier corresponding to a physical asset;
• and (ii) an account record containing an account identifier corresponding to a user of the physical asset;
• and
• a processor connected to the memory, wherein the processor is configured to (i) receive a combined request for authorization and access to the physical asset, wherein the combined request contains the asset identifier and the account identifier, (ii) determine, based on a comparison between the asset record and the account record, whether to authorize the combined request, and (iii) when the authorization determination is affirmative, transmit an instruction to permit access to the physical asset to a collector device, wherein the collector device is configured to operate an intercept device integrated in the physical asset responsive to receiving the instruction.