System for controlling access to subsystems

A system for controlling access to a plurality of subsystems at a first site for discriminately rendering the subsystems available for operation only by authorized prospective operators, the system comprising means connected to said subsystems for rendering the subsystems individually operable through predetermined periods of operation;

• an identifier for designating a prospective operator;
• a reader for reading the identifier to identify said prospective operator designated thereby;
• a control means interconnecting said rendering means, identifier and reader for identifying said prospective operator, upon the reader reading the identifier and rendering a subsystem operable through said predetermined period of operation;
• and a computer at a second site remote from said first site for supplying authorizing information to the rendering means indicating those prospective operators who are authorized to use said subsystems and permitting the rendering means to render a subsystem operable through said predetermined period of operation.

A control system for limiting the operation of appliances at a first site to authorized users, the control system comprising:

• A. a plurality of cards individually bearing identifying information for a prospective user of said appliances;
• B. a card reader at the first site for reading said identifying information borne by a card exposed thereto;
• C. a plurality of mechanisms individually connected to said appliances and individually deployable in a first mode, in which said appliance thereof is not operative, and a second mode, in which said appliance thereof is operative;
• D. a control board for receiving and storing authorizing information indicating those prospective users authorized to use the appliances and, where the card reader reads identifying information borne by a card exposed thereto which identifies a prospective user authorized to use said appliances as indicated by said authorizing information, for placing one of the mechanisms of one of said appliances in said second mode;
• E. a computer, located at a second site remote from said first site, for receiving said authorizing information identifying prospective users who are authorized to use the appliances and transmitting said authorizing information to said control board;
• and
• F. a communication system for interconnecting the computer, control board, card reader and mechanisms for transmission of said authorizing information from the computer to the control board and for placing one of said mechanisms of an appliance in said second mode upon the card reader reading a card bearing identifying information which corresponds to said authorizing information received from the computer thereby indicating that the prospective user is authorized to use said appliances at the first site.