Dynamic Control Containment Unit

Abstract

The present invention is a dynamic control containment unit for holding a plurality of discrete items, including a signal emitting mechanism associated with each of the plurality of discrete items, an enclosed housing having at least one receptacle accessible by a user and having at least one of the plurality of items contained therein, a passive signal receiving mechanism in communication with the receptacle for receiving signals emanating from the signal emitting mechanism and a securement system configured to prevent unauthorized access to the dynamic control containment unit. A controller is in communication with the signal receiving mechanism and initiates actions based upon the signal content.

1 - 34 . (canceled) 
   
   
       35 . An RFID cabinet for monitoring items having an RFID tag, the cabinet comprising:
 a cabinet comprising a back, a first side, a second side, a top, a bottom and at least one locking front door;   an RFID detector for monitoring each item contained within the cabinet and for identifying data embedded on an RFID tag located on at least some of the items placed within the cabinet, the RFID detector located within the interior of the RFID cabinet; and   a computer coupled to the RFID cabinet, wherein the computer controls opening and closing of the locking front door, wherein the computer is configured to receive an input that identifies a user, and wherein the computer is configured to periodically record data read from all of the RFID tags in the cabinet by the RFID detector.   
   
   
       36 . The RFID cabinet of  claim 35 , wherein cabinet is manufactured of a material that confines an RFID field produced by the RFID detector within the interior of the RFID cabinet. 
   
   
       37 . RFID cabinet of  claim 35 , wherein the RFID detector scans each item contained within the cabinet in a time period, such that the RFID cabinet may determine if an item is removed from the interior of the RFID cabinet. 
   
   
       38 . The RFID cabinet of  claim 35 , wherein the input that identifies a user is chosen from a group comprising a user ID, an RFID badge, a bar code, voice recognition, a mag card, or biometrics. 
   
   
       39 . The RFID cabinet of  claim 35 , wherein the RFID detector is coupled to a network, either directly or through the computer, wherein a user can connect to the reader or a database in the computer and get an inventory of each items placed within the cabinet. 
   
   
       40 . The RFID cabinet of  claim 39 , wherein the cabinet is remote from the computer, and wherein software enables the RFID detecting device to scan items in the remote cabinet and to alert an administrator if any items are critically low or stocked out. 
   
   
       41 . The RFID cabinet of  claim 35 , wherein a means for accessing the RFID cabinet comprises an RFID badge, wherein the locking front door of the RFID cabinet opens in response to the RFID badge coming into a close proximity of the RFID cabinet. 
   
   
       42 . The RFID cabinet of  claim 35 , wherein the cabinet is made of a material that provides a shield sufficient to allow a strong enough field within the cabinet such that all items can be read using the RFID detector. 
   
   
       43 . A method for removing items having an RFID tag from an RFID cabinet, the method comprising:
 providing a cabinet having an RFID detector for monitoring each item contained within the cabinet and for identifying data embedded on an RFID tag located on each item contained within the cabinet, the RFID detector located within the interior of the RFID cabinet and a computer coupled to the RFID cabinet, wherein the computer controls opening and closing of the locking front door;   reading an input that identifies a user;   receiving the input that identifies a user at the computer;   unlocking the door to the RFID cabinet if the user is allowed access; and   periodically scanning all the items in the RFID cabinet to determine if any items have been removed by the user.   
   
   
       44 . A method for scanning items having an RFID tag in an RFID cabinet, the method comprising:
 providing a cabinet having an RFID detector for monitoring each item contained within the cabinet and for identifying data embedded on an RFID tag located on each item contained within the cabinet, the RFID detector located within the interior of the RFID cabinet and a computer coupled to the RFID cabinet, wherein the computer controls opening and closing of the locking front door, and wherein the computer is configured to receive an input that identifies a user allows access to the RFID cabinet;   reading the RFID tag associated with an item using an RFID field from the RFID detector; and   recording the resulting information in a database located within the memory of the computer.   
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the computer comprises a memory, the method further comprising sounding an alert if certain conditions programmed within the memory of the computer are satisfied. 
   
   
       46 . A storage system comprising:
 a cabinet for containing an item of inventory, the item of inventory comprising an RFID tag, each RFID tag comprising data used to identify the item on which it is located;   an RFID reader contained within the cabinet;   a computer coupled to the cabinet, the computer configured to periodically 1) cause the RFID reader to read the data from all of the RFID tags in the cabinet and report the data to the computer, and 2) record the data from all of the RFID tags.   
   
   
       47 . The storage system of  claim 46 , wherein the computer is further configured to detect that an item has been removed from the cabinet by comparing the data obtained during one reading with the data obtained during a previous reading. 
   
   
       48 . The storage system of  claim 46 , further comprising a lockable door, the locking and unlocking of the door under control of the computer, and wherein the computer is further configured to:
 receive an input identifying a user of the cabinet;   unlock the door only when the identified user is allowed access to the cabinet; and   attribute the removal of any item from the cabinet to the user.