Claims
- 1. A system for providing remote control access to internal components of a device comprising:
a housing comprising a cover and a base; at least one device being located within the housing; at least one latching mechanism internal to the housing adapted to secure the cover to the base; a control center adapted to communicate with the device and the at least one latching mechanism, the control center being adapted to command the latching mechanism to unsecure the housing to allow access to the internal components of the device.
- 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the latching mechanisms are not accessible from outside the housing when the cover is secured to the base.
- 3. The system of claim 1 wherein the device is a postage meter.
- 4. The system of claim 1 further comprising an input device associated with the housing and the device, the input device adapted to receive a request for access to the internal components of the device and request authorization from the control center to unsecure the housing.
- 5. The system of claim 4 wherein the input device is a scanner, a bar code reader, a graphical user interface or a keypad.
- 6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a data transfer device in the housing associated with the device and the latching mechanism adapted to communicate information and data related to access to the internal components of the device to the control center.
- 7. The system of claim 1 wherein the control center authorizes access to the internal components of the device by issuing an access code to the device and latching mechanism.
- 8. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one device comprises two devices, each device having a respective cover that can be secured to the base by a separate latching mechanism, wherein one cover can be unlatched and removed to access the internal components, while the other cover remains secured.
- 9. The system of claim 8 wherein a separate access code is required from the center to unlatch each respective latching mechanism for each of the two devices.
- 10. The system of claim 1 wherein the device includes:
a printer that is adapted to print a code on a medium in response to an access command from the center; and a reader adapted to read the code and authenticate the code, wherein when the code is authenticated, the latching mechanism is commanded to release the cover from the base.
- 11. A method for accessing internal, components of a device within an enclosure comprising:
receiving an access request; verifying an identity of a user making the access request; transmitting an authorization code, the authorization code identifying the user as authorized to access the internal components of the device within the enclosure; and commanding at least one latching mechanism within he enclosure to release the enclosure to enable the user, to access the internal components of the device.
- 12. The method of claim 11 wherein the access request is transmitted to a control center, the control center including a record of authorized users, and the control center verifies the identity of the user and transmits the authorization code to an access control system associated with the device and enclosure.
- 13. The method of claim 12 wherein a latch/unlatch command is transmitted form the access control system to the latching mechanism within the enclosure.
- 14. The method of claim 11 wherein after the latching mechanism is unlatched, information regarding the access request and release of the enclosure is transmitted form the access control system to the data center.
- 15. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of receiving an access request further comprises inputting a unique code into the access control system including a barcode, a pin code or biometric data.
- 16. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of verifying the identity of the user making the access request further comprises determining that the device is an authorized unit.
- 17. The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of:
determining that the enclosure is returned to a position for enclosing the device; and commanding the latching mechanism to secure the enclosure, wherein a secure indication is generated if the enclosure is secured and an unsecure indication if the enclosure is not secured.
- 18. A system for remotely releasing an enclosure of a device comprising:
at least one latching mechanism internal to the enclosure, the latching mechanism adapted to secure the enclosure around the device to prevent unauthorized access to the device; an access control system coupled to the at least one latching mechanism adapted to allow a user to enter an access request and upon verification, allow the latching mechanism to unsecure the enclosure; and a data center coupled to the access control system and adapted to verify the access request and issue a command enabling the access control system to allow the latching mechanism to unsecure the enclosure.
- 19. The system of claim 1 wherein the access control system is integral to the enclosure and device and the data center is remotely located from the access control system.
- 20. The system of claim 18 wherein the access control system includes an identification input device that allow the user to input an access request including a user identification code.
- 21. The system of claim 20 wherein the identification input device is a keypad, a graphical user interface, a barcode reader or a code reader.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/429,446, filed Nov. 26, 2002.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60429446 |
Nov 2002 |
US |