Patent ID: 7258276
Filing Date: 2007-08-21
Classification: F25D,G06Q,G07F,G07G

Abstract:
1. A method of distributing a plurality of products from a cabinet having a door, the method comprising: fitting each product with a radio frequency identification tag; positioning the plurality of products in the cabinet; sensing opening and closing of the cabinet door; scanning the plurality of products in the cabinet upon sensing closing of the cabinet door to determine the number and type of products in the cabinet; generating a message based on the number and type of products in the cabinet; transmitting the message to a server; maintaining an inventory in the server based on the message; reading a code on a user badge; acknowledging having read the user badge; determining the authenticity of the code read from the user badge; opening the cabinet if the code read from the user badge is authentic; and performing a self-updating boot up procedure for a controller associated with the cabinet, said procedure comprising: (a) sending a message querying a most recent software version number; (b) comparing a software version number currently used to the most recent software version number; (c) downloading software having the most recent software version number if the currently used software version number and the most recent software version number differ when compared; (d) writing the downloaded software to memory associated with the controller; and (e) booting the downloaded software by the controller.