Patent ID: 7212098
Filing Date: 2007-05-01
Classification: G07C

Abstract:
1. A container manager, comprising: a housing comprised of a plurality of sidewalls bearing a removable lid, forming a container having a closed interior while said lid is in complete engagement with said housing, and providing an open interior able to removably receive items within said open interior while said lid is dislodged from said complete engagement; a port disposed to conduct data signals through said housing; a control stage comprised of a memory storing information specific to said container, said control stage being mounted entirely within and being completely encased by said container during said complete engagement, and being operationally coupled to provide communication with said interior via said port, and generating a control signal in dependence upon disposition of said port relative to a source of said data signals, in dependence upon disposition of said container within a scheme for generation of said data signals, and in response to occurrence of a coincidence between a data key received among said data signals via said port and a data sequence obtained by said control stage in dependence upon said information stored within said memory; and a moveable latch disposed to engage said lid and hinder removal of said lid from said complete engagement, and to respond to said control signal by releasing said lid from said complete engagement.