Patent ID: 8547203

Claim:
A dynamic control containment unit for holding a plurality of discrete items, comprising: a housing including a plurality of receptacles positioned therein and defining an associated inner area; at least one radio frequency identification transponder associated with each item of the plurality of discrete items and configured to emit a radio frequency signal including a characteristic unique to a specific item or group of items of the plurality of discrete items; at least one antenna mechanism integrated with at least one surface bounding the inner area and dedicated to receiving signals emanating from an assigned inner area associated with at least one receptacle of the plurality of receptacles, the at least one antenna mechanism configured to receive the radio frequency signals emitted from the at least one transponder, including the characteristic unique to a specific item or group of items, wherein at least one of the plurality of items is positionable within the inner area in any position or orientation, and wherein the at least one item is accessible by accessing the at least one receptacle; a central control device operatively coupled to the at least one antenna mechanism and configured to receive signals therefrom; at least one receptacle shielding element associated with each of the plurality of receptacles to prevent signals associated with items positioned in one of the plurality of receptacles from being read by the at least one antenna mechanism when the at least one antenna mechanism is receiving signals emanating from another of the plurality of receptacles; a housing shielding element associated with the housing to prevent signals emanating from the plurality of receptacles from passing through the housing; and a securement system comprising: (a) an automated lock mechanism for preventing unauthorized access to the inner area associated with the plurality of receptacles; and (b) a radio frequency identification transponder input mechanism configured to communicate with the at least one antenna such that the transponder input mechanism receives and transmits user data from a user of the unit to the central control device, the user data comprising access level data or authorization level data associated with a specified user, wherein the central control device is configured to: (i) update an inventory database of the plurality of items in the enclosed housing based upon the characteristic unique to a specific item or group of items emitted from the at least one transponder; (ii) associate the user that has accessed the inner area and/or unit with each item that is added or removed from the inner area and/or unit; and (iii) provide selective access to the inner area and/or the unit via the securement system, based upon the user data received by the transponder input mechanism.