Patent ID: 8464359

Claim:
A system, comprising: an authorization device configured to transmit a first signal to a status server in response to a first occurrence of a user device being within a configurable access distance of the authorization device, and transmit a second signal to the status server in response to a second and subsequent occurrence of the user device being within the configurable access distance of the authorization device, wherein each of the first signal and the second signal includes an identifier associated with the user device; and wherein the status server is configured to access a status file, in response to receipt of the first signal, to determine, based on the identifier, whether one or more usage of one or more controlled devices are permitted, and allow use of the one or more controlled devices in response to a determination that the one or more usage of the one or more controlled devices are permitted, and wherein the status server is further configured to deny use of the one or more controlled devices in response to receipt, subsequent to the receipt of the first signal, of the second signal that includes same identifier that is included in the first signal, wherein the user device is assigned a level of access to the one or more controlled devices, wherein the level of access includes permission by the authorization device to access a first of the controlled devices and denial of permission by the authorization device to access a second of the controlled devices, wherein in response to detection of permitted presence of the user device in a location of the one or more controlled devices and if a user of the user device is to be contacted, the second controlled device is enabled to permit the user of the user device to be contacted via the second controlled device while usage of controlled devices other than the first and second controlled devices remain denied, and wherein the status server is further configured to determine whether the first controlled device is currently in use by the user.