The Logsentry from Cothi Technologies is designed to control and monitor the access and use of high value laboratory equipment. It is a PC based system with a data transfer bus connecting up to 254 remote stations each connected to one piece of equipment. Details of all the users and equipment are stored in a database together with a record of every time a piece of equipment is used. Custom software specific to each application is then used to produce any required report of user and equipment usage.

• Protect equipment from unauthorised use to comply with Health & Safety legislation.
• Record equipment use by User, Department, Group, and Time etc.
• Produce reports showing usage of all items of equipment.
• Easily create invoices for users backed by evidence of equipment use.
• Record and report all downtime due to service and repair requirements.
• Readily observe who is using which equipment via an Internet or network connection.
• Ensure trainees have had necessary experience of using equipment.

A remote unit is connected to each piece of equipment to be monitored and each user is given a code in order to gain access.A particular person may have several codes depending upon which project or group he is working on at the time. For example, an engineer would have different codes for routine servicing access and for breakdown access.

The master station is a PC, which can run the Logsentry software as a background task. It holds the database tables for controlling access to the equipment and is connected to remote units via a simple serial link.
Slave stations can also be connected to it via a network connection.
Usage reports can be created on the master station itself or on another PC via a network connection.

The main display of the program shows all the current equipment users as they log on and off. A similar display is posted as a live HTML file and can be read over a network or via the Internet. The PC can therefore be situated at a distance from the administrator and does not even need a permanent display.

A master station can be connected to up to eight slave stations (each controlling several remote stations) via a network connection. The data generated by both systems is then updated automatically overnight so that the database on the Master Station always has the latest information concerning events and users.

A remote unit is fitted to each piece of equipment that is to be monitored. Each remote unit has a numeric keypad, a relay and three indicator LEDs. The relay, which can be configured to be normally open or normally closed, is used to inhibit operation of the instrument. Normally the red LED is lit showing that the relay is not activated and use of the equipment is inhibited. When a potential user enters a code the yellow LED is lit briefly. If the correct code has been entered then the green LED lights and the relay is actuated then the red and yellow LEDs then go out. If an unacceptable code is entered then the red LED flashes to show acknowledgment, the relay does not operate and the yellow LED goes out.

The database usually consists of three tables:

• A table of all the users of all the potential users of the system together with details of each piece of equipment that they are authorised to use and also the specified times of day that they can use it. This table is custom designed to include data concerning the users department, project etc.
• A table of all the equipment with its associated remote address, location, serial number etc.
• A table that is a record of all the events that have occurred. This gives details of every occasion that equipment was used, who used it and when it was used. Total time used can therefore easily be calculated from this data