Trusted monitoring system and method

• US 10,504,349 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2016
• Issued: 12/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gregory P. Benson
• Original Assignee: 1997 Irrevocable Trust For Gregory P. Benson
• Inventors: Benson, Greg, Fistonich, Matthew Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V
• Application Number:
  US15/287,464
• Publication Number:
  US 20170024988A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• Field of Search: 340541, 340506, 340521, 3405391, 34053926
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/0275 using fuzzy logic only
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/202 where processing functionality is redundant redundant communication control functionality G06F11/2005, redundant storage control functionality G06F11/2089
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/52 during program execution, e.g. stack integrity ; Preventing unwanted data erasure; Buffer overflow
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/034 Test or assess a computer or a system
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 20/00 Machine learning
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/048 Fuzzy inferencing
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 7/01 Probabilistic graphical models, e.g. probabilistic networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/26 Government or public services business processes related to the transportation industry G06Q50/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0092 for cargo, freight or shipping containers and applications therefore in general
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0891 Video recorder in combination with video camera
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0636 in which the trolleys or carts are kept in a restricted zone such as a coral-like enclosure, or are passing a gate before use is possible
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0036 Checkout procedures
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 3/00 : Alarm indicators, e.g. bells
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/196 : using television cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/22 : Electrical actuation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2454 : Checking of authorisation of a person accessing tagged items in an EAS system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 : Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/12 : responsive to undesired emission of substances, e.g. pollution alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 : Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/04 : Monitoring of the detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/16 : Security signalling or alarm systems, e.g. redundant systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/22 : including jamming detection and monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/805 : Lightweight hardware, e.g. radio-frequency identification [RFID] or sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 : wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 : for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 : Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 : for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 : specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 : Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3236 : using cryptographic hash functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 : involving digital signatures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 : for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for monitoring remotely located objects with a system including at least one master data collection unit, remote sensor units, and a central data collection server are described. The master unit is configured to monitor any object, mobile or stationary, including monitoring multiple remote sensor units associated with the monitored objects. The master unit may be in a fixed location or attached to a mobile object. The master unit is configured for monitoring objects that enter and leave an area. The master unit may act as a parent controller for one or more child devices including remote sensors or monitors of measurable conditions including environmental conditions, substance identification, product identification, and/or biometric identification. The master unit may discover remote sensor units as they enter or leave the area where the master unit is located. The master unit can be remotely reprogrammed such as with authenticated instructions.

Claims

1. A surveillance system comprising:

an electronic device configured to receive environmental and spatial data from a plurality of sensors, the electronic device further configured to receive diagnostic test instructions from a remote device, to conduct one or more diagnostic tests on the electronic device and the data received from the sensors, and to transmit information based on the received environmental and spatial data and results of the one or more diagnostic tests to the remote device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is further configured to receive monitoring instructions to process the received environmental and spatial data and to recognize a sensor dynamically added to the plurality of sensors.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising the plurality of sensors, wherein one or more of the sensors is enclosed within a tamper and eavesdrop-proof enclosure.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the monitoring instructions are contained in a script message, the script message comprising a header containing one or more identification fields and a body containing one or more tasks to be performed.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein received instructions are encrypted and the electronic device is further configured to decrypt the encrypted instructions.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the electronic device is further configured to authenticate the remote device prior to using the monitoring instructions to process the received environmental and spatial data or the diagnostic test instructions.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is further configured to compare at least a portion of the received environmental and spatial data to a range of acceptable values and to transmit the information to the remote device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is further configured to conduct a self-diagnosis prior to transmitting the information to the remote device.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of sensors are further configured to sense information;

and

the electronic device is further configured to determine an alarm condition based upon the received environmental and spatial data, and wherein the electronic device compares the received environmental and spatial data to a range of acceptable values and conducts a self-diagnosis prior to transmitting the alarm condition to the remote device.

10. The system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of sensors are further configured to sense information;

and

wherein the electronic device is further configured to determine an alarm condition based upon the received environmental and spatial data, and wherein the electronic device determines a state of reliability of the sensor that the data is received from, and conducts a self-diagnosis based on the state of reliability prior to transmitting the alarm condition to a remote device.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of communication devices that are authorized to communicate in the system,

wherein the plurality of sensors are authorized and configured to communicate in the system,

wherein the electronic device is authorized to communicate in the system and configured to receive data in a secure manner from the sensors when a task authorization message is received and authenticated as having been transmitted from a remote master device authorized to communicate in the system, wherein the task authorization message comprises information identifying at least the sensor from which to receive the data, and

wherein the electronic device authenticates and encrypts the received data prior to transmitting the received data to the remote master device.

12. The system of claim 2 further comprising:

a plurality of communication devices configured to communicate in a secure manner in the system; and

a plurality of non-system sensors configured to sense information, wherein the non-system sensors are not authorized to communicate securely in the system,

wherein the electronic device is authorized to communicate in the system and configured to receive data from the non-system sensors when a task authorization message is received and authenticated as having been transmitted from a remote master device authorized to communicate in the system,

wherein the task authorization message comprises information identifying at least the non-system sensor from which to receive the data, and

wherein the electronic device authenticates and encrypts the received data prior to transmitting the received data to the remote master device.

13. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of communication devices authorized to communicate in the system; and

an electronic master device authorized to communicate in the system and configured to transmit a task authorization message to the sensors, wherein the task authorization message comprises information identifying at least the sensor from which to receive sensed information, and

wherein the sensor encodes a digital signature and encrypts the sensed information prior to transmitting the sensed information to the electronic master device.

14. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of communication devices authorized to communicate in the system,

wherein the electronic device is authorized to communicate in the system via the plurality of communication devices and configured to receive data from the sensors when a task authorization message is received and authenticated as having been transmitted from a remote master device authorized to communicate in the system,

wherein the task authorization message comprises information identifying at least the sensor from which to receive the data,

wherein the electronic device authenticates and encrypts the received data prior to transmitting the received data to the remote master device via a first communication pathway, and

wherein the electronic device is configured to confirm receipt of the transmitted data by the remote master device.

15. The system of claim 2 wherein the plurality of sensors comprise:

an environmental sensor configured to detect environmental information associated with an object;

an identification sensor configured to identify the object;

a timing device configured to provide time information comprising a time of day and a date; and

a location sensor configured to receive location information,

wherein the electronic device configured to receive data from the environmental sensor, the identification sensor, the timing device, and the location sensor,

wherein the electronic device is further configured to transmit the received data such that the timing information, object identification information, the location information, and the environmental information can be linked together to form linked data, and

wherein the linked data is transmitted to the remote device in a secure manner.

16. The system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of sensors comprise:

a shipping container sensor configured to detect environmental information about an area inside or outside the container;

a timing device configured to provide time information comprising a time of day; and

a location sensor configured to receive location information,

wherein the electronic device is configured to receive data from the plurality of sensors, the timing device and the location sensor,

wherein the electronic device is further configured to transmit the received data such that the timing information, the location information, and the environmental information are synchronized to form synchronized data, and

wherein the synchronized data is encrypted and transmitted to the remote device in a secure manner.

17. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a tempest constructed housing to provide shielding for at least one of the plurality of sensors and the electric device, the housing enclosing;

an environmental sensor included in the plurality of sensors, the environmental sensor configured to detect environmental information;

a timing device configured to provide time information comprising a time of day and a date;

a location sensor included in the plurality of sensors, the location sensor configured to receive location information; and

a processor configured to receive data from the environmental sensor, the timing device, and the location sensor, wherein the electronic device is further configured to transmit the received data such that the timing information, object identification information, the location information, and the environmental information are synchronized to form synchronized data, and wherein the synchronized data is transmitted to the remote device in a secure manner.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the remote device is configured to transmit secure instructions,

wherein the electronic device is further configured to receive the secure instructions from the remote device, and

wherein the secure instructions direct the electronic device to receive data from one or more of the plurality of sensors.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the remote device configured to transmit encrypted monitoring instructions,

wherein the electronic device is further configured to receive and decrypt the monitoring instructions from the remote device via a network, the monitoring instructions including a monitoring schedule for one or more of the plurality of sensors, the electronic device configured to receive data from the sensors in accordance with the monitoring schedule.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the encrypted monitoring instructions comprise a tolerance range for at least one of the sensors, and

wherein the electronic device is configured to compare the sensor data to the tolerance range.