Secure cargo transportation system

• US 20030197591A1
• Filed: 06/02/2003
• Published: 10/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Benjamin G. Bates
• Inventors: Bates, Benjamin G.
• Granted Patent: US 6,774,762 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.21
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00825 remotely by lines or wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0092 for cargo, freight or shipping containers and applications therefore in general
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/63 Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00912 for safes, strong-rooms, vaults or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/33 by means of a password

Abstract

A method of controlling access to a movable container, the method comprising controllably locking the container using an electronically actuated locking mechanism; storing in a memory a desired geographical location; determining the geographical location of the container; and enabling the locking mechanism to unlock the container if the determined geographical location matches the desired geographical location. A secure cargo transportation system comprises a vehicle including an enclosure having an opening; a door movable relative to the opening between a closed position, wherein the door restricts access to the enclosure, and an open position; an electronically actuable lock configured to selectively lock or unlock the door relative to the enclosure; a memory supported by the vehicle and configured to store a location coordinate; and a global positioning system supported by the vehicle and coupled to the memory and to the lock, and configured to enable the lock to unlock the door if the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of the location coordinate.

Claims

1. A method of controlling access to a movable container, the method comprising:

controllably locking the container using an electronically actuated locking mechanism;

storing in a memory a desired geographical location;

determining the geographical location of the container; and

enabling the locking mechanism to unlock the container if the determined geographical location matches the desired geographical location.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the step of determining the geographical location of the container comprises using a global positioning system.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein the global positioning system is movable with the container.

4. A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein the global positioning system is in communication with the memory and the locking mechanism.

5. A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein the global positioning system communicates with the locking mechanism via radio frequency to enable the locking mechanism to unlock the container if the determined geographical location matches the desired geographical location.

6. A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein the global positioning system is electrically wired to the locking mechanism.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising, before, the storing step, the step of receiving the desired geographical location via wireless communication.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising, before the storing step, the step of receiving the desired geographical location via microwave.

9. A method in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising, before the storing step, the step of receiving the desired geographical location via radio frequency.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the step of storing in a memory a desired geographical location comprises storing coordinates of at least three geographical points, and wherein the step of enabling the locking mechanism to unlock the container if the determined geographical location matches the desired geographical location comprises enabling the locking mechanism to unlock the container if the determined geographical location falls within an area defined by the coordinates.

11. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the step of storing in a memory a desired geographical location comprises storing data representing a point, and storing data representing a radius, and wherein the step of enabling the locking mechanism to unlock the container if the determined geographical location matches the desired geographical location comprises enabling the locking mechanism to unlock the container if the determined geographical location falls within an area defined within a radius about the point corresponding to the stored radius.

12. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the step of determining the geographical location is repeated multiple times.

13. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the step of determining the geographical location is repeated periodically.

14. A method of controlling access to a compartment of a vehicle, the method comprising:

employing an electronically actuated locking mechanism for locking the compartment;

receiving via wireless communications a specified geographical area;

storing the received geographical area in memory;

periodically determining the geographical location of the vehicle using a global positioning system;

comparing respective determined geographical locations with the stored geographical area to ascertain whether the vehicle is within the stored geographical area; and

enabling the electronically actuated locking mechanism to unlock the compartment if it is determined that the vehicle is within the stored geographical area.

15. A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein the locking mechanism is actuated to unlock the compartment in response to a digital key.

16. A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein the storing step comprises storing the received geographical area in a memory included in the global positioning system.

17. A method of controlling access to a movable container the method comprising:

using an electronically actuated locking mechanism to lock the container;

storing in memory a plurality of geographical areas through which it is desired that the container travel;

logging the geographical location of the container at each of a plurality of different times; and

enabling the locking mechanism to unlock the container if the container passed through each of the geographical areas stored in the storing step.

18. A method in accordance with claim 17 wherein the storing step further comprises defining an order of geographical areas, and wherein the step of enabling the locking mechanism to unlock the container comprises enabling the locking mechanism to unlock the container if the container passed through each of the geographical areas in the defined order.

19. A method in accordance with claim 17 wherein the storing step further comprises defining an order of geographical areas, including defining a final destination geographical area, and wherein the step of enabling the locking mechanism to unlock the container comprises enabling the locking mechanism to unlock the container if the container passed through each of the geographical areas in the defined order and is in the final destination geographical area.

30. A system in accordance with claim 17 and further comprising a microwave receiver supported by the vehicle and coupled to the memory and configured to transfer to the memory a location coordinate received via microwave from a microwave transmitter.

31. A system in accordance with claim 17 wherein the global positioning system comprises a processor configured to determine if the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of the location coordinate.

20. A method of controlling access to a movable container, the method comprising:

using an electronically actuated locking mechanism to lock the container;

storing in memory data defining a desired path of travel through which it is desired that the container travel, and storing a geographical area defining desired final destination;

producing an alert signal if the vehicle deviates from the desired path of travel; and

enabling the locking mechanism to unlock the container if the container is within the geographical area defining the desired final destination.

21. A method of controlling access to a movable container in accordance with claim 20 wherein the destination is within the desired path.

22. A method of controlling access to a movable container in accordance with claim 20 wherein the storing step comprises storing data defining a plurality of overlapping geographical areas.

23. A method of controlling access to a movable container in accordance with claim 20 wherein the step of producing an alert signal comprises producing a first alert signal if the container deviates from the desired path by a first measurable quantity, and wherein the method further comprises producing a second alert signal if the container deviates from the desired path by a second measurable quantity.

24. A secure cargo transportation system comprising:

a vehicle including an enclosure having an opening;

a door movable relative to the opening between a closed position, wherein the door restricts access to the enclosure, and an open position;

an electronically actuable lock configured to selectively lock or unlock the door relative to the enclosure;

a memory supported by the vehicle and configured to store a location coordinate; and

a global positioning system supported by the vehicle and coupled to the memory and to the lock, and configured to enable the lock to unlock the door if the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of the location coordinate.

25. A system in accordance with claim 24 and further comprising a wireless receiver supported by the vehicle and coupled to the memory and configured to transfer to the memory a location coordinate received from a remote transmitter.

26. A system in accordance with claim 24 wherein the electronically actuable lock is actuable in response to a digital key.

27. A system in accordance with claim 24 wherein the global positioning system includes the memory.

28. A system in accordance with claim 24 wherein the global positioning system communicates with the locking mechanism via radio frequency to enable the lock to unlock the door if the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of the location coordinate.

29. A system in accordance with claim 24 wherein the global positioning system is electrically hardwired to the locking mechanism.

32. A secure cargo transportation system comprising

a vehicle including an enclosure having an opening;

a door movable relative to the opening between a closed position, wherein the door restricts access to the enclosure, and an open position;

a digitally actuable lock configured to selectively lock or unlock the door relative to the enclosure in response to a digital key;

a global positioning system supported by the vehicle and coupled to the lock, the global positioning system including a memory configured to store a location coordinate, and the global positioning system being configured to enable the lock to unlock the door if the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of the location coordinate; and

a wireless receiver supported by the vehicle and coupled to the memory and configured to transfer to the memory a location coordinate received from a transmitter.

33. A system in accordance with claim 32 wherein the global positioning system communicates with the locking mechanism via radio frequency to enable the lock to unlock the door if the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of the location coordinate.

34. A system in accordance with claim 32 wherein the global positioning system is hardwired to the locking mechanism.

35. A system in accordance with claim 32 wherein the receiver is a microwave receiver configured to receive data transmitted at microwave frequencies.

36. A system in accordance with claim 32 wherein the global positioning system comprises a processor configured to enable the lock to unlock the door if the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of the location coordinate.

37. A secure cargo transportation system comprising:

a vehicle including an enclosure having an opening;

a door movable relative to the opening between a closed position, wherein the door restricts access to the enclosure, and an open position;

an electronically actuable lock configured to selectively lock or unlock the door relative to the enclosure; and

a remote intelligent communications device, including a global positioning system, supported by the vehicle and coupled to the lock, the wireless communications device including a memory configured to store data representing a location, the device enabling the lock to unlock the door if the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of the location coordinate, the remote intelligent communications device being configured to receive the data via wireless communications.

38. A secure cargo transportation system in accordance with claim 37 wherein the remote intelligent communications device is configured to receive data at microwave frequencies.

39. A secure cargo transportation system in accordance with claim 37 wherein the enclosure is defined by a semi trailer.

40. A secure cargo transportation system in accordance with claim 37 wherein the remote intelligent communications device includes indicia for uniquely identifying the vehicle with respect to other vehicles.