Method and device for securely storing data

• US 20030235306A1
• Filed: 01/24/2003
• Published: 12/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FLIR Commercial Systems Incorporated (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Nomadics, Inc. (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Fox, Michael J., Aker, Craig A., Dock, Matthew, Trost, Steven M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,865,515 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/255
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/383 Concrete, cement
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6209 to a single file or object, e.g. in a secure envelope, encrypted and accessed using a key, or with access control rules appended to the object itself
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/86 Secure or tamper-resistant housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/12 Applying verification of the received information cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for data integrity or data verification H04L9/32

Abstract

A system that includes a logger to record mechanical data for a concrete mass and to transmit the mechanical data to a reader. The system includes sensors, a microprocessor and a first memory device embedded in the concrete mass for generating mechanical strength data for the concrete mass and storing that information in the first memory device. In one embodiment the mechanical data is encrypted to prevent third parties from downloading and reading the data. In another embodiment, the logger communicates with the reader through communication wires. In yet another embodiment, the logger transfers data files to the reader by radio frequency signals.

Claims

1. A system for storing non-sensor data in a tamper-resistant environment and transferring said data to an external device, comprising:

a permanent anchoring apparatus for ensuring data are not removed from the tamper-resistant environment;

a first memory device for storing the data, wherein the first memory device is anchored within the permanent anchoring apparatus;

an inbound data transfer device for loading the data into the first memory device; and

an outbound data transfer device for transferring the data from the first memory device to the second memory device.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising means for uniquely identifying the system.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the means for uniquely identifying the system comprises a serial number stored within the first memory device.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the permanent anchoring apparatus comprises a concrete mass.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising prescribed marks for indicating the depth of embedment of the first memory device within the concrete mass.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a protective means for protecting the first memory device from exposure to damage.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the protective means comprises a first case located inside a second case.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the outbound data transfer device comprises a serial interface.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising communication wires for transferring the data to the external device.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the wires use a Z-bend configuration within the hardened encasement to prevent the occurrence of high stress concentrations in the wires.

11. The system of claim 7 further comprising a visual differentiation feature.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the visual differentiation feature comprises a colored outer case and wherein a particular color corresponds to a model of the system.

13. The system of claim 7 further comprising a spacer apparatus to provide spacing between the outer case and the first memory device.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the spacer apparatus comprises a plurality of tabs extending from a mounting plate.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the first memory device is selected from a group of memory devices consisting of flash memory and an EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read-only memory).

17. The system of claim 1 wherein the second memory device is chosen from a group of memory devices consisting of flash memory and an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM).

18. The system of claim 1 wherein the outbound data transfer device is selected from a group of data transfer devices consisting of an electrical wire interface, a low power serial link, an optical wire interface, a radio frequency interface, an acoustic interface, an inductive loop interface, and an inductive radio frequency interface.

19. The system of claim 1 wherein the outbound data transfer device comprises a low-power serial link comprising wires having ends and wherein the external device comprises a receiving port for receiving the wires.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the wires comprise a connectorless connection device for receiving the wire ends.

16. The system of claim 16 wherein the wires comprise different-colored wires color-coded to match the colors of receiving ports of the external device.

21. A system for providing reliable, unalterable mechanical data associated with the mechanical properties of a concrete mass, comprising:

a logger, comprising;

one or more sensors to measure physical properties of the concrete mass and to generate data associated with the physical properties; and

a microprocessor that receives the data from the sensor and calculates maturity data and mechanical strength data;

a first memory device for storing the mechanical data within the concrete mass in an unalterable form;

a second memory device located outside the concrete mass; and

an outbound data transfer device to transfer the data from the first memory device to the second memory device.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the physical properties measured by the one or more sensors are selected from a group of physical properties consisting of temperature, moisture, relative humidity, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, alkalinity, oxidation-reduction potential, and sonic velocity.

23. The system of claim 21 further comprising a time-keeping device to track the time between the measurements of the physical properties.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the maturity data and mechanical strength data are calculated for each temperature measurement.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein strength-maturity calibration data are stored within the first memory device.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the microprocessor calculates the mechanical strength data from the maturity data and the strength-maturity calibration data.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the first memory device stores the calculated mechanical strength data.

28. A method for calculating mechanical data within a concrete mass for display to a device outside the concrete mass, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) embedding a logger inside the concrete mass,

(b) activating the logger to begin calculating the maturity data; and

(c) transferring the maturity data to an external device with the external device being programmed to receive the maturity data and convert the maturity data to mechanical strength data.

29. A method for recording mechanical data within a concrete mass and for displaying maturity and mechanical strength data to a device outside the concrete mass, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) embedding a logger inside the concrete mass;

(b) activating the logger to begin recording and calculating the mechanical data; and

(c) transferring the mechanical data to a reader for viewing.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the data is transferred to the reader through communication wires.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein the data is transferred to the reader through radio frequency signals.

32. The method of claim 29 wherein the data is transferred to the reader through optical fiber cable.

33. The method of claim 29 wherein the data is transferred to the reader through an inductive wire communication interface.

34. The method of claim 29 wherein the data is transferred to the reader through inductive radio frequency signals.

35. The method of claim 29 wherein the logger is activated by a command from the reader.

36. The method of claim 29 wherein the logger is activated by a change in a resistance of the communication wires.

37. The method of claim 29 wherein the logger is activated by an acoustic signal from a device located outside the concrete mass.

38. The method of claim 29 wherein the logger is activated by a microwave signal from a device located outside the concrete mass.

39. The method of claim 29 wherein the logger is activated by a magnetic signal from a device located outside the concrete mass.

40. The method of claim 29 wherein the logger is activated by a sonic pulse from a device located outside the concrete mass.

41. The method of claim 29 wherein the logger is activated by a change in temperature gradient.

42. The method of claim 29 wherein the logger is activated by a change in alkalinity.

43. The method of claim 29 wherein the logger is activated by a change in oxidation-reduction potential.

44. The method of claim 29 wherein the logger is activated by a change in electrical conductivity.

45. The method of claim 29 wherein the logger is activated by a change in relative humidity.

46. The method of claim 29 wherein the logger is activated by a change in moisture content.

47. The method of claim 29 wherein the logger is activated by a change in moisture content.

48. The method of claim 29 wherein the logger is activated by a change in hydrostatic pressure.

49. The method of claim 29 wherein the logger is activated by a change in viscosity.

50. The method of claim 29 wherein the logger is activated after a time delay.

51. The method of claim 29 wherein the step (c) of transferring the mechanical data to the reader further comprises an error-checking protocol to ensure error free transference.

52. The method of claim 51 wherein the error checking protocol includes packetized data with a checksum error check.

53. The method of claim 29 wherein the step ©

) of transferring the mechanical data to the reader is performed using a low-power data link.

54. A method for transmitting data generated by a logger within a concrete mass and for displaying mechanical data to a device outside the concrete mass, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) sensing, processing and recording the mechanical data;

(b) protecting the mechanical data from alteration while the mechanical data is within the concrete mass;

(c) transferring the mechanical data to an external device with a first protected transference protocol;

(d) transferring the mechanical data to a computer with a second protected transference protocol; and

(e) decoding the mechanical data in the computer and displaying the mechanical data on a user interface.

55. The method of claim 54 wherein the mechanical data are transferred to the external device via a wired transference protocol.

56. The method of claim 54 wherein the mechanical data are transferred to the external device via a wireless transference protocol.

57. The method of claim 54 wherein the mechanical data are transferred to the computer via a serial cable.

58. The method of claim 54 wherein the first transference protocol is encrypted to prevent tampering of the data during transference.

59. The method of claim 54 wherein the second transference protocol is encrypted to prevent tampering of the data during transference.

60. The method of claim 54 wherein the first transference protocol is proprietary to prevent tampering of the data during transference.

61. The method of claim 54 wherein the second transference protocol is proprietary to prevent tampering of the data during transference.

62. The method of claim 54 wherein the mechanical data is transferred to the computer via electronic mail.

63. The method of claim 54 wherein the mechanical data is transferred from the computer to a world-wide computer network.