Secure electronic compartment identifier system

• US 20040246097A1
• Filed: 02/03/2004
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joseph A. Queenan
• Original Assignee: Joseph A. Queenan
• Inventors: Queenan, Joseph A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,202,323 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.61
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/00 Programme-control systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00722 with magnetic components, e.g. magnets, magnetic strips, metallic inserts mechanical locks operated by permanent magnets E05B47/0038
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration

Abstract

A latch, or tag that can be used on luggage, baggage, trunks, rail cars, trailers or any compartment that can be opened and closed that establishes profile data that is associated with the latch or tag and is adapted to store personal data and an identifier in the latch mechanism or on the tag. The profile data can be used to establish a risk factor with the luggage or compartment and/or a person associated with the luggage or compartment.

Claims

1. A method for establishing profile data that is associated with a latch mechanism comprising:

obtaining personal data associated with a user;

obtaining an identifier that identifies a latch mechanism;

associating the personal data with the identifier; and

storing the personal data and the identifier in the latch mechanism.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

generating profile data for the latch mechanism as a function of the personal data.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

transmitting the profile data to a remote location.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

transmitting the profile data to a storage location.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the storage location is a database.

6. The method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

retrieving the profile data from the storage location.

7. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the obtaining step includes obtaining personal data associated with a second user;

and

the generating step includes generating the profile data for the latch mechanism as a function of the personal data associated with the second user.

8. The method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

outputting the profile data.

9. The method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

printing the profile data on a medium.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the medium is a tag.

11. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the medium is a ticket.

12. The method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

displaying the profile data on an electronic device.

13. The method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

encoding the profile data; and

outputting the profile data.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the outputting step further comprises:

printing the profile data.

15. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the outputting step further comprises:

displaying the profile data.

16. The method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

tracking the profile data; and

updating the profile data.

17. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

generating a first indicator as a function of the personal data; and

storing the first indicator.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising:

generating a second indicator as a function of the identifier; and

storing the second indicator.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising:

segregating latch mechanisms as a function of either the first indicator or the second indicator or both the first indicator and the second indicator.

20. The method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising:

outputting the second indicator.

21. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the outputting step further comprises:

printing the second indicator.

22. The method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising:

outputting the first indicator.

23. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the outputting step further comprises:

printing the first indicator.

24. The method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising:

assigning a risk level for the latch mechanism as a function of the first indicator and the second indicator;

storing the risk level; and

modifying the risk level.

25. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining location data as a function of a location of the latch mechanism; and

outputting the location data.

26. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the output step further comprises:

transmitting the location data to an electronic device.

27. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the output step further comprises:

displaying the location data.

28. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

generating a user fee for the latch mechanism.

29. The method as claimed in claim 28, further comprising:

electronically transferring payment for the user fee.

30. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

generating manifest data as a function of contents of a compartment; and

storing the manifest data in the latch mechanism.

31. The method as claimed in claim 30, further comprising:

outputting the manifest data.

32. The method as claimed in claim 31, wherein the outputting step includes transmitting the manifest data to a remote location.

33. The method as claimed in claim 31, wherein the outputting step includes printing the manifest data.

34. A method for tracking a compartment having a latch mechanism comprising:

obtaining location data related to the compartment;

storing the location data in memory;

obtaining activity data as a function of activity of the latch mechanism; and

storing the activity data.

35. The method as claimed in claim 34, further comprising:

outputting the location data and the activity data.

36. The method as claimed in claim 35, wherein the outputting step comprises:

printing the location data and the activity data.

37. The method as claimed in claim 35, wherein the outputting step comprises:

transmitting the location data and the activity data to an electronic device.

38. The method as claimed in claim 37, wherein the electronic device includes a personal digital assistant.

39. The method as claimed in claim 37, wherein the electronic device includes a cellular phone.

40. The method as claimed in claim 37, wherein the electronic device includes a facsimile machine.

41. The method as claimed in claim 37, wherein the electronic device includes a computer.

42. The method as claimed in claim 34, further comprising:

accumulating location data and activity data for a plurality of compartments;

storing the accumulated location data and activity data in the latch mechanism; and

outputting the accumulated location data and activity data.

43. The method as claimed in claim 42, wherein the outputting step further comprises:

transmitting the accumulated location data and activity data to a remote location.

44. The method as claimed in claim 42, wherein the outputting step further comprises:

printing the accumulated location data and activity data.

45. The method as claimed in claim 34, further comprising:

establishing that an attempt has been made to access the latch mechanism; and

storing attempt data as a function of the establishing step.

46. The method as claimed in claim 34, further comprising:

establishing that attempt has been made to tamper with the latch mechanism; and

modifying operation of the latch mechanism as a function of the establishing step.

47. The method as claimed in claim 46, wherein the modifying step further comprises:

disabling operation of the latch mechanism.

48. A method for tracking a location of a compartment and activity of a latch mechanism disposed on the compartment comprising:

accessing the latch mechanism at a first instance;

storing a record of the first access;

accessing the latch mechanism at a second instance;

storing a record of the second access;

accumulating access data as a function of recorded access; and

providing an indication of the location of the compartment.

49. The method as claimed in claim 48, further comprising:

outputting the accumulated access data.

50. The method as claimed in claim 49, wherein the outputting step further comprises:

displaying the accumulated access data on a display device.

51. The method as claimed in claim 49, wherein the outputting step further comprises:

transmitting the accumulated access data to an electronic device.

52. The method as claimed in claim 51, wherein the electronic device includes a cellular telephone.

53. The method as claimed in claim 51, wherein the electronic device includes a facsimile machine.

54. The method as claimed in claim 51, wherein the electronic device includes a personal digital assistant.

55. The method as claimed in claim 49, wherein the outputting step further includes:

printing the accumulated access data.

56. The method as claimed in claim 48, further comprising:

providing notification at a remote location when the latch mechanism is accessed.

57. The method as claimed in claim 48, further comprising:

obtaining access data for a plurality of latch mechanisms.

58. A method for accessing a latch mechanism comprising:

providing a first access level as a function of predetermined criteria;

providing a second access level as a function of the predetermined criteria; and

enabling access to a latch mechanism as a function of the access level.

59. An apparatus for establishing profile data that is associated with a latch mechanism comprising:

means for obtaining personal data associated with a user;

means for obtaining an identifier that identifies a latch mechanism;

means for associating the personal data with the identifier; and

means for storing the personal data and the identifier in the latch mechanism.

60. The apparatus as claimed in claim 59, further comprising:

means for generating profile data for the latch mechanism as a function of the personal data.

61. The apparatus as claimed in claim 60, further comprising:

means for transmitting the profile data to a remote location.

62. The apparatus as claimed in claim 60, further comprising:

means for transmitting the profile data to a storage location.

63. The apparatus as claimed in claim 62, wherein the storage location is a database.

64. The apparatus as claimed in claim 62, further comprising:

means for retrieving the profile data from the storage location.

65. The apparatus as claimed in claim 60, further comprising:

means for outputting the profile data.

66. The apparatus as claimed in claim 60, further comprising:

means for printing the profile data on a medium.

67. The apparatus as claimed in claim 66, wherein the medium is a tag.

68. The apparatus as claimed in claim 66, wherein the medium is a ticket.

69. The apparatus as claimed in claim 60, further comprising:

means for displaying the profile data on an electronic device.

70. The apparatus as claimed in claim 60, further comprising:

means for encoding the profile data; and

means for outputting the profile data.

71. The apparatus as claimed in claim 70, wherein the means for outputting further comprises:

means for printing the profile data.

72. The apparatus as claimed in claim 70, wherein the means for outputting further comprises:

means for displaying the profile data.

73. The apparatus as claimed in claim 60, further comprising:

means for tracking the profile data; and

means for updating the profile data.

74. The apparatus as claimed in claim 59, further comprising:

means for generating a first indicator as a function of the personal data; and

means for storing the first indicator.

75. The apparatus as claimed in claim 74, further comprising:

means for generating a second indicator as a function of the identifier; and

means for storing the second indicator.

76. The apparatus as claimed in claim 75, further comprising:

means for segregating latch mechanisms as a function of either the first indicator or the second indicator or both the first indicator and the second indicator.

77. The apparatus as claimed in claim 75, further comprising:

means for outputting the second indicator.

78. The apparatus as claimed in claim 77, wherein the means for outputting further comprises:

means for printing the second indicator.

79. The apparatus as claimed in claim 74, further comprising:

means for outputting the first indicator.

80. The apparatus as claimed in claim 79, wherein the means for outputting further comprises:

means for printing the first indicator.

81. The apparatus as claimed in claim 75, further comprising:

means for assigning a risk level for the latch mechanism as a function of the first indicator and the second indicator;

means for storing the risk level; and

means for modifying the risk level.

82. The apparatus as claimed in claim 59, further comprising:

means for obtaining location data as a function of a location of the latch mechanism; and

means for outputting the location data.

83. The apparatus as claimed in claim 82, wherein the means for outputting further comprises:

means for transmitting the location data to an electronic device.

84. The apparatus as claimed in claim 82, wherein the means for outputting further comprises:

means for displaying the location data.

85. The apparatus as claimed in claim 59, further comprising:

means for generating a user fee for the latch mechanism.

86. The apparatus as-claimed in claim 85, further comprising:

means for electronically transferring payment for the user fee.

87. The apparatus as claimed in claim 59, further comprising:

means for generating manifest data as a function of contents of a compartment; and

means for storing the manifest data in the latch mechanism.

88. The apparatus as claimed in claim 87, further comprising:

means for outputting the manifest data.

89. The apparatus as claimed in claim 88, wherein the means for outputting includes means for transmitting the manifest data to a remote location.

90. The apparatus as claimed in claim 88, wherein the means for outputting includes means for printing the manifest data.

91. An apparatus for tracking a compartment having a latch mechanism comprising:

means for obtaining location data related to the compartment;

means for storing the location data in memory;

means for obtaining activity data as a function of activity of the latch mechanism; and

means for storing the activity data.

92. The apparatus as claimed in claim 91, further comprising:

means for outputting the location data and the activity data.

93. The apparatus as claimed in claim 92, wherein the means for outputting comprises:

means for printing the location data and the activity data.

94. The apparatus as claimed in claim 92, wherein the means for outputting comprises:

means for transmitting the location data and the activity data to an electronic device.

95. The apparatus as claimed in claim 94, wherein the electronic device includes a personal digital assistant.

96. The apparatus as claimed in claim 94, wherein the electronic device includes a cellular phone.

97. The apparatus as claimed in claim 94, wherein the electronic device includes a facsimile machine.

98. The apparatus as claimed in claim 94, wherein the electronic device includes a computer.

99. The apparatus as claimed in claim 91, further comprising:

means for accumulating location data and activity data for a plurality of compartments;

means for storing the accumulated location data and activity data in the latch mechanism; and

means for outputting the accumulated location data and activity data.

100. The apparatus as claimed in claim 99, wherein the means for outputting further comprises:

means for transmitting the accumulated location data and activity data to a remote location.

101. The apparatus as claimed in claim 99, wherein the means for outputting further comprises:

means for printing the accumulated location data and activity data.

102. The apparatus as claimed in claim 91, further comprising:

means for establishing that an attempt has been made to access the latch mechanism; and

means for storing attempt data as a function of the establishing step.

103. The apparatus as claimed in claim 91, further comprising:

means for establishing that attempt has been made to tamper with the latch mechanism; and

means for modifying operation of the latch mechanism as a function of the establishing step.

104. The apparatus as claimed in claim 103, wherein the means for modifying further comprises:

means for disabling operation of the latch mechanism.

105. An apparatus for tracking a location of a compartment and activity of a latch mechanism disposed on the compartment comprising:

means for accessing the latch mechanism at a first instance;

means for storing a record of the first access;

means for accessing the latch mechanism at a second instance;

means for storing a record of the second access;

means for accumulating access data as a function of recorded access; and

means for providing an indication of the location of the compartment.

106. The apparatus as claimed in claim 105, further comprising:

means for outputting the accumulated access data.

107. The apparatus as claimed in claim 106, wherein the means for outputting further comprises:

a display device.

108. The apparatus as claimed in claim 106, wherein the means for outputting further comprises:

an electronic device.

109. The apparatus as claimed in claim 108, wherein the electronic device includes a cellular telephone.

110. The apparatus as claimed in claim 108, wherein the electronic device includes a facsimile machine.

111. The apparatus as claimed in claim 108, wherein the electronic device includes a personal digital assistant.

112. The apparatus as claimed in claim 106, wherein the means for outputting further includes:

a printer arranged to print the accumulated access data.

113. The apparatus as claimed in claim 105, further comprising:

means for providing notification at a remote location when the latch mechanism is accessed.

114. The apparatus as claimed in claim 105, further comprising:

means for obtaining access data for a plurality of latch mechanisms.

115. An apparatus for accessing a latch mechanism comprising:

means for providing a first access level as a function of predetermined criteria;

means for providing a second access level as a function of the predetermined criteria; and

means for enabling access to a latch mechanism as a function of the access level.

116. A method for establishing profile data that is associated with an article comprising:

obtaining personal data associated with a user;

obtaining an identifier that identifies an article;

associating the personal data with the identifier; and

storing the personal data and the identifier in the article.

117. The method as claimed in claim 116, further comprising:

generating profile data for the article as a function of the personal data.

118. The method as claimed in claim 117, further comprising:

transmitting the profile data to a remote location.

119. The method as claimed in claim 117, further comprising:

transmitting the profile data to a storage location.

120. The method as claimed in claim 119, wherein the storage location is a database.

121. The method as claimed in claim 119, further comprising:

retrieving the profile data from the storage location.

122. The method as claimed in claim 117, wherein the obtaining step includes obtaining personal data associated with a second user;

and

the generating step includes generating the profile data for the article as a function of the personal data associated with the second user.

123. The method as claimed in claim 117, further comprising:

outputting the profile data.

124. An apparatus for establishing profile data that is associated with an article comprising:

means for obtaining personal data associated with a user;

means for obtaining an identifier that identifies an article;

means for associating the personal data with the identifier; and

means for storing the personal data and the identifier in the article.

125. The apparatus as claimed in claim 124, further comprising:

means for generating profile data for the article as a function of the personal data.

126. The apparatus as claimed in claim 125, further comprising:

means for transmitting the profile data to a remote location.

127. The apparatus as claimed in claim 125, further comprising:

means for transmitting the profile data to a storage location.

129. The apparatus as claimed in claim 127, further comprising:

means for retrieving the profile data from the storage location.

130. The apparatus as claimed in claim 125, further comprising:

means for outputting the profile data.

128. The apparatus as claimed in claim 128, wherein the storage location is a database.