Network-centric cargo security system

• US 20050197844A1
• Filed: 03/02/2004
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Lauenstein, Peter S., Ng, Joseph S., Wells, George W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,620,832 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/333
• 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: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00

Abstract

Network-centric systems and methods for monitoring the security of a cargo container during shipment from an origination point to a destination are described. The cargo container includes a container security unit (CSU) having an electronic container identifier. As the container is loaded with various contents, a container processing system obtains produces a manifest of the contents using wireless data collection. The manifest, which also includes the container identifier, is sent to a central server for storage. As the cargo container is shipped through a port, warehouse or other shipping location, the CSU provides a status update to the central server. The status update may include a location of the cargo container, the container identifier and a status of a door seal, hazard detector and/or the like. As the cargo container arrives at its destination, another container processing system creates an arrival report of the received contents that can be compared to the manifest at the central server. The central server may also process data from the manifest, status update(s) and/or arrival report for the cargo container to further identify any security issues arising during shipment.

Claims

1. A method executable for maintaining the security of a cargo container during shipment from an origination point to a destination, wherein the cargo container comprises a container security unit (CSU) having a container identifier, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an electronic manifest for the cargo container, wherein the electronic manifest comprises an electronic listing of shipped contents placed in the cargo container at the origination point along with the container identifier;

receiving an update from the CSU during the shipment of the cargo container, wherein the update comprises the container identifier, a first location of the container, and a status of the container;

receiving an arrival report for the cargo container, wherein the arrival report comprises an electronic listing of contents of the cargo container received at the destination along with the container identifier; and

processing the electronic manifest, the update and the arrival report to thereby identify any security issues arising during shipment of the cargo container.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the electronic manifest further comprises video images of the shipped contents.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of reviewing the video images if any security issues arise during the processing step.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the electronic manifest, the update and the receive report are received via a digital network.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of receiving a second update from the container, wherein the second update comprises the container identifier and a second location of the container different from the first location of the container.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the processing step comprises comparing the listing of shipped components with the listing of received components.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of assigning a numerical value to a threat posed by the cargo container in response to the processing step.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of triggering an alert when the numerical value exceeds a predetermined threshold.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing a status of the cargo container to an interested party in response to at least one of the receiving steps.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of billing the interested party for the providing step.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the processing step comprises correlating the manifest, the update and the arrival report with the container identifier.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing the electronic manifest to a verification authority during shipment to thereby allow the verification authority to verify the contents of the cargo container.

13. A system for monitoring the security of a cargo container during shipment from an origination point to a destination, wherein the cargo container comprises a container security unit (CSU) having a container identifier, the system comprising:

means for compiling a shipping manifest at the origination point, wherein the shipping manifest comprises a listing of the contents placed in the cargo container along with the container identifier;

means for obtaining a status update from the CSU during shipment of the cargo container, wherein the status update comprises a location of the cargo container, a status of the cargo container and the container identifier;

means for creating an arrival report at the destination, wherein the arrival report comprises an electronic listing of received contents of the cargo container and the container identifier; and

means for processing information derived from the shipping manifest, the status update and the arrival report to thereby identify any security issues arising during shipment of the cargo container.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising means in communication with the processing means for providing the information derived from the status update to an information user.

15. A system operating in communication with a digital network for monitoring the security of a cargo container during shipment from an origination point to a destination, wherein the cargo container comprises a container security unit (CSU) configured to provide a container status and a container identifier, the system comprising:

a plurality of container processing systems, each having a report generator and an interface to the digital network, wherein the report generator is operable to compile a manifest of contents placed in the cargo container along with the container identifier;

a plurality of container status systems, each having an interface to the digital network and a wireless interface configured to communicate with the CSU to thereby obtain the container identifier and the container status during shipment of the cargo container; and

a central server configured to communicate with the plurality of container processing systems and the plurality of container status systems via the digital network to monitor the cargo container from the origination point to the destination and to identify any security issues arising during shipment of the cargo container.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein each of the container status systems further comprise a hazard detect system configured to detect hazardous materials located in the cargo container.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the central server is further configured to obtain a first manifest from one of the plurality of container processing systems located at the origination point and to compare the first manifest with a second manifest obtained a second one of the plurality of container processing systems located at the destination.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein each of the container processing systems comprise a wireless reader configured to obtain information about the contents of the cargo container.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the wireless reader is an RFID reader.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein at least one of the plurality of container processing systems comprises a digital camera configured to obtain images the contents of the cargo container.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the camera is a video camera.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein the manifest comprises the images of the contents.

23. The system of claim 15 wherein the central server comprises a risk analysis engine configured to provide a score associated with the cargo container, wherein the score is related to a level of security risk associated with the cargo container.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the risk analysis engine is further configured to trigger an alarm if the score exceeds a pre-determined threshold.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein the central server further communicates with an enterprise system, and wherein the central server is operable to notify the enterprise system in the event of an enterprise action.