System and method for container monitoring, real time authentication, anomaly detection, and alerts

• US 20050201560A1
• Filed: 11/13/2004
• Published: 09/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digital Authentication Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Digital Authentication Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Dube, Roger R., Morgenstern, Richard L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,551,739 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/255
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/32 Multimode operation in a single same satellite system, e.g. GPS L1/L2

Abstract

An invention is provided for monitoring an item, such as a container. The invention includes a computer in communication with a receiver that receives signals from a remote source. A transmitter in communication with the computer receives values from the computer based on the signals received from the remote source. These values are then transmitted to a security device associated with the item, which includes an authentication table comprising a plurality of initial values. The security device then records values transmitted from the transmitter. The values can be jitter values, with each jitter value being a difference in arrival times of at least two timing signals from the same remote source.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring an item, comprising:

a computer in communication with a receiver, wherein the receiver receives signals from a remote source;

a transmitter in communication with the computer, wherein the transmitter receives values from the computer based on the signals received from the remote source; and

a security device associated with an item and capable of receiving signals from the transmitter, the security device having an authentication table comprising a plurality of initial values, wherein the security device records values transmitted from the transmitter.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the values are jitter values, each jitter value being based on a difference in arrival times of at least two timing signals from the same remote source.

3. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein the initial values of the authentication table comprise initial jitter values received at a port of origin.

4. A system as recited in claim 3, further comprising a port computer located at the port of origin, wherein the port computer includes a secure database storing a plurality of item profiles for related items, wherein each item profile includes a copy of the authentication table stored in the security device associated with the related item.

5. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein the values from the computer are combined jitter values based on the initial jitter values and the jitter values received from the receiver.

6. A system as recited in claim 5, wherein each combined jitter value is generated by adding an initial jitter value to a jitter value received from the receiver.

7. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer queries the security device prior to allowing the transmitter to transmit a new value to the security device.

8. A system as recited in claim 7, wherein the computer compares a value stored in the authentication table of the security device with an expected value during the query.

9. A method for monitoring an item, comprising the operations of:

receiving timing signals from a remote source at a computer;

sending values from the computer to a transmitter, the values being based on the timing signals received from the remote source;

transmitting the values from the transmitter to a security device associated with an item, the security device including an authentication table having a plurality of initial values; and

recording the values received from the transmitter in the authentication table.

10. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the values are jitter values, each jitter value being a difference in arrival times of at least two timing signals from the same remote source.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the initial values of the authentication table comprise initial jitter values received at a port of origin.

12. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein the values from the computer are combined jitter values based on the initial jitter values and the jitter values received from the receiver.

13. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein each combined jitter value is generated by adding an initial jitter value to a jitter value received from the receiver.

14. A method as recited in claim 9, further comprising the operation of querying the security device prior to transmitting a new value to the security device.

15. A method as recited in claim 14, further comprising the operation of comparing a value stored in the authentication table of the security device with an expected value during the query operation.

16. A security device for monitoring an item, comprising:

a memory;

a processor in communication with the memory;

a receiver in communication with the processor, the receiver capable of receiving signals from a transmitter; and

an authentication table stored in the memory, the authentication table comprising a plurality of initial values, wherein the security device records values received via the receiver in the authentication table.

17. A security device as recited in claim 16, wherein the values are jitter values, each jitter value being a difference in arrival times of at least two timing signals from a single remote source.

18. A security device as recited in claim 17, wherein the initial values of the authentication table comprise initial jitter values received at a port of origin.

19. A security device as recited in claim 18, wherein the values from the receiver are combined jitter values based on the initial jitter values and the jitter values received from the receiver.

20. A security device as recited in claim 19, wherein each combined jitter value is generated by adding an initial jitter value to a jitter value received from the receiver.