Cargo container locking system and method

• US 20060164235A1
• Filed: 06/23/2003
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Manickam A. Gounder
• Original Assignee: Manickam A. Gounder
• Inventors: Gounder, Manickam A.
• Application Number:
  US10/537,040
• Publication Number:
  US 20060164235A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.130
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0096 Mechanical aspects of locks whose actuation is dependent on geographical location, e.g. by means of a GPS system
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/02 Locks for railway freight-cars, freight containers or the like; Locks for the cargo compartments of commercial lorries, trucks or vans
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0092 for cargo, freight or shipping containers and applications therefore in general
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/23 by means of a password
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5093 For closures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/625 Operation and control

Abstract

The present invention is a system including a modular hardware platform consisting of Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, a programmable micro controller unit, a communication module and a software platform, programmable on site to track, monitor and control access to cargo containers, truck trailers and similar transportable devices to curtail theft, pilferage and from intercession by third parties such as terrorists. The system enables access to the interior of a container to a digital key which contains an authorization password to initiate access to the container. The system may be programmed such that access is denied until the container reaches a preprogrammed destination.

Claims

1. A computerized system for tracking and controlling a locking device for a transportable container, the system tracking in real time the location of the container using Global Positioning System and a communication module, comprising:

A processing unit disposed in the container, the processing unit receiving real time geographical information from the global positioning system and a communication module to transmit the geographic information;

A central data processing unit including a communications module for receiving and recording geographical information from the communications module of from the container;

means for inputting geographical information of a final destination for the transportable container in the central data processing unit including means for comparing the real time geographical information of the container to the final destination geographical information for the container;

signaling means connected to the central data processing unit to activate the container locking device to be unlocked when the container reaches its final destination.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the locking device contains authorizing means for receiving a predetermined password to initiate the activation of the locking device.

3. A system according to claim 2 wherein the authorizing means is a programmable user insert card and the locking device includes a programmable user card reader.

4. A system according to claim 3 wherein the programmable user card and central data processing unit may be programmed such that the programmable user card will authorize activation of the locking device by overriding the final destination geographic information whereby the container may be opened for inspection intermediate its transportation to a final destination.

5. A system according to claim 1 wherein the locking device includes an alarm means and the alarm is enabled by an unauthorized attempted activation of the locking device.

6. A system according to claim 5 wherein the alarm is an audible alarm.

7. A system according to claim 5 wherein the alarm is communicated to the central data processing unit;

8. A system according to claim 1 wherein the central data processing unit may be accessed by a remote secondary central data processing unit whereby the data retained in the central data processing unit may be monitored and revised from the secondary location.

9. A system having a data processing center for tracking and controlling access to a vehicle, the system tracking in real time the location of the vehicle using a global positioning system and a communication module, comprising:

a processing unit disposed in the vehicle, the processing unit receiving real time geographical information from the global positioning system and a communication module transmitting the geographic information to the data processing center;

the data processing center including a communications module for receiving and recording geographical information from the communications module of from the vehicle;

means for inputting geographical information of at least a final destination for the vehicle in the data processing center including means for comparing the real time geographical information of the vehicle to a final destination geographical information for the vehicle;

signaling means connected to the data processing center to signal the vehicle processing unit when the vehicle reaches a preprogrammed final destination.

10. A system according to claim 9 wherein the processing unit contains authorizing means for receiving a predetermined password to initiate the activation of the processing unit.

11. A system according to claim 10 wherein the authorizing means is a programmable user insert card and the vehicle includes a programmable user card reader.

12. A system according to claim 11 wherein the programmable user card and data processing center may be programmed such that the programmable user card will authorize activation of the processing unit by overriding the final destination geographic information whereby the vehicle may be accessed intermediate its transportation to a final destination.

13. A system according to claim 9 wherein the processing unit includes an alarm means and the alarm is enabled by an unauthorized attempted activation of the processing unit.

14. A system according to claim 13 wherein the alarm is an audible alarm.

15. A system according to claim 13 wherein the alarm is communicated to the data processing center;

16. A system according to claim 9 wherein the data processing center may be accessed by a remote secondary data processing center whereby the data retained in the data processing center may be monitored and revised from the secondary data processing center.

17. A method for tracking and controlling access to a vehicle, the method including tracking in real time the location of the vehicle using a global positioning system and a communication module, comprising:

receiving real time geographical information in a processing unit on the vehicle from the global positioning system and to transmitting geographic information to the data processing center through communication modules in the processing unit and the data processing center;

receiving and recording geographical information from the communications module of the vehicle;

inputting geographical information of at least a final destination for the vehicle in the data processing center including comparing the real time geographical information of the vehicle to a final destination geographical information for the vehicle;

signaling the data processing center from the vehicle processing unit when the vehicle reaches a preprogrammed final destination.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein the method includes receiving a predetermined password by the processing unit to initiate the activation of the processing unit.

19. A system according to claim 18 wherein the method includes using a programmable user insert card and the vehicle includes a programmable user card reader.

20. A method according to claim 19 wherein the programmable user card and data processing center are programmed such that the programmable user card will authorize activation of the processing unit by overriding the final destination geographic information whereby the vehicle may be accessed intermediate its transportation to a final destination.

21. A method according to claim 17 including activation of an alarm in the processing unit enabled by an unauthorized attempted activation of the processing unit.

22. A method according to claim 21 including activating an audible alarm.

23. A method according to claim 21 including communicating the activation of the alarm to the data processing center;

24. A method according to claim 17 including accessing the data processing center d by a remote secondary data processing center and monitoring the data retained in the data processing center and revising the data from the secondary data processing center.