Method and system for monitoring containers to maintain the security thereof

• US 20070005953A1
• Filed: 08/05/2005
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eric Sandberg, Hans Boman, Magnus Cederlof, Stig Ekstrom
• Original Assignee: Eric Sandberg, Hans Boman, Magnus Cederlof, Stig Ekstrom
• Inventors: Sandberg, Eric, Boman, Hans, Cederlof, Magnus, Ekstrom, Stig
• Granted Patent: US 7,564,350 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/100
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/16 Anti-theft; Abduction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/047 Optimisation of routes or paths, e.g. travelling salesman problem
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0092 for cargo, freight or shipping containers and applications therefore in general
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00 Individual registration on entry or exit
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/43 using wireless personal area networks [WPAN], e.g. 802.15, 802.15.1, 802.15.4, Bluetooth or ZigBee
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/823 where the data is sent when the measured values exceed a threshold, e.g. sending an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/883 where the sensing device enters an active or inactive mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A container and contents monitoring system includes a device, a reader, a server, and a software backbone. The device communicates with the reader in order to determine the security and/or location of the container to which the device is attached. The reader transmits the information from the device to the server. The device determines if a security condition has occurred based on at least one sensor located on or in the container.

Claims

1-46. -46. (canceled)

47. A system for monitoring the condition of a non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container, the system comprising:

a sensor for detecting at least one condition of the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container and providing sensor data;

a data interpretation device disposed inside the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container and for interpreting the sensor data;

a transmitter interoperably connected to the data interpretation device for communicating information relative to the interpreted sensor data;

an arm disposed between a door and an adjacent region of the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container; and

an antenna disposed outside the container and interoperably connected via the arm to the transmitter.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein:

the adjacent region of the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container comprises a vertical beam and adjacent C-channel; and

a location within the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container for mounting at least a portion of the system comprises a region across the vertical beam and the adjacent C-channel.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein:

the at least one detected condition comprises sensed pressure of the door against the adjacent region of the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container; and

the sensor comprises at least one pressure sensor adapted to be disposed between the door and the adjacent region of the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein:

the door of the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container includes a gasket; and

the sensed pressure comprises a pressure of the gasket against the at least one pressure sensor.

51. The system of claim 47, wherein:

the at least one detected condition comprises sensed light; and

the sensor comprises a light sensor disposed inside the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container.

52. The system of claim 47, wherein:

the at least one detected condition comprises sensed motion; and

the sensor comprises a motion sensor disposed inside the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container.

53. The system of claim 47, wherein:

the at least one detected condition comprises sensed radioactivity; and

the sensor comprises a radioactivity sensor disposed inside the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container.

54. The system of claim 47, wherein the antenna is disposed outwardly of the sensor and is adapted for positioning outwardly of the door.

55. The system of claim 47, further comprising a receiver adapted for receiving information communicated by the transmitter.

56. The system of claim 47, further comprising:

at least one peripheral-sensor interface interoperably coupled to the data interpretation device and disposed within the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container;

wherein the peripheral-sensor interface is adapted to permit receipt of data from at least one peripheral sensor disposed within the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein the at least one peripheral sensor comprises at least one of:

a pressure sensor;

a light sensor;

a radioactivity sensor;

a temperature sensor;

a motion sensor;

a combustible-gas sensor;

an ammonia sensor;

a carbon-dioxide sensor;

a fire sensor;

a smoke sensor;

a noise sensor;

a humidity sensor; and

a digital camera.

58. The system of claim 47, wherein the data interpretation device comprises at least one power source disposed within the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container.

59. A method of electronically securing a non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container, the method comprising the steps of:

selecting a non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container to secure;

associating an electronic securing device with the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container;

transmitting a request to a server;

generating by the server of a mathematically-unique security key in response to receipt of the request;

encrypting, by the server, of the security key;

transmitting, via an arm of the electronic securing device disposed between a door and an adjacent region of the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container and an antenna disposed outside the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container, of the unique and encrypted security key to the device disposed within the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container;

using, by the device, of the encrypted security key to calculate a unique result; and

storing, by the device, of the unique result.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the step of selecting a non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container to secure comprises selecting an intermodal non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container comprising at least one door disposed in a pivotal relationship relative to a structural member of the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container.

61. The method of claim 59, wherein the step of selecting the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container to secure comprises selecting by a reader of the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container.

62. The method of claim 59, wherein the step of selecting the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container to secure comprises:

allowing at least one authorized party access to a software backbone; and

selecting, by the at least one authorized party, the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container via the software backbone.

63. The method of claim 59, wherein the step of associating the electronic securing device with the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container comprises positioning the arm of the electronic securing device adjacent the door for sensing a pivotal relationship of the door relative to a structural member of the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container.

64. The method of claim 59, wherein the step of associating the electronic securing device with the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container comprises:

securing at least one sensor inside the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container; and

securing at least one transmitter interoperably connected to the at least one sensor relative to the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container in a position permitting radio transmission, via the arm and the antenna, to a location outside of the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein the step of securing at least one sensor inside the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container comprises securing a light sensor inside the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container.

66. The method of claim 64, wherein the step of securing at least one sensor inside the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container comprises securing a motion sensor inside the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container.

67. The method of claim 64, wherein the step of securing at least one sensor inside the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container comprises securing a temperature sensor inside the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container.

68. A system for determining whether a security breach of a non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container has occurred, the system comprising:

a sensor for detecting pressure exerted by a door of the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container and generating a signal indicative thereof;

a microprocessor, interoperably connected to the sensor, for establishing a baseline pressure value and defining a pressure threshold;

wherein the baseline pressure value is related to a calculated mean value derived from at least two pressure detection signals;

wherein the microprocessor is adapted to determine from the pressure threshold and the detected pressure whether a security breach has occurred; and

a transmitter, interoperably connected to the microprocessor, for communicating information from the microprocessor to a location outside of the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container;

69. The system of claim 68, wherein the microprocessor is adapted to calculate an average pressure value from at least two sensed pressure values.

70. The system of claim 68, wherein:

the microprocessor is adapted to calculate a window of acceptable pressure values; and

the window of acceptable pressure values defines a range of pressure values experienced during transport of a non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container that are not indicative of a security breach.

71. A method of detecting a security breach of a non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container, the method comprising the steps of:

placing a pressure sensor adjacent a structural member and a door of the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container;

monitoring the pressure sensor via a data unit located within the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container;

determining, by the data unit, whether a security breach of the door has occurred using a change in pressure sensed by the pressure sensor;

communicating, by the data unit, of a result of the determining step to an antenna interoperably connected to the data unit and located adjacent to and outside of the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container; and

transmitting, via the antenna, of information relative to the communicating step.

72. The method of claim 71, further comprising:

receiving, by a reader, of the information transmitted via the antenna; and

forwarding, by the reader, of the information to the server.

73. A method of disarming an electronically-secured non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container having a security device associated therewith, the method comprising the steps of:

selecting a non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container to disarm;

transmitting a disarming request to a server;

generating, by the server, of a disarming key in response to receipt of the disarming request;

encrypting, by the server, of the disarming key;

transmitting, to an antenna of the the security device disposed outside the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container, of the encrypted disarming key;

communicating, via an arm of the security device disposed between a door and an adjacent region of the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container, of the encrypted disarming key to within the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container;

decrypting, by the security device, of the encrypted disarming key; and

storing, by the security device, of the decrypted disarming key.

74. The method of claim 73, wherein the step of selecting comprises selecting, by a reader, of the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container.

75. The method of claim 74, further comprising disengaging from logging at least one condition sensed by the security device.

76. The method of claim 74, wherein the step of selecting comprises:

allowing authorized parties access to a software backbone; and

selecting, by at least one of the authorized parties, of the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container via the software backbone

77. A system for electrically securing and determining whether a security breach of a non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container has occurred following electronic securement of the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container, the system comprising:

a sensor disposed within the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container for detecting at least one condition of the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container and providing sensor data;

a microprocessor disposed within the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container and interoperably connected to the sensor;

wherein the microprocessor is adapted to establish a baseline value from the sensor data, define a sensor data value threshold, and determine from the sensor data value threshold and the sensor data whether a security breach has occurred; and

a transmitter interoperably connected to the microprocessor and adapted to transmit, via an arm disposed between a door and an adjacent region of the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container, information relative to whether a security breach has occurred to a location outside the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container.

78. The system of claim 77, wherein:

the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container comprises at least one door pivotally mounted relative to a structural member of the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container; and

the sensor is adapted for positioning between the at least one door and the structural member of non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container for detecting pressure exerted by the door against the sensor.

79. The system of claim 78, wherein the microprocessor is adapted to establish a baseline pressure value from at least one pressure value existing at the time of electronic securement of the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container.

80. The system of claim 77, further comprising an antenna interoperably connected to the arm and disposed outside the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container.

81. The system of claim 77, wherein:

the at least one detected condition comprises sensed light; and

the sensor comprises a light sensor disposed inside the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container.

82. The system of claim 77, wherein:

the at least one detected condition comprises sensed motion; and

the sensor comprises a motion sensor disposed inside the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container.

83. The system of claim 77, wherein the sensor comprises at least one of:

a pressure sensor;

a light sensor;

a radioactivity sensor;

a temperature sensor;

a motion sensor;

a combustible-gas sensor;

an ammonia sensor;

a carbon-dioxide sensor;

a fire sensor;

a smoke sensor;

a noise sensor;

a humidity sensor; and

a digital camera.

84. A method of detecting a security condition of a non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container and its contents, the method comprising:

placing a sensor within the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container;

monitoring the sensor via a data unit located within the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container;

determining by the data unit whether a security condition has occurred based on sensed changes in value sensed by the sensor;

communicating by the data unit via an arm of the electronic securing device disposed between a door and an adjacent region of the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container, of a result of the determining step to an antenna interoperably connected to the data unit and located outside the non-radio-frequency-signal-transparent container;

transmitting by the antenna of information relative to the communicating step.