SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING, MONITORING, TRACKING AND IDENTIFYING EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS

• US 20070229283A1
• Filed: 01/10/2007
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ExploTrack, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ExploTrack, Inc.
• Inventors: Morhard, Robert, Zukovich, Thomas, Gelormino, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,277,015 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.800
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/28 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading, distribution or shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00

Abstract

This invention relates to a system and method for monitoring, detecting, tracking and identifying explosive materials. The system and method involves tracking and monitoring the explosive material during every part of the chain of custody.

Claims

1. A system for tracking explosive materials, comprising:

an identifier for an explosive material having means for transmitting information;

a transportation unit having means for transmitting information;

a storage element having means for transmitting information; and

a database having means for receiving information.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of data receiving devices located at predetermined locations and adapted for receiving information transmitted from said identifier, said transportation unit and said storage element.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said identifiers are RFID tags.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of sensors located at said storage element.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said plurality of sensors are adapted to measure physical properties selected from the group consisting of light, temperature, motion, sound, and humidity.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein said plurality of data receiving devices periodically transmit a signal.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said signal is transmitted at a power less than 0.004 watts.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for analyzing said received information to determine security status of said explosive material.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said transportation unit further comprises means for being remotely deactivated.

10. A method for tracking explosive materials, comprising:

attaching a first identifier to an explosive material;

placing said explosive material into a container;

attaching a second identifier to said container;

receiving data from said first and second identifiers at a first data reception device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising interrogating said first and second identifier with said first data reception device.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising placing said container on a transportation unit and interrogating said first and second identifier with a second data reception deice located on said transportation unit.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising transmitting to a non-local database from said transportation unit the location of said transportation unit using a GPS system.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising transmitting an alarm if said transportation unit deviates from a pre-determined route.

15. A tracking system, comprising:

a first identifier adapted for use with an explosive material, wherein said first identifier is a visibility device;

a visibility device reader adapted to receive data from said first identifier; and

a first database adapted to receive data from said visibility device reader;

wherein said visibility device is a micro-fiber, wherein said micro-fiber is incorporated within said explosive materials and said micro-fiber is less than 100 microns in diameter.

16. The tracking system of claim 15, further comprising a second identifier attached to said explosive material, wherein said second identifier is a nano-mark.

17. The tracking system of claim 16, further comprising a third identifier, wherein said third identifier is a RFID tag.