Container security system
First Claim
1. A security system for a group of cargo items carried on a mobile platform, comprising:
- a detection device carried on each item for detecting an intrusion into the item;
a wireless transmitter carried on each of the items and coupled with the corresponding detection device;
at least one base receiver station on the platform for receiving signals from the wireless transmitters carried on the items; and
,a communication system on-board the platform, the communication system being communicatively coupled with the base receiver station and operable for transmitting information relating to the detected intrusion to a location off-board the platform.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A security system for shipping containers transported onboard a mobile platform detects intrusions into the containers and transmits a security message to a land-based security monitoring station that identifies the container and the current geographic location of the mobile platform. Each container protected by the security system is provided with a cellular telephone that initiates a limited range telephone call transmission in response to an intrusion. Multiple base stations spread over the platform each receive calls from proximal containers and forwards call messages to the platform'"'"'s communication system which retransmits the call information in the form of the security message to the land based monitoring station.
13 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A security system for a group of cargo items carried on a mobile platform, comprising:
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a detection device carried on each item for detecting an intrusion into the item; a wireless transmitter carried on each of the items and coupled with the corresponding detection device; at least one base receiver station on the platform for receiving signals from the wireless transmitters carried on the items; and
,a communication system on-board the platform, the communication system being communicatively coupled with the base receiver station and operable for transmitting information relating to the detected intrusion to a location off-board the platform. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A security system for a group of shipping containers carried on a mobile shipping platform, such as an aircraft, a train, a truck or a boat, comprising:
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a plurality of security event detection devices respectively associated with the containers for detecting a security event occurring at the associated container; a plurality of cellular telephone units respectively coupled with the detection devices and operable for initiating a telephone call when the associated detection device detects a security event; and
,a communication system on-board the mobile platform for receiving telephone calls initiated by the cellular telephone units, and for sending messages to a security monitoring station off-board the mobile platform. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A security system for a container carried on mobile platforms comprising:
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a GPS receiver for providing the position of the container; a satellite terminal for transmitting security status information to a security monitoring station off-board the mobile platform; at least one cellular base station; a cellular device for transmitting the security status of the container to the cellular base station; and
,a computer for receiving the security status information from the base station, for receiving the container position from the GPS receiver, and for directing the satellite transmitter to transmit the security status information and the container position to the security monitoring station. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of monitoring the security status of shipping containers being transported on a mobile platform such as an aircraft, a train or a boat, comprising the steps of:
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(A) detecting a breach of security in one of the containers; (B) initiating a cellular communication transmission from the container to a base communication station onboard the mobile platform; (C) receiving the cellular transmission at the base communications station; (D) generating a security status message onboard the mobile platform using the information contained in the transmission received in step (C); and
,(E) transmitting the message generated in step (D) to a security monitoring station off-board the mobile platform. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method of monitoring security intrusions into shipping containers on a mobile shipping platform such as an aircraft, a train or a boat, comprising the steps of:
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(A) detecting an intrusion into one of the containers; (B) initiating a limited range wireless radio transmission from the container, wherein the wireless transmission contains information related to the intrusion detected in step (A); (C) receiving the transmission at a base communication station onboard the mobile shipping platform within range of the transmission; and
,(D) re-transmitting the information from the mobile shipping platform to a security monitoring station off-board the mobile shipping platform. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification