Method and apparatus to detect event signatures
First Claim
1. A container, comprising:
- a) a sensor;
b) a processor, coupled to receive a signal from the sensor and adapted to process the signal to detect a pattern characteristic of an event; and
c) an interface, coupled to the processor and adapted to communicate an indication of whether the pattern was detected.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A security system for use in connection with cargo containers and other enclosed spaces. The system monitors vibrations associated with a container and detects signals representative events indicating that an unauthorized access has been made to the container. The system may be programmed with a library of event signatures, allowing different types of events to be detected. The system may be provided with a library of signatures representing a heart beating with a beat pattern and the system may be used to detect a human or other animal within the container. Alternatively, the system may be provided with a library of signatures representing piercing the container. The system may be used to monitor containers in transit. Indications of events may be stored while the container is in transit and then communicated at a security check point.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A container, comprising:
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a) a sensor;
b) a processor, coupled to receive a signal from the sensor and adapted to process the signal to detect a pattern characteristic of an event; and
c) an interface, coupled to the processor and adapted to communicate an indication of whether the pattern was detected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of operating a security system for a container, comprising the acts:
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a) monitoring vibrations of the container to detect a vibration signal characteristic representative of an undesired access to the container;
b) storing an indication when the vibration signal characteristic is detected; and
c) taking a security action in response to the stored indication. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of detecting an event in relation to a container, comprising:
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a) providing a plurality of event signatures, each representing the frequency spectrum of an event signal generated by an event and passing through the container;
b) obtaining a vibration signal representative of vibrations of the container;
c) forming a plurality of frequency domain representations of the vibration signal, each formed from a portion of the vibration signal;
d) comparing each of the plurality of frequency domain representations of the vibration signal to the plurality of event signatures; and
e) detecting an event based on the result of the comparisons of act d). - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28-36. -36. (canceled)
Specification