Shipping container monitoring system
First Claim
1. A shipping container, comprising:
- a body having a door;
a global positioning system unit; and
a sensor array mounted within the shipping container and being operative to wirelessly transmit environmental condition information to a remote monitoring center regarding the environment of the shipping container;
wherein the sensor array includes a nuclear sensor, a biological sensor, and a chemical sensor.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for using a sensor array that detects environmental changes in or around a shipping container. Sensors detect NBC materials and detect tampering with the container (such as broken seals and open doors). The sensors are monitored remotely. The sensors are tracked for determining risk levels and communicating the risks to receiving ports, customs officials, shipping companies, and other interested entities. The sensors can also detect environmental conditions that may be important to the protection of cargo that may not be security-sensitive, but may require special conditions (such as perishable food). The system may categorize cargo into various levels of risk (such as mandatory inspection, occasional inspection, and random inspection).
49 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A shipping container, comprising:
-
a body having a door; a global positioning system unit; and a sensor array mounted within the shipping container and being operative to wirelessly transmit environmental condition information to a remote monitoring center regarding the environment of the shipping container; wherein the sensor array includes a nuclear sensor, a biological sensor, and a chemical sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. A method of transporting cargo in a shipping container via a transportation vehicle to a destination, comprising:
-
loading the cargo in the shipping container, the shipping container including a sensor array for monitoring container conditions; sealing the shipping container electronically; loading the shipping container onto the transportation vehicle; transporting the cargo via the transportation vehicle; monitoring conditions of the shipping container during transit using the container condition detector; evaluating container security risk; taking corrective action if the container security risk is high; proceeding to the destination if the container security risk is not high; and electronically unsealing the shipping container. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A shipping container, comprising:
-
a door open/close detection unit; a global positioning system-based route verification unit; an intrusion detection unit; a motion detection unit; a volumetric change detection unit; and a weapons of mass destruction detection unit. - View Dependent Claims (20)
-
Specification