SECURITY MONITORING SYSTEM FOR A BULK FOODSTUFF TRANSPORT CONTAINER

• US 20080230606A1
• Filed: 03/19/2008
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University Of Kentucky Research Foundation (University of Kentucky), Western Kentucky University
• Original Assignee: University Of Kentucky Research Foundation (University of Kentucky)
• Inventors: Alexander, Suraj M., Moore, James Ryan, Crist, William L., Thompson, Christopher Dwight, Luck, Brian D., Tabayehnejad, Nasrin, Payne, Frederick Alan, Stombaugh, Timothy S., Womble, Phillip C., Paschal, Jonathan C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,886,959 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0095 Mechanical aspects of locks controlled by telephone signals, e.g. by mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0096 Mechanical aspects of locks whose actuation is dependent on geographical location, e.g. by means of a GPS system
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 39/00 Locks giving indication of authorised or unauthorised unlocking with key identification means E05B35/001; alarm locks E05B45/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/554 Cover, lid, cap, encasing shield

Abstract

A security monitoring system provides for the secure transport of a bulk foodstuff container. The system includes an electromechanical locking mechanism allowing access by only authorized persons, a positional locator for determining the geographical position of the bulk foodstuff transport container, and a controller associated with the transport container. The controller controls operation of the electromechanical locking mechanism, stores data received from the electromechanical locking mechanism and the positional locator, and communicates with a remote data processor in near real time. A handheld user interface device is configured to control operation of the controller, to process and store data received from the controller, and to communicate with the remote data processor. Unique identifiers are provided for the bulk foodstuff transport container, the transport vehicle, any storage container from which or into which a bulk foodstuff is transferred, and any authorized operator of the security monitoring system.

Claims

1. A security monitoring system for a bulk foodstuff transport container, comprising:

an electromechanical locking mechanism for securing at least one access port on the bulk foodstuff transport container;

a monitoring sensor arrangement for monitoring a status of the electromechanical locking mechanism; and

a controller associated with the bulk foodstuff transport container;

wherein the controller includes a user interface and is configured to control operation of the electromechanical locking mechanism, to process and store data received from the electromechanical locking mechanism and the monitoring sensor arrangement and optionally to communicate with a remote data processor.

2. The system of claim 1, further including a positional locator associated with the bulk foodstuff transport container, wherein the controller is configured to process and store data received from the positional locator.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the electromechanical locking mechanism comprises a first electromechanical lock for securing a first access port and a second electromechanical lock for securing a second access port.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the monitoring sensor arrangement comprises a first monitoring sensor for monitoring a status of the first electromechanical lock and a position of the first access port, and a second monitoring sensor for monitoring a status of the second electromechanical lock and a position of the second access port.

5. The system of claim 4, further including a first temperature sensor connected to the controller for monitoring a temperature of an interior of the bulk foodstuff transport container, wherein the controller is configured to process and store data received from the first temperature sensor.

6. The system of claim 5, further including a second temperature sensor connected to the controller for monitoring a temperature of a portion of the bulk foodstuff held in a separate sampling vessel associated with the bulk foodstuff transport container, wherein the controller is configured to process and store data received from the second temperature sensor.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the bulk foodstuff transport container includes a unique identifier.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein a transport vehicle used to transport the bulk foodstuff transport container includes a unique identifier.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein a unique identifier is associated with any storage container from which bulk foodstuff is transferred into the bulk foodstuff transport container.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein a unique identifier is provided on any storage container into which bulk foodstuff is transferred from the bulk foodstuff transport container.

11. The system of claim 10, further including a handheld user interface device configured to control operation of the controller, to process and store data received from the controller, and to communicate with a remote data processor.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the unique identifiers for the bulk foodstuff transport container, the transport vehicle, the storage container from which a bulk foodstuff is transferred, and the storage container into which a bulk foodstuff is transferred are all unique bar codes, and the handheld user interface device includes a bar code reader.

13. A method for monitoring and securing a bulk foodstuff during transport in a bulk foodstuff transport container having at least one lockable access port provided with an electromechanical locking mechanism, comprising:

assigning a unique identifier to the bulk foodstuff transport container, to any storage container from which a bulk foodstuff is transferred to the bulk foodstuff transport container, to any storage container into which a bulk foodstuff is transferred from the bulk foodstuff transport container, and to any individual authorized to access an interior of the bulk foodstuff transport container;

automatically recording any status change in the electromechanical locking mechanism;

if such status change is effected by an authorized individual, requiring inputting the individual'"'"'s unique identifier and the reason for that status change prior to allowing such status change; and

automatically recording a geographical position of the bulk foodstuff transport container at predetermined intervals.

14. The method of claim 13, further including assigning a unique identifier to a transport vehicle for transporting the bulk foodstuff transport container and automatically recording that identifier at least when the bulk foodstuff transport container is associated with or disassociated from that transport vehicle.

15. The method of claim 14, further including assigning a unique identifier to any authorized operator of the transport vehicle, and automatically recording that unique identifier whenever an authorized operator accesses that transport vehicle.

16. The method of claim 15, further including automatically recording a temperature of an interior of the bulk foodstuff transport container at predetermined intervals.

17. The method of claim 16, further including automatically recording a temperature of a portion of the bulk foodstuff transferred into a separate sampling container associated with the bulk foodstuff transport container.

18. The method of claim 17, further including providing a controller associated with the bulk foodstuff transport container, said controller being configured to process and store data representative of said unique identifiers, said electromechanical locking mechanism status, said geographical position, and said temperature;

further including configuring said controller to control a status of the electromechanical locking mechanism and to automatically record any status change in the electromechanical locking mechanism.

19. The method of claim 18, further including providing a handheld user interface device configured to retrieve said data from said controller and to read said unique identifiers provided for the bulk foodstuff transport container and the transport vehicle.

20. The method of claim 18, further including configuring the controller to communicate with a remote data processor in near real time.

21. The method of claim 19, including configuring said handheld user interface device to transfer said data to a remote data processor in near real time.