Auditable security for cargo containers and other repositories
First Claim
1. A method for preventing alteration of histories of events occurring within at least one repository for objects held for a period of time, said repository being exposed to an unauthorized intrusion therewithin, said events comprising changes in environmental conditions which indicate a said unauthorized intrusion, said method comprising:
- a) sensing a said event occurring within said repository;
b) recording an event signal that defines the sensed event;
c) transmitting a temporally ordered series of said event signals to a data storage apparatus, said data storage apparatus being operable to store said temporally ordered series of said event signals; and
d) safeguarding said data storage apparatus against alteration of said stored series of event signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention relates to a method and system for authenticating and for preventing alteration of histories of events occurring within at least one repository (e.g. a cargo container, fixed warehouse or a movable vehicle) for objects (e.g. autoparts, pharmaceutical materials, computer parts, laptops, etc.) held for a period of time, where the repository is exposed to an unauthorized intrusion therewithin (and potential theft of said objects therefrom and potential insertion of dangerous items therewithin). The events include changes in environmental conditions (e.g. light levels, infrared levels, temperature, air pressure, etc) which indicate an unauthorized intrusion.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method for preventing alteration of histories of events occurring within at least one repository for objects held for a period of time, said repository being exposed to an unauthorized intrusion therewithin, said events comprising changes in environmental conditions which indicate a said unauthorized intrusion, said method comprising:
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a) sensing a said event occurring within said repository; b) recording an event signal that defines the sensed event; c) transmitting a temporally ordered series of said event signals to a data storage apparatus, said data storage apparatus being operable to store said temporally ordered series of said event signals; and d) safeguarding said data storage apparatus against alteration of said stored series of event signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for preventing alteration of histories of events occurring within at least one repository for objects held for a period of time, said repository being exposed to an unauthorized intrusion therewithin (and potential theft of said objects therefrom and potential insertion of dangerous items therewithin), said events comprising changes in environmental conditions which indicate a said unauthorized intrusion, said system comprising:
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a) a tag carried by a said repository, said tag comprising an event sensor operable to record an event signal for describing a said event occurring within said repository, a data storage device operable to store data comprising identification data for identifying said tag, a tag transmitter operable to transmit data signals comprising said event signal and an identification signal based upon said identification data, and an energy source for activating said event sensor and said tag transmitter and said data storage device; and b) a data storage apparatus in operative communication with said tag, said data storage apparatus being operable to store a temporally ordered sequence of said event signals upon a medium which cannot be readily altered without detection. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for preventing alteration of histories of events occurring within at least one repository for objects held therein for a period of time, said repository being exposed to an unauthorized intrusion therewithin, said events comprising changes in environmental conditions which indicate a said unauthorized intrusion, said method comprising:
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a) sensing an event occurring within said repository upon a tag attached thereto; b) unalterably recording an event signal that defines the sensed event upon a write-once-only data storage device comprised by said tag; c) transmitting a temporally ordered series of said event signals to a data storage apparatus said data storage apparatus being operable to store said temporally ordered series of said event signals; and d) safeguarding said data storage apparatus against alteration of said stored series of event signals.
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- 28. A tag for use in preventing alteration of histories of events occurring within at least one repository for objects held for a period of time, said repository being exposed to an unauthorized intrusion therewithin, said events comprising changes in environmental conditions which indicate a said unauthorized intrusion, said tag being adapted for association with said repository, said tag comprising an event sensor operable to record an event signal representative of a said event occurring within said repository, a write-once-only data storage device operable to store, in an unalterable manner, data representing said event signal, a tag transmitter operable to transmit data signals representing said event signal, and an energy source for activating said event sensor and said write-once-only data storage device.
Specification