SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COUNTERING TERRORISM BY MONITORING CONTAINERS OVER INTERNATIONAL SEAS

• US 20110128143A1
• Filed: 07/18/2008
• Published: 06/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The F3m3 Companies Inc.
• Original Assignee: The F3m3 Companies Inc.
• Inventors: Daniel, Isaac S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,854,205 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0261 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect trespassing over a fixed physical boundary, e.g. the end of a garden
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0269 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact location of child or item using a navigation satellite system, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0286 Tampering or removal detection of the child unit from child or article
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a system and method for countering terrorism by monitoring shipping containers using an advanced communication system network for tracking and monitoring the container as it travels over international seas.

Claims

1. A system for countering terrorism comprising:

(a) a lock box provided for a shipping container wherein each lock box includes a power supply, a monitoring device in mating engagement with said power supply, wherein said monitoring device has a unique identifier for identifying and registering an importer or exporter with a monitoring center at a remote location; and

(b) an electronic key for activating said monitoring device, wherein said monitoring device is provided with means for transmitting at least one signal to said monitoring center for notifying said monitoring center of the container'"'"'s location and recording all activities for that container, with means for triggering an alarm event at the monitoring center and wherein said monitoring center for monitoring signals received by a communications system from each monitoring device, comprises report generating means for all activities for each container provided with the monitoring device, and wherein said monitoring center provides early notification to authorized parties in the event of an alarm.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said monitoring center provides monitoring services and early notification at any one of the following locations:

a port of origin, a domestic port, a port of disembarkation, or on land.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications system comprises of a satellite system in a network.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said satellite system may include one of the following:

a geosynchronous or low earth orbit satellite.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said lock box is formed from a rigid and waterproof material for preventing inadvertent activation of the monitoring device and wherein said lock box further protects the monitoring device from water penetration.

6. A system of communicating with a monitoring center comprising of:

(a) a first monitoring device which transmits data via a transmission means by systematically polling other neighboring monitoring devices'"'"' receiving means for information concerning their access to a satellite network system;

(b) a satellite network system, wherein said first monitoring device locates at least a second monitoring device with access to said satellite network system;

(c) determining a relay path of transmission for the most direct route to satellite network system from the first monitoring device to another monitoring device which has direct access to a satellite; and

(d) means for transmitting data from the first monitoring device to at least one alternate receiving means in another monitoring device, wherein said means provides data concerning the first monitoring device so that the data can be transmitted to the monitoring center.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said means for transmitting data is a short range wireless protocol.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said short range wireless protocol includes any one of the following:

Bluetooth, Zigbee, 802.11 series.

16. The system of claim 6, wherein said short range wireless protocol includes any one of the following:

Bluetooth, Zigbee, 802.11 series.

9. A method for countering terrorism comprising:

(a) registering an importer or exporter with a monitoring center at a remote location based on a unique identifier that is provided for a monitoring device, said monitoring device also having an electronic key for activation, and wherein said monitoring device is housed in a lock box on a container;

(b) transmitting at least one signal by said monitoring device to a monitoring center thereby notifying the monitoring center of a shipping container'"'"'s location and recording all activities for that container, wherein said monitoring center comprises of means for triggering an alarm event at the monitoring center; and

(c) monitoring signals received by a communications system from each monitoring device that are transmitted to the monitoring center for, and report generating means for all activities for each container provided with the monitoring device, while providing early notification to authorized parties in the event of an alarm.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said monitoring services and early notification are provided at any one of the following locations:

a port of origin, a domestic port, a port of disembarkation, and on land.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the communications system comprises of a satellite system in a network.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said satellite system may include one of the following:

a geosynchronous or low earth orbit satellite.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein said lock box is formed from a rigid and waterproof material for preventing inadvertent activation of the monitoring device and wherein said lock box protects the monitoring device from water penetration.

14. A method of communicating with a monitoring center comprising the steps of:

(a) polling, by a first monitoring device, other neighboring monitoring devices'"'"' receiving means for information concerning their access to a satellite network system;

(b) locating a monitoring device with direct access to a satellite network system;

(c) determining a relay path of transmission for the most direct route to said satellite network system from the first monitoring device to another monitoring device which has direct access to a satellite; and

(d) transmitting data via a short range wireless protocol from the first monitoring device to at least one alternate receiving means in another monitoring device, providing data concerning the first monitoring device so that the data can be transmitted to the monitoring center.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said means for transmitting data is a short range wireless protocol.