Secure Document Destruction Bin

• US 20120247984A1
• Filed: 04/04/2012
• Published: 10/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Numerex Corporation (Sierra Wireless Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Numerex Corporation (Sierra Wireless Incorporated)
• Inventors: Jansson, Edward, Smith, Jeffrey O.
• Application Number:
  US13/439,384
• Publication Number:
  US 20120247984A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/216
• CPC Class Codes: B02C 18/0007 specially adapted for disintegrating documents
• CPC Class Codes: B02C 18/16 Details
• CPC Class Codes: B02C 2018/0046 Shape or construction of frames, housings or casings
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/14 Other constructional features; Accessoriesholders or carriers for hand articles A45F5/00; fastening devices E05C
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1468 Means for facilitating the transport of the receptacle, e.g. wheels, rolls hand-operated refuse vehicles B65F3/005
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1473 Receptacles having wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1607 with filling openings
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1615 with means for locking, fastening or permanently closing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/1121 Apertures
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/128 Data transmitting means
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/1443 Electrical
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/168 Sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2240/1562 confidential
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/00 Identifying, scaring or incapacitating burglars, thieves or intruders, e.g. by explosives
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/64 Paper recycling

Abstract

A secure document bin is described that includes a bin having a lid that securely affixes to the bin to prevent unauthorized access to the contents of the bin, and an electronics module associated with the bin. The electronics module is formed in part by a location detection circuit and status sensors. The status sensors include a sensor to detect movement of the bin, a sensor to detect tampering with the bin, and a sensor to detect a relative fill level of the bin. The location and status of the secure document destruction bin is monitored by a monitoring center using wireless transmissions from the secure document destruction bin.

Claims

1. A secure document bin comprising:

a bin having a lid that securely affixes to the bin to prevent unauthorized access to the contents of the bin; and

an electronics module associated with the bin, the electronics module including a location detection circuit and status sensors, wherein the status sensors including a sensor to detect movement of the bin, a sensor to detect tampering with the bin and a sensor to detect a relative fill level of the bin, wherein the location and status of the secure document destruction bin is monitored by a monitoring center using wireless transmissions from the secure document destruction bin.

2. The bin of claim 1 wherein the electronics module further comprises a call button, the call button operable to send a service notice to the bin'"'"'s service provider.

3. The bin of claim 1 wherein the tamper sensor is a contact sensor between the lid and the bin.

4. The bin of claim 1 wherein the location detection circuit is a GPS module.

5. The bin of claim 1 wherein the wireless transmissions to the monitoring center are cellular transmissions;

6. The bin of claim 1 wherein the wireless transmissions to the monitoring center are data network transmissions.

7. A secure document bin comprising:

a bin having a lid securely affixed to the bin;

the lid including a slot to allow the insertion of documents into the bin;

a location determination module operable to determine the location of bin;

a tamper sensor operable to detect the relationship of the lid to the bin;

a motion sensor operable to detect movement of the bin;

a fill sensor operable to monitor the level of documents inside the bin, wherein the state of the tamper sensor, the motion sensor and the fill sensor reflect a status of the bin; and

communications electronics associated with the bin, the communications electronics operable to send the location of the bin and the status of the bin to a monitoring center remote from the bin.

8. The bin of claim 7 wherein the location determination module, the tamper sensor, the motion sensor, the fill sensor, and the communications electronics comprise an electronics module.

9. The bin of claim 8 wherein the electronics module is integral to the bin.

10. The bin of claim 8 wherein the electronics module is securely attached to the bin.

11. The bin of claim 7 wherein the electronics module further comprises a call button, the call button operable to send a service notice to the bin'"'"'s service provider.

12. The bin of claim 7 wherein the tamper sensor is a contact sensor between the lid and the bin.

13. The bin of claim 7 wherein the location detection circuit is a GPS module.

14. The bin of claim 7 wherein the wireless transmissions to the monitoring center are cellular transmissions;

15. The bin of claim 7 wherein the wireless transmissions to the monitoring center are data network transmissions.

16. A method of monitoring a secure document bin, the method comprising:

periodically determining the location of the bin using a location determination module attached to the bin;

monitoring a status of the bin, the status including the states of a tamper sensor operable to detect the relationship of the lid to the bin, a motion sensor operable to detect movement of the bin, and a fill sensor operable to monitor the level of documents inside the bin; and

periodically reporting the location and the status of the bin to a monitoring center.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the location detection circuit is a GPS module.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the wireless transmissions to the monitoring center are cellular transmissions;

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the wireless transmissions to the monitoring center are data network transmissions.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the periodic reporting of the location and status is done in response to a query from the monitoring center.