SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ALERTING UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS INTO A CONTAINER

• US 20180082553A1
• Filed: 06/03/2016
• Published: 03/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cerovene Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cerovene Incorporated
• Inventors: DIFALCO, Richard J., SHAH, Manish S.
• Granted Patent: US 11,059,630 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/02 Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents thermally-insulated containers B65D81/38, A47J41/00; feeding-bottles A61J9/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/12 Audible, olfactory or visual signalling means B65D51/248, B65D55/028, B65D79/02 and B65D81/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2401/00 Tamper-indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 41/00 Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper B65D45/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/02 Removable lids or covers with means for piercing, cutting, or tearing a frangible inner closure B65D51/22
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/26 Mechanisms for opening or closing, e.g. pedal-operated for refuse receptacles B65F1/1623
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 55/02 Locking devices; Means for discouraging or indicating unauthorised opening or removal of closure B65D41/32 takes precedence; protective covers for bottles B65D23/08; protective cap-like outer covers for bottle or jar closures B65D41/62; pressure-applying means B65D45/00; closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal of closures B65D50/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/08 by opening, e.g. of door, of window, of drawer, of shutter, of curtain, of blind
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/14 by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1436 with motion detection

Abstract

The present disclosure provides devices, systems and methods for monitoring unauthorized access into a container or bottle, and alerting the authorized user, or someone designated by the authorized user, of any unauthorized access.

Claims

1. A container or bottle for storing one or more substances prescribed to or procured by an authorized user, comprising:

a motion detection device configured to detect movement or displacement of the container or bottle;

an opening trigger detection device configured to detect when a lid or cap is at least partially removed from the container or bottle; and

a transmitter in communication with the motion detection device and the opening trigger detection device, the transmitter being configured to transmit an alert to one or both of a remote device or an alert system via a network in response to one or both of the motion detection device detecting a movement or displacement of the container or bottle, or the opening trigger detection device detecting the lid or cap being at least partially removed from the container or bottle.

2. The container or bottle of claim 1, wherein:

the lid or cap is a removably attached part of the container or bottle, and

one or more of the motion detection device, the opening trigger detection device, or the transmitter are positioned in the lid or cap.

3. The container or bottle of claim 1, further comprising an illumination device configured to generate a visual indication that the container or bottle has been at least partially opened once within a pre-determined period of time, the visual indication being generated in response to the opening trigger detection device detecting the lid or cap being at least partially removed from the container or bottle.

4. The container or bottle of claim 3, wherein the pre-determined period of time is 24 hours.

5. The container or bottle of claim 1, wherein the remote device includes a mobile device associated with the authorized user.

6. The container or bottle of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is configured to wirelessly transmit the alert via the network using a relay providing wireless service to the network.

7. The container or bottle of claim 1, further comprising:

an identification device configured to receive an identifier of a user attempting to access the one or more substances stored in the container or bottle; and

a processing device in communication with the identification device, the processing device being configured to determine whether the identifier of the user attempting to access the one or more substances stored in the container or bottle matches an identifier of the authorized user,

the transmitter being in communication with the motion detection device, the opening trigger detection device, and the processing device, and the transmitter being configured to transmit the alert to one or both of the remote device or the alert system via the network in response to one or more of the motion detection device detecting a movement or displacement of the container or bottle, the opening trigger detection device detecting the lid or cap being at least partially removed from the container or bottle, or the processing device determining that the identifier of the user attempting to access the one or more substances stored in the container or bottle does not match the identifier of the authorized user.

8. The container or bottle of claim 7, further comprising a receiver configured to receive the identifier of the authorized user from a database.

9. The container or bottle of claim 7, wherein the identification device includes one or both of a keypad or a sensor.

10. The container or bottle of claim 9, wherein the sensor is a biometric sensor that includes one of a fingerprint sensor, a voice sensor, a retinal sensor, an iris sensor, or a facial recognition sensor.

11. A method of detecting unauthorized use of a container or bottle, comprising:

receiving a first indication that the container or bottle has been moved or displaced from a stationary position; and

transmitting a second indication to a remote device via a network, the second indication being transmitted to communicate to a user associated with the remote device that the container or bottle has been moved or displaced from the stationary position.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the remote device includes a mobile device and the user associated with the remote device is an authorized user.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein transmitting the second indication includes wirelessly transmitting an alert via the network using a relay providing wireless service to the network.

14. A method of detecting unauthorized use of a container or bottle, comprising:

receiving a first indication that the container or bottle has been moved or displaced from a stationary position;

receiving a second indication that a lid or cap is at least partially removed from the container or bottle;

receiving an identifier of a user attempting to access one or more substances stored in the container or bottle;

determining, via processing device, whether the identifier of the user attempting to access the one or more substances stored in the container or bottle matches an identifier of an authorized user; and

transmitting a third indication to a remote device via a network, the third indication being transmitted to communicate to a user associated with the remote device that one or more of the first indication is received, the second indication is received, or the identifier of the user attempting to access the one or more substances stored in the container or bottle is determined not to match the identifier of the authorized user.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the remote device includes a mobile device and the user associated with the remote device is an authorized user.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein transmitting the third indication includes wirelessly transmitting an alert via the network using a relay providing wireless service to the network.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the identifier is a biometric identifier that includes one or more of fingerprint data, iris data, retinal data, voice data, and facial data.

18. A lid or cap configured to be removably attached to a container or bottle that stores one or more substances prescribed to or procured by an authorized user, comprising:

a motion detection device configured to detect movement or displacement of the lid or cap when attached to the container or bottle;

an opening trigger detection device configured to detect when a lid or cap is at least partially removed from the container or bottle; and

a transmitter in communication with the motion detection device and the opening trigger detection device, the transmitter being configured to transmit an alert to one or both of a remote device or an alert system via a network in response to one or both of the motion detection device detecting a movement or displacement of the lid or cap when attached to the container or bottle, or the opening trigger detection device detecting the lid or cap being at least partially removed from the container or bottle.