Bar code security system

• US 5,298,725 A
• Filed: 12/15/1992
• Issued: 03/29/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Fischer, Harold R.
• Primary Examiner(s): PITTS, HAROLD I
• Application Number:
  US07/990,910
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 235/382, 235/375, 235/472
• US Class Current: 235/382
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06028 using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2019/06253 for a specific application
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/20 Checking timed patrols, e.g. of watchman

Abstract

A security management system that utilizes bar codes to document inspections made by security officers at various areas being inspected. The system includes software, data scanners, data transmitters, a personal computer and noncopiable bar code labels. Noncopiable bar code labels are placed on security padlocks used to secure lock bar cabinets, on safes containing classified material and on secure area entrances and exits. When making the security rounds, the security officer will scan the bar code label on the padlock, safe or secure area entrance or exit. Later this information is processed by computer to generate a report showing the date, time and location of the inspection, and the identity of the inspecting officer.

Claims

1. A security management system for efficiently recording and memorializing security information relating to the storage of classified information comprising:

a noncopiable bar code label, a data scanner for scanning said bar code label, a personal computer, a data transmitter for transmitting data from said data scanner to said personal computer,

said bar code label being affixed to a surface area located near a locking means, said locking means being used to secure an area containing classified material wherein the location of said locking means corresponds to said bar code label,

said data scanner for recording the time and date that a particular bar code label was scanned and said data scanner also for recording the identity of the security officer making the scan,

said personal computer for generating a report that shows the date of the inspection, the time of the inspection, the location inspected and the identity of the inspecting officer.

2. The security management system of claim 1 wherein said locking means is a padlock and said bar code label is affixed to said padlock.

3. The security management system of claim 1 wherein said locking means is a safe and said bar code label is affixed to said safe.

4. The security management system of claim 1 wherein said locking means is a door with a lock and said bar code label is affixed to said door.

5. The security management system of claim 1 including

a bar code incident sheet for use by a security officer when making his rounds wherein the officer, after identifying a security violation, can record that violation by referring to and scanning the bar code on the bar code incident sheet that corresponds to the particular security violation.

6. The security management system of claim 2 including

a bar code incident sheet for use by a security officer when making his rounds wherein the officer, after identifying a security violation, can record that violation by referring to and scanning the bar code on the bar code incident sheet that corresponds to the particular security violation.

7. The security management system of claim 3 including

a bar code incident sheet for use by a security officer when making his rounds wherein the officer, after identifying a security violation, can record that violation by referring to and scanning the bar code on the bar code incident sheet that corresponds to the particular security violation.

8. The security management system of claim 4 including

a bar code incident sheet for use by a security officer when making his rounds wherein the officer, after identifying a security violation, can record that violation by referring to and scanning the bar code on the bar code incident sheet that corresponds to the particular security violation.

9. A method for efficiently recording and memorializing security information relating to the storage of classified information comprising the steps of:

affixing a noncopiable bar code label to a member used to secure an area containing classified material, said member corresponds to the bar code label attached to said member,

scanning said bar code label and recording the time and date that the bar code label was scanned and also recording the identity of the security officer making the scan,

recording security violations as they occur by scanning a bar code label that corresponds to the particular security violation,

downloading the scanned information in said data scanner through a data transmitter to a personal computer, and

generating a report that shows the date of the inspection, the time of the inspection, the location inspected, the identity of the inspecting officer and any security violation that occurred at the location inspected.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the member is a padlock used to secure a lock bar cabinet,

said padlock having a serial number which corresponds to the bar code label attached to said padlock.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the member is a safe,

said safe having a serial number which corresponds to the bar code label attached to said safe.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the member is a door with a lock and wherein the location of said door corresponds to the bar code label attached to said door.