Security monitoring system and method

• US 5,898,370 A
• Filed: 12/16/1997
• Issued: 04/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Reymond, Jean-Jacques
• Primary Examiner(s): SWANN III, GLEN R
• Application Number:
  US08/991,733
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572, 340/539, 340/540, 340/541, 340/572.1, 340/572.8
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/073 Special arrangements for circuits, e.g. for protecting identification code in memory protection against unauthorised use of computer memory G06F12/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07798 part of the antenna or the integrated circuit being adapted for rupturing or breaking, e.g. record carriers functioning as sealing devices for detecting not-authenticated opening of containers electronic seals G09F3/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2019/06253 for a specific application

Abstract

An arrangement for monitoring the security status of an object includes affixing to the object a passive two way communication circuit such as a frangible radio security tag or smart label. The tag or label, when operational, is arranged to receive a remotely generated request for status information and, responsive to the request, to transmit status information to a remote device. The radio tag or label is affixed to the object in a manner so that it is rendered inoperative if the object is tampered with. By remotely monitoring the status information on a periodic basis, the security of the object can thus be determined. The tag can include a circuit built on a substrate that is scored or otherwise rendered breakable along a predetermined axis or in a predetermined direction. This assures that when the object to which the radio tag is affixed is subject to authorized manipulation or tampering, critical components in the tag will in fact break. If desired, the radio tag can be incorporated into a label or other covering to make the radio tag inconspicuous.

Claims

1. A tamperproof security device for remotely monitoring the security status of an article, said device including:

a passive two way communication circuit for receiving a remotely generated request for status information and, responsive to said request, for transmitting said status information to a remote location; and

breakable substrate means for supporting said passive circuit and for support positioning the security device on said article so that said substrate is broken and said circuit is desabled when said article has been subject to tampering.

2. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein at least one critical component of said circuit is affixed to the breakable substrate.

3. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said two way communication is encrypted.

4. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said security device includes a memory.

5. The invention defined in claim 4 wherein said memory is arranged to store information indicating the date on which the circuit was last successfully operated.

6. The invention defined in claim 4 wherein said memory is arranged to store information relating to said remote location.

7. A method of monitoring an object to detect the occurrence of tampering with said object, the method including the steps of:

affixing a radio tag to said object; and

arranging said radio tag to respond to remotely generated status inquiry signals only if said object has not been tampered with.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said arranging step includes disabling the ability of said radio tag to respond only if said object has been tampered with.

9. A method of monitoring an article to detect the occurrence of tampering with said article, the method including the steps of:

arranging a radio tag so that the functionality of said radio tag is impaired if at least one component in said radio tag is broken; and

affixing said radio tag to said article, so that said component is broken when said article is tampered with.

10. A tamperproof security device for monitoring the security status of an article, said device including a multilayer structure including:

a first layer including a printable surface;

a second layer adjacent to said first layer and including a passive two way communication circuit for receiving a remotely generated request for status information and, responsive to said request, for transmitting said status information to a remote device; and

a third layer adjacent to said second layer and including a breakable backing.

11. A system for remotely monitoring the security status of an object, said system comprising:

a radio tag assembly;

means arranged to send messages to said radio tag assembly and, to receive responses from said radio tag assembly; and

means for affixing said radio tag assembly to said object so that said radio tag assembly does not respond to said messages when said object has been tampered with.

12. A method for remotely monitoring the security status of an object, said method comprising the steps of:

affixing a passive transponder to said object;

sending messages from a remote site to said transponder;

receiving messages from said transponder in said remote site when said transponder is operational; and

disabling said transponder from responding to messages from said remote site when said object has been tampered with.

13. A method of remotely monitoring the security status of an article, including the steps of:

receiving in a passive two way communication circuit, a remotely generated request for status information;

responsive to said request, transmitting said status information to a remote location; and

positioning the security device on said article so that said circuit is disabled when said article has been subject to tampering.