Cognitive intelligence carrying case

• US 6,275,151 B1
• Filed: 01/11/2000
• Issued: 08/14/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Gehlot, Narayan Lal
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US09/481,076
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 340/541, 340/550, 340/692, 340/568.1, 340/825.34, 340/825.31, 340/5.2, 340/5.3, 340/5.7, 340/5.8, 340/5.81, 340/5.82, 340/5.83, 340/5.84, 241/36, 109/29, 109/32, 109/33, 109/35, 109/36, 109/37
• US Class Current: 340/541
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/86 Secure or tamper-resistant housings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss

Abstract

A cognitive intelligent carrying case includes an outer shell layer and a plurality of internal layers defining corresponding interior compartments for storing a variety of specific types of items. The outer shell layer includes access type security systems for authenticating the identity of an individual attempting to access the contents of the case. Each of the internal layers includes one or more security systems operable to destroy the specific items contained in the corresponding compartment. In addition, the case includes communication systems that enable communication with authorized users and/or an owner of the case and which enable the locating of the case when such location information is required. When unauthorized access attempts to the case are detected, the location of the case is determined through an onboard GPS system and the owner of the case is contacted. In the event that the owner cannot be contacted or is contacted and provides the requisite instructions, the security systems are activated to destroy the stored contents of the case.

Claims

1. A carrying case comprising:

an outer shell layer;

a plurality of internal layers within said outer shell layer and each defining a corresponding compartment contained within the outer shell for receiving and storing a plurality of different types of items within said compartments;

at least one security system disposed in each of said outer shell layer and said each of the plural internal layers, each of said at least one security systems in said plural internal layers being adapted to destroy a specific one of the different types of items that is storable in the corresponding compartment, and wherein said at least one security system in said outer shell layer is operable to detect attempts to open and thereby access the case and to authenticate a user'"'"'s authority to access the case;

a plurality of communication systems disposed in at least one of said plural internal layers, said communication systems being adapted to communicate with an authority having rights of determination over the carrying case; and

processing means connected to each of said security and communication systems for controlling said systems and thereby controlling access to the case.

2. The carrying case in accordance with claim 1, wherein said outer shell layer comprises a cut-resistant material and said at least one security system in said outer shell layer comprises a device selected from a group consisting of pressure sensors, cut sensors, dent sensors, fingerprint sensors, eye cornea sensors, and speech recognition locking mechanisms.

3. The carrying case in accordance with claim 1, wherein said outer shell layer further comprises a speaker adapted to provide the user with voice instructions and to broadcast emergency alerts to an environment surrounding the case.

4. The carrying case in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least one security system in said at least one internal layer comprises a document destruction system.

5. The carrying case in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least one security system in said at least one internal layer comprises a magnetic media destruction system.

6. The carrying case in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least one communication system comprises a geographic positioning system.

7. The carrying case in accordance with claim 6, wherein said at least one communication system comprises an antenna set disposed in one of said plural internal layers.

8. The carrying case in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least one communication system comprises a wireless communication system.

9. The carrying case in accordance with claim 8, wherein said wireless communication system comprises a system selected from a group consisting of a cellular communication system and a global system for communication.

10. The carrying case in accordance with claim 1, wherein said processing means comprises a motherboard disposed in one of said plural internal layers and having processing and memory capabilities.

11. The carrying case in accordance with claim 1, wherein one of said plural internal layers comprises a battery power source for providing power to all security and communication systems contained within the case.

12. The carrying case in accordance with claim 11, wherein one of said plural internal layers comprises a connector for connecting the case to an external computer for use in configuring the carrying case for operation with a particular one or more users.

13. A method for implementing security functions of a security carrying case comprising the steps of:

registering an authorized user for the security carrying case by requiring the authorized user to input at least one of a plurality of pieces of identification;

detecting an attempt to access the security carrying case by an individual;

determining whether the individual attempting to access the case is an authorized user by requiring an identification input from the individual;

determining a current location of the security carrying case during an attempted access to the case using an on-board geographic positioning system;

monitoring the environment surrounding the determined location using the security carrying case during an attempted access to the case to determine whether the surrounding environment is safe to grant access to an authorized user;

granting access to the security carrying case when the user attempting to access is determined to be an authorized user and the monitored environment is determined to be safe; and

initiating operation of security systems and access-preventing procedures of the security carrying case when at least one of a predetermined unauthorized access attempt is made and the monitored environment is determined to be unsafe.