Electronic monitoring apparatus

• US 6,281,793 B1
• Filed: 08/30/1999
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Capital Bank, NA, Hi-G-Tek, Inc. (Eagle Technologies, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Hi-G-Tek, Ltd.
• Inventors: Auerbach, Michael, Haimovich, Yosef, Armoni, Yehuda
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US09/385,340
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 340/545.1, 340/542, 340/545.6, 340/687
• US Class Current: 340/545.1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0329 having electronic sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0352 using cable lock

Abstract

Electronic monitoring apparatus including an object to be protected, an electronic seal body integrally formed with the object to be protected, an electronic seal wire attachable to the seal body, the seal wire having an electrical signature which is not readable without disengagement of the seal wire from the seal body, and electronic seal circuitry in electrical communication with the seal wire which senses a change in the electrical signature.

Claims

1. Electronic monitoring apparatus comprising:

an object to be protected;

an electronic seal body integrally formed with said object to be protected;

an electronic seal wire attachable to said seal body, said seal wire having an electrical signature which is not readable without disengagement of the seal wire from the seal body; and

electronic seal circuitry in electrical communication with said seal wire which senses a change in said electrical signature resulting from disengagement of said seal wire from said seal body.

2. A method for protecting an object comprising:

integrally forming an electronic seal body with an object to be protected;

providing an electronic seal wire separately from said seal body;

attaching said electronic seal wire to said seal body, said seal wire having an electrical signature which is not readable without disengagement or the seal wire from the seal body; and

sensing a change in said electrical signature resulting from disengagement of said seal wire from said seal body.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein said electronic seal body is formed with the object by a manufacturer of the object and said electronic seal wire is provided to a user of the object.

4. The method according to claim 2 and further comprising communicating with at least one of said electronic seal body and said electronic seal wire by means of encrypted communication.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein said encrypted communication comprises a mutual zero-knowledge interaction authentication session.