Security intelligence tracking anti-terrorist system

• US 6,973,385 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2003
• Issued: 12/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Henry B. Ulrich
• Original Assignee: Henry B. Ulrich
• Inventors: Ulrich, Henry B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Gary
• Application Number:
  US10/680,005
• Publication Number:
  US 20050154527A1
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 701/207, 701/213, 342/357.07, 705/28, 340/10.1, 340/572.1, 340/572.3, 340/572.4, 340/572.8, 340/572.9
• US Class Current: 701/207
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/025 Coordination of plural reservations, e.g. plural trip segments, transportation combined with accommodation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

The invention is a method and system for continuously tracking the movement of cargo in domestic and international shipping from point of departure to point of destination and to prevent hijacking of the same. The system uses one or more wireless electronic seals which can communicate with a central computer system, such as by satellite, providing the current location of the cargo at regular intervals or upon demand. The electronic seals are provided with a unique identification number and are activated upon locking of the seal to the closed cargo container. During shipment, the seal transmits its location to the central computer which compares the location of the shipment to a calculated expected route, notifying the parties to the shipment and government authorities in the event that the cargo is found to deviate from the expected route. The electronic seal is also capable of signaling the central computer when the cargo is opened. If the opening is premature, a second seal hidden within the cargo can be activated to enable tracking of the cargo. The system also provides a consolidated, verifiable record of the shipping history of a shipment which can facilitate government clearance and inspections of potentially dangerous cargo.

Claims

1. A method for tracking the movement of cargo during shipment from a shipper having a first location defined by a latitude and a longitude to a consignee having a second location differing from said first location and defined by a second latitude and a second longitude said method comprising the steps of:

a) generating a routing guide stored on a computer system, said routing guide representing an expected path from the first location to the second location, said path being defined by a continuous series of expected locations each defined by an expected latitude, an expected longitude and an expected time;

b) establishing at least one tolerance level for each of said expected locations defined by a maximum absolute distance from a corresponding expected location, each of said at least one tolerance level associated with a shipment condition;

c) attaching an electronic seal to said cargo, said electronic seal capable of transmitting an actual location of said cargo to said computer system at a plurality of discrete times;

d) comparing at one of said plurality of discrete times said actual location to the one of said expected locations having an expected time which corresponds to said one of said plurality of discrete times;

e) calculating the actual absolute distance of the actual location of the cargo to the expected location of the cargo;

f) establishing said shipment condition by comparing said actual absolute distance to said maximum absolute distance; and

g) communicating said condition to at least one of said shipper and said consignee.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said electronic seal transmits said actual location to said computer system via satellite.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of creating a booking record associated with said computer system, the booking record containing the origin and destination of said cargo and the identity of carriers and location of interchanges in the cargo, said routing guide being generated based upon the contents of the booking record.

4. A system for monitoring the shipment of cargo from a shipper having a first location defined by a latitude and a longitude to a consignee having a second location differing from said first location and defined by a second latitude and a second longitude, comprising:

a) a computer system having routing guide associated therewith, said routing guide having a plurality of way points, each of said way points defined by an expected latitude, an expected longitude and a unique time at which the cargo is expected at said way point;

b) at least one electronic seal attached to said cargo, said seal comprising a means for detecting its current location defined by a latitude and a longitude, a means for detecting the opening of the cargo and a means for periodic two-way wireless communication of data between said seal and said computer system;

wherein

said computer system periodically receives data from said electronic seal indicating the location of said cargo and wherein said computer system compares said data to said routing guide to determine the condition of said cargo during shipment.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said data transmitted by said at least one electronic seal includes a signal transmitted to said computer system, initiated by said electronic seal upon closure of said cargo.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said data transmitted by said at least one electronic seal includes a signal transmitted to said computer system, initiated by said electronic seal upon opening of said cargo.

7. The system of claim 4 further comprising a second electronic seal hidden within said cargo, said second electronic seal having circuitry for receiving data from said at least one electronic seal and means for communication with said computer system, said second electronic seal being activated upon opening of said cargo.