System and method to enhance security of shipping containers
First Claim
1. A shipping container breach detection system comprising:
- a shipping container;
a breach detection system (BDS) integrated into the shipping container and including a record;
at least one reporting station for receiving record data from the BDS; and
a monitoring station in network communication with the at least one reporting station,the BDS comprising a local timer adapted to contribute a time value to the record when the shipping container is sealed and further adapted to contribute a revised time value to the record when the integrity of the container is breached and the monitoring station comprising a corresponding master timer synchronized with the local timer of the BDS.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for enhancing the security of containers and the goods within them and for tracking a shipping container from its origin to its destination. A shipping container uses a breach containment system comprising a transmitter, a receiver, a processor, a status record and a plurality of conductors to detect any breach of the shipping container structure. The conductors are embedded in, or applied to, the structures that form the shipping container and are connected a processor. The processor maintains a local timer. Upon the sealing of the shipping container, the conductors form circuits and the local timer contributes a time value to the status record. An open circuit condition experienced by circuits formed by the conductors causes the local timer to be reset and status record to be revised to reflect the revised time value. A monitoring station maintains a master timer that is synchronized with the local timer when the shipping container is sealed. If the integrity of the shipping container is breached, the local timer value and the master timer value will be different indicating that a breach has occurred. The present invention also provides for reporting of the content of the status record to reporting stations for forwarding to a monitoring station.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A shipping container breach detection system comprising:
-
a shipping container; a breach detection system (BDS) integrated into the shipping container and including a record; at least one reporting station for receiving record data from the BDS; and a monitoring station in network communication with the at least one reporting station, the BDS comprising a local timer adapted to contribute a time value to the record when the shipping container is sealed and further adapted to contribute a revised time value to the record when the integrity of the container is breached and the monitoring station comprising a corresponding master timer synchronized with the local timer of the BDS. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 18)
-
-
9. A method for detecting a breach in the integrity of a shipping container comprising:
-
integrating a breach detection system (BDS) into a shipping container; sealing the container; setting a local timer in the BDS upon the sealing of the container to contribute a time value to a record; synchronizing a corresponding master timer at a monitoring station with the local timer; revising the time value in the record when the integrity of the container is breached; transmitting the record to a reporting station; and communicating the record from the reporting station to the monitoring station over a network. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20)
-
Specification