Secure cargo transportation system

• US 7,005,961 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2004
• Issued: 02/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Bates, Benjamin G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWN, VERNAL U
• Application Number:
  US10/903,851
• Publication Number:
  US 20050083172A1
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.73, 340/5.1, 340/5.2, 340/5.7, 340/5.21, 340/10.51, 340/5.5, 340/825.49, 340/539.13, 340/539.23, 340/542
• US Class Current: 340/5.73
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00825 remotely by lines or wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0092 for cargo, freight or shipping containers and applications therefore in general
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/63 Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00912 for safes, strong-rooms, vaults or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/33 by means of a password

Abstract

A method of controlling access to a movable container, the method comprising controllably locking the container using an electronically actuated locking mechanism; storing in a memory a desired geographical location; determining the geographical location of the container; and enabling the locking mechanism to unlock the container if the determined geographical location matches the desired geographical location. A secure cargo transportation system comprises a vehicle including an enclosure having an opening; a door movable relative to the opening between a closed position, wherein the door restricts access to the enclosure, and an open position; an electronically actuable lock configured to selectively lock or unlock the door relative to the enclosure; a memory supported by the vehicle and configured to store a location coordinate; and a global positioning system supported by the vehicle and coupled to the memory and to the lock, and configured to enable the lock to unlock the door if the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of the location coordinate.

Claims

1. A secure cargo transportation system comprising:

a movable container including an enclosure having an opening;

a door movable relative to the opening between a closed position, wherein the door restricts access to the enclosure, and an open position;

a lock selectively locking the door in the closed position;

a memory supported by the movable container and configured to store a location coordinate;

a position-determining system, supported by the movable container and coupled to the memory and configured to generate a signal in response to determining that the movable container is within a predetermined distance of the location coordinate, the lock being configured to unlock the door in response to the signal; and

a wireless receiver supported by the movable container and coupled to the memory and configured to transfer to the memory a location coordinate received from a transmitter spaced apart from the container.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the lock is electronically actuable.

3. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the electronic position-determining system includes the memory.

4. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the electronic position-determining system communicates with the lock via radio frequency to enable the lock to unlock the door in response to determining that the movable container is within a predetermined distance of the location coordinate.

5. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the electronic position-determining system is electrically hardwired to the lock.

6. A system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a microwave receiver supported by the movable container, coupled to the memory and configured to transfer to the memory a location coordinate received via microwave from a microwave transmitter.

7. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the electronic position-determining system comprises a processor configured to determine when the movable container is within a predetermined distance of the location coordinate.

8. A system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising an electronically actuable lock configured to selectively lock or unlock the door relative to the enclosure.

9. A system in accordance with claim 8, wherein the electronically actuable lock is configured to be actuable in response to a digital key.

10. A secure cargo transportation system comprising:

a movable container including an enclosure having an opening;

a door movable relative to the opening between a closed position and an open position;

a lock selectively locking the door in the closed position;

a position-determining system, supported by the movable container and including a memory configured to store a location coordinate, the position-determining system being configured to send a signal to unlock the door when the movable container is within a predetermined distance of the location coordinate; and

a wireless receiver supported by the movable container and coupled to the memory and configured to transfer to the memory a location coordinate received from a transmitter.

11. A system in accordance with claim 10 wherein the electronic position-determining system communicates with a locking mechanism configured to selectively lock and unlock the door relative to the enclosure via radio frequency commands, the electronic position-determining system being configured to enable the lock to unlock the door when the movable container is within a predetermined distance of the location coordinate.

12. A system in accordance with claim 10 wherein the electronic position-determining system is hardwired to the locking mechanism.

13. A system in accordance with claim 10, wherein the receiver is a microwave receiver configured to receive data transmitted at microwave frequencies.

14. A system in accordance with claim 10, wherein the electronic position-determining system comprises a processor configured to enable the lock to unlock the door when the movable container is within a predetermined distance of the location coordinate.

15. A secure cargo transportation system comprising:

a movable container including an enclosure having an opening;

a door movable relative to the opening between a closed position and an open position and being selectively locked and unlocked relative to the container when in the closed position; and

a communications device including an electronic position-determining system, supported by the movable container and coupled to the door, the communications device including a memory configured to store data representing a location, the communications device being configured to provide a signal to enable unlocking of the door when the movable container is within a predetermined distance of the location coordinate, the communications device being configured to receive the data via wireless communications.

16. A secure cargo transportation system in accordance with claim 15, wherein the communications device is configured to receive data at microwave frequencies.

17. A secure cargo transportation system in accordance with claim 15, wherein the enclosure is defined by a semi trailer.

18. A secure cargo transportation system in accordance with claim 15, wherein the communications device includes indicia for uniquely identifying the movable container with respect to other movable containers.

19. A secure cargo transportation system in accordance with claim 15, further comprising an electronically actuable lock configured to selectively lock or unlock the door relative to the enclosure in response to the communications device.

20. A secure cargo transportation system comprising:

a movable container including an enclosure having an opening;

a door movable relative to the opening between a closed position and an open position;

a memory supported to move with the movable container and configured to store a location coordinate;

an electronic position-determining system, supported to move with the movable container and coupled to the memory and configured to provide a signal to electronically unlock the door in response to determining that the movable container is within a predetermined distance of the location coordinate; and

a wireless receiver supported to move with the movable container and coupled to the memory and configured to transfer to the memory a location coordinate received from a remote transmitter.

21. A system in accordance with claim 20, further comprising an electronically actuable lock coupled to the door and responsive to the electronic position-determining system.

22. A system in accordance with claim 20, wherein the electronic position-determining system includes the memory.

23. A system in accordance with claim 20, wherein the electronic position-determining system communicates with the lock via radio frequency to enable the lock to unlock the door in response to determining that the movable container is within a predetermined distance of the location coordinate.

24. A system in accordance with claim 20, wherein the electronic position-determining system is electrically hardwired to the lock.

25. A system in accordance with claim 20, further comprising a microwave receiver supported by the movable container, coupled to the memory and configured to transfer to the memory a location coordinate received via microwave from a microwave transmitter.

26. A system in accordance with claim 20, wherein the electronic position-determining system comprises a processor configured to determine when the movable container is within a predetermined distance of the location coordinate.

27. A system in accordance with claim 20, further comprising an electronically actuable lock configured to selectively lock or unlock the door relative to the enclosure.

28. A system in accordance with claim 27, wherein the electronically actuable lock is configured to be actuable in response to a digital key.

29. A secure cargo transportation system comprising:

a movable container including an enclosure having an opening;

a door movable relative to the opening between a closed position and an open position;

an electronic position-determining system, supported to move with the movable container and including a memory configured to store a location coordinate, the electronic position-determining system being configured to effect selective locking and unlocking of the door relative to the enclosure, and to effect unlocking of the door when the movable container is within a predetermined distance of the location coordinate; and

a wireless receiver supported to move with the movable container and coupled to the memory and configured to transfer to the memory a location coordinate received from a transmitter.

30. A system in accordance with claim 29 wherein the electronic position-determining system communicates with a locking mechanism configured to selectively lock and unlock the door relative to the enclosure via radio frequency commands, the electronic position-determining system being configured to enable the lock to unlock the door when the movable container is within a predetermined distance of the location coordinate.

31. A system in accordance with claim 29, wherein the electronic position-determining system is hardwired to the locking mechanism.

32. A system in accordance with claim 29, wherein the receiver is a microwave receiver configured to receive data transmitted at microwave frequencies.

33. A system in accordance with claim 29, wherein the electronic position-determining system comprises a processor configured to enable the lock to unlock the door when the movable container is within a predetermined distance of the location coordinate.

34. A secure cargo transportation system comprising:

a movable container including an enclosure having an opening;

a door movable relative to the opening between a closed position and an open position; and

a communications device including an electronic position-determining system, supported to move with the movable container and coupled to the door, the communications device including a memory configured to store data representing a location, the communications device enabling unlocking of the door when the movable container is within a predetermined distance of the location coordinate, the communications device being configured to receive the data via wireless communications.

35. A secure cargo transportation system in accordance with claim 34, wherein the communications device is configured to receive data at a microwave frequency.

36. A secure cargo transportation system in accordance with claim 34, wherein the enclosure is defined by a semi trailer.

37. A secure cargo transportation system in accordance with claim 34, wherein the communications device includes indicia for uniquely identifying the movable container with respect to other movable containers.

38. A secure cargo transportation system in accordance with claim 34, further comprising an electronically actuable lock configured to selectively lock or unlock the door relative to the enclosure in response to commands from the device.