Global intelligent remote detection system

• US 7,012,520 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2003
• Issued: 03/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InfrAegis, Inc.
• Original Assignee: InfrAegis, Inc.
• Inventors: Webb, Gregory E. Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US10/464,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20040257225A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,001 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.13, 340/568.1, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/568.2, 340/572.1, 340/988, 340/989, 340/539.26, 348/143
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/08 by opening, e.g. of door, of window, of drawer, of shutter, of curtain, of blind
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/196 using television cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/12 responsive to undesired emission of substances, e.g. pollution alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/00 Alarm systems in which the location of the alarm condition is signalled to a central station, e.g. fire or police telegraphic systems

Abstract

A security system and method for monitoring a security status of fixed and mobile assets. The security system comprises an agent connected with the asset. The agent includes a receiver for receiving; a sensing device for monitoring a security of the asset; a processor for compiling the a security data to generate a security status; and a wireless transceiver for transmitting data to a master control unit. The master control unit retransmits the security status to an global operations center for processing the security status to detect a security threat. In response to a security threat, the global operations center initiates and action or counter measure. For mobile assets the security system also tracks a location of the asset as the is transported between a shipper'"'"'s loading dock and a designated distribution center, including an origination port and a destination port. For fixed agents, the security system includes an interface for interfacing an existing security device to the master control unit.

Claims

1. A security system for monitoring a plurality of assets comprising:

a plurality of agents, each one of said plurality of agents connected with an asset, each said plurality of agents comprising;

a sensor for monitoring a physical condition of the corresponding one of said plurality of assets;

a processor for collecting and processing the physical condition data to produce an asset security data;

a communication device for transmitting and receiving data; and

a wireless communication channel for communicating between the plurality of agents via a virtual network, wherein one of the plurality of agents is assigned as a primary agent to receive the plurality of asset security data from the plurality of agents and transmit the plurality of asset security data to the master control unit;

a master control unit for receiving the plurality of asset security data from the plurality of agents; and

a global operations center in communication with the master control unit for receiving the plurality of asset security data retransmitted from the master control unit and analyzing the plurality of asset security data to detect a security threat.

2. A security system as in claim 1 wherein said sensor comprises a sensor selected from the group consisting of:

door sensor for sensing an opening of a door connected with said asset and signaling the agent when the door has been opened;

a light-sensing devise within said asset for sensing a luminescence level within said asset;

an air sensor for sensing an ambient air within said asset to detect a chemical within range of the asset; and

a biological detector for detecting a biological material within range of said asset.

3. The security system of claim 1 said sensor comprises a radiation detector for detecting a radioactive material within a close proximity to said asset.

4. The security system of claim 1 wherein another one of the plurality of agents is assigned as a secondary agent to receive the plurality of asset security data from the plurality of agents and transmit the plurality of asset security data to the master control unit when the primary agent fails.

5. The security system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of assets are mobile asset in transit from a shippers loading dock to a designated destination following a predetermined route, the predetermined route including an origination port and a destination port, the agent further comprising a receiver for receiving a position data from a satellite.

6. The security system of claim 5 wherein said master control unit is an onboard master control unit, the onboard master control unit further comprising:

a receiver for receiving a location data from a satellite, wherein the onboard master control unit receives the plurality of asset security data and compiles the plurality of asset security data and the location data for transmission to the global operations center.

7. The security system of claim 5 wherein the system further comprises:

a memory for storing information regarding a predetermined route for said mobile asset; and

wherein

one of said agent, said onboard maser control unit, and said global operations center includes a comparator system for comparing said location data to said predetermined route.

8. The security system of claim 5 and further comprising:

a loading master control unit at said shipper'"'"'s loading dock; and

an electronic inventory device in communication with the loading master control unit for automatically inventorying a cargo loaded into the mobile asset, wherein an inventory data is sent to the loading master control unit to generate a manifest that is uploaded to the one of the plurality of agents connected with the one of the plurality of mobile assets being loaded and the global operations center.

9. The security system of claim 5 and further comprising:

an origination port master control unit at the origination port and in communication with said plurality of agents, wherein said plurality of agents transmit their manifest and asset security data to the origination port master control unit.

10. The security system of claim 5 and further comprising:

a destination master control unit at the destination port, wherein the onboard master control unit notifies the destination master control unit which plurality of containers it is carrying and uploads the manifest and the security status from the plurality of agents to the destination port master control unit.

11. The security system of claim 1 wherein the asset is a fixed asset, the system further comprising:

an output device for responding to a detected security threat, and wherein one of said agent, said master control unit and said global operations center includes a response process for responding to the detected security threat.

12. The security system of claim 11 wherein said output device controls an operation of a door.

13. The security system of claim 11 wherein said output device controls an operation of a lighting system.

14. The security system of claim 11 wherein said output device controls an operation of a ventilation system.

15. The security system of claim 11 wherein said output device control an operation of a power distribution system.

16. The security system of claim 11 wherein said output device controls an operation of a computer network.

17. The security system of claim 11 wherein said output device is a radiation detector for producing nuclear radiation data indicative of nuclear radiation in said fixed asset.

18. The security system of claim 11 further comprising:

an interface for interfacing an existing security device to the master control unit.

19. A method for monitoring a security of an asset, the method comprising:

activating an agent connected with said asset;

said agent, monitoring a security status of the asset;

said agent, transmitting the security status from the agent to a master control unit;

retransmitting the security status from the master control unit to a global operations center; and

processing the security status at the global operations center to detect a security threat;

wherein said asset is a mobile asset being transported over a predetermined route on a predetermined schedule from a loading dock to a designated distribution center, wherein the predetermined route includes transport between an origination port and a destination port, the method further comprising;

inventorying a cargo loaded into the mobile asset at the loading dock to generate a manifest corresponding to the mobile asset;

uploading the manifest to the mobile agent;

said mobile agent, transmitting the manifest to the master control unit; and

said master control unit, retransmitting the manifest to the global operations center.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein monitoring a security status comprises monitoring at least one of an area surrounding the asset and an interior of the asset.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein monitoring a security status comprises;

monitoring an environment within the asset to detect a threat therein; and

monitoring a physical condition of the asset to detect a tampering therewith.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein monitoring an environment comprises:

Sensing an ambient air within the asset to detect a chemical therein; and

signaling the agent when a chemical has been detected.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein monitoring an environment comprises:

sensing an ambient air within the asset to detect a biological matter therein; and

signaling the agent when a biological matter has been detected.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein monitoring an environment comprises:

Sensing an ambient air within the asset to detect an explosive therein, and signaling the agent when an explosive has been detected.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein monitoring an environment comprises:

sensing an ambient air within the asset to detect a radioactive material therein; and

producing a nuclear radiation data indicative of a radiation within the asset when the nuclear radiation has been detected; and

transmitting the nuclear radiation data to the agent.

26. The method of claim 21 wherein monitoring an environment comprises:

sensing an ambient air around the periphery of the asset to detect a radioactive material; and

producing a nuclear radiation data indicative of a radiation within the asset when a radiation has been detected; and

transmitting the nuclear radiation data to the agent.

27. The method of claim 21 wherein said monitoring an environment within said asset comprises recording a video of at least one of an interior of said asset and an area surrounding said asset.

28. The method of claim 21 wherein said monitoring an environment within said container comprises monitoring a temperature within said container.

29. The method of claim 21 wherein monitoring a physical condition comprises:

sensing an opening of a door connected with the asset; and

signaling the agent when the door has been opened.

30. The method of claim 19 wherein said wirelessly transmitting comprises:

compiling said security status to produce a status data;

encrypting said status data to generate a ciphertext; and

transmitting said ciphertext to said master control unit.

31. The method of claim 19 wherein said processing said security status comprises:

receiving said security status at the global operations center at intervals;

generating a threat analysis from the security status to detect said security threat; and

transmitting the security threat to at least one of an appropriate official and an appropriate agency.

32. The method of claim 19 wherein processing the security status and location data comprises generating a report from the received security status.

33. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

receiving a status report from said global operations center;

in response to receiving said status request, transmitting said security status from the agent to the master control unit; and

retransmitting said security status from the master control unit to the global operations center.

34. The method of claim 19 further comprising the master control unit interrogating the agent to determine a security status of the asset.

35. The method of claim 19 wherein processing the security status comprises:

generating a report from the received security status; and

transmitting the report to an appropriate official.

38. The method of claim 19 wherein activating an agent comprises:

installing the agent with the mobile asset;

initializing the installed agent; and

attaching a door security device to a mobile asset door, wherein the door security device notifies the agent of an opening of the mobile asset door.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein monitoring a security status comprises:

monitoring a location of the mobile asset to generate a location data; and

monitoring an environmental condition of the mobile asset to produce said security status.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein monitoring a location of the asset comprises:

receiving a GPS position data at a GPS receiver connected with the mobile agent to generate the location data; and

transmitting the location data to the master control unit.

41. The method of claim 39 wherein said processing comprises:

receiving said security status and location data at the global operations center at intervals;

generating a threat analysis from the security status and location data to detect a security threat; and

transmitting the detected security threat to at least one of an appropriate official and an appropriate agency.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein said processing further comprises generating a report from the received security status and location data.

43. The method of claim 39 wherein said processing comprises:

comparing said location data with said predetermined route and schedule to detect a security threat; and

if a security threat is detected, transmitting said security threat to at least one of an appropriate authority and an appropriate official.

44. The method of claim 19 wherein transmitting the security status comprises:

compiling said security status and said location data to produce the security status;

encrypting said security status to generate a ciphertext; and

transmitting said ciphertext to said master control unit.

45. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

transporting the mobile asset from the loading dock to the origination port;

continuously monitoring the security status and a location of the mobile asset to generate an updated security status and updated location data;

transmitting the update security status and the updated location data to the master control unit; and

the master control unit, retransmitting the update security status and updated location data to the global operations center.

46. The method of claim 45 further comprising:

approaching said destination port;

notifying a destination port master control unit of the mobile assets being transported;

transmitting said security status and location data to said destination port master control unit; and

unloading said mobile asset at said destination port.

47. The method of claim 46 and further comprising:

loading said mobile assets for transport from said destination port to the designated distribution center;

thereafter, continuing monitoring said security status and location data of said mobile asset; and

transmitting said security status and location data to said global operations center.

48. The method of claim 45 wherein said retransmitting comprises:

comprising said security status and said location data at said master control unit to produce a status data;

encrypting said status data to generate a ciphertext; and

transmitting said ciphertext to said global operations center.

49. The method of claim 19 wherein said asset is a fixed asset, the method further comprising:

interfacing an existing security device to said master control unit, and

said existing security device sending a signal to said master control unit when said security device detects a security threat.

50. The method of claim 49 further comprising:

installing a plurality of the agents within said fixed assets; and

each one of said agents monitoring a security of an area within said fixed asset.

51. The method of claim 50 further comprising:

installing a plurality of the agents around an exterior perimeter of said fixed asset;

each one of said agents monitoring a security of an area of said periphery of said fixed asset.

36. The method of 19 and further comprising creating a wireless network between a plurality of said agents for sharing security status.

37. The method of claim 36 and further comprising assigning a one of said plurality of the agents as a primary agent for transmitting said security status and location from said plurality of the agents to said master control unit.

52. A method for tracking a security status of a plurality of assets, said method comprising:

providing a plurality of agents, each one of said plurality of agents connected one of said plurality of assets;

each of said plurality of agents monitoring a security of its connected asset and providing a security date associated with said connected asset;

creating a wireless network between a plurality of agents for sharing said security data;

providing a master control unit, said master control unit including a receiver for receiving said security data; and

determining which of said plurality of agents primarily transmits said shared security data to said master control unit; and

determining which of said agents secondarily transmits said shared security data to said master control unit if said determined agent fails to primarily transmit said shared security data.