State monitoring of a container

• US 7,196,622 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2004
• Issued: 03/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Savi Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Savi Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Farrell, Steven J., Lambright, Stephen J., LaCorte, Blair B., Shannon, David L., Rajapakse, Ravindra U.
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V.
• Application Number:
  US10/841,407
• Publication Number:
  US 20040246130A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,055 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.26, 340/10.1, 340/505, 340/429, 340/522, 340/572.1, 340/825.49, 340/521, 235/385, 235/384
• US Class Current: 340/539.26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0832 Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
• 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 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence

Abstract

A container for locally determining a container state using a state device. The state device detects unexpected events by comparing expected event information with actual event information related to a container condition. The container condition includes, for example, environmental conditions, logistical or location conditions, and physical or security conditions. Thus, the container is able to intelligently monitor its state and raise an alert without intervention from a central system. The container can also be programmed and reprogrammed with updated logic, states, and/or expected event information. A sensor in the state device gathers input information for comparison to expected event information. A communication port in the state device receives event information. For example, a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver can determine a current location for comparison to an expected location at the current time. In another example, an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) receiver and transmitter automatically uploads state information to a central system.

Claims

1. In a container having a state device with a plurality of types of sensor inputs, a method for local security state monitoring, comprising:

receiving expected event information specific to the container;

receiving actual event information, from a plurality of types of sensors, that is related to a condition of the container;

detecting an unexpected event relative to the expected event information; and

determining a security state for the container responsive to the unexpected event, including applying business rules that describe the security state based on the actual event information from the plurality of types of sensors.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

outputting the security state.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

outputting the security state with an RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

outputting the state responsive to an external request.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

changing the security state responsive to the determination.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating the security state monitoring in the container.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the updating the security state monitoring comprises:

receiving updated logic for detecting the unexpected event.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the updating the state monitoring comprises:

receiving updated security state information.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the updating the security state monitoring comprises:

receiving updated specific expected event information.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

recording unexpected events and security states.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein specific event information comprises one from the group containing:

route information, departure information, arrival information, authorized agent information, a required body of information, and contents.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving expected event information comprises:

receiving expected physical condition information;

wherein the step of receiving actual event information comprises receiving actual physical condition information.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving expected event information comprises:

receiving expected interaction information;

wherein the step of receiving actual event information comprises receiving actual interaction information.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving general event information comprising one from the group containing;

environmental conditions, logistical or location conditions, and physical or security conditions.

15. A container having a security device to locally monitor a security state of the container, comprising:

a memory to store expected event information specific to travel of the container;

a plurality of types of inputs to receive actual event information related to a condition of the container from a plurality of types of sensors; and

state logic, coupled in communication with the memory and the plurality of types of inputs, to detect an unexpected event relative to the expected event information, and determine the security state for the container responsive to the unexpected event, including applying business rules that describe security state based on the actual event information from the plurality of types of sensors.

16. The container of claim 15, further comprising a communication port to output the security state.

17. The container of claim 15, further comprising a communication port to output the security state with an RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) device.

18. The container of claim 15, further comprising a communication port to output the security state responsive to an external request.

19. The container of claim 15, wherein the state logic changes the security state responsive to determining that the actual event information is an unexpected event.

20. The container of claim 15, wherein the security device updates the monitoring.

21. The container of claim 20, wherein the input receives updated logic for detecting the unexpected event.

22. The container of claim 20, wherein the input receives updated security state information.

23. The container of claim 20, wherein the input receives updated receives updated specific expected event information.

24. The container of claim 15, further comprising an event log to store unexpected events and security states.

25. The container of claim 15, wherein specific event information comprises one from the group containing:

route information, departure information, arrival information, authorized agent information, a required body of information, and contents.

26. The container of claim 15, wherein the specific event information comprises an expected physical condition, and the input receives actual event information related to a physical condition of the container.

27. The container of claim 15, wherein the specific event information comprises an expected interaction condition, and the input receives actual event information related to an interaction with the container.

28. The container of claim 15, wherein the input receives general event information comprising one from the group containing:

environmental conditions, logistical or location conditions, and physical or security conditions.

29. A computer product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium having computer readable medium instructions and data embodied thereon for a method of local security state monitoring in a container with a plurality of types of sensor inputs, the method comprising the steps of;

receiving expected event information specific to the container;

receiving actual event information from a plurality of types of sensors that is related to a condition of the container;

detecting an unexpected event relative to the expected event information; and

determining a security state for the container responsive to the unexpected event, including applying business rules that describe the security state based on the actual event information from the plurality of types of sensors.

30. The computer product of claim 29, further comprising:

outputting the security state.

31. The computer product of claim 29, further comprising:

changing the security state responsive to the determination.

32. The computer product of claim 29, further comprising:

updating the security state monitoring in the container.

33. The computer product of claim 32, wherein the updating the security state monitoring comprises:

receiving updated logic for detecting the unexpected event.

34. The computer product of claim 32, wherein the updating the state monitoring comprises:

receiving updated security state information.

35. The computer product of claim 32, wherein the updating the security state monitoring comprises:

receiving updated specific expected event information.

36. The computer product of claim 29, further comprising:

recording unexpected events and security states.