Secure cargo transportation system

• US 7,253,715 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2005
• Issued: 08/07/2007
• 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:
  US11/037,774
• Publication Number:
  US 20050134429A1
• Time in Patent Office: 931 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 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;

an electronically operable lock configured to selectively lock the door and to selectively unlock the door;

a wireless receiver supported by the movable container and configured to receive information indicative of the destination for the container;

an electronic position-determining system, supported by the movable container, coupled to the wireless receiver 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 destination; and

a paging receiver, different from the wireless receiver, supported by the moveable container and configured to provide a signal to electronically unlock the door, even if the movable container is not within a predetermined distance of the destination, in response to receiving a page from a remote operator indicating that emergency access to the enclosure has been granted by the operator.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising an electronically actuable lock coupled to the door and responsive to the electronic position-determining system.

3. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the electronic position-determining system includes a memory configured to log the position of the container from time to time.

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.

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, wherein the wireless receiver is a microwave receiver.

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 destination.

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 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;

an electronically operable lock configured to selectively lock the door and to selectively unlock the door;

a memory supported by the movable container and configured to store information indicative of a plurality of different locations;

an electronic position-determining system, supported by 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 any of the locations;

a wireless receiver supported by the movable container and coupled to the memory and configured to receive information indicative of the location of the container and configured to transfer to the memory information indicative of the location of the container; and

a second receiver, supported by the moveable container and configured to provide a signal to electronically unlock the door, even if the movable container is not within a predetermined distance of any of the locations, in response to receiving a signal indicating that access to the enclosure has been granted.

11. A system in accordance with claim 10, further comprising an electronically actuable lock coupled to the door and responsive to the electronic position-determining system.

12. A system in accordance with claim 10, wherein the electronic position-determining system includes the memory.

13. A system in accordance with claim 10, 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 any of the locations.

14. A system in accordance with claim 10, wherein the electronic position-determining system is electrically hardwired to the lock.

15. A system in accordance with claim 10, wherein the wireless receiver is a microwave receiver.

16. A system in accordance with claim 10, wherein the electronic position-determining system comprises a processor configured to determine when the movable container is within a predetermined distance of any of the locations.

17. A system in accordance with claim 10, further comprising an electronically actuable lock configured to selectively lock or unlock the door relative to the enclosure.

18. A system in accordance with claim 17, wherein the electronically actuable lock is configured to be actuable in response to a digital key.

19. A 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;

an electronically operable lock configured to selectively lock the door and to selectively unlock the door;

an electronic position-determining system, supported by the movable container and including a memory configured to store information indicative of a plurality of different locations, the electronic position-determining system being configured to selectively lock and unlock the door relative to the enclosure, and to unlock the door when the movable container is within a predetermined distance of any of the locations, wherein no unlock signal from external of the cargo transportation system is required to cause the door to unlock;

a wireless receiver supported by the movable container and coupled to the memory and configured to transfer to the memory information indicative of a location; and

a second receiver, different from the wireless receiver, supported by the moveable container and configured to provide a signal to electronically unlock the lock, even if the movable container is not within a predetermined distance of the location, in response to receiving a signal indicating that access to the enclosure has been granted by the operator.

20. A system in accordance with claim 19 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 any of the locations.

21. A system in accordance with claim 19 wherein the electronic position-determining system is hardwired to the locking mechanism.

22. A system in accordance with claim 19, wherein the receiver is a microwave receiver configured to receive data transmitted at microwave frequencies.

23. A system in accordance with claim 19, 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 any of the locations.

24. A 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; and

a radio frequency identification device including an electronic position-determining system, supported by the movable container and coupled to the door, the radio frequency identification device including a CPU, a memory coupled to the CPU and configured to store data representing a destination location, a receiver coupled to the CPU, a transmitter coupled to the CPU, and a GPS receiver coupled to the CPU, the radio frequency identification device being configured to provide a signal enabling opening of the door when the movable container is within a predetermined distance of the destination location, the radio frequency identification device being configured to receive information indicating the destination location via wireless communications; and

emergency opening circuitry, supported by the moveable container and configured to provide a signal to electronically unlock the lock, even if the movable container is not within a predetermined distance of the location, in response to a wireless signal.

25. A system in accordance with claim 24, wherein the radio frequency identification device is configured to receive at microwave frequencies.

26. A system in accordance with claim 24, wherein the enclosure is defined by a semi trailer.

27. A system in accordance with claim 24, wherein the radio frequency identification device includes indicia for uniquely identifying the movable container with respect to other movable containers.

28. A system in accordance with claim 24, 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.

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, wherein the door restricts access to the enclosure, and an open position;

an electronically operable lock configured to selectively lock the door and to selectively unlock the door;

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

an electronic position-determining system, supported to move with the movable container and coupled to the memory and configured to provide a signal permitting the lock to be unlocked in response to determining that the movable container is within a predetermined distance of the location;

a wireless receiver supported to move with the movable container and coupled to the memory and configured to transfer to the memory information indicating a location, which location information is received wirelessly from a remote transmitter; and

a second receiver, different from the wireless receiver, supported by the moveable container and configured to provide a signal to electronically unlock the lock, even if the movable container is not within a predetermined distance of the location, in response to receiving a signal indicating that access to the enclosure has been granted by an operator.

30. A system in accordance with claim 29, further comprising an electronically actuable lock coupled to the door and responsive to the electronic position-determining system.

31. A system in accordance with claim 29, wherein the electronic position-determining system includes the memory.

32. A system in accordance with claim 29, 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.

33. A system in accordance with claim 29, wherein the electronic position-determining system is electrically hardwired to the lock.

34. A system in accordance with claim 29, wherein the wireless receiver is a microwave receiver.

35. A system in accordance with claim 29, wherein the electronic position-determining system comprises a processor configured to determine when the movable container is within a predetermined distance of the location.

36. A system in accordance with claim 29, further comprising an electronically actuable lock configured to selectively lock or unlock the door relative to the enclosure.

37. A system in accordance with claim 36, wherein the electronically actuable lock is configured to be actuable in response to a digital key.

38. A 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;

an electronic position-determining system, supported to move with the movable container and including a memory configured to store information indicative of a location, the electronic position-determining system being configured to selectively lock and unlock the door relative to the enclosure, and to unlock the door when the movable container is within a predetermined distance of the location, wherein no unlock signal from external of the transportation system is required, upon arrival within a predetermined distance of the location, to unlock the door;

a wireless receiver supported to move with the movable container and coupled to the memory and configured to transfer to the memory information, indicative of a location, received from a transmitter; and

a second receiver, different from the wireless receiver, supported by the moveable container and configured to provide a signal to electronically unlock the door, even if the movable container is not within a predetermined distance of the location, in response to receiving a signal indicating that access to the enclosure has been granted by an operator.

39. A system in accordance with claim 38 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.

40. A system in accordance with claim 38, wherein the electronic position-determining system is hardwired to the locking mechanism.

41. A system in accordance with claim 38, wherein the receiver is a microwave receiver configured to receive data transmitted at microwave frequencies.

42. A system in accordance with claim 38, 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.

43. A system for controlling access to a movable container, the system comprising:

a processor;

means for electronically locking the container in response to a command from the processor, the locking means requiring both an unlock signal and mechanical key in order to unlock the container;

means for storing a desired geographical location in a memory in response to a command from the processor;

means for comparing, in the processor, a present geographical location of the container and the desired geographical location; and

means for providing an electronic signal permitting unlocking of the container in response to the comparing, if the present geographical location is within a predetermined distance from the desired geographical location; and

emergency opening means, different from the means for providing the electronic signal, for sending a signal to unlock the container in response to a wireless signal from a remote operator authorizing the emergency opening.

44. A system in accordance with claim 43, and further comprising means, coupled to the comparing means, for determining the geographical location of the container using a global positioning system.

45. A system in accordance with claim 43, and further comprising means for receiving the desired geographical location via wireless communication.

46. A system in accordance with claim 43, and further comprising means for receiving the desired geographical location via microwave.

47. A system in accordance with claim 43, and further comprising means for receiving the desired geographical location via radio frequency.