Method and system for arming a container security device without use of electronic reader

• US 7,382,251 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2005
• Issued: 06/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommerceGuard AB (GE Aerospace)
• Original Assignee: CommerceGuard AB (GE Aerospace)
• Inventors: Bohman, Karl, Ekström, Stig
• Primary Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US11/099,831
• Publication Number:
  US 20050253708A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,154 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.26, 340/521, 340/545.2, 340/5.1, 340/686.1, 340/538.1, 340/5.72, 340/522.8, 340/54.5, 340/551, 340/568.1, 340/539.22, 340/542, 340/376, 340/545.1, 340/541, 340/572.1, 342/357.1, 410/106, 705/28, 705/13, 70/571, 70/27, 70/271, 70/91, 292/218, 292/207, 292/DIG.30
• US Class Current: 340/545.1
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 39/04 with counting or registering devices time recording locks G07C1/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/00 Registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus, other than vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/00 Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1089 Sliding catch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5004 For antitheft signaling device on protected article
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5155 Door
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7028 Electric

Abstract

A system monitors the condition of a container. A container security device secures at least one door of the container. The container security device is programmably armed to implement the securing. The container security device is adapted to sense at least one condition of the container, transmit information relative to the at least one sensed condition to a location outside the container, and interpret the at least one sensed condition. A remote arming plug is coupled to the container security device. The remote arming plug has a unique identifier to be communicated to the container security device to initiate an arming sequence of the container security device.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a condition of a container, the system comprising:

a container security device for securing at least one door of the container, wherein the container security device is programmably armed to implement the securing, the container security device being adapted to sense at least one condition of the container, transmit information relative to the at least one sensed condition to a location outside the container, and interpret the at least one sensed condition; and

a remote arming plug configured to be removed from the container security device, wherein the remote arming plug has a unique identifier to be communicated, after the remote arming plug is removed, to the container security device to initiate an arming sequence of the container security device,

wherein the remote arming plug is further configured to become part of a mechanical seal utilized to physically seal the at least one door of the container after the remote arming plug is decoupled from the container security device and the at least one container door is closed.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the container security device is adapted to read the unique identifier from the remote arming plug and to use the unique identifier to calculate a unique arming key.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the container security device is adapted to acquire an arming key from the remote arming plug.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the container security device has at least one preloaded arming key, and the unique identifier of the remote arming plug is associated with at least the one preloaded arming key.

5. The system of claim 1, further including an authentication server to authenticate a container security device ID of the container security device and the unique identifier of the remote arming plug, the container security device ID being associated with a container ID of the container.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein in response to the container security device being armed, the authentication server is adapted to receive the unique identifier of the remote arming plug and the container security device ID, and compare the unique identifier and the container security device ID with stored values to authenticate the container security device.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the authentication server is adapted to initiate an actionable alarm in response to a failure to authenticate the container security device with the authentication server.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the authentication server is adapted to receive and store, after the container security device is armed, but before the container security device is authenticated, the unique identifier of the remote arming plug and a user ID of a shipper of the container.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote arming plug has a connector to connect to the container security device via at least one of a physical and a wireless connection.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein in response to the remote arming plug being decoupled from the container security device after a certain time period, and the container security device determining that the at least one door of the container is closed, the arming sequence is initiated.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein a user server authenticates the user ID of the shipper of the container, the user ID being marked on a shipping manifest for the container.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the user server is adapted to verify that the unique identifier of the remote arming plug matches the user ID when the user server authenticates.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the container security device is adapted, in response to the at least one condition of the container being changed to a predetermined state, to enter an alarmed state.

18. The method of claim 11, further including authenticating a container security device ID of the container security device and the unique identifier of the remote arming plug via an authentication server, the container security device ID being associated with a container ID of the container.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

receiving in the authentication server, in response to the container security device being armed, the unique identifier of the remote arming plug and the container security device ID and

comparing the unique identifier and the container security device ID with stored values to authenticate the container security device.

20. The method of claim 18, further including initiating an actionable alarm in response to a failure to authenticate the container security device with the authentication server.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising, after the container security device is armed, but before the container security device is authenticated, transmitting the unique identifier and a user ID number of a shipper of the container to the authentication server for storage.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

authenticating with a user server the user ID of the shipper of the container, the user ID being marked on a shipping manifest for the container.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the authenticating further comprises:

verifying with the user server that the unique identifier of the remote arming plug matches the user ID.

14. A method for monitoring a condition of a container, the method comprising:

securing at least one door of the container with a container security device, the container security device being adapted to sense at least one condition of the container, transmit information relative to the at least one sensed condition to a location outside the container, and interpret the at least one sensed condition;

initiating, in response to a movement of a remote arming plug out of a connector of the container security device, an arming sequence of the container security device,

wherein the remote arming plug has a unique identifier to be communicated, after the remote arming plug is removed, to the container security device to initiate the arming sequence of the container security device;

decoupling the remote arming plug from the container security device;

closing the at least one container door; and

positioning the remote arming plug to become part of a mechanical seal that is utilized to physically seal the at least one door of the container.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

reading the unique identifier from the remote arming plug; and

calculating a unique arming key using the unique identifier.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

acquiring an arming key from the remote arming plug.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the container security device has at least one preloaded arming key, the unique identifier of the arming plug is associated with one of the at least one arming key.

22. The method of claim 14, further including initiating the arming sequence in response to the remote arming plug being decoupled from the container security device after a certain time period, and the container security device determining that the at least one door of the container is closed.

25. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

entering the container security device into an alarmed state in response to the at least one condition of the container being changed to a predetermined state.

26. A system for monitoring the condition of a container having a container security device for securing at least one door of the container, the system comprising:

a user server for storing a list of authorized users and issuing a remote arming plug ID for a remote arming plug coupled to the container security device, wherein in response to a movement of a remote arming plug, an arming sequence of the container security device is initiated, the remote arming plug having a unique identifier to be communicated to the container security device to initiate the arming sequence; and

an authentication server to authenticate the container security device and the remote arming plug, wherein the authentication server is in communication with the user server.

27. The system of claim 26, where in response to the container security device being armed, the authentication server is adapted to receive the unique identifier of the remote arming plug and a container security device ID of the container security device, and compare the unique identifier and the container security device ID with stored values to authenticate the container security device.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the container security device is adapted to initiate an alarm in response to a failure to authenticate the container security device with the authentication server.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the authentication server is adapted to receive and store, after the container security device is armed, but before the container security device is authenticated, the unique identifier of the remote arming plug and a user ID of a shipper of the container.

30. The system of claim 26, wherein in response to the remote arming plug being decoupled from the container security device after a certain time period, and the container security device determining that the at least one door of the container is closed, the arming sequence is initiated.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the user server is adapted to authenticate the user ID of the shipper of the container the user ID being marked on a shipping manifest for the container.