Electronic control system used in security system for cargo trailers
First Claim
1. A method of determining whether to provide a user with access to a cargo security system, comprising the steps of:
- entering a user password for verification by a computing device program;
opening a stored license file of the computing device program and reading a first data pair including a first serial number and a first access password;
attempting to find a data pair match;
using the first access password of the computing device to send a first request command to an electronic control unit to verify the first serial number, if the electronic control unit confirms the first serial number matches the first access password, defining a data pair match, communication is established between the computing device and the electronic control unit;
using a second data pair from the stored license file to verify a second serial number, if the electronic control unit rejects the first request, and if the electronic control unit confirms the second serial number matches a second password, a data pair match has successfully occurred and communication is established between the computing device and the electronic control unit; and
continuing this process until a data pair match has successfully occurred and communication is established between the computing device and the electronic control unit; and
indicating an error message if no data pair matching has occurred, whereby communication between the computing device and electronic control unit has failed.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A security system is provided for a cargo container having a door. An electronic control unit is provided for monitoring the locked status of the door. The electronic control unit is operably communicable with a remote computer terminal. A first software control program is located within the electronic control unit to monitor the locked status of the door. A second software control program is located within the remote computer terminal and is capable of retrieving activity and functions from the first software control program. A protocol is provided to facilitate communication between the electronic control unit and the remote computer terminal.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of determining whether to provide a user with access to a cargo security system, comprising the steps of:
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entering a user password for verification by a computing device program; opening a stored license file of the computing device program and reading a first data pair including a first serial number and a first access password; attempting to find a data pair match; using the first access password of the computing device to send a first request command to an electronic control unit to verify the first serial number, if the electronic control unit confirms the first serial number matches the first access password, defining a data pair match, communication is established between the computing device and the electronic control unit; using a second data pair from the stored license file to verify a second serial number, if the electronic control unit rejects the first request, and if the electronic control unit confirms the second serial number matches a second password, a data pair match has successfully occurred and communication is established between the computing device and the electronic control unit; and continuing this process until a data pair match has successfully occurred and communication is established between the computing device and the electronic control unit; and indicating an error message if no data pair matching has occurred, whereby communication between the computing device and electronic control unit has failed.
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2. A method of determining whether to provide a user with access to a cargo security system, comprising the steps of:
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entering an administrator password for verification by a program in a computing device; sending a request command from the program to an electronic control unit to verify the administrator password, and if confirmed an access password is returned to the program; opening the computing device program license file and confirming that the provided access password is included; attempting to find a data pair match; obtaining a serial number from the electronic control unit; comparing the access password and the serial number from the electronic control unit with data pairs stored in the license file; establishing communication between the computing device and the electronic control unit if a data pair matching has occurred; providing administrator privileges to a user; and indicating an error message if no data pair matching has occurred, whereby communication between the computing device and electronic control unit has failed.
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3. A method of determining whether to provide a user with access to a cargo security system, the method comprising the steps of:
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establishing a communication link with an electronic control unit of the cargo security system; receiving input from the user; determining whether the user is authorized to access the electronic control unit through utilization of the user input; validating that a computing device is authorized to access the electronic control unit if the user is authorized to access the electronic control unit, comprising the steps of; storing a first data set in the computing device, the first data set comprising a license file including a serial number and an access password; receiving a second data set from the electronic control unit, and determining whether the first data set matches the second data set; and providing the user with access to a predetermined number of electronic control unit functions if both the user and the computing device are authorized to access the system. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of determining whether to provide a user with access to a cargo security system, the method comprising the steps of:
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establishing a communication link with an electronic control unit of the cargo security system; receiving input from the user; determining whether the user is authorized to access the electronic control unit through utilization of the user input; validating that the computing device is authorized to access the electronic control unit if the user is authorized to access the electronic control unit, comprising the steps of; storing a first data set in the computing device, the first data set comprising a license file including a serial number and an access password; receiving a second data set from the electronic control unit, and determining whether the first data set matches the second data set; providing the user with access to a predetermined number of electronic control unit functions if both the user and the computing device are authorized to access the system; receiving a command from the user to place the electronic control unit in a diagnostic mode, requesting an administrative password from the user, determining whether the user input matches the administrative password, and providing the user with access to a second set of functions, including electronic control unit set up and diagnostic functions if the user input matches the administrative password.
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13. A method of determining whether to provide a user with access to a cargo security system, comprising the steps of:
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entering an administrator password for verification by a program in a computing device; sending a request command from the program to an electronic control unit to verify the administrator password, and if confirmed an access password is returned to the program; opening the computing device program license file and confirming that a provided access password is included; and attempting to find a data pair match, by; obtaining a serial number from the electronic control unit; comparing the access password and the serial number from the electronic control unit with data pairs stored in the license file; establishing communication between the computing device and the electronic control unit if a data pair matching has occurred; and providing administrator privileges to a user, by including at least one of the following steps of; allowing loading and updating of a firmware of the electronic control unit; allowing access passwords to be written to and changed in a memory of the electronic control unit and when changed, updating a software license file which includes access passwords; allowing the administrator to save the updated license to computer media to be transferred to other computing devices; and requiring all computing devices to use the updated license file, thereby eliminating the users without the new license.
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Specification