Method and apparatus to detect event signatures
First Claim
1. A container, comprising:
- a) a vibration sensor;
b) a processor, coupled to receive a signal from the vibration sensor and adapted to process the signal to detect a pattern of vibration characteristic of an unauthorized opening of the container,the processor comprising computer storage media storing a library comprising a plurality of event signatures, each event signature representing a frequency spectrum of an event signal generated by an event as detected at the vibration sensor, the plurality of event signatures including an event signature representing the unauthorized opening; and
the processor being adapted to;
form a plurality of frequency domain representations of the signal, each formed from a portion of the signal;
compare each of the plurality of frequency domain representations of the signal to the plurality of event signatures; and
detect the unauthorized opening of the container based on the result of the comparisons; and
c) an interface, coupled to the processor and adapted to communicate an indication of whether the pattern was detected.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A security system for use in connection with cargo containers and other enclosed spaces. The system monitors vibrations associated with a container and detects signals representative events indicating that an unauthorized access has been made to the container. The system may be programmed with a library of event signatures, allowing different types of events to be detected. The system may be provided with a library of signatures representing a heart beating with a beat pattern and the system may be used to detect a human or other animal within the container. Alternatively, the system may be provided with a library of signatures representing piercing the container. The system may be used to monitor containers in transit. Indications of events may be stored while the container is in transit and then communicated at a security check point.
-
Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A container, comprising:
-
a) a vibration sensor; b) a processor, coupled to receive a signal from the vibration sensor and adapted to process the signal to detect a pattern of vibration characteristic of an unauthorized opening of the container, the processor comprising computer storage media storing a library comprising a plurality of event signatures, each event signature representing a frequency spectrum of an event signal generated by an event as detected at the vibration sensor, the plurality of event signatures including an event signature representing the unauthorized opening; and the processor being adapted to; form a plurality of frequency domain representations of the signal, each formed from a portion of the signal; compare each of the plurality of frequency domain representations of the signal to the plurality of event signatures; and detect the unauthorized opening of the container based on the result of the comparisons; and c) an interface, coupled to the processor and adapted to communicate an indication of whether the pattern was detected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A method of operating a security system for a container, comprising the acts:
-
a) monitoring vibrations of the container to detect a vibration signal having a characteristic representative of an undesired access to the container while the container is en route to a destination, the detecting comprising; forming a plurality of frequency domain representations of the vibrations, each frequency domain representation formed from a portion of the vibrations; comparing each of the plurality of frequency domain representations of the signal to a library comprising a plurality of event signatures; detecting the unauthorized opening of the container based on the result of the comparing; b) storing an indication when the vibration signal characteristic is detected; and c) at the destination, retrieving the stored indication and taking a security action in response to the stored indication. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method of detecting an event in relation to a container, comprising:
-
a) providing a library comprising a plurality of event signatures, each event signature representing the frequency spectrum of an event signal generated by an event and passing through the container, the providing accomplished by; i) generating a plurality of event signals, each representative of an event; and ii) computing a plurality of estimated signals by applying to each of the plurality of event signals a transfer function characterizing a signal path including the cargo container; b) obtaining a vibration signal representative of vibrations of the container; c) forming a plurality of frequency domain representations of the vibration signal, each formed from a portion of the vibration signal; d) comparing each of the plurality of frequency domain representations of the vibration signal to the plurality of event signatures; and e) detecting an event based on the result of the comparisons of act d). - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 22, 23)
-
-
21. A method of detecting an event in relation to a container, comprising:
-
a) providing a plurality of event signatures, each representing the frequency spectrum of an event signal generated by an event and passing through the container; b) obtaining a vibration signal representative of vibrations of the container; c) forming a plurality of frequency domain representations of the vibration signal, each formed from a portion of the vibration signal; d) comparing each of the plurality of frequency domain representations of the vibration signal to the plurality of event signatures, the comparing comprising; i) normalizing each of the plurality of frequency domain representations of the vibration signal and, ii) wherein each of the frequency domain representations comprises a plurality of frequency values and the act d) further comprises mapping each frequency value to one of a plurality of bins; and e) detecting an event based on the result of the comparisons of act d).
-
Specification