Secure panel with remotely controlled embedded devices

• US 7,576,653 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2007
• Issued: 08/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ANGEL Secure Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ANGEL Secure Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Smith, Fred Hewitt
• Primary Examiner(s): BUGG, GEORGE A
• Application Number:
  US11/724,879
• Publication Number:
  US 20070229285A1
• Time in Patent Office: 887 Days
• Field of Search: 3405721-5729, 340/10.1, 340/5.61, 340/568.2, 235/385
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/126 for a housing, e.g. a box, a safe, or a room
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/007 Details of data content structure of message packets; data protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence

Abstract

Devices and methods for securing an asset include providing a plurality of dispersed, interconnected electronic components integrally attached to a structural member of the secured asset. Each electronic component of the plurality of components is in communication with a remotely accessible interface and includes a memory for storing a respective sub-division of at least one numeric value. The numeric values can be inserted, altered, or deleted remotely through the remotely accessible interface. Upon detection of an attempted breach of the secured asset or tamper with the structural member, one or more of the stored sub-divisions are selectively destroyed. Detection of an attempted breach or tamper is remotely observable upon inspection of a previously stored numeric value, subsequently altered in response to detection of a breach of the secured asset.

Claims

1. A tamper detection device, comprising:

a structural member configured for incorporation into a secured asset;

a plurality of dispersed, interconnected electronic components integrally attached to the structural member, more than one of the plurality of dispersed, interconnected electronic components including a memory element for storing a respective sub-division of at least one numeric value, the numeric value being stored among more than one of the plurality of dispersed, interconnected electronic components;

a remotely accessible interface in communication with the plurality of interconnected electronic components, the remotely accessible interface configured to allow remote management of the at least one stored numeric value; and

at least one sensor operative to detect an attempt of unauthorized access to the secured asset.

2. The tamper detection device of claim 1, wherein the remotely accessible interface comprises a wireless interface.

3. The tamper detection device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of dispersed, interconnected electronic components comprises an encryption engine configured to allow encrypted remote management of the stored numeric value.

4. The tamper detection device of claim 3, wherein the encryption engine implements an asymmetric cryptographic process.

5. The tamper detection device of claim 1, further comprising a communications protocol whereby messages are exchanged between different electronic components of the plurality of dispersed, interconnected electronic components, an a tempt of unauthorized access being detected by an interruption to the exchange of messages.

6. The tamper detection device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a sensor grid embedded within the structural member.

7. The tamper detection device of claim 1 wherein the structural member comprises at least one interconnect configured to respectively communicate with at least one interconnect of a different structural member when joined thereto, the different structural member also including a plurality of dispersed, interconnected electronic components integrally attached thereto, so as to form a combined network of the plurality of dispersed, interconnected electronic components from each of the structural members.

8. The tamper detection device of claim 7, further comprising an alarm generating an alarm signal upon detection of separation of the joined structural members.

9. The tamper detection device of claim 7, wherein the stored numeric value is stored among more than one of the plurality of dispersed, interconnected electronic components of each of the joined structural members, a combined stored numeric value remotely accessible only when the structural members are joined, such that subsequent separation of the joined structural members, is detectable.

10. The tamper detection device of claim 1, wherein each electronic component of the dispersed, interconnected electronic components includes a respective low-power microprocessor operable in a sleep mode during low-power operations and transitioning to a wake mode upon detection of an external event.

16. The tamper detection device of claim 1, wherein each electronic component of the dispersed, interconnected electronic components in response to an alarm signal, permanently destroys at least a portion of the stored sub-division of the at least one numeric value stored therein, such that upon receipt of an alarm, certain values are permanently destroyed, so that an adversary could not return the system to the pre-alarm state.

17. The tamper detection device of claim 16, further comprising a high-energy device activated in response to a tamper alarm the high-energy device physically destroying the memory storing least a portion of the stored sub-division of the at least one numeric value.

18. The tamper detection device of claim 17, further comprising a fabric into which the high-energy device is machine woven, the fabric insertable into the structural member as a unit during manufacture.

19. The tamper detection device of claim 1, wherein the structural member comprises a dielectric material, the plurality of dispersed, interconnected electronic components being included within the dielectric material.

20. The tamper detection device of claim 1, each electronic component of the plurality of dispersed, interconnected electronic components comprises:

a microprocessor;

a memory in communication with the microprocessor, the memory configured to store the respective sub-division of the at least one numeric value; and

a local power source in communication with at least the microprocessor.

21. The tamper detection device of claim 20, wherein the local power source is a battery.

22. The tamper detection device of claim 20, wherein the microprocessor is operable in a low-power mode during periods of inactivity, the microprocessor also capable of transitioning to a wake mode in response to an external event.

23. The tamper detection device of claim 20, wherein the structural member is a panel.

11. A tamper detection device, comprising:

a structural member configured for incorporation into a secured asset;

a plurality of dispersed, interconnected electronic components integrally attached to the structural member more than one of the plurality of dispersed, interconnected electronic components including a memory element for storing a respective sub-division of at least one numeric value, the numeric value being stored among more than one of the plurality of dispersed, interconnected electronic components; and

a remotely accessible interface in communication with the plurality of interconnected electronic components, the remotely accessible interface configured to allow remote management of the at least one stored numeric value,

wherein each electronic component of the dispersed, interconnected electronic components includes a respective low-power microprocessor operable in a sleep mode during low-power operations and transitioning to a wake mode upon detection of an external event, and

wherein incapacitation of at least one of the low-power microprocessors generates an external event to other low-power microprocessors of the dispersed, interconnected electronic components, causing them to transition to a wake mode, such a transition being indicative of an alarm condition.

12. A tamper detection device, comprising:

a structural member configured for incorporation into a secured asset;

a plurality of dispersed, interconnected electronic components integrally attached to the structural member, more than one of the plurality of dispersed, interconnected electronic components including a memory element for storing a respective sub-division of at least one numeric value, the numeric value being stored among more than one of the plurality of dispersed, interconnected electronic components;

a remotely accessible interface in communication with the plurality of interconnected electronic components, the remotely accessible interface configured to allow remote management of the at least one stored numeric value; and

further comprising a tamper-detection grid substantially surrounding at least a portion of each electronic component of the plurality of dispersed, interconnected electronic components, the tamper-detection grid in communication with the surrounded electronic component and providing an alarm indication thereto in response to a breech of the tamper-detection grid.

13. The tamper detection device of claim 12, further comprising a fabric into which the tamper-detection grid is machine woven, the fabric insertable into the structural member as a unit during manufacture.

14. The tamper detection device of claim 12, further comprising a fabric into which the dispersed, interconnected electronic components are machine woven, the fabric insertable into the structural member as a unit during manufacture.

15. The tamper detection device of claim 14, wherein each of the electronic components includes a permanent battery also woven into the fabric.

24. A shipping container comprising:

at least one structural member with a plurality of dispersed, interconnected processors embedded therein, each of the processors storing a respective sub-division of at least one numeric value, the numeric value being stored among more than one of the plurality of dispersed, interconnected processors;

a power source; and

a high-energy device in communication with the power source and adapted to irretrievably destroy one or more of the sub-divisions of the at least one numeric value, the high-energy device being an area within a wall of the composite material, allowing a high-energy destruction processes to be undertaken against one or more of the processors containing sub-divisions of the at least one numeric value.

25. An tamper detection system, comprising:

a structural member configured for incorporation into a securable asset;

a plurality of dispersed, interconnected electronic components integrally attached to the structural member, more than one of the plurality of dispersed, interconnected electronic components including a memory element for storing a respective sub-division of at least one numeric value, the numeric value being stored among the more than one of the plurality of dispersed, interconnected electronic components;

a remotely accessible interface in communication with the plurality of interconnected electronic components, the remotely accessible interface configured to allow remote management of the at least one stored numeric value; and

a remote monitor in communication with the remotely accessible interface, whereby numerical values are remotely installed into the structural member and verified without placing any trust in an on-site operator.

26. The tamper detection system of claim 25, further comprising a remote database in communication with the remote monitor for storing information related to the numerical values remotely installed into the structural member.

27. The tamper detection system of claim 25, further comprising an inspection machine in communication with the remote monitor, whereby a container is remotely inspected and, upon passing the inspection, provided with a certificate without having to trust any on-site operator.

28. A method for detecting attempts at tampering with a secured asset, comprising:

generating a numeric value;

subdividing the numeric value into a plurality of sub-divisions;

storing subdivisions of the numeric value in respective electrical components of a plurality of distributed, interconnected components contained within a structural member of the secured asset;

monitoring at least one tamper alarm; and

destroying at least one of the stored subdivisions of the numeric value in response to the monitored tamper alarm indicating attempted tampering, the detected tampering being detectable by said destruction.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the numeric value is an identification value associated with the secured asset.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the numeric value is a certificate value indicative of an inspection of the secured asset.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein destroying the at least one of the stored subdivisions of the numeric value comprises deleting the stored value from a memory.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein destroying the at least one of the stored subdivisions of the numeric value comprises physically destroying at least a portion of a memory.