Tracking and processing cargo containers having indefinite security status

• US 7,663,482 B1
• Filed: 12/10/2007
• Issued: 02/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Erudite Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Erudite Incorporated
• Inventors: Willms, Paul H
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Phung
• Application Number:
  US12/001,177
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 340/540, 340/5.81, 340/545.6, 340/539.13, 340/572.1, 705/1
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0831 Overseas transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/26 Government or public services business processes related to the transportation industry G06Q50/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/30 Transportation; Communications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 31/00 Predictive alarm systems characterised by extrapolation or other computation using updated historic data

Abstract

A method of tracking and processing at least one cargo container having an indefinite security status (ISS). In one embodiment, the method of the present invention comprises: (A) detecting at least one statistically significant threat (SST) signal associated with at least one cargo container while in transit; (B) if at least one such SST signal was detected, identifying each cargo container that generated at least one such SST signal and classifying the security status of each such cargo container as a Potential Threat (PT) cargo container; (C) substantially continuously checking at least one generated SST signal to verify the security status of at least one PT container while in transit; (D) if at least one SST signal is confirmed to be a false positive SST signal, changing the security status of at least one PT container associated with the false positive SST signal to an indefinite security status (ISS) cargo container; and (E) tracking and reporting position coordinates and security status of each ISS PT cargo container to an appropriate party.

Claims

1. A method of tracking and processing at least one cargo container having an indefinite security status (ISS) comprising:

(A) detecting at least one statistically significant threat (SST) signal associated with at least one cargo container while in transit;

wherein each said SST signal generates a threat signal having a threat probability higher than a predetermined threshold;

(B) if at least one said SST signal associated with at least one said cargo container while in transit was detected, identifying each said cargo container that generated at least one said SST signal and classifying the security status of each said cargo container as a Potential Threat (PT) cargo container;

(C) substantially continuously checking said at least one generated SST signal to verify the security status of said at least one PT container while in transit;

(D) if at least one said SST signal is confirmed to be a false positive SST signal, changing the security status of said at least one PT container associated with said false positive SST signal to said indefinite security status (ISS) cargo container;

and

(E) tracking and reporting position coordinates and said security status of each said ISS PT cargo container to an appropriate party;

wherein said appropriate party is selected from the group consisting of;

{Homeland Security agency; and

a cargo security agency}.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step (A) further comprises:

(A1) detecting said at least one statistically significant threat (SST) signal associated with at least one cargo container while in transit by using an active probing method.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step (A) further comprises:

(A2) detecting said at least one statistically significant threat (SST) signal associated with at least one cargo container while in transit by using at least one passive threat detection device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said step (C) further comprises:

(C1) increasing the frequency of periodically checking alarm events associated with each said PT container while in transit.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said step (C) further comprises:

(C2) programming the frequency of periodically checking alarm events associated with each said PT container while in transit.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said step (D) further comprises:

(D1) setting a set of threshold numbers;

and

(D2) determining an integer N_inspected of ISS containers to be inspected depending on the relationship between an integer K of said ISS containers and each said threshold number.

7. The method of claim 6;

wherein said step (D1) further comprises;

(D1,

     1) setting a set of threshold numbers {N_threshold1;

N_threshold2;

N_threshold3;

. . . N<sub>threshold(L−

1)</sub>;

N_thresholdL}};

L being an integer;

and wherein said step (D2) further comprises;

(D2,

     1) determining said number of containers N_inspected to be inspected depending on the relationship between said K number of ISS containers and each said threshold number, wherein said N_inspected is equal to zero if said K number is less than or equal to said first threshold number N_threshold1; and

wherein said N_inspected is equal to said first threshold number N_threshold1 if said K number is less than or equal to said second threshold number N_threshold2; and

wherein said N_inspected is equal to said second threshold number N_threshold2 if said K number is less than or equal to said third threshold number N_threshold3; and

wherein said N_inspected is equal to said (L−

1) threshold number N<sub>threshold(L−

1)</sub> if said K number is less than or equal to said last threshold number N_thresholdL.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said step (E) further comprises:

(E1) using a secure expedite said release procedure (ERP) website-base system to track the status of each said ISS container;

wherein said secure ERP website-based system is configured to collect and to process a set of combined data selected from the group consisting of;

{a set of normal commercial transaction data;

a set of transport data;

a set of RFID data;

a set of satellite navigational tracking data;

a set of threat signal data; and

a set of security status data};

wherein said set of combined data is a collection of inputs from a supply chain selected from the group consisting of;

{each said container entering said at least one border crossing or at said at least one customs entry point;

said customs at said at least one destination country;

a network of shippers;

a network of consignees;

a network of forwarders;

a plurality of terminals; and

a network of carriers}.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said step (E1) further comprises:

(E1,

     1) utilizing said set of data selected from the group consisting of;

{said RFID data;

said set of satellite navigational tracking data; and

said set of threat signal data} to indicate a physical location of at least one said ISS cargo container that will be submitted for customs clearance within a predetermined distance and time of arrival from a port of discharge and/or port of entry, wherein each said ISS cargo container has generated at least one said previously undetected SST (PUSST) signal.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said step (E1) further comprises:

(E1,

     2) posting the current location of each said ISS cargo container on said secure ERP website.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said step (E1) further comprises:

(E1,

     3) physically inspecting a predetermined number of said ISS cargo containers in said cargo shipment at least one border crossing or at least one customs entry point or at port of customs entry.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said step (E1, 3) further comprises:

(E1, 3,

     1) performing at least one additional physical testing at a ship that includes said at least one ISS container, wherein said ship is located within the 12 mile international water boundary limit of any country, whether a destination country or not.

13. A method of tracking and reporting position coordinates and security status of an Expedited Release Procedure (ERP) cargo container that changed its status to an ISS cargo container while in transit to an appropriate party;

said method comprising;

(A) substantially continuously checking the security status of each said ERP container while in transit by using at least one threat detector to detect a previously undetected (PU) SST signal;

(B) if at least one ERP container generates a previously undetected (PU) SST signal, changing the security status of said at least one ERP container associated with said (PU) SST signal to an indefinite security status (ISS) cargo container;

and

(C) tracking and reporting position coordinates and said security status of each said ISS cargo container associated with said (PU) SST signal to an appropriate party;

wherein said appropriate party is selected from the group consisting of;

{Homeland Security agency; and

a cargo security agency}.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said step (A) further comprises:

(A1) detecting said at least one (PU) SST signal associated with at least one cargo container while in transit by using an active probing method.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said step (A) further comprises:

(A2) detecting said at least one (PU) SST signal associated with at least one cargo container while in transit by using at least one passive threat detection device.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said step (B) further comprises:

(B1) activating at least one RFID tag associated with said (PU) SST signal to indicate the change in the classification of at least one cargo container from said ERP security status to said ISS security status;

and

(B2) generating an alarm signal when said at least one ERP container changes its security status from said ERP security status to said ISS security status.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein said step (C) further comprises:

(C1) using a secure expedite said release procedure (ERP) website-base system to track the status of each said (PU) ISS container;

wherein said secure ERP website-based system is configured to collect and to process a set of combined data selected from the group consisting of;

{a set of normal commercial transaction data;

a set of transport data;

a set of RFID data;

a set of satellite navigational tracking data;

a set of threat signal data; and

a set of security status data};

wherein said set of combined data is a collection of inputs from a supply chain selected from the group consisting of;

{each said container entering said at least one border crossing or at said at least one customs entry point;

said customs at said at least one destination country;

a network of shippers;

a network of consignees;

a network of forwarders;

a plurality of terminals; and

a network of carriers}.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said step (C1) further comprises:

(C1,

     1) utilizing said set of data selected from the group consisting of;

{said RFID data;

said set of satellite navigational tracking data; and

said set of threat signal data} to indicate a physical location of at least one said (PU) ISS cargo container that will be submitted for customs clearance within a predetermined distance and time of arrival from a port of discharge and/or port of entry.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said step (C1) further comprises:

(C1,

     2) posting the current location of each said (PU) ISS cargo container on said secure ERP website.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein said step (C1) further comprises:

(C1,

     3) physically inspecting a predetermined number of said (PU) ISS cargo containers in said cargo shipment at least one border crossing or at least one customs entry point or at port of customs entry.