Container security system
First Claim
1. A security system for a group of cargo items carried on a mobile platform, comprising:
- a detection device carried on each item for detecting an intrusion into the item;
a wireless transmitter carried on each of the items and coupled with the corresponding detection device;
at least one base receiver station on the platform for receiving signals from the wireless transmitters carried on the items;
a communication system on-board the platform, the communication system being communicatively coupled with the base receiver station and operable for transmitting information relating to the detected intrusion to a location off-board the platform;
a plurality of the wireless transmitters respectively carried on the items, each of the transmitters being coupled with a corresponding detection device responsive to a detected intrusion, said wireless transmitter for transmitting a signal indicating detection of the intrusion; and
a plurality of the base receiver stations located in spaced apart relationship on the platform,wherein each of the base receiver stations receives signals from the wireless transmitters in closest proximity to a respective base receiver station, each of said items further comprising a wireless receiver coupled with the wireless transmitter to provide duplex communication with said respective base receiver station, said duplex communication comprising signals originating with said respective base receiver station.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A security system for shipping containers transported onboard a mobile platform detects intrusions into the containers and transmits a security message to a land-based security monitoring station that identifies the container and the current geographic location of the mobile platform. Each container protected by the security system is provided with a cellular telephone that initiates a limited range telephone call transmission in response to an intrusion. Multiple base stations spread over the platform each receive calls from proximal containers and forwards call messages to the platform'"'"'s communication system which retransmits the call information in the form of the security message to the land based monitoring station.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A security system for a group of cargo items carried on a mobile platform, comprising:
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a detection device carried on each item for detecting an intrusion into the item; a wireless transmitter carried on each of the items and coupled with the corresponding detection device; at least one base receiver station on the platform for receiving signals from the wireless transmitters carried on the items; a communication system on-board the platform, the communication system being communicatively coupled with the base receiver station and operable for transmitting information relating to the detected intrusion to a location off-board the platform; a plurality of the wireless transmitters respectively carried on the items, each of the transmitters being coupled with a corresponding detection device responsive to a detected intrusion, said wireless transmitter for transmitting a signal indicating detection of the intrusion; and a plurality of the base receiver stations located in spaced apart relationship on the platform, wherein each of the base receiver stations receives signals from the wireless transmitters in closest proximity to a respective base receiver station, each of said items further comprising a wireless receiver coupled with the wireless transmitter to provide duplex communication with said respective base receiver station, said duplex communication comprising signals originating with said respective base receiver station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A security system for a group of shipping containers carried on a mobile shipping platform, such as an aircraft, a train, a truck or a boat, comprising:
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a plurality of security event detection devices respectively associated with the containers for detecting a security event occurring at the associated container; a plurality of cellular telephone units respectively coupled with the detection devices and operable for initiating a telephone call when the associated detection device detects a security event; and
,a communication system on-board the mobile platform for receiving telephone calls initiated by the cellular telephone units, and for sending messages to a security monitoring station off-board the mobile platform; wherein each of the cellular telephone units is attached to the associated container; the communication system includes a plurality of base communication stations positioned at spaced apart locations on the mobile platform, each of the base stations being within communication range of certain ones one of the telephone units; and
,the cellular telephone units and the base stations form a plurality of communication cells, each of said cellular telephone units providing duplex communication with a respective base station in closest proximity, said duplex communication comprising signals originating with said respective base station. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A security system for a container carried on mobile platforms comprising:
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a GPS receiver for providing the position of the container; a satellite terminal for transmitting security status information to a security monitoring station off-board the mobile platform; a plurality of cellular base stations; a cellular device for transmitting the security status of the container to the cellular base station; and
,a computer for receiving the security status information from the base station, for receiving the container position from the GPS receiver, and for directing the satellite transmitter to transmit the security status information and the container position to the security monitoring station; wherein a plurality of said cellular devices are respectively carried on the containers, each of the cellular devices being coupled with a corresponding detection device responsive to a detected intrusion, said cellular devices for transmitting a signal indicating detection of the intrusion; and said plurality of the cellular base stations located in spaced apart relationship on the mobile platform; wherein each of the cellular stations receives signals from the cellular devices in closest proximity to a respective cellular base station, each of said cellular devices providing duplex communication with said respective cellular base station, said duplex communication comprising signals originating with said respective cellular base receiver station. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of monitoring the security status of shipping containers being transported on a mobile platform such as an aircraft, a train or a boat, comprising the steps of:
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(A) detecting a breach of security in one of the containers; (B) initiating a cellular communication transmission from the container to a base communication station onboard the mobile platform; (C) receiving the cellular transmission at the base communications station; (D) generating a security status message onboard the mobile platform using the information contained in the transmission received in step (C); and
,(E) transmitting the message generated in step (D) to a security monitoring station off-board the mobile platform; wherein a plurality of cellular devices are respectively carried on the containers, each of the cellular devices being coupled with a corresponding detection device responsive to a detected intrusion comprising said breach of security, said cellular devices for transmitting a signal indicating detection of the intrusion; and a plurality of the base communications stations located in spaced apart relationship on the mobile platform; wherein each of the base communications stations receives signals from the cellular devices in closest proximity to a respective base communications station, each of said cellular devices providing duplex communication with said respective base communications station, said duplex communication comprising signals originating with said respective base communications station. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of monitoring security intrusions into shipping containers on a mobile shipping platform such as an aircraft, a train or a boat, comprising the steps of:
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(A) detecting an intrusion into one of the containers; (B) initiating a limited range wireless radio transmission from the container, wherein the wireless transmission contains information related to the intrusion detected in step (A); (C) receiving the transmission at a base communication station onboard the mobile shipping platform within range of the transmission; and
,(D) re-transmitting the information from the mobile shipping platform to a security monitoring station off-board the mobile shipping platform; wherein a plurality of wireless radio transmission devices are respectively carried on the containers, each of the wireless transmission devices being coupled with a corresponding detection device responsive to the detected intrusion, said cellular wireless radio transmission devices for transmitting a signal indicating detection of the intrusion; and a plurality of the base communication stations located in spaced apart relationship on the mobile platform; wherein each of the base communication stations receives signals from the wireless radio transmission devices in closest proximity to a respective base communication station, each of said containers further comprising a wireless receiver coupled with the wireless transmitter to provide duplex communication with said respective base communication station, said duplex communication comprising signals originating with said respective base communication station. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification