System and method for verifying a security status of a lockable container

• US 8,054,194 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2005
• Issued: 11/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autronic Plastics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Autronic Plastics, Inc.
• Inventors: van Koot, Frederik, Lax, Michael R., Keuning, Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Tai T
• Application Number:
  US11/285,860
• Publication Number:
  US 20060116899A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,176 Days
• Field of Search: 340/686.1, 340/686.6, 340/545.3, 340/568.1, 340/568.8, 340/600, 70/571, 70/63, 70/77
• US Class Current: 340/686.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5004 For antitheft signaling device on protected article
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5031 Receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5093 For closures

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for processing assets in a lockable container are disclosed. A decoupler receives information from the container or the asset in the container. The container may be associated with a security status, and the item may be associated with a processing status. The decoupler may move the container along a processing path in a sequence based on the security status of the container and/or the processing status of the asset. The decoupler may also lock or unlock the container while moving the container along the processing path. At least a portion of the processing path may be exposed to a magnetic field, which may lock or unlock the container and/o activate or deactivate a security tag associated with the container or the item. The decoupler may also write or read information to or from an RFID tag associated with the container and/or the asset. This information may be used in conjunction with benefit denial, audit, loss prevention, transaction management, and other similar systems.

Claims

1. A method for verifying a security status of a lockable container using a container processing assembly, the lockable container having a security status indicator configured to close an optical circuit between the indicator and an optical sensor in a first position and open the optical circuit in a second position, the method comprising:

aligning the security status indicator with an electromagnetic radiation source within the container processing assembly;

exposing the security status indicator to the electromagnetic radiation source;

detecting reflected electromagnetic radiation from the security status indicator; and

determining, from the detected reflected electromagnetic radiation, whether the optical circuit is open or closed.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting the reflected electromagnetic radiation comprises detecting an intensity of the reflected electromagnetic radiation.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic radiation comprises visible light.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein detecting the reflected electromagnetic radiation comprises detecting a color of the visible light.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein aligning the security status indicator comprises moving the lockable container along a processing path.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the processing path is mechanical.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the security status indicator comprises reflective foil.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the security status indicator comprises reflective tape.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the security status indicator comprises reflective ink.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein exposing the security status indicator to the electromagnetic radiation source comprising shining a laser on the indicator.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein exposing the security status indicator to the electromagnetic radiation source comprises shining a light emitting diode on the indicator.

12. A method for verifying a security status of a lockable container using a container processing assembly, the lockable container having a security status indicator configured to close an optical circuit between the indicator and an optical sensor in a first position and open the optical circuit in a second position, the security status indicator indicative of a locked/unlocked status of the lockable container, the method comprising:

receiving the lockable container at the container processing assembly;

aligning the security status indicator with an electromagnetic radiation source within the container processing assembly;

exposing the security status indicator to the electromagnetic radiation source;

detecting reflected electromagnetic radiation from the security status indicator;

determining, from the detected reflected electromagnetic radiation, whether the optical circuit is open or closed; and

automatically locking or unlocking the lockable container based, at least in part, on the determination of whether the optical circuit is open or closed.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein detecting the reflected electromagnetic radiation comprises detecting an intensity of the reflected electromagnetic radiation.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the electromagnetic radiation comprises visible light.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein detecting the reflected electromagnetic radiation comprises detecting a color of the visible light.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein aligning the security status indicator comprises the step of moving the lockable container along a processing path.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the processing path is mechanical.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein the security status indicator comprises at least one of:

reflective foil, reflective tape, and reflective ink.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein exposing the security status indicator to the electromagnetic radiation source comprises shining a laser on the indicator.

20. The method of claim 12 wherein exposing the security status indicator to the electromagnetic radiation source comprises shining a light emitting diode on the indicator.