Security systems and methods for continuously monitoring the weight of a container and determining a monetary value of the material therein

• US 8,441,365 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2012
• Issued: 05/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MJK Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: MJK Holdings LLC
• Inventors: Jones, David H., Kunnel, Douglas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): HOFSASS, JEFFERY A
• Application Number:
  US13/523,254
• Publication Number:
  US 20120268273A1
• Time in Patent Office: 334 Days
• Field of Search: 340/540, 340/568.1, 340/666, 340/541, 235375-385, 414/21, 209/3.2, 705 16- 22, 705/414
• US Class Current: 340/666
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/414 using electronic computing means only
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/42 for counting by weighing G01G19/387 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 9/00 Methods of, or apparatus for, the determination of weight, not provided for in groups G01G1/00 - G01G7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

Various embodiments disclosed herein are directed to weight monitoring systems for recovering, processing, monitoring, and managing various commodities or products stored in a container.

Claims

1. An asset realization system, comprising:

a system for processing and loading a material into a secured container;

a weight monitoring system for detecting weight variances of the processed material placed within the secured container;

a web interface in communication with the weight monitoring system, the web interface capable of obtaining a current value of the processed material; and

a computer system in communication with the weight monitoring system and the web interface, the computer system adapted to assign and book a current monetary value to the processed material stored within the secured container.

2. A method for realizing assets for a company, the method comprising:

locking a secured container having a tare weight onto a weight monitoring system, the weight monitoring system including a plurality of load sensors for obtaining and monitoring a weight of the secured container;

initiating a recovery transaction;

recovering scrap metal from a site;

storing the scrap metal recovered from the site within the secured container;

obtaining a net weight of the scrap metal within the secured container;

calculating a value of the scrap metal based upon the net weight of the scrap metal and a monetary value of the scrap metal per unit of weight; and

booking the value of the scrap metal as an asset of the company.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising verifying identity of the scrap metal by analyzing the scrap metal.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising

unlocking and removing the secured container from the weight monitoring system;

monitoring the secured container with a security system; and

emitting a warning signal in response to an intrusion around a predefined area around the secured container.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising further comprising sending an alert to one or more designated parties in response to the intrusion.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

obtaining the monetary value per unit weight of the scrap metal from selected market indices posted on a website or a designated database.