Method and apparatus for smart electronic seals
First Claim
1. A tamper-evident electronic seal apparatus for providing a high degree of container security, the apparatus comprising:
- a data recording element, wherein the data recording element is configured to record data regarding selected events;
an access control element, wherein the access control element is configured to monitor and allow access to the container;
a plurality of electronic seal devices which are configured to determine when a seal is broken, wherein the electronic seal devices are comprised of a detector switch;
a transceiver and a communication control element;
further wherein, at least one or more electronic seal devices are capable of communicating with other electronic seal devices;
further wherein, at least one electronic seal device includes a visible signaling element which can provide a visible alert regarding a status of the container; and
further wherein, at least one electronic seal device is configured to transmit an alert to a second electronic seal device which is capable of displaying a visible alert regarding the status of the container.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system, apparatus, and method for a high degree of container security using tamper-evident electronic seals is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the tamper evident electronic seal is implemented as a smart E-seal monitoring device and includes a GPS transponder, a sensor manager, an expandable sensor suite, and other components. The smart E-seal may be snapped into place in the door jamb of an existing container. According to one aspect of the invention, the smart E-seal automatically disarms itself after entering a safe zone, and automatically arms itself when leaving a safe zone. More specifically, the smart E-seal may transmit messages to a remote monitoring station regarding the arming/disarming events and the sensor conditions.
-
Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A tamper-evident electronic seal apparatus for providing a high degree of container security, the apparatus comprising:
-
a data recording element, wherein the data recording element is configured to record data regarding selected events; an access control element, wherein the access control element is configured to monitor and allow access to the container; a plurality of electronic seal devices which are configured to determine when a seal is broken, wherein the electronic seal devices are comprised of a detector switch;
a transceiver and a communication control element;
further wherein, at least one or more electronic seal devices are capable of communicating with other electronic seal devices;
further wherein, at least one electronic seal device includes a visible signaling element which can provide a visible alert regarding a status of the container; and
further wherein, at least one electronic seal device is configured to transmit an alert to a second electronic seal device which is capable of displaying a visible alert regarding the status of the container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A tamper-evident electronic seal apparatus for providing a high degree of container security, the apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of electronic seal devices which are configured to determine when a seal is broken, wherein the electronic seal devices are comprised of;
a detector switch;
a transceiver and a communication control element;
further wherein, at least one or more electronic seal devices are capable of communicating with other electronic seal devices;
further wherein, at least one electronic seal device includes a visible signaling element which can provide a visible alert regarding a status of the container; and
further wherein, at least one electronic seal device is configured to transmit an alert to a second electronic seal device which is capable of displaying a visible alert regarding the status of the container.
- a plurality of electronic seal devices which are configured to determine when a seal is broken, wherein the electronic seal devices are comprised of;
-
10. A method for providing a high degree of container security in a system using a plurality of electronic seal devices which are configured to determine when a seal is broken, wherein one or more electronic seal devices are comprised of a detector switch, a transceiver and a communication control element, the method comprising:
-
(a) registering an access code and a container number; (b) activating an electronic seal function; (c) determining when a seal is broken; (d) transmitting notice of a security breach in a first sealed container to a seal device of a second container; and (e) signaling an alarm in the second container based on the security breach in the first container. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A tamper-evident electronic seal apparatus for providing a high degree of container security, the apparatus comprising:
an electronic seal devices which is configured to determine when a seal is broken, wherein the electronic seal device is comprised of;
a detector switch;
a transceiver and a communication control element;
further wherein, the electronic seal device is capable of communicating with other electronic seal devices;
further wherein, the electronic seal device includes a visible signaling element which can provide a visible alert regarding the status of the container; and
further wherein, the electronic seal device is configured to transmit an alert to a second electronic seal device which is capable of displaying a visible alert regarding the status of the container.
Specification