Method and apparatus for biometric access for E-seals

• US 9,972,154 B1
• Filed: 06/09/2015
• Issued: 05/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: System Planning Corporation
• Original Assignee: Globaltrak LLC (ORBCOMM Incorporated)
• Inventors: Meyers, Richard C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Vernal
• Application Number:
  US14/735,122
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 340 552
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0092 for cargo, freight or shipping containers and applications therefore in general
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00563 using personal physical data of the operator, e.g. finger prints, retinal images, voicepatterns
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00912 for safes, strong-rooms, vaults or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition

Abstract

A system, method and apparatus for using electronic seals in container security systems is provided. According to the present invention, one or more biometric measurements may be used with an e-seal device to control access. In one preferred embodiment, the biometric signals received by an e-seal device may be transmitted to a remote monitoring station, and the remote monitoring station may wirelessly authorize access to a container.

Claims

1. An electronic seal apparatus for providing container security, the apparatus comprising:

an access control element, wherein the access control element is configured to receive a user input and further comprises one or more biometric security measures;

a data recording element, wherein the data recording element is configured to record data regarding selected events;

a digitally programmed locking device; and

a microcontroller coupled with the access control element and the digitally programmed locking device, wherein the microcontroller is capable of determining an authorized access and disarming the digitally programmed locking device accordingly;

further wherein the access control element is configured to allow access using a first set of biometric security measures based on a first detected location and on a second set of biometric security measures based on a second detected location, wherein the first and second sets of biometric security measures are not the same, further wherein the second set of security measures includes a biometric security measure not included in the first set of biometric security measures.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more biometric security measures include voice recognition.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus further comprises a wireless communication element configured to communicate with a remote monitoring station.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the apparatus is communicatively coupled with a container monitoring system, and further wherein the apparatus and the container monitoring system are paired using a container identification number.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the container identification number is verified when the apparatus is re-activated after unlocking.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the apparatus is configured to operate in one or more security modes, further wherein, according to at least one security mode, the microcontroller is configured to disarm the apparatus if a voice recognition authorization process is successful.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the microcontroller is configured to change the security level of the apparatus according to location information received from a shipping container.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is configured to change the security level of the apparatus according to a command from a remote monitoring station.

9. A method for providing a high degree of container security and a convenient authorization process using a biometric enabled e-seal device, the method comprising:

initializing the e-seal device;

logging in an access code;

registering a container number;

activating the e-seal device;

generating an entry with a time, a date, and a seal number;

recording the entry in a memory module in the e-seal device;

uploading a biometric file;

enabling a biometric authorization process based on the biometric file;

detecting a user operation to start a biometric authorization process;

receiving a biometric signal;

comparing the biometric signal with the biometric file in the e-seal device;

granting access and generating entry data upon the successful authorization and

changing the security mode of the e-seal device based on location data, wherein the security mode is configured to allow access based on a first set of biometric security measures based on a first detected location and on a second set of biometric security measures based on a second detected location, wherein the first and second sets of biometric security measures are not the same, further wherein the second set of security measures includes biometric security measures not included in the first set of biometric security measures.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

changing the security mode of the e-seal device based on a message from a monitored container.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

changing the security mode of the e-seal device based on a command from a remote monitoring station.