Method and system for monitoring containers to maintain the security thereof
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A device for monitoring the condition of a container, the device comprising:
- means for sensing at least one condition of the container;
means for transmitting information relative to the at least one sensed condition to a location outside the container;
means for interpreting the at least one sensed condition; and
wherein the means for interpreting is adapted to be disposed inside the container.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A container and contents monitoring system includes a device, a reader, a server, and a software backbone. The device communicates with the reader in order to determine the security and/or location of the container to which the device is attached. The reader transmits the information from the device to the server. The device determines if a security condition has occurred based on at least one sensor located on or in the container.
251 Citations
46 Claims
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1. A device for monitoring the condition of a container, the device comprising:
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means for sensing at least one condition of the container;
means for transmitting information relative to the at least one sensed condition to a location outside the container;
means for interpreting the at least one sensed condition; and
wherein the means for interpreting is adapted to be disposed inside the container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of electronically securing a container, the method comprising the steps of:
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selecting a container to secure;
disposing an electronic securing device within the container;
transmitting a request to a server;
generating by the server of a mathematically-unique security key in response to receipt of the request;
encrypting, by the server, of the security key;
transmitting the unique and encrypted security key to the device disposed within the container;
use by the device of the encrypted security key to calculate a unique result; and
storing, by the device, of the unique result. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A device for determining whether a security breach of a container has occurred, the device comprising:
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means for detecting pressure exerted by a door of the container;
means for establishing a baseline pressure value, the baseline pressure value being related to a calculated mean value from at least two pressure detections;
means for defining a pressure threshold; and
means for determining from the pressure threshold and the detected pressure whether a security breach has occurred. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. A method of detecting a security breach of a container, the method comprising the steps of:
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placing a pressure sensor adjacent a structural member and a door of the container;
monitoring the pressure sensor via a data unit located within the container;
determining, by the data unit, whether a security breach of the door has occurred based on a change in pressure sensed by the pressure sensor;
communicating, by the data unit, of a result of the determining step to an antenna interoperably connected to the data unit and located adjacent to and outside of the container; and
transmitting, by the antenna, of information relative to the communicating step. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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28. A method of disarming an electronically secured container having a security device therein, the method comprising the steps of:
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selecting a container to disarm;
transmitting a disarming request to a server;
generating, by the server, of a disarming key in response to receipt of the disarming request;
encrypting, by the server, of the disarming key;
transmitting the encrypted disarming key to a device associated with the container;
decrypting, by the device, of the encrypted disarming key; and
storing, by the device, of the decrypted disarming key. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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32. A method of checking a security status of a previously electronically secured container of the type wherein a security device is disposed therein, the method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting, by a reader, of a device challenge to a device associated with the container;
generating, by the device, of a device response to the device challenge;
transmitting, by the device, of the device response to the reader;
transmitting, by the reader, of a server challenge to a server;
generating, by the server, of a server response to the server challenge;
transmitting, by the server, of the server response to the reader;
comparing the server response and the device response; and
wherein, if the server response and the device response are equal, a security breach is deemed to have not occurred since the container was electronically secured.
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33. A device for determining whether a security breach of a container has occurred, the device comprising:
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means for sensing at least one condition of the container;
means for establishing a baseline value for the sensed condition;
means for defining a sensed condition value threshold; and
means for determining from the sensed condition value threshold and the sensed condition whether a security breach has occurred. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A device for monitoring the condition of a container of the type having at least one door pivotally mounted thereto, the device comprising:
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means for sensing movement of the container door;
means for transmitting information relative to the sensed container door movement;
means for interpreting the sensed door movement;
wherein the means for interpreting is disposed inside the container; and
wherein the means for transmitting is disposed relative to the container for transmission of the sensed door movement to a location outside the container.
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42. A device for determining a security condition of a container and its contents, the device comprising:
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means for detecting a condition of the container and its contents;
means for establishing a baseline condition value, the baseline condition value being related to normal fluctuations in the condition of the container and its contents experienced during transport;
means for defining a condition threshold; and
means for determining from the condition threshold and the detected condition, the security condition of the container. - View Dependent Claims (43)
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44. A method of detecting a security condition of a container and its contents, the method comprising the steps of:
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placing a sensor within the container;
monitoring the sensor via a data unit located within the container;
determining by the data unit whether a security condition has occurred based on sensed changes in value sensed by the sensor;
communicating by the data unit, of a result of the determining step to an antenna interoperably connected to the data unit and located relative to the container in a position for transmitting data to a location outside the container;
transmitting by the antenna of information relative to the communication step.
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45. A method of detecting a security breach of a container, the method comprising the steps of:
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placing a sensor inside the container;
monitoring the sensor via a data unit located within the container;
determining, by the data unit, whether a security breach of the door has occurred based on a change in a condition sensed by the sensor;
communicating, by the data unit, of a result of the determining step to an antenna interoperably connected to the data unit and located adjacent to and outside of the container; and
transmitting, by the antenna, of information relative to the communicating step.
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46. A device for monitoring the condition of and tracking a container, the device comprising:
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means for sensing at least one condition of the container;
means for transmitting information relative to the container position and the at least one sensed condition to a location outside the container;
means for interpreting the at least one sensed condition; and
wherein the means for interpreting is adapted to be disposed inside the container.
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Specification