METHOD FOR VERIFYING THE INTEGRITY OF A CONTAINER

• US 20080303663A1
• Filed: 06/08/2007
• Published: 12/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nemerix, SA
• Inventors: Garin, Lionel, SMITH, Terry
• Application Number:
  US11/760,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20080303663A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/550
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/141 Preventing contamination, tampering
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/143 Quality control, feedback systems
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/145 Detecting door closure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/146 Employing pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/022 Transponder chips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/024 Storing results with means integrated into the container
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19608 Tracking movement of a target, e.g. by detecting an object predefined as a target, using target direction and or velocity to predict its new position
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/20 Actuation by change of fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/24 Self-calibration, e.g. compensating for environmental drift or ageing of components

Abstract

A container security device comprises a sensor and a local memory configured to store input from the sensor, wherein the device is configured to detect a breach of a container. A container security method comprises the steps of detecting a change in a measurement value inside a container, and indicating a breach if a change in measurement value exceeds a threshold. A method of determining if a container was breached comprises the steps of downloading a log of gathered information, and checking the gathered information for any abnormalities, wherein the gathered information includes at least one sensor measurement taken from the inside of a container. A device for maintaining security of a navigation receiver unit comprises an enclosure, comprising a sensor, a processor, a local memory configured to store input from the sensor, and a navigation receiver unit, wherein the device is configured to detect a breach of the enclosure.

Claims

1. A container security device, comprising:

a sensor; and

a local memory configured to store input from the sensor;

wherein the device is configured to detect a breach of a container.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a processor that is configured to detect a breach of the container when a change in measurement values from the sensor exceeds a threshold.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the change in measurement values is stored in the local memory when the breach occurs.

4. A device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a navigation receiver unit, wherein the local memory is configured to store input from the navigation receiver unit.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein, when a breach occurs, information regarding the time the breach occurred is stored in the local memory.

6. A device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising an alarm, wherein the alarm is configured to activate when a breach occurs.

7. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a change in measurement values from the sensor is sent to a remote site to determine if it exceeds a threshold.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the remote site is configured to activate an alarm.

9. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein a change in measurement values that exceeds a threshold is not detected as a breach if an authorized security access is made at the time of the change in measurement values.

10. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor.

11. A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the container is sealed such that pressure inside the container is not atmospheric pressure.

12. A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one more sensor.

13. A method of securing a container, comprising the steps of:

detecting a change in a measurement values inside a container; and

indicating a breach if the change in measurement values exceeds a threshold.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the step of indicating a breach comprises storing the change in measurement values in a local memory.

15. A method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising the step of:

detecting time and position information of the container.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the step of indicating a breach comprises storing information about the position of the container at the time of the breach, and the time of the breach, in a local memory.

17. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the step of indicating a breach comprises activating an alarm.

18. A method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising the step of:

sending the change in measurement values to a remote site to determine if it exceeds a threshold.

19. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the change in measurement values that exceeds a threshold is not detected as a breach if an authorized security access is made at the time of the change in measurement values.

20. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor.

21. A device as claimed in claim 20, further comprising the step of:

sealing the container such that pressure inside the container is not atmospheric pressure.

22. A method of determining if a container was breached, comprising the steps of:

downloading a log of gathered information; and

checking the gathered information for any abnormalities;

wherein an abnormality is a change in measurement values taken from a sensor inside a container that exceeds a threshold.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the measurement values are obtained from a pressure sensor.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the gathered information was encrypted.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of:

decrypting the gathered information.

26. A device for maintaining security of a navigation receiver unit, comprising:

an enclosure, comprising;

a sensor;

a processor;

a local memory configured to store input from the sensor; and

a navigation receiver unit;

wherein the device is configured to detect a breach of the enclosure.

27. A device as claimed in claim 26, wherein the processor is configured to detect a breach of the enclosure when a change in measurement values from the sensor exceeds a threshold.

28. A device as claimed in claim 27, wherein the local memory stores the change in measurement values from the sensor.

29. A device as claimed in claim 26, wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor.

30. A device as claimed in claim 29, wherein the enclosure is sealed such that pressure inside the enclosure is not atmospheric pressure.