SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTAINER SECURITY

• US 20100251785A1
• Filed: 04/01/2009
• Published: 10/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Zarei, Mahmood
• Application Number:
  US12/416,542
• Publication Number:
  US 20100251785A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/58
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2211/00 Anti-theft means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2590/0083 Computer or electronic system, e.g. GPS systems
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/00 Component parts, details or accessories for large containers B65D88/34 - B65D88/78 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/008 Doors for containers, e.g. ISO-containers locking E05B83/12
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0058 by batteries
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/02 Movement of the bolt by electromagnetic means; Adaptation of locks, latches, or parts thereof, for movement of the bolt by electromagnetic means by means in the striker E05B63/248
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/02 Locks for railway freight-cars, freight containers or the like; Locks for the cargo compartments of commercial lorries, trucks or vans
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0092 for cargo, freight or shipping containers and applications therefore in general
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/63 Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5004 For antitheft signaling device on protected article
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5009 For portable articles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/65 Central control

Abstract

A shipping container includes internal computer-operated locks that cannot be accessed from outside the container. A satellite receiver inside the container can receive position signals and other commands from a satellite to unlock the locks.

Claims

1. A shipping container comprising:

a container body defining an interior and a door movable between a closed configuration, in which the interior cannot be accessed from outside the container body, and an open configuration, in which the interior can be accessed from outside the container body;

at least one computer-controlled lock coupled to the door and movable between an unlocked configuration, in which the door can moved to the open configuration, and a locked configuration, in which the door is held in the closed configuration, the lock being disposed entirely within the interior such that the lock cannot be accessed from outside the container body when the door is in the closed configuration;

at least one wireless receiver in the interior; and

at least one processor in the interior and communicating with the wireless receiver and the lock to control the lock responsive to signals from wireless receiver.

2. The container of claim 1, comprising a card reader disposed adjacent a bottom of the container body and configured to detect a portable security card when the card is near the card reader, the card reader communicating with the processor.

3. The container of claim 2, wherein the card reader generates a signal to cause the processor to control the lock when an authorized security card is detected by the card reader.

4. The container of claim 3, wherein the card reader is disposed substantially on a longitudinal centerline of the container.

5. The container of claim 1, further comprising a battery powering the processor and lock and a solar collector mounted on the container and connected to the battery to provide charge to the battery.

6. The container of claim 1, further comprising a visual display mounted on an exterior surface of the body and communicating with the processor to present a digital seal code observable by a person.

7. The container of claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver is a satellite receiver.

8. The container of claim 1, further comprising a position receiver in the interior of the container and receiving position signals, the processor periodically causing position of the container as indicated by the position receiver to be transmitted to a control center.

9. A method comprising:

loading a container;

communicating with a control center that the container is ready to lock;

sending a wireless lock signal from the control center to the container;

the container automatically locking itself in response to the lock signal, a first digital seal code being associated with the locking act; and

the container automatically unlocking itself at a destination in response to a position signal received by a satellite receiver inside the container.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein locks locking the container are entirely interior to the container.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the container bears an externally visible computer-controlled display presenting the seal code.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the container unlocks itself in response to a signal from a card reader located on a bottom of the container.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein in response to a request by authorized security personnel to open the container for inspection, the method includes:

sending the request to the control center;

the control center wirelessly transmitting to the container an unlock signal and a second digital seal code different from the first digital seal code;

the container automatically unlocking itself in response to receiving the unlock signal.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising replacing the first seal code with the second seal code on computer-controlled display mounted on an external surface of the container.

15. Control center computer executing logic on a computer readable medium, the logic comprising:

receiving information that a container is ready to be locked;

causing a first lock signal to be wirelessly transmitted to the container;

causing a first digital seal code to be associated with locking the container pursuant to the first lock signal;

causing an unlock signal to be wirelessly transmitted to the container;

causing a second lock signal to be wirelessly transmitted to the container; and

causing a second digital seal code to be associated with locking the container pursuant to the second lock signal.

16. The computer of claim 16, wherein the computer causes a destination location to be wirelessly transmitted to the container and does not cause an unlock signal to be sent to the container when the container arrives at the destination location, the container automatically unlocking itself at the destination location.

17. The computer of claim 16, wherein the unlock signal is caused to be transmitted to the container in response to a request by authorized security personnel to open the container for inspection.

18. The computer of claim 16, wherein the computer receives periodic position information from the container and generates an alarm when a container position is beyond a threshold of an expected position.

19. The computer of claim 16, wherein the container is unlocked by a card reader on the container and the computer receives information pertaining thereto.

20. The computer of claim 16, wherein the lock and unlock signals are sent to the container through a satellite link.