Method of controlling access to a movable container and to a compartment of a vehicle, and a secure cargo transportation system

• US 6,583,713 B1
• Filed: 03/01/2000
• Issued: 06/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Bates, Benjamin G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dalencourt, Yves
• Application Number:
  US09/516,634
• Time in Patent Office: 1,210 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.21, 340/10.51, 340/5.5, 340/5.73, 340/825.49, 340/988, 340/994, 342/44, 701/208, 701/213
• US Class Current: 340/5.21
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00825 remotely by lines or wireless communication
• 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 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00912 for safes, strong-rooms, vaults or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/33 by means of a password

Abstract

A method of controlling access to a movable container, the method comprising controllably locking the container using an electronically actuated locking mechanism; storing in a memory a desired geographical location; determining the geographical location of the container; and enabling the locking mechanism to unlock the container if the determined geographical location matches the desired geographical location. A secure cargo transportation system comprises a vehicle including an enclosure having an opening; a door movable relative to the opening between a closed position, wherein the door restricts access to the enclosure, and an open position; an electronically actuable lock configured to selectively lock or unlock the door relative to the enclosure; a memory supported by the vehicle and configured to store a location coordinate; and a global positioning system supported by the vehicle and coupled to the memory and to the lock, and configured to enable the lock to unlock the door if the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of the location coordinate.

Claims

1. A method of controlling access to a movable container by a processor coupled to the movable container, the method comprising:

electronically locking the container in response to a command from the processor;

storing a desired geographical location in a memory in response to a command from the processor;

comparing, in the processor, a present geographical location of the container and the desired geographical location; and

electronically unlocking the container in response to the processor determining, by comparing, that the present geographical location is within a predetermined distance from the desired geographical location.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein comparing comprises determining the geographical location of the container using a global positioning system.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein comparing comprises determining the geographical location of the container using a global positioning system, and wherein the global positioning system is movable with the container.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein comparing comprises determining the geographical location of the container using a global positioning system, and wherein the global positioning system is in communication with the memory and the processor.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

electronically locking the container comprises locking the container using an electronically actuated locking mechanism in response to a command from the processor; and

comparing comprises determining the geographical location of the container using a global positioning system, wherein the global positioning system communicates with the locking mechanism via radio frequency to enable the locking mechanism to unlock the container in response to the processor determining, by comparing, that the determined geographical location matches the desired geographical location.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

electronically locking the container comprises locking the container using an electronically actuated locking mechanism in response to a command from the processor; and

comparing comprises determining the geographical location of the container using a global positioning system, wherein the global positioning system is electrically coupled to the locking mechanism.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising receiving the desired geographical location via wireless communication.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising receiving the desired geographical location via microwave.

9. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising receiving the desired geographical location via radio frequency.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein storing comprises storing coordinates of at least three geographical points in the memory, and wherein electronically unlocking the container comprises:

unlocking the container using an electronically actuated locking mechanism in response to a command from the processor; and

enabling the locking mechanism to unlock the container in response to the processor determining, by comparing, that present geographical location falls within an area defined by the coordinates.

11. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein storing comprises:

storing data representing a point; and

storing data representing a radius, and wherein electronically unlocking the container comprises unlocking the container in response to comparing determining that the present geographical location matches the desired geographical location by falling within an area defined by the stored radius about the point.

12. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

determining the present geographical location; and

repeating determining multiple times.

13. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

determining the present geographical location; and

repeating determining periodically.

14. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising determining the present geographical location of the container after storing and before comparing.

15. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein electronically locking the container comprises electronically locking the container using an electronically actuated locking mechanism in response to a command from the processor.

16. A method of controlling access to a compartment of a vehicle, the method comprising:

employing an electronically actuated locking mechanism for locking the compartment;

receiving via wireless communications a specified geographical area;

storing the received geographical area in memory;

periodically determining a present geographical location of the vehicle using a global positioning system;

comparing respective determined geographical locations with the stored geographical area on-board the vehicle to ascertain whether the vehicle is within the stored geographical area; and

enabling, from on-board the vehicle, the electronically actuated locking mechanism to unlock the compartment in response to the processor determining, by comparing, that the vehicle is within the stored geographical area.

17. A method in accordance with claim 16, further comprising actuating the locking mechanism to unlock the compartment in response to a digital key.

18. A method in accordance with claim 16, wherein storing comprises storing the received geographical area in a memory included in the global positioning system.

19. A method of controlling access to a movable container, the method comprising:

electronically locking the container;

storing, in a memory, a plurality of geographical areas through which the container is to travel;

logging a present geographical location of the container at each of a plurality of different times; and

electronically unlocking the container in response to determining that the container passed through each of the stored plurality of geographical areas.

20. A method in accordance with claim 19, wherein storing further comprises defining an order of geographical areas, and wherein electronically unlocking the container comprises enabling a locking mechanism to unlock the container in response to determining that the container passed through each of the geographical areas in the defined order.

21. A method in accordance with claim 19, wherein storing further comprises defining an order of geographical areas, including defining a final destination geographical area, and wherein electronically unlocking the container comprises:

determining that the container passed through each of the geographical areas in the defined order;

determining that the container is in the final destination geographical area; and

enabling a locking mechanism to unlock the container in response to determining that the container passed through each of the geographical areas in the defined order and in response to determining that the container is in the final destination geographical area.

22. A method in accordance with claim 19, wherein electronically locking comprises using an electronically actuated locking mechanism to lock the container.

23. A method in accordance with claim 22, wherein electronically unlocking the container comprises enabling the locking mechanism to unlock if the container passed through each of the stored geographical areas.

24. A method of controlling access to a movable container, the method comprising:

using an electronically actuated locking mechanism to lock the container;

storing in memory data defining a desired path of travel through which it is desired that the container travel, and storing a geographical area defining desired final destination;

producing an alert signal if the vehicle deviates from the desired path of travel;

determining that the container is within the geographical area defining the desired final destination; and

enabling the locking mechanism to unlock the container in response to determining that the container is within the geographical area defining the desired final destination.

25. A method of controlling access to a movable container in accordance with claim 24, wherein enabling comprises enabling the locking mechanism to unlock the container in response determining that the container is within the geographical area defining the desired final destination, wherein the destination is within the path that the container is to travel.

26. A method of controlling access to a movable container in accordance with claim 24, wherein storing comprises storing data defining a plurality of overlapping geographical areas.

27. A method of controlling access to a movable container in accordance with claim 24, wherein producing an alert signal comprises:

producing a first alert signal in response to the container deviating from the desired path by a first measurable quantity; and

producing a second alert signal in response to the container deviating from the desired path by a second measurable quantity.

28. A secure cargo transportation system comprising:

a vehicle including an enclosure having an opening;

a door movable relative to the opening between a closed position, wherein the door restricts access to the enclosure, and an open position;

a memory supported by the vehicle and configured to store a location coordinate; and

an electronic position-determining system, supported by the vehicle and coupled to the memory and configured to electronically unlock the door in response to determining that the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of the location coordinate.

29. A system in accordance with claim 28, further comprising a wireless receiver supported by the vehicle and coupled to the memory and configured to transfer to the memory a location coordinate received from a remote transmitter.

30. A system in accordance with claim 28, further comprising an electronically actuable lock coupled to the door and responsive to the electronic position-determining system.

31. A system in accordance with claim 28, wherein the electronic position-determining system includes the memory.

32. A system in accordance with claim 28, wherein the electronic position-determining system communicates with the lock via radio frequency to enable the lock to unlock the door in response to determining that the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of the location coordinate.

33. A system in accordance with claim 28, wherein the electronic position-determining system is electrically hardwired to the lock.

34. A system in accordance with claim 28, further comprising a microwave receiver supported by the vehicle, coupled to the memory and configured to transfer to the memory a location coordinate received via microwave from a microwave transmitter.

35. A system in accordance with claim 28, wherein the electronic position-determining system comprises a processor configured to determine when the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of the location coordinate.

36. A system in accordance with claim 28, further comprising an electronically actuable lock configured to selectively lock or unlock the door relative to the enclosure.

37. A system in accordance with claim 36, wherein the electronically actuable lock is configured to be actuable in response to a digital key.

38. A secure cargo transportation system comprising:

a vehicle including an enclosure having an opening;

a door movable relative to the opening between a closed position, wherein the door restricts access to the enclosure, and an open position;

an electronic position-determining system, supported by the vehicle and including a memory configured to store a location coordinate, the electronic position-determining system being configured to selectively lock and unlock the door relative to the enclosure, and to unlock the door when the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of the location coordinate; and

a wireless receiver supported by the vehicle and coupled to the memory and configured to transfer to the memory a location coordinate received from a transmitter.

39. A system in accordance with claim 38 wherein the electronic position-determining system communicates with a locking mechanism configured to selectively lock and unlock the door relative to the enclosure via radio frequency commands, the electronic position-determining system being configured to enable the lock to unlock the door when the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of the location coordinate.

40. A system in accordance with claim 38, wherein the electronic position-determining system is hardwired to the locking mechanism.

41. A system in accordance with claim 38, wherein the receiver is a microwave receiver configured to receive data transmitted at microwave frequencies.

42. A system in accordance with claim 38, wherein the electronic position-determining system comprises a processor configured to enable the lock to unlock the door when the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of the location coordinate.

43. A secure cargo transportation system comprising:

a vehicle including an enclosure having an opening;

a door movable relative to the opening between a closed position, wherein the door restricts access to the enclosure, and an open position; and

a remote intelligent communications device including an electronic position-determining system, supported by the vehicle and coupled to the door, the remote intelligent communications device including a memory configured to store data representing a location, the remote intelligent communications device enabling unlocking of the door when the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of the location coordinate, the remote intelligent communications device being configured to receive the data via wireless communications.

44. A secure cargo transportation system in accordance with claim 43, wherein the remote intelligent communications device is configured to receive data at microwave frequencies.

45. A secure cargo transportation system in accordance with claim 43, wherein the enclosure is defined by a semi trailer.

46. A secure cargo transportation system in accordance with claim 43, wherein the remote intelligent communications device includes indicia for uniquely identifying the vehicle with respect to other vehicles.

47. A secure cargo transportation system in accordance with claim 43, further comprising an electronically actuable lock configured to selectively lock or unlock the door relative to the enclosure in response to commands from the device.