Electronic security system for monitoring and recording activity and data relating to cargo

• US 7,012,529 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2004
• Issued: 03/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Security Applications ID Incorporated
• Original Assignee: United Security Applications ID Incorporated
• Inventors: Sajkowsky, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHUNG
• Application Number:
  US10/871,263
• Publication Number:
  US 20050099292A1
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 3405721-5728, 340/571, 340/500, 235/385, 235/435
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0029 the arrangement being specially adapted for wireless interrogation of grouped or bundled articles tagged with wireless record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0092 for cargo, freight or shipping containers and applications therefore in general
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

A tracking system for identifying contents of a container includes an electromagnetic identification apparatus that provides an electromagnetic signal indicative of a container content data set; a writer for use in encoding the container signal onto the apparatus; a controller for receiving the encoded signal and for storing the signal in a master database storage apparatus; and a reader configured outside the container for communicating with the electromagnetic identification apparatus and for receiving the encoded signal therefrom and corresponding to the container content data signal set. A system for tracking items in an assembly includes an apparatus for receiving electromagnetic identification tag signals; an apparatus for creating a first tier aggregate signature; an apparatus for storing the signature in a master database; and an apparatus for receiving modifying command signals for creating a second tier aggregate signature corresponding to a modified set of electromagnetic identification tags in an augmented assembly.

Claims

1. A tracking system for use in identifying contents of a container, the container having an associated data set indicative of the container contents and parameters thereof, said system comprising:

an electromagnetic identification apparatus attached to said container for providing an electromagnetic signal indicative of said container content data set;

a writer for use in encoding said electromagnetic signal indicative of said container content data set onto said electromagnetic identification apparatus;

a controller for receiving said encoded signal corresponding to said container content data set and for storing said encoded signal in a master database storage apparatus;

a reader configured outside said container for communicating with said electromagnetic identification apparatus and for receiving said encoded signal therefrom and corresponding to said container content data signal set, said reader also for providing said controller with signals indicative of the same;

wherein said electromagnetic identification apparatus includes a plurality of associated electromagnetic identification tags, each of said tags associated with a corresponding one of an element corresponding to said contents of said container;

an apparatus for generating an aggregate electromagnetic signature signal-associated with the corresponding content signals associated with each of the plurality of electromagnetic identification tags;

an apparatus for storing said electromagnetic signature associated with said container contents on said master database storage mechanism;

an apparatus for polling said master database storage mechanism to access signals thereon corresponding to the aggregate signature;

an apparatus for comparing the contents of said aggregate signature signals obtained from said reader with said aggregate signature signals stored on said master database storage mechanism; and

an apparatus for generating an alarm signal if a discrepancy between said aggregate signature signals obtained from said reader as compared to those aggregate signature signals stored in said master database is detected.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an apparatus for providing electromagnetic communication between said electromagnetic identification tags within said container and said reader.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said container further includes metal walls and said communication apparatus further comprises a transceiver apparatus having first and second components adapted to be respectively placed on an interior and an exterior wall of said container remaining in electronic communication there with, said transceiver apparatus for providing electromagnetic identification tag signals through said wall and for providing polling command signals received from said reader through said wall to each of said electromagnetic identification tags.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said transceiver apparatus further comprises a barrier communication system.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said electromagnetic identification apparatus comprises a passive tag having a range of up to about 13 feet and operating at about 915 MHz.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said container content data set further comprises signals corresponding to tag level, product owner, global trade identification number, EPC (electronic product code) serial number, manufacture global location number, date and time of tag activation, customs harmonizing code, harmonizing code description, tag level quantity, tag level unit of measure, or customer purchase order number, or any combination of the foregoing.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said writer comprises an Intermec PM4I EasyCoder writer/printer.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said reader comprises an Intermec IP3 portable reader platform.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said electromagnetic identification apparatus further comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag operating at about 915 MHz.

10. The system according to claim 9, further comprising a container tag affixed to an external wall of said container, said system also including an apparatus for writing a container aggregate signature on said RFID tag to be affixed to the outer surface.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said reader further comprises a radio access point (RAP) transceiver having a range of up to about 30 feet and being designed to read up to 1,000 tags operating at a frequency of about 433.92 MHz.

12. The system of claim 1 further comprising a sealing apparatus for providing signals indicative of a breach or tamper of the container after it is sealed.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein said sealing apparatus further comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag;

and

wherein said controller further comprises an apparatus to query said sealing apparatus and providing an alarm signal should said container seal RFID tag fail to provide signals consistent with the integrity of said RFID tag.

14. A system for tracking items in an assembly, the assembly including a plurality of individual items, each item having an electromagnetic identification tag encoded with information specific to that item, with each identification tag capable of providing electromagnetic signals indicative of the encoded item information, said system comprising:

a means for receiving said electromagnetic identification tag signals;

a means for creating from said received electromagnetic identification tag signals a first tier aggregate signature corresponding to signals indicative of a select set of electromagnetic identification tags in said assembly;

a means for storing said first tier aggregate signature signals in a master database;

a means for receiving modifying command signals for creating a second tier aggregate signature signal corresponding to a modified set of electromagnetic identification tags in an augmented assembly; and

a means for comparing stored aggregate signature signals with currently received aggregate signature signals and generating an alarm signal should said comparison indicate a discrepancy between the signals associated with the stored aggregate signature signals and those which comprise said currently received aggregate signal set.

15. The tracking system of claim 14, wherein the items in said assembly are placed within a container and the tracking system further comprising a seal capable of generating an electromagnetic signal indicative of the sealed condition of the container;

and

a means for generating an alarm signal should said seal electromagnetic identification signal fail to be received by said tracking system signal receiving means in response to a polling command signal presented to said seal electromagnetic identification signal or be different from a stored electromagnetic identification seal signal.

16. A system for managing items in a collection, the collection including a plurality of received goods marked with electromagnetic identification tags having encoded information, each tag being capable of providing electromagnetic signals indicative of the encoded information, said system comprising:

a means for receiving electromagnetic signals from electromagnetic identification tags;

a means for creating a first aggregate signature corresponding to said electromagnetic signals from said electromagnetic identification tags;

a means for notifying a consignee of the goods of the arrival of said goods;

a means for creating a second aggregate signature corresponding to said electromagnetic signals from said electromagnetic identification tags;

a means for comparing said first aggregate signature to said second aggregate signature to determine any discrepancies between said first and second aggregate signatures; and

a means for transferring information indicative of the comparison of said first and second aggregate signatures to a database maintained by said consignee.

17. A security system for monitoring a container carrying cargo therein, said cargo being comprised of a plurality of items, said security system comprising:

a primary tier electronic data tag placed in contact with an outside surface of said container, said primary tier electronic data tag being capable of selectively communicating to a polling means when said container has been tampered with;

a plurality of secondary tier electronic data tags, each of said items having one of said plurality of secondary tier electronic data tags thereon;

said primary tier electronic data tag also being capable of communicating aggregate cargo data comprised of predetermined information indicative of each of said items to said polling means; and

a comparison means for comparing said aggregate cargo data to said predetermined information.