Security for a cargo container

• US 7,405,655 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2006
• Issued: 07/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Wells, George W., Ng, Joseph S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Hung T.
• Application Number:
  US11/361,201
• Publication Number:
  US 20060261944A1
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.1, 340/539.1, 340/539.13, 340/539.23, 340/539.26, 340/540, 340/541, 340/825.49, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 235/383, 235/385, 700/213, 700/217
• US Class Current: 340/568.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/207 with respect to certain areas, e.g. forbidden or allowed areas with possible alerting when inside or outside boundaries
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 3/00 Traffic control systems for marine craft marking of navigational route B63B22/16, B63B51/00

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for securing and/or tracking cargo containers. The security unit comprises a positioning receiver configured to provide a position of the cargo container and a memory configured to store a first geocentric zone and a second geocentric zone of the cargo container. The security unit also comprises a controller coupled to the positioning receiver and the memory. The security unit is configured to receive the position of the cargo container from the positioning receiver, determine if the position of the cargo container is within one of the first geocentric zone and the second geocentric zone stored in the memory, operate in a first operating mode associated with the first geocentric zone if the position is within the first geocentric zone, and operate in a second operating mode associated with the second geocentric zone if the position is within the second geocentric zone.

Claims

1. A security unit for a cargo container, comprising:

a positioning receiver configured to provide a position of the cargo container;

a memory configured to store a first geocentric zone and a second geocentric zone; and

a controller coupled to said positioning receiver and said memory, said controller configured to;

receive said position of the cargo container from said positioning receiver;

determine if said position of the cargo container is within one of said first geocentric zone and said second geocentric zone stored in said memory;

operate in a first operating mode associated with said first geocentric zone if said position is within said first geocentric zone; and

operate in a second operating mode associated with said second geocentric zone if said position is within said second geocentric zone.

2. The security unit for the cargo container of claim 1, wherein said memory is further configured to store a third geocentric zone and said controller is further configured to determine if said position of the cargo container is within said third geocentric zone and operate in a third operating mode associated with said third geocentric zone if said position is within said third geocentric zone.

3. The security unit for the cargo container of claim 2, wherein said memory is further configured to store a fourth geocentric zone and said controller is further configured to determine if said position of the cargo container is within said fourth geocentric zone and operate in a fourth operating mode associated with said fourth geocentric zone if said position is within said fourth geocentric zone.

4. The security unit for the cargo container of claim 1, wherein said cargo container is a passenger compartment.

5. The security unit for the cargo container of claim 1, wherein said position has an accuracy of about plus or minus ten kilometers (±

10 km).

6. The security unit for the cargo container of claim 1, wherein said position has an accuracy of about plus or minus 15 meters (±

15 m).

7. The security unit for the cargo container of claim 1, wherein said position receiver is a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver.

8. The security unit for the cargo container of claim 1, wherein said position is a Radio Frequency (RF) receiver that is configured to receive a RF broadcast of at least said position.

9. The security unit for the cargo container of claim 1, wherein said first geocentric zone and said second geocentric zone are specified with at least a first latitude and a first longitude.

10. The security unit for the cargo container of claim 9, wherein said first geocentric zone is further specified with at least a first radius.

11. The security unit for the cargo container of claim 1, wherein said geocentric zone is a port of lading.

12. The security unit for the cargo container of claim 1, wherein said first operating mode comprises a first communication system mode and said second operating mode comprises a second communication system mode.

13. The security unit for the cargo container of claim 1, wherein said first operating mode comprises a first transmission interval mode and said second operating mode comprises a second transmission interval mode.

14. The security for the cargo container of claim 1, wherein said first operating mode comprises a first route mapping mode and said second operating mode comprises a second route mapping mode.

15. The security unit for the cargo container of claim 1, further comprising a first security sensor configured to generate first security data associated with the cargo container and wherein said controller is configured to receive said first security data and identify a security event based at least in part on said first security data.

16. The security unit for the cargo container of claim 15, further comprising a second security sensor configured to generate second security data associated with the cargo container and said controller is configured to receive said second security data and identify said security event based at least in part upon said first security data and said second security data.

17. The security unit for the cargo container of claim 15, wherein said security event is stored in said memory.

18. The security unit for the cargo container of claim 1, wherein said security even is transmitted to a security operation center.

19. The security unit for the cargo container of claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured to generate a data associated with a condition of the cargo container and said controller is configured to receive said condition and operate in said first operating mode if said position is within said first geocentric zone and if said condition is met.

20. The security unit for the cargo container of claim 1, wherein said condition is motion of the cargo container.

21. A security method for a cargo container, comprising the steps of:

receiving a position of the cargo container;

determining if said position of the cargo container is within a first geocentric zone;

determining if said position of the cargo container is within a second geocentric zone;

operating in a first operating mode associated with said first geocentric zone if said position is within said first geocentric zone; and

operating in a second operating mode associated with said second geocentric zone if said position is within said second geocentric zone.

22. The security method for the cargo container of claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

determining if said position of the cargo container is within a third geocentric zone; and

operating in a third operating mode associated with said third geocentric zone if said position is within said third geocentric zone.

23. The security method for the cargo container of claim 22, further comprising the steps of:

determining if said position of the cargo container is within said fourth geocentric zone; and

operating in a fourth operating mode associated with said fourth geocentric zone if said position is within said fourth geocentric zone.

24. The security method unit for the cargo container of claim 21, wherein said cargo container is a passenger compartment.

25. The security method for the cargo container of claim 21, wherein said position has an accuracy of about plus or minus ten kilometers (±

10 km).

26. The security method for the cargo container of claim 21, wherein said position has an accuracy of about plus or minus fifteen meters (±

15 m).

27. The security method for the cargo container of claim 21, wherein said first geocentric zone and said second geocentric zone are specified with at least a first latitude and a first longitude.

28. The security method for the cargo container of claim 27, wherein said first geocentric zone is further specified with at least a first radius.

29. The security method for the cargo container of claim 21, wherein said geocentric zone is a port of lading.

30. The security method for the cargo container of claim 21, wherein said first operating mode comprises a first communication system mode and said second operating mode comprises a second communication system mode.

31. The security method for the cargo container of claim 21, wherein said first operating mode comprises a first transmission interval mode and said second operating mode comprises a second transmission interval mode.

32. The security method for the cargo container of claim 21, wherein said first operating mode comprises a first route mapping mode and said second operating mode comprises a second route mapping mode.

33. The security method for the cargo container of claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

generating first security data associated with the cargo container; and

identifying a security event based at least in part on said first security data.

34. The security method for the cargo container of claim 33, further comprising the steps of:

generating second security data associated with the cargo container; and

identifying said security event based at least in part upon said first security data and said second security data.

35. The security method for the cargo container of claim 33, further comprising the step of storing said security event.

36. The security method for the cargo container of claim 33, further comprising the step of transmitting said security event to a security operation center.

37. The security method for the cargo container of claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

generating data associated with a condition of the cargo container; and

operating in said first operating mode if said position is within said first geocentric zone and if said condition is met.

38. The security method for the cargo container of claim 37, wherein said condition is motion of the cargo container.