Attachment device, attachment receiving device and system for identifying secured containers

• US 7,612,671 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2006
• Issued: 11/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hopman, Nicholas C., Rachwalski, Richard S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yacob; Sisay
• Application Number:
  US11/564,425
• Publication Number:
  US 20080122620A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,070 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.3, 340/573, 340/571, 340/568.1, 340/540, 340/5.2, 340/572.4, 340/572.8, 235/492, 292/318, 333/1.1, 333/24.2
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• 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: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/496 Resilient engaging means

Abstract

An attachment device, attachment receiving device and system for identifying a secured container are disclosed. The system may include an attachment device, a first identification device embedded into the attachment device, the first identification device containing identification data relating to the attachment device, an attachment receiving device coupled to a container, a second identification device embedded into the attachment receiving device, the second identification device containing identification data relating to the container, wherein when the attachment device is attached to the attachment receiving device, the attachment device identification data and the container identification data are associated, and the associated identification data is capable of being read by an identification data reader.

Claims

1. An attachment device used to secure a container, comprising:

an attachment body member;

a conductive coating covering at least a portion of the attachment body member; and

a first identification device embedded into the attachment body member and in contact with the conductive coating, the first identification device containing attachment device identification data relating to the attachment device, wherein the attachment body member is configured to be inserted into an attachment receiving device, the attachment receiving device comprising an electrically conductive housing coupled to the container, a second identification device embedded into the attachment receiving device containing identification data relating to the container, and when the attachment device is inserted to the attachment receiving device, the attachment device identification data and the container identification data are associated and the associated identification data is capable of being read by an identification data reader, and if the attachment device is one of disturbed, severed, and disconnected as being detected via the conductive coating by the attachment receiving device, the attachment device identification data is not capable of being transferred to the identification data reader which serves as an indication that security of the container has been compromised.

2. The attachment device of claim 1, wherein the attachment body member is one of a bolt, a lock, and a metal rod.

3. The attachment device of claim 1, wherein the first identification device is one of a passive device and an active device.

4. The attachment device of claim 1, wherein the first identification device is a radio frequency identification (RFID) device.

5. The attachment device of claim 1, wherein the first identification device electronically transmits the identification data to the identification data reader.

6. A system that enables identification of a secured container, comprising:

an attachment device;

an electrically conductive coating covering at least a portion of the attachment device;

a first identification device embedded into the attachment device, the first identification device containing identification data relating to the attachment device;

an attachment receiving device coupled to the container, wherein the attachment receiving device comprises an electrically conductive housing and the attachment device is configured to be inserted into the electrically conductive housing;

a second identification device embedded into the attachment receiving device, the second identification device containing identification data relating to the container, wherein when the attachment device is inserted to the attachment receiving device, the attachment device identification data and the container identification data are associated, and the associated identification data is capable of being read by an identification data reader, wherein if one of the attachment device, the attachment receiving device, and a connection between the attachment device and the attachment receiving device is one of disturbed, severed and disconnected as being detected via the conductive housing by the attachment receiving device, the associated identification data is not capable of being transferred to the identification data reader which serves as an indication that security of the container has been compromised.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the identification data reader electronically reads and processes the transferred associated identification data.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein at least one of the first identification device and second identification device electronically transmits the associated identification data continuously to the identification data reader.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein at least one of the first identification device and second identification device electronically transmits the associated identification data when requested by the identification data reader.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein if one of the attachment device, the attachment receiving device, and a connection between the attachment device and the attachment receiving device are one of disturbed, severed, and disconnected, the identification data reader is alerted.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the attachment device is one of a bolt, a lock, and a metal rod.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein one of the first identification device and second identification device is a passive device and the other of the first identification device and second identification device is an active device.

13. The system of claim 6, wherein at least one of the first identification device and second identification device is a radio frequency identification (RFID) device.

14. An attachment receiving device used to secure a container, comprising:

an electrically conductive housing coupled to a the container; and

an attachment receiving identification device embedded into the electrically conductive housing, the attachment receiving identification device containing identification data relating to the container,

wherein the electrically conductive housing is configured to receive an attachment device;

an electrically conductive coating covering at least a portion of the attachment device;

the attachment device having an attachment device identification device embedded into the attachment device containing identification data relating to the attachment device, and when the attachment device is receive by the attachment receiving device, the attachment device identification data and the container identification data are associated and the associated identification data is capable of being read by an identification data reader, and if one of the attachment device, the attachment receiving device, and a connection between the attachment device and the attachment receiving device are one of disturbed, severed, and disconnected as being detected via the conductive housing by the attachment receiving device, the associated identification data is not capable of being transferred to the identification data reader which serves as an indication that security of the container has been compromised.

15. The attachment receiving device of claim 14, wherein the identification device is one of a passive and an active device.

16. The attachment receiving device of claim 14, wherein the identification device electronically transmits the identification data to the identification data reader.