Method and apparatus for smart electronic seals

• US 9,000,917 B1
• Filed: 01/06/2012
• Issued: 04/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Globaltrak LLC (ORBCOMM Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Globaltrak LLC (ORBCOMM Incorporated)
• Inventors: Meyers, Richard C.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US13/345,414
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• Field of Search: 340/541, 340/539.31, 340/542
• US Class Current: 340/541
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 26/007 Wireless interrogation
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0329 having electronic sealing means

Abstract

A system, apparatus, and method for a high degree of container security using tamper-evident electronic seals is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the tamper evident electronic seal is implemented as a smart E-seal monitoring device and includes a GPS transponder, a sensor manager, an expandable sensor suite, and other components. The smart E-seal may be snapped into place in the door jamb of an existing container. According to one aspect of the invention, the smart E-seal automatically disarms itself after entering a safe zone, and automatically arms itself when leaving a safe zone. More specifically, the smart E-seal may transmit messages to a remote monitoring station regarding the arming/disarming events and the sensor conditions.

Claims

1. A tamper-evident electronic seal apparatus for providing a high degree of container security, the apparatus comprising:

a data recording element, wherein the data recording element is configured to record data regarding selected events;

an access control element, wherein the access control element is configured to monitor and allow access to the container;

a plurality of electronic seal devices which are configured to determine when a seal is broken, wherein the electronic seal devices are comprised of a detector switch;

a transceiver and a communication control element;

further wherein, at least one or more electronic seal devices are capable of communicating with other electronic seal devices;

further wherein, at least one electronic seal device includes a visible signaling element which can provide a visible alert regarding a status of the container; and

further wherein, at least one electronic seal device is configured to transmit an alert to a second electronic seal device which is capable of displaying a visible alert regarding the status of the container.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a GPS unit;

a sensor suite; and

a sensor manager.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the access control element is configured to automatically disarm the electronic seal element based on location data determined by the GPS unit.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the access control element is configured to automatically disarm the electronic seal element based on location data determined via a Mobile Ad Hoc Network.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the access control element is configured to automatically arm the electronic seal element based on location data determined by the GPS unit.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the access control element is located within the electronic seal element.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the access control element is configured to automatically disarm the electronic seal element based on instructions received from a remote monitoring station.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the access control element is configured to collect and provide data regarding whether the container has been opened after being sealed.

9. A tamper-evident electronic seal apparatus for providing a high degree of container security, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of electronic seal devices which are configured to determine when a seal is broken, wherein the electronic seal devices are comprised of;

a detector switch;

a transceiver and a communication control element;

further wherein, at least one or more electronic seal devices are capable of communicating with other electronic seal devices;

further wherein, at least one electronic seal device includes a visible signaling element which can provide a visible alert regarding a status of the container; and

further wherein, at least one electronic seal device is configured to transmit an alert to a second electronic seal device which is capable of displaying a visible alert regarding the status of the container.

10. A method for providing a high degree of container security in a system using a plurality of electronic seal devices which are configured to determine when a seal is broken, wherein one or more electronic seal devices are comprised of a detector switch, a transceiver and a communication control element, the method comprising:

(a) registering an access code and a container number;

(b) activating an electronic seal function;

(c) determining when a seal is broken;

(d) transmitting notice of a security breach in a first sealed container to a seal device of a second container; and

(e) signaling an alarm in the second container based on the security breach in the first container.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

automatically disarming the electronic seal function when the electronic seal device determines that its current location is within a safe zone.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:

sending a message to a remote monitoring station after determining the current location is in a safe zone;

receiving a safe to disarm message from the remote monitoring station;

disarming the electronic seal function; and

logging the disarming event.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

identifying whether the current location of at least one electronic seal device is in the safe zone via a GPS unit integrated within at least one electronic seal device.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

identifying whether the current location of at least one electronic seal device is within a safe zone via data from a Mobile Ad Hoc Network.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

automatically arming the electronic seal function when the electronic seal device determines a current location is not in a safe zone.

16. A tamper-evident electronic seal apparatus for providing a high degree of container security, the apparatus comprising:

an electronic seal devices which is configured to determine when a seal is broken, wherein the electronic seal device is comprised of;

a detector switch;

a transceiver and a communication control element;

further wherein, the electronic seal device is capable of communicating with other electronic seal devices;

further wherein, the electronic seal device includes a visible signaling element which can provide a visible alert regarding the status of the container; and

further wherein, the electronic seal device is configured to transmit an alert to a second electronic seal device which is capable of displaying a visible alert regarding the status of the container.