Smart seal assembly
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorsHenning Pries, Guido Temme, Sandra Kreftsiek, Hans-Werner Temme
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A security seal identification that may be matched with an identification of a utility measuring meter. This matching may be done, for instance, by a code which is imprinted on the seal and then matched to a meter number in a database, or by a code such as an encryption of the number assigned to the meter. An encryption may be read by an app on a smartphone or checked offline to determine whether the seal belongs to the meter or if it was altered or changed. A mismatch of numbers or symbols may generally indicate a change or manipulation and warrant an investigation.
Claims19
A smart secured locking mechanism comprising:
- a first fixture;
- a second fixture;
- and
- a third fixture for connecting the first fixture to the second fixture;
- and
- wherein:
- the first fixture comprises a receptacle;
- the second fixture comprises a plate with an opening;
- the third fixture is a seal that comprises a protrusive structure that fits into the receptacle of the first structure and into the opening of the plate of the second fixture to connect the first fixture to the second fixture;
- the second fixture has a serial number;
- the serial number is encrypted and generated into a code;
- the code is printed on the third fixture;
- the printed code is associated with a serial number in a database;
- and
- a failure of the serial number in the database to match the serial of the second fixture is an indication that the seal has been changed or affected.
A method for smart detection of a connection comprising:
- attaching a first connecting fixture to a first apparatus;
- attaching a second connecting fixture to a second apparatus;
- locking the first connecting fixture and the second connecting fixture together with a securing mechanism;
- identifying the first apparatus with a first symbol;
- identifying the securing mechanism with a second symbol;
- associating the first and second symbols with each other within a database, with encryption, conversion or pairing;
- and
- checking for an association of the first and second symbols to verify that the locking of the first connecting fixture and the second connecting fixture together with the securing mechanism is valid.
A smart seal system comprising:
- a meter;
- an index cover attached to the meter and situated over measuring components of the meter;
- and
- a seal attached to the meter and the index cover to prevent separation of the index cover and the meter;
- and
- wherein:
- a meter number of the meter is copied and converted into a code;
- the code is on the seal;
- the code and the meter number are configured to be compared to the code and an associated meter number in a database;
- and
- the code is configured to be scanned with a smart phone and cause the associated meter number from the database to appear on the smart phone such that the associated meter number can be compared to the meter number converted to the code.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.