# US 2021/0174375 A1 · Reusable, secure shipping package > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0174375 A1 - Document ID: US20210174375A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/994,459 - Filed: 2020-08-14 - Published: 2021-06-10 - Earliest claimed: 2019-12-09 - Assignees: Ship Assure - Applicants: Ship Assure - Inventors: John Hovig Dolmayan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210174375A1 ## CPC - G06Q 30/0185: {Product, service or business identity fraud} - B65D 88/005: {of variable capacity, e.g. with movable or adjustable walls or wall parts, modular} - B65D 88/022: {in multiple arrangement, e.g. stackable, nestable, connected or joined together side-by-side} - E05B 47/00: Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by electric or magnetic means (electric permutation locks E05B49/00) - E05B 51/00: Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by other non-mechanical means - G06F 21/32: using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints - G06K 7/1413: {1D bar codes} - G06K 7/1417: {2D bar codes} - G06Q 10/0838: {Historical data} - G07C 9/00563: {using personal physical data of the operator, e.g. finger prints, retinal images, voicepatterns} - G07C 9/00896: {specially adapted for particular uses} - G07C 9/00912: {for safes, strong-rooms, vaults or the like} - G07C 9/20: involving the use of a pass - H02J 7/02: for charging batteries from AC mains by converters - H02J 50/10: using inductive coupling - E05B 2047/0058: {by batteries} - E05B 2047/0061: {using induction} - E05B 2047/0094: {Mechanical aspects of remotely controlled locks} - G06F 21/64: Protecting data integrity, e.g. using checksums, certificates or signatures - G06Q 50/265: {Personal security, identity or safety} - G07C 2009/0092: {for cargo, freight or shipping containers and applications therefore in general} - H04B 5/79: for data transfer in combination with power transfer - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES - E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS - G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - H04B: TRANSMISSION ## Abstract Disclosed herein is a shipping container that includes numerous multi-factor authentication (MFA) tie ins to provide added security to the container. In some embodiments, the shipping container is associated with a mobile user profiles within a mobile application. A retailer makes a sale, then, using a mobile application, associates the container with the destination address and the MFA details associated with the buyer's mobile application account. Once the container is loaded up, the container will not open again except for the buyer using the buyer's MFA authentication credentials. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A shipping container comprising: a mechanized lock powered by a battery unit positioned inside the shipping container; a controller configured to activate the mechanized lock; and a wireless transceiver configured to communicate wireless signals to the controller, the wireless signals originating from an authentication application, wherein the authentication application pairs authentication data with a shipping container ID, the authentication application configured to receive authentication data from a user. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The shipping container of claim 1, wherein the shipping container is a first shipping container, the first shipping container further comprising: an external housing that aligns with a respective external housing of a second shipping container, wherein the first shipping container stacks with the second shipping container in a fixed position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The shipping container of claim 2, wherein the battery unit is charged wirelessly through electromagnetic induction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The shipping container of claim 3, wherein the battery unit is positioned in a standardized location and the standardized location aligns with an external induction charger configured to charge a plurality of shipping containers that are stacked on top of one another. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The shipping container of claim 1, wherein the shipping container ID is described by one or more scannable labels posted on the exterior of the shipping container. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The shipping container of claim 5, wherein the shipping container includes no other identifying markings other than the one or more scannable labels. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The shipping container of claim 5, wherein the authentication application is further configured to store and receive a delivery address associated with the shipping container ID. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The shipping container of claim 1, further comprising: an externally mounted sensor configured to authenticate the user while physically present with the shipping container, wherein data collected, from the user, by the externally mounted sensor is transmitted, via the wireless transceiver, to the authentication application as authentication data. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The shipping container of claim 8, wherein the externally mounted sensor is any of: a camera; a finger print scanner; or a keypad. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The shipping container of claim 1, wherein a set of physical dimensions of the shipping container are extendable via telescoping walls, the telescoping walls are locked into place by internally mounted locks. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A method of configuring the shipping container of claim 1, comprising: initializing the shipping container via a scan of the shipping container ID using a sender mobile application, wherein the scan of the shipping container ID verifies physical possession of the shipping container, and wherein the scan of the shipping container ID is performed prior to receiving delivery instructions; entering, via the sender mobile application in response to said scan of the shipping container ID, delivery instructions associated with the shipping container, wherein the delivery instructions associate the shipping container with a receiver mobile application; sealing the shipping container via the mechanized lock by issued command from the sender mobile application; and unlocking the shipping container via the mechanized lock by issued command from the receiver mobile application, the receiver mobile application associated with the authentication application and having received the authentication data from the user. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: unlocking the shipping container via the mechanized lock by issued command from an inspector application, the inspector application associated with an override application; generating an unlock record associated with the inspector application, wherein the unlock record is accessible via the sender mobile application and the receiver mobile application; and sealing the shipping container via the mechanized lock by issued command from the inspector application. ### Claim 13 A system comprising: a plurality of shipping containers, each of the shipping containers including: an external housing that aligns with a respective external housing of other shipping containers of the plurality of shipping containers, a battery unit positioned in a standardized location inside each shipping container, a mechanized lock powered by the battery unit, a controller configured to activate the mechanized lock via authenticated transmission received from a respective mobile application associated with each respective shipping container via a shipping container ID; and an induction charger positioned in a shipping vehicle configured to simultaneously charge respective battery units the plurality of shipping containers while the plurality of shipping containers are stacked on top of one another. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the shipping container ID is described by one or more scannable labels posted on the exterior of each respective shipping container. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of shipping containers include no other identifying markings other than the one or more scannable labels. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the respective mobile application is further configured to store and receive a delivery instruction associated with the shipping container ID. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of shipping containers further comprises: an externally mounted sensor configured to authenticate the user while physically present with the respective shipping container, wherein data collected, from the user, by the externally mounted sensor is transmitted to the respective mobile application and used to unlock the respective shipping container. ### Claim 18 A shipping container comprising: a mechanized lock powered by a battery unit positioned inside the shipping container; a controller configured to activate the mechanized lock; and an sensor mounted on an exterior of the shipping container and configured to authenticate the user while physically present with the shipping container, wherein data collected, from the user, is verified by the controller prior to actuating the mechanized lock, and wherein verification is based on authentication data set by a respective mobile application associated with the shipping container. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The shipping container of claim 18, wherein the sensor is any of: a camera; a finger print scanner; or a keypad. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) A method of configuring the shipping container of claim 18, comprising: initializing the shipping container via a scan of the shipping container ID using a sender mobile application, wherein the scan of the shipping container ID verifies physical possession of the shipping container, and wherein the scan of the shipping container ID is performed prior to receiving delivery instructions; entering, via the sender mobile application in response to said scan of the shipping container ID, delivery instructions associated with the shipping container and the authentication data, wherein the delivery instructions associate the shipping container with a delivery address; sealing the shipping container via the mechanized lock by issued command from the sender mobile application; and unlocking the shipping container via the sensor. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, further comprising: unlocking the shipping container via the mechanized lock by issued command from an inspector application, the inspector application associated with an override application; generating an unlock record associated with the inspector application, wherein the unlock record is accessible via the sender mobile application and a receiver mobile application; and sealing the shipping container via the mechanized lock by issued command from the inspector application. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The shipping container of claim 18, wherein the shipping container is a first shipping container, the first shipping container further comprising: an external housing that aligns with a respective external housing of a second shipping container, wherein the first shipping container stacks with the second shipping container in a fixed position. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The shipping container of claim 22, wherein the battery unit is charged wirelessly through electromagnetic induction. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The shipping container of claim 23, wherein the battery unit is positioned in a standardized location and the standardized location aligns with an external induction charger configured to charge a plurality of shipping containers that are stacked on top of one another.