Smart and secure container

A smart and secure container for storing cargo having an opening capable of being sealed and unsealed, the smart container comprising:

• a container security system for detecting deviations from secure conditions within the container;
• a power source;
• and
• at least one wireless communications device for communicating information representative of detected deviations to a monitoring station;
• wherein the container security system includes:
• a door open/close detection device;
• a GPS based route verification feature;
• a intrusion detection device;
• a motion detection device;
• a volumetric change detection device;
• and
• a weapons of mass destruction (WMD) detection feature.

A smart and secure container for storing cargo having an opening capable of being sealed and unsealed, the smart container comprising:

• a container security system for detecting deviations from secure conditions within the container;
• a power source;
• at least one wireless communications device for communicating information representative of detected deviations to a monitoring station;
• and
• a logging device for storing information from the container security system;
• wherein the logging device stores a date and time of significant events, including,
• GPS location;
• door seal/unseal events;
• container volumetric signatures;
• and
• tamper detection events.

A smart and secure container for storing cargo having an opening capable of being sealed and unsealed, the smart container comprising:

• a container security system for detecting deviations from secure conditions within the container;
• a power source;
• at least one wireless communications device for communicating information representative of detected deviations to a monitoring station;
• and
• an electronic seal device, the electronic seal device including,
• a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag;
• a tamper detection feature;
• and
• a record of manifest feature including,
• a description of the container contents;
• a destination;
• and
• a planned route for the container.

A communications and data information network for interdicting a hostile threat within a shipping container, the network comprising:

• at least one smart and secure container having a wireless communications link for receiving and transmitting security information representing security of contents within the container;
• a communications and data information network grid including at least one vehicle for transporting the at least one smart container, the at least one vehicle having a wireless communications link;
• and
• a central station having a wireless communications link in communication with the grid and the at least one smart container, the central station configured to interrogate the at least one smart container's contents and verify security information;
• wherein the communications and data information network grid is connectable to intel community databases, customs databases, federal/state/local law enforcement databases, under-vehicle inspection systems, license plate readers, vehicle-based sensor networks, port-based sensor networks, the at least one smart container, vehicle and port smart container interrogators, handheld interrogators, biometric readers, and smart card biometrics data storage.

A communications and data information network for interdicting a hostile threat within a shipping container, the network comprising:

• at least one smart and secure container having a wireless communications link for receiving and transmitting security information representing security of contents within the container;
• a communications and data information network grid including at least one vehicle for transporting the at least one smart container, the at least one vehicle having a wireless communications link;
• a central station having a wireless communications link in communication with the grid and the at least one smart container, the central station configured to interrogate the at least one smart container's contents and verify security information;
• and
• at least one handheld interrogators to electronically seal and unseal the at least one smart container, and to update records of lading with respect to the container's contents.

A communications and data information network for interdicting a hostile threat within a shipping container, the network comprising:

• at least one smart and secure container having a wireless communications link for receiving and transmitting security information representing security of contents within the container;
• a communications and data information network grid including at least one vehicle for transporting the at least one smart container, the at least one vehicle having a wireless communications link;
• and
• a central station having a wireless communications link in communication with the grid and the at least one smart container, the central station configured to interrogate the at least one smart container's contents and verify security information;
• wherein the network is a multi-hop RF network utilizing an ad hoc network protocol.

A communications and data information network for interdicting a hostile threat within a shipping container, the network comprising:

• at least one smart and secure container having a wireless communications link for receiving and transmitting security information representing security of contents within the container;
• a communications and data information network grid including at least one vehicle for transporting the at least one smart container, the at least one vehicle having a wireless communications link;
• and
• a central station having a wireless communications link in communication with the grid and the at least one smart container, the central station configured to interrogate the at least one smart container's contents and verify security information;
• wherein the at least one smart container is adapted to communicate directly with and send information to another smart container, and communicate directly with and send information to a central logging location on the at least one vehicle.

A smart container configured to transport cargo on a transportation vehicle, the smart container comprising:

• (a) a container housing having an opening capable of being sealed and unsealed;
• (b) at least one container security detector disposed within the container housing, the at least one container security detector configured to detect deviations in the security of the container;
• and
• (c) a communications link disposed within the container housing and in communication with the at least one container security detector, the communications link configured to receive container security deviation information from the at least one container security detector and to transmit the container security deviation information from the container to a central cargo data collection location;
• (d) wherein the at least one container security detector comprises a breach detector configured to detect unauthorized container entry;
• and
• (e) wherein the breach detector detects cutting of the container.

A smart container configured to transport cargo on a transportation vehicle, the smart container comprising:

• (a) a container housing having an opening capable of being sealed and unsealed;
• (b) at least one container security detector disposed within the container housing, the at least one container security detector configured to detect deviations in the security of the container;
• and
• (c) a communications link disposed within the container housing and in communication with the at least one container security detector, the communications link configured to receive container security deviation information from the at least. one container security detector and to transmit the container security deviation information from the container to a central cargo data collection location;
• (d) wherein the at least one container security detector comprises a breach detector configured to detect unauthorized container entry;
• and
• (e) wherein the breach detector detects shell openings of the container.

A smart container configured to transport cargo on a transportation vehicle, the smart container comprising:

• (a) a container housing having an opening capable of being sealed and unsealed;
• (b) at least one cargo contents detector disposed within the container housing, the at least one cargo contents detector configured to detect deviations from known characteristics of the cargo;
• and
• (c) a communications link disposed within the container housing and in communication with the at least one cargo contents detector, the communications link configured to receive cargo characteristic deviation information representative of an intrusion into the container housing from the at least one cargo contents detector and to transmit the cargo characteristic deviation information from the container to a central cargo data collection location;
• (d) wherein the at least one cargo contents detector comprises a container volumetric change detector, the container volumetric change detector configured to detect a deviation from a known volume of the cargo;
• and
• (e) wherein the container security system includes:
• a door open/close detection device;
• a GPS based route verification feature;
• a intrusion detection device;
• a motion detection device;
• a volumetric change detection device;
• and
• a weapons of mass destruction (WMD) detection feature.

A smart container configured to transport cargo on a transportation vehicle, the smart container comprising:

• (a) a container housing having an opening capable of being sealed and unsealed;
• (b) at least one container security detector disposed within the container housing, the at least one container security detector configured to detect security deviation information representative of unauthorized access into the container;
• and
• (c) a communications link disposed within the container housing and in communication with the at least one container security detector, the communications link configured to receive container security deviation information from the at least one container security detector and to transmit container security deviation information indicative of the unauthorized access into the container to a remote cargo data collection location;
• (d) wherein the container security system includes:
• a door open/close detection device;
• a GPS based route verification feature;
• a intrusion detection device;
• a motion detection device;
• a volumetric change detection device;
• and
• a weapons of mass destruction (WMD) detection feature.

A smart container configured to transport cargo on a transportation vehicle, the smart container comprising:

• (a) a container housing having an opening capable of being sealed and unsealed;
• (b) at least one route deviation detector disposed within the container housing, the at least one route deviation detector configured to detect deviations from a planned route of the transportation vehicle;
• and
• (c) a communications link disposed within the container housing and in communication with the at least one route deviation detector, the communications link configured to receive route deviation information from the at least one route deviation detector and to transmit the route deviation information from the container to a central cargo data collection location;
• (d) wherein the container security system includes:
• a door open/close detection device;
• a GPS based route verification feature;
• a intrusion detection device;
• a motion detection device;
• a volumetric change detection device;
• and
• a weapons of mass destruction (WMD) detection feature.