Electronic security system for monitoring and recording activity and data relating to cargo

A system for tracking items in an assembly, the assembly including a plurality of individual items, each item having an electromagnetic identification tag encoded with information specific to that item, with each identification tag capable of providing electromagnetic signals indicative of the encoded item information, said system comprising:

• a means for receiving said electromagnetic identification tag signals;
• a means for creating from said received electromagnetic identification tag signals a first tier aggregate signature corresponding to signals indicative of a select set of electromagnetic identification tags in said assembly;
• a means for storing said first tier aggregate signature signals in a master database;
• a means for receiving modifying command signals for creating a second tier aggregate signature signal corresponding to a modified set of electromagnetic identification tags in an augmented assembly;
• and
• a means for comparing stored aggregate signature signals with currently received aggregate signature signals and generating an alarm signal should said comparison indicate a discrepancy between the signals associated with the stored aggregate signature signals and those which comprise said currently received aggregate signal set.

A system for managing items in a collection, the collection including a plurality of received goods marked with electromagnetic identification tags having encoded information, each tag being capable of providing electromagnetic signals indicative of the encoded information, said system comprising:

• a means for receiving electromagnetic signals from electromagnetic identification tags;
• a means for creating a first aggregate signature corresponding to said electromagnetic signals from said electromagnetic identification tags;
• a means for notifying a consignee of the goods of the arrival of said goods;
• a means for creating a second aggregate signature corresponding to said electromagnetic signals from said electromagnetic identification tags;
• a means for comparing said first aggregate signature to said second aggregate signature to determine any discrepancies between said first and second aggregate signatures;
• and
• a means for transferring information indicative of the comparison of said first and second aggregate signatures to a database maintained by said consignee.

A security system for monitoring a container carrying cargo therein, said cargo being comprised of a plurality of items, said security system comprising:

• a primary tier electronic data tag placed in contact with an outside surface of said container, said primary tier electronic data tag being capable of selectively communicating to a polling means when said container has been tampered with;
• a plurality of secondary tier electronic data tags, each of said items having one of said plurality of secondary tier electronic data tags thereon;
• said primary tier electronic data tag also being capable of communicating aggregate cargo data comprised of predetermined information indicative of each of said items to said polling means;
• and
• a comparison means for comparing said aggregate cargo data to said predetermined information.