US 8,620,832 B2 · Network-centric cargo security system

Abstract

Network-centric systems and methods for monitoring the security of a cargo container during shipment from an origination point to a destination are described. The cargo container includes a container security unit (CSU) having an electronic container identifier. As the container is loaded with various contents, a container processing system obtains produces a manifest of the contents using wireless data collection. The manifest, which also includes the container identifier, is sent to a central server for storage. As the cargo container is shipped through a port, warehouse or other shipping location, the CSU provides a status update to the central server. The status update may include a location of the cargo container, the container identifier and a status of a door seal, hazard detector and/or the like. As the cargo container arrives at its destination, another container processing system creates an arrival report of the received contents that can be compared to the manifest at the central server. The central server may also process data from the manifest, status update(s) and/or arrival report for the cargo container to further identify any security issues arising during shipment.

Claims7

Dependent claims

A system for maintaining security of a cargo container during shipment from an origination point to a destination, the system comprising:

means for determining geographic location of the cargo container during shipment from the origination point to the destination;
and
a battery-powered container security unit (CSU) for the container, the CSU reporting on status of the cargo container during the shipment, wherein frequency of the reporting is a function of the geographic location of the container.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Network-centric cargo security system

Life of this patent

Network-centric cargo security system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims7