Method and apparatus for smart electronic seals
AssigneeGlobalTrak, LLC
InventorRichard C. Meyers
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system, apparatus, and method for a high degree of container security using tamper-evident electronic seals is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the tamper evident electronic seal is implemented as a smart E-seal monitoring device and includes a GPS transponder, a sensor manager, an expandable sensor suite, and other components. The smart E-seal may be snapped into place in the door jamb of an existing container. According to one aspect of the invention, the smart E-seal automatically disarms itself after entering a safe zone, and automatically arms itself when leaving a safe zone. More specifically, the smart E-seal may transmit messages to a remote monitoring station regarding the arming/disarming events and the sensor conditions.
Claims16
A tamper-evident electronic seal apparatus for providing a high degree of container security, the apparatus comprising:
- a data recording element, wherein the data recording element is configured to record data regarding selected events;
- an access control element, wherein the access control element is configured to monitor and allow access to the container;
- a plurality of electronic seal devices which are configured to determine when a seal is broken, wherein the electronic seal devices are comprised of a detector switch;
- a transceiver and a communication control element;
- further wherein, at least one or more electronic seal devices are capable of communicating with other electronic seal devices;
- further wherein, at least one electronic seal device includes a visible signaling element which can provide a visible alert regarding a status of the container;
- and further wherein, at least one electronic seal device is configured to transmit an alert to a second electronic seal device which is capable of displaying a visible alert regarding the status of the container.
A tamper-evident electronic seal apparatus for providing a high degree of container security, the apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of electronic seal devices which are configured to determine when a seal is broken, wherein the electronic seal devices are comprised of:
- a detector switch;
- a transceiver and a communication control element;
- further wherein, at least one or more electronic seal devices are capable of communicating with other electronic seal devices;
- further wherein, at least one electronic seal device includes a visible signaling element which can provide a visible alert regarding a status of the container;
- and further wherein, at least one electronic seal device is configured to transmit an alert to a second electronic seal device which is capable of displaying a visible alert regarding the status of the container.
A method for providing a high degree of container security in a system using a plurality of electronic seal devices which are configured to determine when a seal is broken, wherein one or more electronic seal devices are comprised of a detector switch, a transceiver and a communication control element, the method comprising:
- (a) registering an access code and a container number;
- (b) activating an electronic seal function;
- (c) determining when a seal is broken;
- (d) transmitting notice of a security breach in a first sealed container to a seal device of a second container;
- and
- (e) signaling an alarm in the second container based on the security breach in the first container.
A tamper-evident electronic seal apparatus for providing a high degree of container security, the apparatus comprising:
- an electronic seal devices which is configured to determine when a seal is broken, wherein the electronic seal device is comprised of:
- a detector switch;
- a transceiver and a communication control element;
- further wherein, the electronic seal device is capable of communicating with other electronic seal devices;
- further wherein, the electronic seal device includes a visible signaling element which can provide a visible alert regarding the status of the container;
- and further wherein, the electronic seal device is configured to transmit an alert to a second electronic seal device which is capable of displaying a visible alert regarding the status of the container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.