Continuous security state tracking for intermodal containers transported through a global supply chain
US7129837B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 8, 2004 |
| Grant date | Oct 31, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 8, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG08B13/2462
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A control center continuously monitors a security state of a container through an extended network spanning from a shipper to a consignee. The control center changes the security state responsive to explicit information received from a trusted agent, or implicit information deducted from business logic. A trusted shipper agent sends manifest information from a shipper checkpoint to the data center that includes, for example, container information, shipping route information, and other security information. Trusted monitor agents continuously track the security state from the shipper checkpoint to the origin checkpoint, from the origin checkpoint to a destination checkpoint, and from the destination checkpoint to a consignee checkpoint. A trusted consignee agent sends termination information from the consignee checkpoint to the data center. The checkpoints further comprise site managers to communicate information, gathered by RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) readers from RFID tags on containers, to the control center.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.