Standards based communictions for a container security system

1 . (canceled)

2 . A system for providing an open standard wireless interface between a sensor control element and a plurality of sensors, the sensor control element and at least one sensor disposed within each of a plurality of containers, the system comprising:

a sensor controller element associated with each container; and

at least one intelligent sensor located in the interior or exterior of the container.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein,

the sensor controller element comprises a micro processor or microcontroller device along with a short range wireless communications device including a transmitter element and a complementary receiver element, and

the intelligent sensor comprises a sensing element, a micro processor element, and a short range wireless communications device including a transmitter element and a complementary receiver element.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the short range wireless communication device located on each sensor control element and each sensor is capable of transmitting and receiving data and messages via a radio frequency signal at a maximum predetermined distance from a few feet to a several hundred feet.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the short range wireless communication protocol comprises one of Bluetooth, Zigbee, and 802.11 standards.

6 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the sensing element includes at least one sensor from the group of sensors comprising a temperature sensor, a visible light sensor, an acoustic sensor, a vibration sensor, a motion sensor, a radiation sensor, a hazardous chemical sensor, a proximity sensor, an infrared sensor, and a door switch sensor.

7 . A system comprising:

a plurality of sensor controller elements, each sensor controller element associated with a respective container; and

at least one sensor located in the interior of each container, each sensor configured to wirelessly communicate with the sensor controller element of the container in which the sensor is located;

wherein a standards based wireless interface is utilized in the wireless communications between the sensor control element of each container and the sensors located in the interior of the container.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein,

the sensor controller element comprises a micro processor or microcontroller device along with a short range wireless communications device including a transmitter element and a complementary receiver element, and

the sensor comprises a sensing element, a micro processor element, and a short range wireless communications device including a transmitter element and a complementary receiver element.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the short range wireless communication device of each sensor control element and each sensor is capable of transmitting and receiving data and messages via a radio frequency signal at a maximum predetermined distance from a few feet to a several hundred feet.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the short range wireless communication protocol comprises one of Bluetooth, Zigbee, and 802.11 standards.

11 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the sensing element includes at least a temperature sensor, a visible light sensor, an acoustic sensor, a vibration sensor, a motion sensor, a radiation sensor, a hazardous chemical sensor, a proximity sensor, an infrared sensor, or a door switch sensor.

12 . A system comprising:

a plurality of wireless communication devices, each wireless communication device associated with a respective container; and

at least one sensor assembly located in the interior of each container, each sensor assembly including a sensor component and a wireless communication component that is configured to wirelessly communicate with the wireless communication device of the container in which the sensor assembly is located;

wherein a standards based wireless interface is utilized in the wireless communications between the wireless communication device of each container and the sensor assemblies located in the interior of the container.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein,

the wireless communication device comprises a micro processor or microcontroller along with a short range wireless communications component including a transmitter element and a receiver element, and

the sensor assembly comprises a sensing element, a micro processor or microcontroller, and wherein the wireless communications component of the sensor assembly comprises a short range transmitter element and a complementary receiver element.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the short range wireless communication device of each wireless communication device and each sensor assembly is capable of transmitting and receiving data and messages via a radio frequency signal at a maximum predetermined distance from a few feet to a several hundred feet.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein a short range wireless communication protocol that is utilized in the short range wireless communications comprises one of Bluetooth, Zigbee, and 802.11 standards.

16 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the sensing element includes at least a temperature sensor, a visible light sensor, an acoustic sensor, a vibration sensor, a motion sensor, a radiation sensor, a hazardous chemical sensor, a proximity sensor, an infrared sensor, or a door switch sensor.