Method and apparatus for smart electronic seals
View Patent ↗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.
1. 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.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises:
a GPS unit;
a sensor suite; and
a sensor manager.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the access control element is configured to automatically disarm the electronic seal element based on location data determined by the GPS unit.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the access control element is configured to automatically disarm the electronic seal element based on location data determined via a Mobile Ad Hoc Network.
5. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the access control element is configured to automatically arm the electronic seal element based on location data determined by the GPS unit.
6. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the access control element is located within the electronic seal element.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the access control element is configured to automatically disarm the electronic seal element based on instructions received from a remote monitoring station.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the access control element is configured to collect and provide data regarding whether the container has been opened after being sealed.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises:
automatically disarming the electronic seal function when the electronic seal device determines that its current location is within a safe zone.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises:
sending a message to a remote monitoring station after determining the current location is in a safe zone;
receiving a safe to disarm message from the remote monitoring station;
disarming the electronic seal function; and
logging the disarming event.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises:
identifying whether the current location of at least one electronic seal device is in the safe zone via a GPS unit integrated within at least one electronic seal device.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises:
identifying whether the current location of at least one electronic seal device is within a safe zone via data from a Mobile Ad Hoc Network.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises:
automatically arming the electronic seal function when the electronic seal device determines a current location is not in a safe zone.
16. 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.