GB2392879A

GB2392879A - Envelope or container seal state detection using conducting strip

Info

Publication number: GB2392879A
Application number: GB0221238A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Joseph Williams
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-09-13
Filing date: 2002-09-13
Publication date: 2004-03-17
Also published as: GB0221238D0

Abstract

A number of lengths of conducting material 8,9 are attached to the envelope or container 16. The ends of the conducting material 10,11 are adhered to the outside of flaps 12,13 so that the gap between the ends is closed by conducting strip 15 when flap 14 is sealed. A continuous circuit is thus provided between terminals 6 and 7. Processing and logic component 2 monitors the status of the system. Secondary circuit 17 holds a unique identification code in component 20; component 18 receives position information; communications component 19 interfaces with remote devices, receives requests for status information and sends status information, which may include position information, to them.

Description

1 2392879

DESCRIPTION

Container State Detection System FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to containers and envelopes. Particularly, the invention relates to a system that detects when a container or envelope is sealed or opened.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

A vast number of materials are transported and stored inside containers and envelopes. A container or envelope may be sent via mail or courier with the intention of it being opened within a relatively short time frame i.e. hours or days. Alternatively a container or envelope may be put into storage with the intention of it being opened in a longer time frame i.e. weeks, months or even years.

However, it is not always possible to monitor a container or envelope once it has been sealed. There are circumstances when it is important to know if a container or envelope has been opened, and even to know the precise time when a container or envelope was opened. In addition, the circumstances may also be such that it is important to know where a container is at any point in time and whether it remains sealed or opened.

As an example scenario, consider the sending of examination papers. Currently it is possible for examination envelopes to be opened before the prescribed time, which is usually within an hour of the examination start time. Here there is a possibility of copies of examination questions being made and sold, or certain delegates being given targeted coaching prior to an examination thereby giving them an unfair advantage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention addresses the limitations in current container and envelope technology and preserves the integrity of the materials inside.

This invention is a system that resides inside a container or envelope. The system can be integrated with any container or envelope that is large enough to house the system, and therefore does not require the manufacture of a specialized container or envelope. In a preferred embodiment, the system comprises mainly of five components that are connected in a circuit. There are a number of long thin lengths of electric conducting material that are connected via terminals and which adhere to all of the inside surfaces of the container or envelope. These lengths of material are attached in such a way that opening the container in any manner will break, or alter the electrical conductivity, of at least one of the lengths of the material. There is a battery that provides power for the system. There is a switch that enables or disables power from the battery to the circuit. Lastly, there is a processing and logic component that controls the operation of the other components in the circuit.

When the processing and logic component detects that the container or envelope is sealed it sets the system status to "Sealed". When the processing and logic component detects the container or envelope is subsequently opened it sets the system status to "Opened".

In a preferred embodiment, the system is connected to a secondary circuit that houses three other components. Firstly, a component that holds a unique identification code. Secondly, a component that is capable of receiving positioning information. Thirdly, a communications component that is capable of interfacing with other devices that are geographically remote to the container or envelope. The system is capable of interfacing with the components on the secondary circuit so that it can send notifications to a remote monitoring unit, giving details of the sealed or opened state of the envelope or container, and its location at any time.

In an alternative embodiment the system is connected to a secondary circuit that houses just two other components. Firstly, a component that holds a unique identification code. Secondly, a communications component that is capable of interfacing with other devices that are geographically remote to the container or envelope. In this alternative embodiment the system can notify when a container or envelope was sealed and opened, but not its location.

It is possible to configure the system to send notifications detailing the state of the container at specified time intervals after the container or envelope is sealed. Alternatively, it is possible for the system to receive requests for status information via the communications component in the secondary circuit. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure I is a system organization diagram of the primary components for a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a system organization diagram of the primary components for a preferred embodiment of the invention, including an interface to a secondary circuit.

Figure 3 is a flow chart detailing the logic that is implemented by the processing and logic component.

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a circuit used by the system to determine the state of the container or envelope.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention is a monitoring system resident in a container or envelope that is capable in detecting changes in the sealed or open state of the container or envelope. The invention can interface with components on a secondary circuit thereby facilitating the sending of notifications to a remote monitoring unit, giving details of the sealed or opened state of the envelope or container, and its location at any time.

Referring to Figure 1, a system organization diagram of the primary components for a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The diagram shows the main components of the system connected in a circuit 1. In the circuit I there is a processing and logic component 2 that controls the operation of the other components in the circuit. There is a battery 3 that provides power for the system. There is also a switch 4 that enables or disables power from the battery to the circuit. The circuit has a means 5 of connecting to a secondary circuit.

There are a number of lengths of electric conducting material 8 and 9 that are connected to the circuit I via the terminals 6 and 7. These lengths of electric conducting material a&ffe to all the inside surfaces of the container or envelope 16. The finds of the lengths of conducting material 10 and I I are fitted so they finally adhere to the outside faces of the container or envelope flaps 12 and 13. There is a gap between the ends ofthe lengths of conducting material on the container flaps 12 and 13 such that when the closing flap 14 is moved to close the container or envelope, the strip of conducting material 15 bridges the gap between the ends ofthe conducting material 10 and 11, thereby creating a continuous loop of conducting material between terminals 6 and 7.

Whffn the switch 4 is set to enable power from the battery to the circuit 1, and the strip of conducting material 1 5 bridges the gap between the ends of the conducting material 10 and 11 the processing and logic component 2 sets the system status to "Sealed". Subsequently opening the container or envelope in any fashion will break, or alter the electrical conductivity, of at least one ofthe Iffngths of conducting material 8 and 9, and the processing and logic component 2 sets the system status to "Opened".

Referring to Figure 1, the lengths of electric conducting material 8 and 9 are shown in a simple arrangement, but this could be varied to cover more of the inside surfaces of the container or envelope 16 if required. Similarly, the arrangement could vary to suit the design of a particular container or envelope. However, irrespective of arrangement, the basic principle remains the same where the gap between the ends of the electric conducting material is bridged by the strip of conducting material 15 when the container or envelope 16 is sealed.

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Referring to Figure 2, the system's circuit 1 is connected 5 to a secondary circuit 17 that houses three other components. On the secondary circuit 17 there is a component 20 that holds a unique identification code. There is a component 18 that is capable of receiving positioning information.

There is a communications component 19 that is capable of interfacing with other devices that are geographically remote to the container or envelope. In the preferred embodiment the battery 3 provides power to the secondary circuit 1, although in an alternative embodiment the secondary circuit could have its own power source.

When the system's circuit I is connected to a secondary circuit 17, the system can send notifications via the communications component 19 to a remote monitoring unit, giving details of the sealed or opened state of the container or envelope 16. The processing and logic component 2 can be configured to send notifications, detailing the state of the container, at specified time intervals after the container or envelope 16 is sealed. Alternatively it is possible for the processing and logic component 2 to receive requests for status information via the communications component 19 on the secondary circuit 17. In the preferred embodiment the processing and logic component 2 obtains location information from the positioning component 18, and this information is included in notifications sent.

Referring to Figure 3, a flow chart detailing the logic that is implemented by the processing and logic component is shown.

The system starts 30 when the battery 3 is activated via the battery switch 4 (see Figure 1). From this point onwards the processing and logic component 2 monitors the status of the system, monitors the communications component 19 for incoming requests for status information and initiates any outgoing notifications that are required.

If there has been an incoming request 31 for status information to the communications component 19, the processing and logic component 2 requests data 32 from the positioning component 18. The processing and logic component 2 then initiates an outgoing "Status" notification 33 via the communications component 19 detailing the current status of the container or envelope and its location.

The processing and logic component 2 then continues to monitor the system.

If the system status is set to "OpenConfirmed" 34 then the processing and logic component 2 continues to monitor the system.

If there has been an incoming notification 35 to the communications component 19 from the remote monitoring unit acknowledging that it knows the container or envelope has been opened, the processing and logic component 2 sets the system status to "OpenConfirmed" 36 which will prevent the system generating any further, unnecessary, "Opened" notifications (see 44 later).

If the container or envelope is sealed 37 and the status is "Sealed" 38 then there has been no change in the system status and the processing and logic component 2 continues to monitor the system. If the container is sealed 37 but the status is not "Sealed" 38 then the processing and logic component 2 requests data 39 from the positioning component 18 and the processing and logic component 2 initiates an outgoing "Sealed" notification 40 via the communications component 19. The processing and logic component 2 sets the system status to "Sealed" 41.

If the container or envelope is not sealed 37 and the status is not "Sealed" 33 the processing and logic component 2 then continues to monitor the system. This will be the scenario when the battery switch 4 has been turned on, but before the contaimer or envelope is sealed.

If the container or envelope is not sealed 37 and the status is "Sealed" 42 the processing and logic component 2 requests data 43 from the positioning component 18. The processing and logic component 2 then initiates an outgoing "Opened" notification 44 via the communications component 19. The processing and logic component 2 sets the system status to "Opened" 45 and then continues to monitor the system. This will be the scenario when the container or envelope is opened after it has been sealed at some earlier time.

Referring to Figure 4, a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a circuit used by the system to determine the state of the container or envelope is shown. When the battery switch 4 is closed, electricity flows around the circuit from the battery 3, through the resistor 50, back to the battery 3.

This is the scenario before the container or envelope 16 (refer to figure 1) is sealed.

There are a number of lengths of electric conducting material 8 and 9 that are connected to the terminals 6 and 7. When the container or envelope is sealed, the strip of conducting material 15 bridges the gap between the ends of the conducting material 10 and I I, thereby creating a continuous loop of conducting material between terminals 6 and 7. Electricity flows around the circuit from the battery 3, through the strip of conducting material 15, back to the battery 3. This is the scenario after the container or envelope 16 (refer to diagram I) is sealed.

The flow of electricity measured at points 51 and 52 can be used to determine the state of the container or envelope. If we have a flow at 52 with no history of a flow at 51, the battery switch is on but the container or envelope remains open. If we have a flow at 51 the battery switch is on and the container or envelope is sealed. If we have a flow at 52 with a previous history of a flow at 51, the container or envelope has been opened after being sealed at some earlier time. The inclusion of the resistor 50 will restrict the flow of electricity at point 52 when the strip of conducting material 15 bridges the gap between the ends of the conducting material 10 and I 1, thereby creating a measurable state change at point 52.

Claims

CLAIMS WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A system comprising: means for determining when a container or envelope is sealed; means for determining when the said sealed container or envelope is subsequently opened in any fashion; means for determining the current sealed or open state of the said container or envelope; means for determining when the system power source is activated, thereby starting the system.

2. The system of Claim 1 wherein the said functionality is facilitated by a circuit that includes several

components.

3. The circuit of Claim 2 wherein the said components include a processing and logic component that controls the operation of the system.

4. The circuit of Claim 2 wherein the said components include a battery that supplies power to the system.

5. The circuit of Claim 2 wherein the said battery component as claimed in Claim 4 can be activated by a switch in the said circuit thereby enabling the said battery to supply power to the system.

6. The circuit of Claim 2 wherein the said components include a number of terminals, to which a number of lengths of electric conducting material are attached.

7. The lengths of electric conducting material of Claim 6 wherein the said material is adhered to the internal surfaces of the said container or envelope of Claim 1 in such a manner that the ends not attached to the circuit terminals are a small distance apart forming a gap between the ends on one or more outer facing surfaces of the said container or envelope.

8. The lengths of electric conducting material of Claim 7 wherein the said gap between the ends not attached to the circuit terminals can be bridged by a piece of electric conducting material attached to a surface of the said container or envelope of Claim 1 when the said container or envelope is sealed, thereby creating a continuous length of electric conducting material between the terminals in the circuit of Claim 2.

9. The lengths of electric conducting material of Claim 6 wherein the said material is adhered to the internal surfaces of the said container or envelope of Claim I in such a manner that the said material will be torn, or their electrical conductivity altered, if the said container or envelope is opened in any fashion, thereby affecting the flow of electricity through the continuous length of electric conducting material between the terminals in the circuit of Claim 2 as claimed in Claim 8.

10. The circuit as claimed in Claim 2 includes a mechanism for connecting the said circuit to a secondary circuit that includes several secondary components.

11. The secondary circuit of Claim 10 wherein the said secondary components include a positioning component that is capable of receiving positioning information.

12. The secondary circuit of Claim 10 wherein the said secondary components include a communications component that is capable of interfacing with other remote devices.

13. The circuit of Claim 10 wherein the said secondary components include an identification component that holds a unique identification code.

14. The processing and logic component as claimed in Claim 3 is capable of interfacing with the communications secondary component of Claim 12 thereby facilitating a means for sending a notification to a remote device.

15. The processing and logic component as claimed in Claim 3 is capable of interfacing with the communications secondary component of Claim 12 thereby facilitating a means for receiving a notification or request from a remote device.

16. The processing and logic component as claimed in Claim 3 is capable of interfacing with the positioning secondary component of Claim 11 thereby facilitating a means of providing positioning data in notifications.

17. The processing and logic component as claimed in Claim 3 is capable of interfacing with the identification secondary component of Claim 13 thereby facilitating a means of providing identification data m notifications.

18. The processing and logic component as claimed in Claim 3 is capable of configuration such that it will initiate an outgoing notification via the communications secondary component of Claim 12 at configurable intervals.

19. The processing and logic component as claimed in Claim 3 is capable of configuration such that it will initiate an outgoing notification via the communications secondary component of Claim 12 in response to an incoming request received by the communications secondary component of Claim 12.