GB2506690A

GB2506690A - Re-usable electronic seal lock and container monitoring device

Info

Publication number: GB2506690A
Application number: GB201218019A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Thomas Parry; James Alexander Lacy
Original assignee: TRANSEAL SECURITY Ltd
Current assignee: TRANSEAL SECURITY Ltd
Priority date: 2012-10-08
Filing date: 2012-10-08
Publication date: 2014-04-09
Also published as: GB201218019D0

Abstract

A security system comprising an electronic tamper evident seal, lock and monitoring device which identifies and records operational history of a lock or closure such as a freight container to which it may be fitted, and a device reader for transferring data stored in memory of the monitoring device to a centralised computer database. Preferably the tamper evident seal comprising a housing 1 with lock 2, touch screen 3 and LCD screen 4 which may display the status of the lock or a numeral seal number. Sensors may detect tampering with the device and real-time monitoring of the lock and closure. The seal may be separate or integrated into a freight container. Data may be downloaded from the seal either wirelessly or via a cable connection.

Description

A SECURITY AND IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM UTILISING A RE-USABLE COMBINED

ELECTRONIC SEAL, LOCK AND CONTAINER MONITORING DEVICE

DESCRIPTION

The invention is in the field of sealing and locking, and in particular, electronic sealing devices for security-sensitive compartments and for identifying whether a sealed compartment has been opened, lawfully or unlawfully. The invention further relates to security devices in general as well as to devices for detecting the integrity of the sealed containers or compartments.

This particular implementation is related to securing aircraft containers and their transportation vehicles/compartments against both surreptitious intrusion and also to prevent the theft of valuable goods whilst on the ground and in the air. At present such containers are locked with an external padlock in conjunction with a disposable plastic or metal multi-numbered seal that has to be broken in order to open the container door. Both are unsatisfactory in that a small padlock (usually of brass construction) and a plastic or metal seal offer little resistance to a determined thief, nor accidental damage. Furthermore, these passive devices rely on the efficiency of the operator to correctly secure them before leaving the aircraft.

To overcome this, the proposed system consists of an electronic seal and lock device which monitors, reports and records all activities of the container/opening, a device capable of reading the data from the electronic monitoring device, and a computerised record system to work with the operational data read from the monitoring device.

The electronic device element of the system replaces disposable seals and padlocks by integrating with the existing closing and locking mechanism and automatically generating and permanently displaying the current seal number or status. Preferably, its features would include a non-repeating electronic seal number generator; permanent display interface; a high security lock; real-time monitoring of the door position, existing opening method (handle, latch or similar) and existing locking system states dependant on application and availability; and logging system which identifies the container and records every operation of the door/opening and locking mechanism by day, date, time and operator/user. This device is installed onto each container, in addition and without detriment to the existing closing & locking mechanism, and is preferably a completely environmentally sealed and secure unit with protected, non-modifiable memory.

The recorded information held within the device can then be downloaded preferably via a method of wireless data communication to a mobile or fixed position reader device. This encrypted data is then transferred to a central database where full historical operation records and movement data is decoded, compiled and stored either by using a directly wired data connection or again through any available wireless data communication method. Preferably, specifically developed software is then used to read the database and historic seal operational data to display the relevant data and records for investigative and analytical purposes. 2.

The use of the monitoring device prevents unauthorised access as it is capable of recognising when the door has been forced open or if an attempt has been made to deceive its sensors. In either case the date and time of these events will also be recorded and the display will report that an attack of this type has occurred to the user until the event display has been cleared and the container checked. The precision and intelligence of the device allows the owner/operator to identify exactly when and therefore who was responsible for the devices security at the time in question.

The complete system builds on the security advantages detailed as it is also capable of performing a variety of other management functions which may include but not be limited to asset tracking, manifest creation, dispatch/delivery logging, maintenance scheduling and sales/usage reporting. The software is capable of outputting reports in a variety of digital formats) and can be adapted to integrate with owners/operators existing asset, sales or logistical systems.

The new invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig 1. Shows an assembled electronic seal and lock device; Fig 2. Shows the electronic device installed onto a secure, mobile aviation container; Fig 3, Fig 4, Fig Sand Fig 6 show typical examples of the device's display when in use; and Fig 7, Fig 8 and Fig 9 show examples of the seal device used in other related and potential applications.

Fig 1. 1 shows the locking sealing device housing 2 shows the preferable locking key cylinder that operates a latch 5 to secure or release the door (Fig 2. 7) 3 shows preferable transmission and touch screen red optolite filter window 4 showing the preferable optolite clear LCD screen window exposing the preferable internal numerical multi-digit LCD screen 5 shows the preferable locking catch that secures or releases the door (Fig 2.7).

Fig 2. 6 Shows the aviation container 7 shows the container door in its closed position 8 showing the complete locking and sealing device fitted to container and door.

Fig 3. 9 Shows multi-digit random number that has been generated and displayed in the preferable LCD screen window (Fig 1.4).

Fig 4. 10 Shows the letters OPEN displayed in the preferable LCD screen window (Fig 1.4) to indicate the door is not locked.

FigS. 11 Shows the letters ALERT displayed in the LCD or LED screen window (Fig 1. 4) indicating a forced entry attempt has been made to the device, (Fig 1. 1) or container door (Fig 2. 7).

Fig 6. 12 Shows the letters READ displayed in the preferable LCD screen window (Fig 1. 4) indicates the transmitter in the device has been activated by using the preferable red optolite touch-screen control window allowing the transfer of data to a download device.

Fig 7. 13 Shows the roller shutter-type door of a storage unit, vehicle, building entrance /loading door or similar 14 shows the roller shutter-type door in its closed position 15 showing the complete locking and sealing device fitted to the unit, existing lock and roller shutter-type door.

Fig 8. 16 Shows the double-leaf doors of a storage/shipping container, cupboard, building door or similar 17 shows the double-leaf doors in its closed position 18 showing the complete locking and sealing device fitted to the unit, existing lock and double-leaf doors.

Fig 9. 19 Shows the single-leaf door of a storage unit/locker, vehicle door, cupboard, building door or similar 20 shows the single-leaf door in its closed position 21 showing the complete locking and sealing device fitted to the unit, existing lock and single-leaf door. 3.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A system to secure, identify, monitor and report the status of and record the operational history of the goods container/opening to which it has been fitted to consisting of a micro-controller electronic tamper-evident seal, lock and monitoring device, a device reader and a computerised record system to work with the operational data read from the monitoring device by the reader.
2. A system according to Claim 1 where the present status of the unit is permanently displayed on a graphical display interface along with any other relevant information such as but not limited to current seal number, status warnings, device and container identification and present status in an un-encoded (e.g. alphanumeric) or encoded (e.g. linear barcode, matrix code) format.
3. A system according to Claim 1 where the securing seal, lock and monitoring device is an environmentally sealed and secure unit with protected, non-user modifiable memory installed onto an opening and its sensors are integrated with any existing closing & locking mechanism(s) and the opening itself.
4. A system according to Claim 1 & 3 where the securing seal, lock and monitoring device monitors the state of the opening to which it is installed onto in real-time for any changes and records the precise time at which an event occurred.
5. A system according to Claim 1 & 3 where the securing seal, lock and monitoring device can be programmed to generate and display a non-repeatable seal number as required upon triggering of another device-monitored event such as locking, unlocking, door opening or door closing as necessary to meet prevailing operational procedures and record the precise time at which the event occurred.
6. A system according to Claim 1 & 3 where the securing seal, lock and monitoring device's internal and external sensor inputs are monitored in real-time for tampering or attack and for erroneous input signals which could be due to an attack or unauthorised entry of the opening to which it is installed onto to display and/or report this to the operator and record the precise time at which an event occurred.
7. A system according to Claim 1 & 3 where the securing seal, lock and monitoring device monitors in real-time the state of an existing locking system of the opening to which it is installed onto for changes in lock state and records the precise time at which an event occurred.
8. A system according to any of the preceding claims, where the current and stored information is retrieved from the monitoring device via a wired cable connection.
9. A system according to any of the preceding claims, where the current and stored information is retrieved from the monitoring device via method of short-range wireless transmission such as but not limited to ZigBee, Bluetooth, Infra-red beam, or other prevailing technology.
10. A system according to any of the preceding claims, where the current and stored information is retrieved from the monitoring device via other established wireless transmission paths such as but not limited to Cellular data networks, 802.11 WiFi, or other prevailing technology.
11. A system according to any of the preceding claims, where the data displayed and obtained from the monitoring device can be viewed upon a handheld or fixed location device reader and/or transferred to a secure digital database for storage and/or performance of administrative functions. 4.
12. A system according to any of the preceding claims, where the data displayed and obtained from the monitoring device can be with appropriate software transferred to and stored in a secure digital database.
13. A system according to Claim 12 where specifically developed software can be used to access but not amend the data stored in the secure digital database to add further user-input information and to search, filter) sort and display operational data collected from the monitoring devices.
14. A system according to Claim 12 where specifically developed software can be used to access the data stored in the digital database and be adapted to meet the needs of and generate reports for other management functions determined by the user which may include but not be limited to access history, asset tracking, manifest creation, customs forms completion, dispatch/delivery logging, maintenance scheduling, sales and/or usage reporting.
15. A system according to Claim 12 where specifically developed software can be used to access the data stored in the digital database can be adapted to output reports in a variety of digital formats as determined by the user, and can be adapted to integrating its database or interface to any owners/operators existing electronic asset, sales or logistical data systems.
16. A system according to any of the preceding claims, where the container or opening is of a mobile or portable aviation container containing valuable goods or used in security sensitive areas.
1L A system according to any of the preceding claims, where the container or opening forms part of a transport vessel, or loaded onto a vehicle or method of conveyance, or used for storage in a fixed location.
18. A system according to any of the preceding claims, where the container or opening is of a fixed location such as but not limited to a storage unit, locker, loading bay, door, window or other another point of access into a fixed location or structure.