Security monitoring system for a bulk foodstuff transport container

Abstract

A security monitoring system provides for the secure transport of cargo, such as in a bulk foodstuff transport container. The system includes an electromechanical locking mechanism allowing access by only authorized persons, a positional locator for determining the geographical position of the transport container, and a controller associated with the transport container. The controller controls operation of the electromechanical locking mechanism, stores data received from the electromechanical locking mechanism and the positional locator, and communicates with a remote data processor in near real time. A handheld user interface device is configured to control operation of the controller, to process and store data received from the controller, and to communicate with the remote data processor. Unique identifiers are provided for the transport container, the transport vehicle, any storage container from which or into which cargo is transferred, and optionally any authorized operator of the security monitoring system.

1 . A security monitoring system for a bulk transport container, comprising:
 an electromechanical locking mechanism for securing at least one access port on the bulk transport container;   a monitoring sensor arrangement for monitoring a status of the electromechanical locking mechanism; and   a controller associated with the bulk transport container;   wherein the controller includes a user interface and is configured to control operation of the electromechanical locking mechanism, to process and store data received from the electromechanical locking mechanism and the monitoring sensor arrangement and optionally to communicate with a remote data processor.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further including a positional locator associated with the bulk transport container, wherein the controller is configured to process and store data received from the positional locator. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the electromechanical locking mechanism comprises a first electromechanical lock for securing a first access port and a second electromechanical lock for securing a second access port. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the monitoring sensor arrangement comprises a first monitoring sensor for monitoring a status of the first electromechanical lock and a position of the first access port, and a second monitoring sensor for monitoring a status of the second electromechanical lock and a position of the second access port. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , further including a first temperature sensor connected to the controller for monitoring a temperature of an interior of the bulk transport container, wherein the controller is configured to process and store data received from the first temperature sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , further including a second temperature sensor connected to the controller for monitoring a temperature of a portion of a cargo of the bulk transport container, the portion of a cargo being held in a separate sampling vessel associated with the bulk transport container, wherein the controller is configured to process and store data received from the second temperature sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the bulk transport container includes a unique identifier. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein a transport vehicle used to transport the bulk transport container includes a unique identifier. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein a unique identifier is associated with any storage container from which the cargo is transferred into the bulk transport container. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein a unique identifier is provided on any storage container into which the cargo is transferred from the bulk foodstuff transport container. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , further including a handheld user interface device configured to control operation of the controller, to process and store data received from the controller, and to communicate with a remote data processor. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the unique identifiers for the bulk transport container, the transport vehicle, the storage container from which the cargo is transferred, and the storage container into which the cargo is transferred are all unique bar codes, and the handheld user interface device includes a bar code reader. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 4 , further including at least one sensor connected to the controller for monitoring a variable in an interior of the transport container, said variable selected from the group consisting of light, a gas, oxygen, carbon dioxide, an internal pressure of the transport container, vibration, pH, and a biological agent, wherein the controller is configured to process and store data received from the at least one sensor. 
     
     
         14 . A method for monitoring and securing a cargo during transport n a bulk transport container having at least one lockable access port provided with an electromechanical locking mechanism, comprising:
 assigning a unique identifier to the bulk transport container, to any storage container from which a cargo is transferred to the bulk transport container, and to any storage container into which the cargo is transferred from the bulk transport container; and   automatically recording a geographical position of the bulk transport container at predetermined intervals.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further including assigning a unique identifier to a transport vehicle for transporting the bulk transport container and automatically recording that identifier at least when the bulk transport container is associated with or disassociated from that transport vehicle. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further including assigning a unique identifier to any authorized operator of the transport vehicle, and automatically recording that unique identifier whenever an authorized operator accesses that transport vehicle. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further including automatically recording a variable in an interior of the bulk transport container at predetermined intervals, said variable being selected from the group consisting of a temperature, light, a gas, oxygen, carbon dioxide, an internal pressure of the transport container, vibration, pH, and a biological agent. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further including automatically recording a temperature of a portion of the cargo transferred into a separate sampling container associated with the bulk transport container. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further including providing a controller associated with the bulk transport container, said controller being configured to process and store data representative of said unique identifiers, said electromechanical locking mechanism status, said geographical position, and said temperature;
 further including configuring said controller to control a status of the electromechanical locking mechanism and to automatically record any status change in the electromechanical locking mechanism.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further including providing a handheld user interface device configured to retrieve said data from said controller and to read said unique identifiers provided for the bulk transport container and the transport vehicle. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , further including configuring the controller to communicate with a remote data processor in near real time. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , including configuring said handheld user interface device to transfer said data to a remote data processor in near real time. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 14 , further including the step of automatically recording any status change in the electromechanical locking mechanism. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further including the step of assigning a unique identifier to any individual authorized to access an interior of the bulk transport container. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further including the step of requiring inputting the individual's unique identifier and the reason for that status change prior to allowing such status change.