Shipping container security process

Abstract

A process for monitoring containers including use of a severable security lock with an radio frequency identification (RFID) antenna adapted sever upon dislocation of the lock. The process utilizes an electronic identification number to ensure security lock integrity. The process includes detecting the security lock in transit by the use of mobile and fixed transmission units at regional boundaries. Updates are provided to an event log associated with the security lock.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shipping container security process for remotely monitoring shipping containers, said process comprising:
 identifying for at least two conveyance parties responsibility regions with at least one nested, substantially confined, pre-defined traffic pathway and discrete geographic boundaries;   providing a lock with a unique identifier, said lock comprising: a primary radio frequency identification integrated circuit, containing said identifier, with a primary antenna, disposed along an elongate mast, adapted to rupture upon dislocation of said lock from said closed position; and a secondary radio frequency identification integrated circuit in signaled communication with a secondary antenna remotely positioned from said mast;   inserting said elongate mast of said lock, having an open position and a closed position of altered lock dimensions relative to said open position, to a container latch, positionally proximate to a container opening to seal said container with said closed position of said lock;   electronically associating said lock with said identifier;   accessing an event log temporally proximate to actuating said lock into said closed position;   detecting a local security signal with a transmission unit, positionally proximate to both said responsibility region boundary and said traffic pathway, from said primary radio frequency identification integrated circuit through said primary antenna;   transmitting with said transmission unit said security signal to a distant compilation party; and   contacting said event log temporally proximate to dislocating said lock from said closed position.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said transmitting step includes transmitting said security signal to said distant compilation party distinct from said conveyance parties. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 2  further comprising marking said lock with a physical representation of said identifier. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 3  further comprising writing conveyance data to said primary integrated circuit chip. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 4  wherein said wherein said writing conveyance data to said primary integrated circuit chip step includes writing conveyance data to said primary integrated circuit chip through said primary transmitter. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 3  further comprising writing conveyance data to said secondary integrated circuit chip. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 6  wherein said writing conveyance data to said secondary integrated circuit chip step includes writing conveyance data to said secondary integrated circuit chip through said primary transmitter. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 3  further comprising the step of notifying said compilation party of conveyance termination. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising updating said event log in response to a positional transition of said lock from a first responsibility regions to a second responsibility region distinct from said first responsibility region. 
     
     
         10 . A shipping container security process for remotely monitoring shipping containers, said process comprising:
 identifying for at least two conveyance parties responsibility regions with at least one nested, substantially confined, pre-defined traffic pathway and discrete geographic boundaries;   providing a lock with a unique identifier, said lock comprising: a physical representation of said identifier; a primary radio frequency identification integrated circuit, containing said identifier, with a primary antenna, disposed along an elongate mast, adapted to rupture upon dislocation of said lock from said closed position; and a secondary radio frequency identification integrated circuit with a secondary antenna remotely positioned from said mast;   inserting said elongate mast of said lock, having an open position and a closed position of altered lock dimensions relative to said open position, into a container latch, positionally proximate to a container opening to seal said container with said closed position of said lock;   accessing an event log temporally proximate to actuating said lock into said closed position;   associating said secondary integrated circuit with said identifier;   emanating a substantially energized detection transmission from a transmission unit, positionally proximate to both said responsibility region boundary and said traffic pathway, adapted to power said primary radio frequency identification integrated circuit;   powering said primary radio frequency identification integrated circuit through said primary antenna with said detection transmission;   detecting a security signal with said transmission unit from said primary radio frequency identification integrated circuit through said primary antenna; and   transmitting with said transmission unit said security signal to a compilation party distinct from said conveyance parties.   
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 10  further comprising marking said lock with a physical representation of said identifier. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 11  further comprising writing conveyance data to said primary integrated circuit chip. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 12  wherein said wherein said writing conveyance data to said primary integrated circuit chip step includes writing conveyance data to said primary integrated circuit chip through said primary transmitter. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 11  further comprising writing conveyance data to said secondary integrated circuit chip. 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 14  wherein said writing conveyance data to said secondary integrated circuit chip step includes writing conveyance data to said secondary integrated circuit chip through said primary transmitter. 
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 11  further comprising the step of notifying said compilation party of conveyance termination. 
     
     
         17 . A shipping container security process for remotely monitoring shipping containers, said process comprising:
 identifying for at least two conveyance parties responsibility regions with at least one nested, substantially confined, pre-defined traffic pathway and discrete geographic boundaries;   providing a lock with a unique identifier, said lock comprising: a primary radio frequency identification integrated circuit, containing said identifier, with a primary antenna, disposed along an elongate mast, adapted to rupture upon dislocation of said lock from said closed position;   inserting said elongate mast of said lock, having an open position and a closed position of altered lock dimensions relative to said open position, into a container latch, positionally proximate to a container opening to seal said container with said closed position of said lock;   transmitting, temporally proximate to said inserting step, said identifier with a mobile transmission unit to a compilation party event log;   emanating a substantially energized detection transmission from a transmission unit, positionally proximate to both said responsibility region boundary and said traffic pathway, adapted to power said primary radio frequency identification integrated circuit;   powering said primary radio frequency identification integrated circuit through said primary antenna with said detection transmission;   detecting a security signal with said transmission unit from said primary radio frequency identification integrated circuit through said primary antenna;   distantly transmitting with said transmission unit said security signal to a compilation party; and   updating said event log in response to a positional transition of said lock from at least one said responsibility regions to at least one of said responsibility regions.   
     
     
         18 . A shipping container security process for remotely monitoring shipping containers, said process comprising:
 identifying for at least two conveyance parties responsibility regions with at least one nested pre-defined traffic pathway and discrete geographic boundaries;   providing a lock with a unique electronic identifier, said lock comprising: a primary radio frequency identification integrated circuit in sole signaled communication with a primary antenna, disposed along an elongate mast, adapted to rupture upon dislocation of said lock from said closed position; and a secondary radio frequency identification integrated circuit in sole signaled communication with a secondary antenna remotely positioned from said mast, wherein at least one of said primary integrated circuit and said secondary integrated circuit store said electronic identifier;   inserting said elongate mast of said lock, having an open position and a closed position of altered lock dimensions relative to said open position, to a container latch, positionally proximate to a container opening to seal said container with said closed position of said lock;   electronically associating said lock with said identifier;   accessing an event log temporally proximate to actuating said lock into said closed position;   detecting a local security signal with a transmission unit, positionally proximate to both said responsibility region boundary and said traffic pathway, from said primary radio frequency identification integrated circuit through said primary antenna;   transmitting with said transmission unit said security signal to a distant compilation party; and   contacting said event log temporally proximate to dislocating said lock from said closed position.