Abstract:
A monitoring system and method comprises a container adapted to house contents therein and a sensor device attached to the container, wherein the sensor device comprises at least one sensor that collects past and present data of the container, wherein the data comprises container content identification data, container geographic location data, container motion data, evidence of container tampering data, and biometric data of individuals handling the container; and a processor operatively connected to the at least one sensor and adapted to communicate the data to any of a user and a remote storage device. The processor is adapted to communicate the data into a language of choice of the user. The sensor device comprises an identification code, wherein the processor is adapted to regulate types of services the container is eligible to receive based on the identification code.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   1. Technical Field 
   The embodiments herein generally relate to security and compliance systems, and, more specifically, to a cargo container security and compliance system. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Containerized shipping is the most common method of freight shipment in today&#39;s economy. Since approximately 90% of all goods shipped internationally are moved in containers, container transport has become the backbone of the world&#39;s economy. Every year 200 million cargo containers move between major seaports. Accordingly, the global economy depends on smooth and consistent container transport. 
   Most global freight is shipped in standardized containers so that cargo can be transported through a network of vessels, ports, trucks, and trains without regard to the container contents. These containers form a critical infrastructure for trade in the global economy. Containers move through a vast network of service providers in thousands of ports and transportation hubs without adequate monitoring and inspection, posing an ongoing and unresolved security risk. 
   Port operators, shippers, suppliers, customers, security, regulatory, and government agencies generally lack adequate systems to accurately and systematically monitor and inspect containers for security risks, infestation, contraband, and quality assurance. In addition, generally no reliable means currently exists to continuously monitor and screen the port workers and inspectors who interact with containers in transit. 
   The security and tracking of freight shipments have become an important issue for governments, security agencies, ports, insurance companies, shippers, and transportation companies. It has long been desired to provide a reliable, inexpensive security monitoring and compliance system for shipping containers, especially those used in international shipping. 
   A wide variety of systems have been developed for detecting, analyzing, and monitoring the contents of freight containers and the like. Many sensing technologies such as passive infrared sensors and ultrasonic motion sensors have also been employed in the past. Efforts are underway by governments and industry to set standards for electronic monitoring of container seals so that tampering between the point of sealing the container and the point of opening the container can be detected and monitored. Other sensors are being developed to detect bombs and radioactive and other hazardous material. 
   While the conventional solutions are advantageous for their intended purposes, the existing state of the art generally does not systematically educate and monitor the observations of the individuals involved in container transport. The problem is even more complex because of the global nature of trade with different standards, different communication networks, and different languages of the operators and handlers. As mentioned, container shipping is a global business and containers are touched by many workers in many countries. The existing state of the art generally does not adequately provide a system that can adapt to local languages and local information based on end user identity or location. 
   Hence, there is a need to develop a security and compliance system for a large number of containers. There is a further need to develop a system to monitor people involved with the handling of the containers, and a system that can adapt to local needs or new information or security threats. 
   SUMMARY 
   In view of the foregoing, the embodiments herein provide a container security system and method for monitoring and performing quality assurance of a large number of containers by a plurality of stakeholders. The system includes sensors, a survey and sensor interface device, a server and database system comprising databases and an application server and remote service access device. Sensors are used to collect objective parameters for identification, location, motion, tampering, and other parameters. The survey and sensor interface device can be remotely programmed by a remote service center to survey an inspector for subjective information. Users of the survey and sensor interface device record their identity before answering remotely programmed survey questions regarding observations, activities, and other parameters. Security agencies and others can subscribe to services that enable accurate monitoring, reporting, tracking, and risk analysis of containers and recording of an inspection trail. Remote programming from the server enables the device to constantly survey inspectors based on the latest threat information. 
   Each device is uniquely identified and associated with a shipper and destination, which can be verified and tracked by targeted container polling through the device and network. By broadcasting programming data to the device either selectively or en-masse, container security protocols can be updated based on the latest threat information, and the individuals in the supply chain who interact with containers can be continuously monitored and screened. Interactive survey content transmitted to the device can be adapted to the local language of the end user based on location, identity and other profile information, while the data can be aggregated independent of the input language. 
   The embodiments herein provide an interactive programmable container security and compliance system and method combined with network-based services for monitoring and quality assurance of a large number of containers by a plurality of stakeholders. Moreover, the embodiments herein provide an interactive programmable container security and compliance system that collects data and information related to individuals involved in the supply chain, and records the identity and location of each user. 
   Furthermore, the embodiments herein provide an interactive programmable container security and compliance system that includes a wireless reporting system. Additionally, the embodiments herein provide an interactive programmable container security system to monitor multiple parameters from a plurality of sensors. Also, the embodiments herein provide an interactive programmable container security system where information or data can be communicated from the container to the information network and from the network to the container at any point of time. 
   The embodiments herein additionally provide a system adapted to analyze, stratify risk, and present reports based on multiple parameters. Still additionally, the embodiments herein provide a system adapted to reprogram security devices automatically via digital data broadcast. Moreover, the embodiments herein provide an interactive programmable container security and compliance system that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art. 
   These and other aspects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating preferred embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following detailed description with reference to the drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram of a survey and sensor interface device according to an embodiment herein; 
       FIG. 2  illustrates different types of sensors that can be embedded in or connected to an external sensor port of the device of  FIG. 1  for sensing various safety parameters according to an embodiment herein; 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a block diagram of a system for remote programming and exchange of scripts in a sensor and survey interface device connected to a remote service access device through a server and database system according to an embodiment herein; and 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an interactive programmable container security and compliance system, network, and mechanism for monitoring and performing quality assurance according to an embodiment herein. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein. 
   As mentioned, there remains a need to develop a security and compliance system for a large number of containers, and to develop a system to monitor people involved with the handling of the containers, and a system that can adapt to local needs or new information or security threats. The embodiments herein address these needs by providing an interactive programmable security device. The device has a memory and a microprocessor that is operatively connected to a transceiver. The memory stores the data/information modules that are used for security and monitoring purposes. A server is connected to the security device through a wireless communication system and is provided with a database to store digital data modules and information modules that are transmitted from the security device or input by a user or downloaded from a service provider. The security device has an external sensor port which is coupled with multiple sensors. The security device senses a variety of safety parameters to communicate with the user or service provider automatically. The transceiver receives a query sent by the server to a device or group of devices via digital broadcast. Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to  FIGS. 1 through 4  where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown preferred embodiments. 
     FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram of an embedded survey and sensor device  100  according to an embodiment herein. The sensor device  100  is attached to a cargo container ( 302  shown in  FIG. 4 ). The device  100  has a microprocessor  106  operatively connected to memory units such as random access memory (RAM)  108 , read only memory (ROM)  110 , and Flash ROM  112 . The memory units store the digital data modules and the scripts received from a server  202  (shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ) through digital data broadcast receiver  116  and/or cellular modem  118 . A user may manually input data and activate the device  100  through the buttons  150  provided in a button tree  124 . User interaction with the device  100  can also occur audibly through the use of the microphone  126 , which is adapted to receive audio signals and a speaker  128 , which is adapted to transmit audio signals. 
   The functional components in the device  100  are supplied with electrical power provided from a battery  122 . A battery charge sensor  151  coupled to the battery  122  detects the residual charge in the battery  122  and the detected residual battery charge condition is indicated with a light-emitting diode (LED)  130 . A liquid crystal display (not shown) is controlled by a display driver  114  to display text messages and queries stored in the device memory units. Real-time clock  104  records the date/time stamp of each user input session. 
   The cellular modem  118  has a wireless adapter  152  that connects the device  100  to a cellular mobile system  304  (of  FIG. 4 ) for data transfer. Cellular modem  118  transmits query responses along with coordinates, location, tamper and motion history, and user biometric information. The survey and sensor device  100  also has an external sensor port  134  through which multiple external sensors (further shown in  FIG. 2 ) are coupled to the system. 
   Again with respect to the device  100  of  FIG. 1 , global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver  120  is a location sensor that detects location coordinates by interpreting signals broadcast from global positioning satellites (not shown) and received by the device  100  through antenna  102 . Data broadcast receiver  116  receives application content from a data broadcast stream. Furthermore, data broadcast receiver  116  receives encoded data broadcast to device  100  by satellite data transmission through antenna  102  and stores data that is encoded for a specific device or device group. A universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART)  132  is included to facilitate the reception and transmission of data in the device  100  between various sensors and other data inputs (for example, external sensor port  134 , accelerometer  136 , apparatus tamper detector  138 , fingerprint recorder  120 ) and the microprocessor  106 . 
   The device  100  also has an apparatus tamper detector  138  which records whether the device  100  has been opened or removed from its position affixed to a container ( 302  shown in  FIG. 4 ); for example, through the breaking of a seal (not shown) on the container  302  which forms a circuit. 
   The survey and sensor device  100  (of  FIG. 1 ) includes an accelerometer  136  which acts as a movement sensor and records the relative motion of the device  100  and is preferably embodied as a three-dimensional accelerometer. The survey and sensor device  100  has fingerprint recorder  142  which acts as identification sensor and records biometric information of the user, preferably through a fingerprint capture unit and a voice print unit. The survey and sensor device  100  receives the input fingerprint data or input voice data of an individual such as a port worker or inspector who interacts with the container ( 302  shown in  FIG. 4 ) in transit or other user of the device  100 . The received fingerprint data or voice is compared with the stored fingerprint data or voice standard to identify a user. 
   The device  100  further includes a unique apparatus/device identification code  140 . The identification code  140  indicates which content or which types of content the device  100  is eligible to receive from the data broadcast stream based on which services the device  100  is subscribed to or associated with, for example membership of a group of containers from a specific company or port. The security agencies and other subscribers such as a manufacturer, shipper, customer/shipping recipient, port operator, service provider/security agency, and government official, may subscribe to services that enable accurate monitoring, reporting, tracking and risk analysis of the container ( 302  shown in  FIG. 4 ) and recording of any inspection trail. The memory units of the device  100  are adapted to store survey content that is intended for that specific device  100  based on its unique identification code  140  and its services identifier. 
     FIG. 2  illustrates various types of sensors  134 A- 134 H that can be coupled to external sensor port  134  (of  FIG. 1 ). For example, external sensor port  134  may comprise location sensor  134 A, heat sensor  134 B, smoke sensor  134 C, sound sensor  134 D, battery sensor  134 E, motion sensor  134 F, video sensor  134 G, and other sensor  134 H, which are included based on user-specified requirements. The device  100  (of  FIG. 1 ) is modular in that multiple configurations can be enabled with different sensors used for different types of cargo or locations. 
   The location sensor  134 A and/or an embedded GPS receiver  120  records the latitude and longitude of the current location of a container ( 302  shown in  FIG. 4 ) mounted with a sensor and survey device  100  (of  FIG. 1 ), preferably by receiving the GPS data. The heat sensor  134 B (of  FIG. 2 ) detects an overheated condition of a cargo container ( 302  shown in  FIG. 4 ) or thermal level inside the cargo container  302 . The smoke sensor  134 C (of  FIG. 2 ) detects the presence of smoke or a fire condition in a cargo container ( 302  shown in  FIG. 4 ). The sound sensor  134 D (of  FIG. 2 ) measures the sound level inside the cargo container ( 302  shown in  FIG. 4 ) to detect an abnormal sound condition inside the cargo container  302 . The battery sensor  134 E (of  FIG. 2 ) measures the residual battery condition of a battery provided in a sensor and survey device to indicate a low battery level or an abnormal battery condition. The motion sensor  134 F records the relative motion of the apparatus preferably through a three-dimensional piezoelectric accelerometer. The video sensor  134 G receives a video image input from a video camera mounted inside a cargo container ( 302  shown in  FIG. 4 ) or from an external device to identify an abnormal condition inside a cargo container  302 . The other sensor  134 H of  FIG. 2  includes a tamper sensor which records whether the device  100  (of  FIG. 1 ) has been opened or removed from its position affixed to a container ( 302  shown in  FIG. 4 ), by preferably detecting the breaking of a seal which forms a circuit. 
     FIG. 3  shows multiple sensor and survey interface devices  100 A,  100 B,  100 C that are operatively connected to multiple remote service access devices  204 A,  204 B,  204 C through a central server and database system  202 . The collected data, information, and scripts are stored in one or more databases  155  and/or  156  at the remote server  202 . More information on the database and storage of scripted content on the server can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,968,375, the complete contents of which, in its entirety, is herein incorporated by reference. The server and database system  202  preferably includes a database  155  for storing data collected by the survey devices  100 A,  100 B,  100 C and sensors, a reference database or databases  156  for storing survey content, and an application server  157  with service applications that enable remote access to the collected data and reference database respectively to analyze and report information and to communicate new survey content and feedback to the survey devices  100 A,  100 B,  100 C. The remote service access devices  204 A,  204 B,  204 C comprise a computer capable of accessing applications, reports, and data from the server  202  over a wide area network preferably using an internet web browser. 
     FIG. 4  shows the interactive programmable container security and compliance system, network, and mechanism for monitoring and performing quality assurance. Container  302  is coupled with survey and sensor interface device  100  (of  FIG. 1 ). Survey and sensor interface device  100  is operatively connected to server  202  through a cellular network system  304  for data and information transfer from a user to a service provider. Server  202  is operatively connected to digital broadcast satellite  306  to receive new content and program instructions that are transmitted in encrypted form and received by the device  100  depending on a match between the device identification and profile and the header information in the packet of data from the broadcast stream. 
   Messages are transmitted over the network between server  202  and device  100  with a combination of coding for the intended recipient and data. Each message portion indicates the unique intended recipient or group of recipients and indicates subscriber service type. The message portion includes survey content and other commands and instructions to organize the survey into a script. More information on remote programming of the device with scripted program instructions can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,968,375, the complete contents of which, in its entirety, is herein incorporated by reference. The collected survey data with respect to the request received from a user through the server  202  is sent back to the server  202  in a coded message that includes information about the sender along with collected data. The message sent back to the server  202  includes a unique identification code related to a survey and sensor interface device  100 , a subscriber service information, and collected data. 
   The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.