Patent Publication Number: US-6987441-B2

Title: Method for closing and opening a container

Description:
The invention relates to a method for closing and/or opening a container fitted with a lock. In this connection the term container is understood to mean a transport container, such as a standard sea container, for example, or the loading space of a lorry. Such a method is generally known. The lock that locks the loading doors of the container on the outside is thereby locked and opened with a key in order to protect the, often valuable, contents of the container. The key can travel along with the container under trust of the carrier or be sent separately from the loading location to the unloading location. 
   The fact that such containers are quite frequently opened by malevolent individuals intending to steal the contents of the container from the rightful owner is a great worry to carriers and insurers. Especially in the case of containers whose contents are valuable it is not unusual for the lock to be opened with false keys or stolen keys, sometimes even with the co-operation of an employee of the carrier. 
   The object of the invention is to provide a simple, effective, efficient and reliable method for closing and/or opening a container which reduces the risk of theft of goods. 
   In order to accomplish that objective, a code, for example an opening code, is transmitted to the lock via telecommunication means. This it possible to open the container from a central location by remote control. Preferably, the lock comprises memory means, wherein the container is locked at a loading location by carrying out the following steps: transmitting an identification code of the container to a central verification device via the communication means; transmitting a closing code to the memory means of the lock, via the communication means, by the central verification device; and closing the lock; and wherein the container is opened at an unloading location by carrying out the following steps: transmitting an identification code of the container to said central verification device via the communication means; transmitting an opening code to the memory means of the lock, via the communication means, by the central verification device; comparing the opening code with the closing code; and opening the lock. This method provides a reliable procedure for closing and subsequently opening the container, wherein it is made much more difficult, for example for employees of the carrier, to carry out any malevolent plans they may have. 
   Preferably, said communication means comprise a transceiver, more preferably a GSM and/or a satellite communication device, so that the method can be implemented independently of the telecommunication structure that is available. 
   The invention can be used with universal transceivers, which can be used with any type of container, but in a preferred embodiment of the method, each container has its own transceiver, and said transceiver is transported from the loading location to the unloading location separately from the container, wherein the transceiver is preferably arranged to operate only in response to a predetermined identification code of a container. In this manner the possibilities of fraud are further reduced. 
   The invention is in particular advantageous when the container is transported across the sea or by rail, because the amount of individual surveillance on the container is limited with this kind of transport, unlike transport by lorry, for example. 
   Preferably, the transceiver comprises electrical contacts, preferably on the outside of the container, which can be connected to the lock. Preferably, the lock is located inside the container, on the inner side of the loading doors, so that it is very difficult to break open with a jemmy of with other tools. Preferably, the lock is closed and opened electrically, whereby the lock is fed from a battery that is present in side the container, and possibly by an external power supply in the case that the battery is empty or fails to work. 
   In a special embodiment, the transceiver furthermore comprises a GPS positioning device, wherein the position of the transceiver is preferably compared with the position of the predetermined unloading location before the central verification device transmits the opening code. In this manner a stolen container is prevented from being opened at a location other than the delivery address. 
   Preferably, the identification code of the container is compared with a file comprising identification codes of missing containers before the central verification device transmits the opening code. In this manner the missing containers can be prevented from being opened in a simple manner. 
   The invention furthermore relates to a container including a lock, a transceiver and a central verification device which are clearly arranged for being used with the method according to the invention. 

   The invention will now be explained in more detail by means of an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention which is schematically illustrated in the FIGURE. 
   The FIGURE shows a container  11 , which is intended for being transported by ship. Container  11  has a unique identification code, which is placed on the wall of the container, for example. Container  11  includes an internal lock  30  (shown schematically), which is capable of locking the loading doors  12 ,  13 . Opening and closing of the lock  30  can only by done electrically from inside, to that end a battery  21  (shown schematically) is present in the container. The lock  30  furthermore includes memory means  20  (shown schematically), in which various codes can be stored, among which the identification code of the container  11 . The memory means  20  are connected to an electric contact  14 , which is present in the wall on the outside of the container. 
   The FIGURE furthermore shows a transceiver  15 , which is preferably a satellite transceiver, so that it can be used all over the world. Transceiver  15  includes electric contacts  16 , which can be plugged into the contact  14  of container  11 . The unique transceiver  15  is arranged in such a manner that it can only co-operate with a specific container  11  having a specific identification code. transceiver  15  furthermore comprises a GPS (Global positioning system) device  25  (shown schematically), which is known in the art, which is capable of determining the coordinates of the position on earth and of the transmitting said coordinates to the central verification device  17 . 
   The central verification device  17  comprises a central processor unit, central memory means and a central transceiver, which is capable of communication with transceiver  15 . 
   After the container has been loaded with goods at the loading location, doors  12 ,  13  are closed. Transceiver  15  is plugged into contact  14  and the identification code is read from the memory means of the lock and transmitted to the central verification device  17  (arrow  1 ). In response thereto, the central verification device  17  transmits a closing code to the memory means in the lock (arrow  2 ) via transceiver  15 . Following that, the lock is closed electrically, and confirmation thereof is transmitted to the central verification device  17  (arrow  3 ). 
   Transceiver  15  is unplugged from contact  14  and despatched to the unloading location of the container  11  by courier service (arrow  4 ). Container  11  is likewise transported to the unloading location, in this case by ship (arrow  5 ). In the FIGURE, the container  11  and the transceiver  15  at the unloading location are illustrated in dotted lines. 
   In order to open container  11 , transceiver  15  is plugged into contact  14  again at the unloading location, after which the identification code of container  11  is transmitted to the central verification device  17  in a similar manner as upon closing of the container (arrow  6 ). The central verification device verifies whether container  11  is listed as missing and whether the GPS coordinates of transceiver  15  correspond to those of the stated unloading location. If the result of both verifications is positive, the central verification device  17  transmits the opening code, which may for example be identical to the previously transmitted closing code, to the lock (arrow  7 ). A specific arithmetic or cryptographic connection may exist between each pair of closing and opening codes, for example. In the lock, the opening code is compared with the closing code, and if the two match, the lock will be automatically opened. If the opening code and the closing code do not match, the lock will remain closed and consequently the container  11  cannot be opened. After the lock has been opened, confirmation thereof is transmitted to the central verification device  17  (arrow  8 ), after which the opening code and the closing code can be erased from the memory. New codes are used for a next closing and opening cycle, which codes may be determined at random by the central verification device  17 , for example, in order to prevent fraud as much as possible.