Patent ID: 8207861

Claim:
A system for detecting a status of a container, comprising: a first containment layer coupled to a surface of the container and comprising a first sensor having a first signal path extending across substantially an entire area of the first containment layer; and a second containment layer coupled to the first containment layer and comprising a second sensor having a second signal path extending across substantially an entire area of the second containment layer, wherein a failure of either the first or second signal path to conduct a respective signal greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold level from a respective first end to a respective second end signifies a breach in the respective containment layer, the system further comprising: a controller coupled to the first and second signal paths and configured to characterize the status of the container as a function of: which of the first and second signal paths has failed; if both signal paths have failed, a direction of incursion based on which signal path failed first; and if both signal paths have failed, a time period between the failures.