Patent ID: 8083808

Claim:
A container security system, comprising: a container security device comprising: a housing; electronic circuitry; and cabling; wherein the electronic circuitry is disposed within the housing, and includes first and second microprocessor functions and an interface for accepting and providing data; wherein the cabling is removably coupled to the housing, provides an only communicative coupling between the first microprocessor function and the second microprocessor function, and is adapted to be attached to a container latch so as to break the communicative coupling if the latch is opened; wherein the housing includes a port for the electronic circuitry interface; wherein the electronic circuitry is adapted to receive an event credential, cryptographic key, and initial plaintext data via the electronic circuitry interface; wherein the electronic circuitry is adapted to store the event credential, the cryptographic key, and the initial plaintext data for access by the first microprocessor function such that the second microprocessor function does not have access to the event credential, the cryptographic key, and the initial plaintext data; wherein the first microprocessor function is adapted to encrypt the initial plaintext data using the cryptographic key according to the event credential to produce encrypted data; wherein the second microprocessor function is adapted to receive an unlock signal via the electronic circuitry interface and to read the encrypted data via the cabling in response to the unlock signal; wherein the electronic circuitry is adapted to store the encrypted data such that the encrypted data cannot be accessed by the second microprocessor function until the unlock signal is received, and to modify the encrypted data when an open circuit condition exists in the cabling; and wherein the second microprocessor function is adapted to provide the encrypted data via the electronic circuitry interface; and the container security system further comprising at least one portable computing device that is adapted to provide the event credential, the cryptographic key, and the initial plaintext data to the container security device via the electronic circuitry interface and to receive the encrypted data from the second microprocessor function via the electronic circuitry interface; wherein the at least one portable computing device is adapted to decrypt the encrypted data using the cryptographic key according to the event credentials, to provide unlock plaintext data adapted to decouple the cabling.