Portable security container

Abstract

A process and security container that enable local protection and remote transportation of items found with the environment of a contemporary office, while generating a log of users who have gained access to the container. The container may be constructed with one or more sidewalls bearing a removable lid. The container may have a closed interior while the lid is in complete engagement with the sidewalls, and have an open interior able to removably receive items within the interior while the lid is dislodged from its complete engagement. A port is exposed through one of said sidewalls to receive data signals and a control stage with a non-volatile a memory, is mounted within the container and operationally coupled to a host computer to provide communication with the interior of the container via the port. A microprocessor based host computer sited externally to the container, has a keyboard initiating formation of the data signals and a monitor driven by the host computer to visually display video images. The host computer is operationally coupled to the port to participate in the communication by generating the data signals. The controller may generate a control signal and allow access to the interior of the container in response to occurrence of a coincidence between a data key received from the host computer among the data signals via the port and a data sequence obtained by the control stage in dependence upon information stored within the memory.

1 . A container manager, comprising: 
 a housing comprised of an interior disposed to removably receive cargo while the housing is in an opened state, to enclose the cargo while the housing is in a closed state, and to allow removal of the cargo from the interior;    a port mounted to pass data signals through said housing; and    a controller comprised of a memory storing information specific to said container, said container being mounted entirely within said container, being completely encased by said container while the housing is in the closed state, and being operationally coupled to provide communication by data signals with said interior via said port and to operationally respond to data signals received from sources external to said container via said port by regulating said movement in dependence upon said information, and establish an alarm condition in response to an unauthorized interruption of said communication via said port.    
   
   
       2 . The container manager of  claim 1 , comprised of said controller storing information unique to said container and releasing the cargo from said interior in dependence upon disposition of the container within a scheme for generation of said data signals, and in response to occurrence of a particular relation between a data key received among said data signals and a data sequence obtained by said control stage from said information.  
   
   
       3 . The container manager of  claim 1 , comprised of said controller storing information unique to said container and releasing the cargo from said interior in dependence upon disposition of said container relative to a source of said data signals and in response to occurrence of a particular relation between a data key received among said data signals and a data sequence obtained by said control stage from said information.  
   
   
       4 . The container manager of  claim 1 , comprised of said controller storing information unique to said container and releasing the cargo from said interior in dependence upon disposition of said container relative to a source of said data signals, and in dependence upon disposition of said container within a timed scheme for generation of said data signals.  
   
   
       5 . The container manager of  claim 1 , comprised of said controller storing information unique to said container and releasing the cargo from said interior in dependence upon disposition of said container within a timed scheme for generation of said data signals, and in response to occurrence of a particular relation between a data key received among said data signals and a data sequence obtained by said control stage from said information.  
   
   
       6 . The container manager of  claim 1 , comprised of said controller storing information unique to said container and releasing the cargo from said interior in dependence upon disposition of said container relative to a source of said data signals, in dependence upon disposition of said container within a timed scheme for generation of said data signals, and in response to occurrence of a particular relation between a data key received among said data signals and a data sequence obtained by said control stage from said information.  
   
   
       7 . The container manager of  claim 1 , further comprised of a socket mounted within said housing providing said port.  
   
   
       8 . The container manager of  claim 1 , further comprised of an infrared receiver mounted within said housing providing said port.  
   
   
       9 . The container manager of  claim 1 , further comprised of an antenna mounted within said housing providing said port.  
   
   
       10 . The container manager of  claim 1 , further comprised of: 
 a microprocessor based host computer operationally coupled to said controller via said port, generating said data signals; and    a data cable coupling said host computer to said port while conveying said data signals to said controller via said port.    
   
   
       11 . The container manager of  claim 1 , further comprised of: 
 a microprocessor based host computer operationally coupled to said controller via said port, generating said data signals; and    a local area network coupling said host computer to said port while conveying said data signals to said controller via said port.    
   
   
       12 . The container manager of  claim 1 , further comprised of: 
 a microprocessor based host computer operationally coupled to said controller via said port, generating said data signals;    said port comprising a first antenna mounted on one of said sidewalls;    a data transceiver connecting said first antenna and said controller; and    a second antenna driven by said host computer, operationally connecting said host computer to said first antenna while conveying said data signals to said controller via said first antenna.    
   
   
       13 . The container manager of  claim 1 , further comprised of: 
 a microprocessor based host computer operationally coupled to said controller via said port, generating said data signals;    an infrared transmitter driven by said host computer to broadcast an infrared signal corresponding to said data signals; and    an infrared receiver mounted in one of said sidewalls, disposed to receive and convey to said controller said data signals from said infrared transmitter.    
   
   
       14 . The container manager of  claim 1 , further comprised of: 
 a microprocessor based host computer operationally coupled to said controller via said port, generating said data key;    a first infrared transmitter and receiver driven by said host computer to broadcast an infrared signal corresponding to said data key; and    a second infrared transmitter and receiver mounted in one of said sidewalls, disposed to receive said data key from said infrared transmitter, and to transmit operational communications from said controller to said host computer via said first infrared transmitter and receiver.    
   
   
       15 . The container manager of  claim 2 , further comprised of: 
 said controller generating a control signal in response to occurrence of a coincidence between a data key received via said port and a data sequence obtained by said control stage in dependence upon the information stored within said memory; and    an electromechanical latch responding to an absence of said control signal by hindering said removal of the cargo from the interior.    
   
   
       16 . A container manager, comprising: 
 a housing selectively opening an interior able to removably receive and release cargo and enclosing said interior to bar removal of any cargo within said interior;    at least one port disposed to pass data signals through said housing;    a microprocessor-based control stage encased within said housing, comprised of a memory maintaining information specific to said housing, said control stage being operationally coupled to participate in communication from said interior via data signals conducted through said port with a host computer sited externally to said container, said control stage responding to data signals received via said port by selectively enabling said release from said enclosed interior in dependence upon said information, and creating an alarm condition in response to an unauthorized interruption of said communication via said port.    
   
   
       17 . The container manager of  claim 16 , further comprised of: 
 said control stage generating an alarm signal in response to an unauthorized interruption of said communication via said port; and    said alarm being driven by said control stage to broadcast an indication of said unauthorized interruption in response to said alarm condition.    
   
   
       18 . The container manager of  claim 16 , further comprised of: 
 host computer periodically making a determination while operationally coupled to said control stage via said port, of whether said an unauthorized interruption of said communication has occurred; and    an alarm driven by said host computer to broadcast an indication of said unauthorized interruption in dependence upon said determination.    
   
   
       19 . The container manager of  claim 16 , further comprised of: 
 said control stage generating an alarm signal in response to an unauthorized interruption of said communication via said port;    a first alarm driven by said host computer to broadcast an indication of said unauthorized interruption in response to said alarm signal;    said host computer periodically making a determination while operationally coupled to said control stage via said port, of whether said an unauthorized interruption of said communication has occurred; and    a second alarm driven by the host computer to broadcast an indication of said unauthorized interruption in dependence upon said determination.    
   
   
       20 . The container manager of  claim 16 , further comprised of: 
 said data signals exhibiting a first wavelength, and said data signals exhibiting a second and different wavelength carrier signal; and    said port being plug coupleable to said control stage, and comprising a transmitter stage converting said data signals into output signals exhibiting said second wavelength, and a receiver stage converting said data signals into input signals exhibiting said first wavelength.    
   
   
       21 . The container manager of  claim 16 , with said port comprised of: 
 a first unit that is plug coupleable to said control stage when said data signals provided by said control stage exhibit a first wavelength and said data signals received by said port exhibit a second and different wavelength carrier signal, said first unit comprising a receiver stage converting said data signals received by said port into input signals exhibiting said first wavelength, and a transmitter stage converting said data signals provided by said control stage into output signals exhibiting said second wavelength; and    a second unit that is plug coupleable to said control stage and interchangeable with said first unit to provide a data connection between said control stage and said host computer when said data signals received by said port exhibit the same wavelength as said data signals provided by said control stage.    
   
   
       22 . A container manager, comprising: 
 a housing selectively opening an interior able to removably receive and release cargo and enclosing said interior to bar removal of any cargo within said interior;    a port disposed to pass data signals through said housing;    a microprocessor-based control stage encased within said housing, comprised of a memory maintaining information specific to said housing, said control stage being operationally coupled to participate in communication from said interior via data signals conducted through said port with a host computer sited externally to said container, said control stage responding to data signals received via said port by selectively enabling said release of the cargo from said interior in dependence upon said information and disposition of said port relative to a source of said data signals.    
   
   
       23 . The container manager of  claim 22 , comprised of said control stage responding to an unauthorized interruption of said communication via said port by creating an alarm condition.  
   
   
       24 . A container manager, comprising: 
 a housing selectively opening an interior able to removably receive and release cargo and enclosing said interior to bar removal of any cargo within said interior;    a port disposed to pass data signals through said housing;    a microprocessor-based control stage encased within said housing, comprised of a memory maintaining information specific to said housing, said control stage being operationally coupled to participate in communication from said interior via data signals conducted through said port with a host computer sited externally to said container, said control stage responding to data signals received via said port by selectively enabling said release of the cargo from said interior in dependence upon said information and disposition of said port within a timed scheme for generation of said data signals.    
   
   
       25 . The container manager of  claim 24 , comprised of said control stage creating an alarm condition in response to an unauthorized interruption of said communication via said port.