US2016078703A1PendingUtilityA1

Secure electronic compartment identifier system

25
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Jun 5, 2003Filed: Nov 11, 2015Published: Mar 17, 2016
Est. expiryJun 5, 2023(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Joseph A. Queenan
G07C 9/27G07C 9/00896G07C 9/00571G05B 19/00G07C 9/00722
25
PatentIndex Score
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Cited by
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References
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Claims

Abstract

A latch, or tag that can be used on luggage, baggage, trunks, rail cars, trailers or any compartment that can be opened and closed that establishes profile data that is associate with the latch or tag and is adapted to store personal data and an identifier in the latch mechanism or on the tag. The profile data can be used to establish a risk factor with the luggage or compartment and/or a person associated with the luggage or compartment.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A method for tracking a compartment having a latch mechanism comprising:
 obtaining location data related to the compartment;   storing the location data in memory;   obtaining activity data as a function of activity of the latch mechanism; and   storing the activity data.   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising outputting the location data and the activity data. 
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the outputting step comprises:
 printing the location data and the activity data.   
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the outputting step comprises transmitting the location data and the activity data to an electronic device. 
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the electronic device includes a personal digital assistant. 
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the electronic device includes a cellular phone. 
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the electronic device includes a facsimile machine. 
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the electronic device includes a computer. 
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 accumulating location data and activity data for a plurality of compartments;   storing the accumulated location data and activity data in the latch mechanism; and   outputting the accumulated location data and activity data.   
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the outputting step further comprises transmitting the accumulated location data and activity data to a remote location. 
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the outputting step further comprises printing the accumulated location data and activity data. 
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: establishing that an attempt has been made to access the latch mechanism; and
 storing attempt data as a function of the establishing step.   
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 establishing that attempt has been made to tamper with the latch mechanism; and   modifying operation of the latch mechanism as a function of the establishing step.   
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the modifying step further comprises disabling operation of the latch mechanism. 
     
     
         15 . A method for tracking a location of a compartment and activity of a latch mechanism disposed on the compartment comprising:
 accessing the latch mechanism at a first instance;   storing a record of the first access;   accessing the latch mechanism at a second instance storing a record of the second access;   accumulating access data as a function of recorded access; and   providing an indication of the location of the compartment.   
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising outputting the accumulated access data. 
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the outputting step further comprises displaying the accumulated access data on a display device. 
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the outputting step further comprises transmitting the accumulated access data to an electronic device. 
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the electronic device includes a cellular telephone. 
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the electronic device includes a facsimile machine. 
     
     
         21 . The method as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the electronic device includes a personal digital assistant. 
     
     
         22 . The method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the outputting step further includes printing the accumulated access data. 
     
     
         23 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising providing notification at a remote location when the latch mechanism is accessed. 
     
     
         24 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising obtaining access data for a plurality of latch mechanisms. 
     
     
         25 . An apparatus for tracking a compartment having a latch mechanism comprising:
 means for obtaining location data related to the compartment;   means for storing the location data in memory;   means for obtaining activity data as a function of activity of the latch mechanism; and   means for storing the activity data.   
     
     
         26 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 25 , further comprising means for outputting the location data and the activity data. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the means for outputting comprises means for printing the location data and the activity data. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the means for outputting comprises means for transmitting the location data and the activity data to an electronic device. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the electronic device includes a personal digital assistant. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the electronic device includes a cellular phone. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the electronic device includes a facsimile machine. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the electronic device includes a computer. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 25 , further comprising:
 means for accumulating location data and activity data for a plurality of compartments;   means for storing the accumulated location data and activity data in the latch mechanism; and   means for outputting the accumulated location data and activity data.   
     
     
         34 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein the means for outputting further comprises means for transmitting the accumulated location data and activity data to a remote location. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein the means for outputting further comprises means for printing the accumulated location data and activity data. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 25 , further comprising:
 means for establishing that an attempt has been made to access the latch mechanism; and   means for storing attempt data as a function of the establishing step.   
     
     
         37 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 25 , further comprising:
 means for establishing that attempt has been made to tamper with the latch mechanism; and   means for modifying operation of the latch mechanism as a function of the establishing step.   
     
     
         38 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein the means for modifying further comprises means for disabling operation of the latch mechanism. 
     
     
         39 . An apparatus for tracking a location of a compartment and activity of a latch mechanism disposed on the compartment comprising:
 means for accessing the latch mechanism at a first instance; means for storing a record of the first access;   means for accessing the latch mechanism at a second instance; means for storing a record of the second access;   means for accumulating access data as a function of recorded access; and   means for providing an indication of the location of the compartment.   
     
     
         40 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 39 , further comprising means for outputting the accumulated access data. 
     
     
         41 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 40 , wherein the means for outputting further comprises a display device. 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 40 , wherein the means for outputting further comprises an electronic device. 
     
     
         43 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein the electronic device includes a cellular telephone. 
     
     
         44 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein the electronic device includes a facsimile machine. 
     
     
         45 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein the electronic device includes a personal digital assistant. 
     
     
         46 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 40 , wherein the means for outputting further includes a printer arranged to print the accumulated access data. 
     
     
         47 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 39 , further comprising: means for providing notification at a remote location when the latch mechanism is accessed. 
     
     
         48 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 39 , further comprising means for obtaining access data for a plurality of latch mechanisms. 
     
     
         49 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising generating manifest data as a function of contents of the compartment and storing the manifest data in the latch mechanism. 
     
     
         50 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising generating manifest data as a function of contents of the compartment and storing the manifest data in the latch mechanism. 
     
     
         51 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 25 , further comprising:
 means for generating manifest data as a function of contents of a compartment; and   means for storing the manifest data in the latch mechanism.   
     
     
         52 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 39 , further comprising:
 means for generating manifest data as a function of contents of a compartment; and   means for storing the manifest data in the latch mechanism.

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