Security system for tracking movable objects

Abstract

A luggage tracking and surveillance system uses a zipper pull attached to a conventional suitcase closure zipper and a retaining fastener attached to conventional fastening straps securing contents inside the suitcase. An observer is not aware of the specially designed zipper pull and retaining fastener because they mimic the appearance of their conventional counterparts. The external zipper pull communicates wirelessly with the retaining fastener inside the suitcase when a zipper pull touch sensor senses that the suitcase has been opened. This awakens a retainer fastener power supply and activates a recording system in the fastener to create a record of the person who opened the suitcase. The retaining fastener can also sense the presence of a human and independently activate the recording system. Recorded still pictures, video, and audio, along with location information supplied by GPS circuitry in the zipper pull and/or retaining fastener, are transmitted to a remote database.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A security system for detecting entry into an enclosure capable of being transported to different locations and for recording information relating to an individual gaining entry, the security system comprising:
 an exterior member for attaching to a closure device enabling access to the interior of the enclosure; and   an interior member having mounting structure for mounting the interior member within the enclosure, wherein:   the exterior member includes (i) a touch sensor that is activated when the exterior member is touched by a human, and (ii) exterior member communication circuitry that sends a signal to the interior member when the touch sensor is activated, and   the interior member includes (i) a power supply, (ii) recording apparatus including at least one of a camera system for capturing images in the vicinity of the interior member and an audio system for recording sounds in the vicinity of the interior member, (iii) interior member communication circuitry for accepting the signal from the exterior member communication circuitry, and (iv) control circuitry for maintaining the interior member power supply in a sleep mode and initiating operation of the recording apparatus when the signal is received from the exterior member.   
     
     
         2 . The security system of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior member mimics the appearance of a conventional device for enabling access to the interior of the enclosure. 
     
     
         3 . The security system of  claim 1 , wherein the camera system includes a video camera facing in a predetermined first direction. 
     
     
         4 . The security system of  claim 3 , wherein the camera system includes a second video camera facing in a second predetermined direction. 
     
     
         5 . The security system of  claim 1 , wherein the camera system includes a still photo camera. 
     
     
         6 . The security system of  claim 1 , wherein the interior member includes GPS circuitry for determining the location of the enclosure and transmitting the information to a remote destination. 
     
     
         7 . The security system of  claim 1 , wherein the interior member communication circuitry transmits information recorded by the recording apparatus to a remote destination for storage via Wi-Fi or using a SIM card. 
     
     
         8 . The security system of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior member includes GPS circuitry for determining the location of the enclosure and transmitting the information to a remote destination. 
     
     
         9 . The security system of  claim 1 , wherein the interior member includes a sensor for activating operation of the recording apparatus when the sensor detects the presence of a human, the sensor comprising at least one of a touch sensor, a heat sensor, and a pressure sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The security system of  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure is an item of luggage. 
     
     
         11 . A tracking device for monitoring the location of an object capable of movement from one location to another, the tracking device comprising:
 an attachment device for attaching the tracking device to the object   GPS circuitry for generating a location signal indicating the location of the tracking device; and   communication circuitry for wirelessly sending to a remote receiver the location signal generated by the GPS circuitry.   
     
     
         12 . The tracking device of  claim 11 , wherein the attachment device is adapted to removably attach the tracking device to the object. 
     
     
         13 . The tracking device of  claim 11 , wherein the object is an item of luggage. 
     
     
         14 . A monitoring device for generating at least one of visual and audio information relating to an object capable of movement from one location to another to which the monitoring device is attached, the device comprising:
 a power supply;   recording apparatus including at least one of a camera system for capturing images in the vicinity of the tracking device and an audio system for recording sounds in the vicinity of the tracking device;   control circuitry for maintaining the power supply in a sleep mode and initiating operation of the recording apparatus when an activation signal is received wirelessly from a remote device; and   communication circuitry for transmitting to a remote storage location at least one of images captured by the camera system or sounds recorded by the audio system.   
     
     
         15 . The monitoring device of  claim 14 , further comprising an attachment device for removably attaching the monitoring device to the object. 
     
     
         16 . The monitoring device of  claim 14 , further comprising GPS circuitry for generating a location signal indicating the location of the monitoring device, wherein the communication circuitry is adapted to transmit the location signal to the remote storage location via at least one of a Wi-Fi connection or a SIM card included in the monitoring device. 
     
     
         17 . The monitoring device of  claim 14 , wherein the camera system includes a video camera facing in a first predetermined direction. 
     
     
         18 . The monitoring device of  claim 17 , wherein the camera system includes a second video camera facing in a second predetermined direction. 
     
     
         19 . The monitoring device of  claim 14 , wherein the camera system includes a still photo camera. 
     
     
         20 . The monitoring device of  claim 14 , wherein the communication circuitry is adapted to transmit via a Wi-Fi connection or a SIM card to the remote storage location at least one of (i) images from the camera system, and (ii) sounds from the audio system. 
     
     
         21 . The monitoring device of  claim 14 , wherein the communication circuitry is adapted to transmit to the storage location information uniquely identifying the monitoring device. 
     
     
         22 . The monitoring device of  claim 14 , wherein the object is an item of luggage.