Ammunition firing authorization system

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed comprising a projectile, a propellant configured to propel the projectile, an energy storage element, an antenna configured to receive wireless energy from a wireless signal, wherein the wireless energy is used to charge the energy storage element, and control circuitry configured to be powered by the energy storage element, receive an authorization from the wireless signal, and enable the propellant to propel the projectile in response to the authorization.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a projectile;   a propellant configured to propel the projectile;   an energy storage element;   an antenna configured to receive wireless energy from a wireless signal, wherein the wireless energy is used to charge the energy storage element; and   control circuitry configured to:
 be powered by the energy storage element; 
 receive an authorization from the wireless signal; and 
 enable the propellant to propel the projectile in response to the authorization. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the propellant is gun powder. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the projectile is a bullet. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus comprising:
 a projectile; and   a propellant configured to propel the projectile,   wherein the projectile comprises control circuitry configured to enable the propellant to propel the projectile in response to an authorization signal.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the propellant is gun powder. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the projectile is a bullet. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus comprising:
 a projectile;   a propellant configured to propel the projectile;   a wireless antenna; and   control circuitry configured to:
 transmit using the wireless antenna to an authorization entity an identifier (ID) that identifies the apparatus; 
 after transmitting the ID, receive from the wireless antenna an authorization; and 
 enable the propellant to propel the projectile in response to the authorization. 
   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the propellant is gun powder. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the projectile is a bullet. 
     
     
         11 . A weapon magazine comprising:
 a housing for storing a plurality of ammunition;   a wireless antenna extending along a length of the housing, wherein at least part of the wireless antenna is proximate each ammunition; and   control circuitry configured to transmit an authorization over the wireless antenna to at least one of the ammunition to enable firing the ammunition.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the ammunition comprises gun powder. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the ammunition comprises a bullet. 
     
     
         14 . A weapon comprising:
 a weapon magazine configured to a store a plurality of ammunition;   a wireless antenna;   a global positioning system (GPS); and   control circuitry configured to:
 receive over the wireless antenna a plurality of geographical locations; 
 detect a current geographical location of the weapon using the GPS; and 
 enable firing of at least one of the ammunition in response to the received geographical locations and the current geographical location. 
   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the ammunition comprises gun powder. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the ammunition comprises a bullet.