Secure shipment container and related methods

Abstract

An apparatus and method for secure shipment of goods monitors location and status with multiple sensors embedded in the package of the shipment container. Encryption methods help ensure the shipped goods are authentic, and that the goods were not tampered with during shipment. Information placed in an RFID tag may provide the user with the history of performance during transit to ensure the quality of the goods from the shipment site to the receiving site.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shipping container comprising:
 a container body comprising one or more layers;   at least one sensor embedded within at least one of the one or more layers or positioned between at least two of the one or more layers; and   monitoring electronics connected to the sensor, wherein the monitoring electronics is configured to detect a tampering status of the container based at least in part on a signal from the sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The shipping container of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more layers comprises a first material, and wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one second different material. 
     
     
         3 . The shipping container of  claim 1 , wherein the first material comprises paperboard. 
     
     
         4 . The shipping container of  claim 1 , wherein at least a first portion of the at least one sensor is positioned between two layers of paperboard. 
     
     
         5 . The shipping container of  claim 3 , wherein the second material is electrically conductive. 
     
     
         6 . The shipping container of  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring electronics comprises a transmitter configured to communicate status to a remote monitoring facility. 
     
     
         7 . The shipping container of  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring electronics comprises one or more environmental sensors. 
     
     
         8 . The shipping container of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises an opening covered with a removable cap. 
     
     
         9 . The shipping container of  claim 8 , wherein the monitoring electronics are associated with the removable cap. 
     
     
         10 . The shipping container of  claim 9 , wherein the body and the removable cap each comprise electrical contacts configured to mate with one another. 
     
     
         11 . The shipping container of  claim 2 , wherein second material comprises conductive ink. 
     
     
         12 . A method for securing a shipping container, the method comprising:
 placing goods into the container;   placing a removable cap onto the container;   wherein the placing connects monitoring electronics associated with the cap with at least one sensor associated with the container.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , comprising initializing the monitoring electronics. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , comprising using a security algorithm to associate a security access key with the container;
 sending the security access key to a server; and   sending the security access key to the to a receiver of the goods.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the monitoring electronics sends status information as a remote client to a server in a cloud computing environment. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein a status of the at least one sensor and/or the monitoring electronics is communicated to a personal communications tool used by a receiver of the goods. 
     
     
         17 . A shipping container comprising a container body and a removable container cap, wherein the container body comprises a container wall comprising at least one sensor, wherein the container cap comprises monitoring electronics, and wherein the monitoring electronics are coupled to the at least one sensor when the container cap is coupled to the container body. 
     
     
         18 . The shipping container of  claim 17 , wherein the container wall comprises a first material, and wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one second different material. 
     
     
         19 . The shipping container of  claim 18 , wherein the first material comprises paperboard. 
     
     
         20 . The shipping container of  claim 17 , wherein the body and the removable cap each comprise electrical contacts configured to mate with one another.