Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-30
2001-08-28
Mullen, Thomas (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
C340S542000, C340S545600
Reexamination Certificate
active
06281793
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates electronic seals generally, and particularly to RF-interrogated identification tags and electronic seals.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Electronic tags are known that can be monitored, sensed, or interrogated for purposes of preventing theft of or tampering with the object. For example, applicant/assignee's U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/815,389, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,002,343, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a battery-operated electronic tag that, when tampered with, communicates via a transceiver to a detection system for providing an alarm signal or other indication. One embodiment disclosed in 08/815,389 is directed to a tag with a seal wire which comprises a multiplicity of resistive wires, preferably constructed of a high resistivity material such as nickel chrome. Each wire is insulated from each other and from the external world. A random number of wires are electrically connected to electrical pins of the tag. The random connection results in a statistically random electrical resistance of the seal wire, which resistance cannot be measured from the outside of the tag. This electronic tag has already enjoyed commercial success and is marketed under the trade name HI-G-SEAL.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,766,419 to Hayward describes a reusable seal for a vehicle or container which includes a housing, and a cable secured at one end to the housing and releasably attached to the housing at the other end by a locking mechanism. Operation of the locking mechanism causes an electronic circuit in the housing to generate a random number, which is displayed by an LED display when a button is pressed. Any change in the number displayed indicates that the cable has been released. The seal can be repeatedly re-used.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,447,344, also to Hayward, describes an electronic seal including a housing, a flexible element extending from the housing and having a free end which can be passed through a door catch device for releasably connecting the free end of the flexible element to the housing, an electronic circuit within the housing arranged to generate one of a number of unique codes on receipt of an electrical signal and to store the generated code, display device on the housing adapted to display the generated code, and a switch on the housing actuated on connection or disconnection of the flexible element to the housing to provide an electrical signal to actuate the electronic circuit. The flexible element is a cord having a series of regularly spaced enlargements, and the device for releasably connecting the free end of the cord to the housing comprises a passage in the housing into which a length of the cord can be inserted, a number of teeth in the housing being adapted to fit between enlargements of the cord, so that when the length of cord is inserted into the housing each enlargement of the length of cord can fit between two adjacent teeth to hold the cord against withdrawal from the housing, and a slide movable in the housing between a first position in which the cord can be inserted and removed from the passage, and a second position in which the slide retains the enlargements in engagement with the teeth. The switch has an actuating member projecting between two of the teeth, so as to be engaged by one of the enlargements on the cord when it is engaged between the teeth, so that the switch is actuated when the length of cord is moved into or out of engagement with the teeth.
It is noted that in both patents of Hayward there is no sealing wire with a signature. Instead the electrical circuitry in the seal housing generates a random signature.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention seeks to provide a novel electronic seal, based on the technology of the seal wire described in 08/815,389, wherein the electronic seal is integrated with the object to be protected. The body of the electronic seal is integrally formed with the object to be protected, or may be embedded, bonded, fastened or otherwise attached to the object to be protected. The seal wire has a signature which is not readable without disengaging the seal wire from the seal body, and any such disengaging is sensed by the electronic seal circuitry.
There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention electronic monitoring apparatus including an object to be protected, an electronic seal body integrally formed with the object to be protected, an electronic seal wire attachable to the seal body, the seal wire having an electrical signature which is not readable without disengagement of the seal wire from the seal body, and electronic seal circuitry in electrical communication with the seal wire which senses a change in the electrical signature.
There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention electronic monitoring apparatus including an object to be protected, an electronic seal body including two halves, each half attached to the object to be protected, an electronic seal wire having two ends each of which is attachable to one of the halves of the seal body, the seal wire having an electrical signature which is not readable without disengagement of the seal wire from the seal body, and electronic seal circuitry in electrical communication with the seal wire which senses a change in the electrical signature.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the object includes a door and an enclosure, and wherein one of the halves is attached to the door and the other half is attached to a portion of the enclosure, wherein the door is openable only under two conditions: a) tampering with the seal wire, b) disengagement of the seal wire from the seal body.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the halves are in electrical communication with each other.
Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the halves are in electrical communication with each other via the seal wire.
There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a method for protecting an object including integrally forming an electronic seal body with an object to be protected, providing an electronic seal wire separately from the seal body, attaching the electronic seal wire to the seal body, the seal wire having an electrical signature which is not readable without disengagement of the seal wire from the seal body, and sensing a change in the electrical signature.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the electronic seal body is formed with the object by a manufacturer of the object and the electronic seal wire is provided to a user of the object.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the method includes communicating with at least one of the electronic seal body and the electronic seal wire by means of encrypted communication.
Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the encrypted communication includes a mutual zero-knowledge interaction authentication session.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3714644 (1973-01-01), Hellstrom
patent: 4233595 (1980-11-01), Landkammer
patent: 4748668 (1988-05-01), Shamir et al.
patent: 4766419 (1988-08-01), Hayward
patent: 5097253 (1992-03-01), Eschbach et al.
patent: 5191314 (1993-03-01), Ackerman et al.
patent: 5422627 (1995-06-01), Tap et al.
patent: 5447344 (1995-09-01), Hayward
patent: 5515030 (1996-05-01), Citron et al.
patent: 5656996 (1997-08-01), Houser
patent: 5754108 (1998-05-01), Ungarsohn
patent: 6002343 (1999-12-01), Auerbach et al.
Armoni Yehuda
Auerbach Michael
Haimovich Yosef
Abelman ,Frayne & Schwab
Hi-G-Tek Ltd.
Mullen Thomas
LandOfFree
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