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Portable security containerPortable security container description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060139147, Portable security container. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to processes and containers for controlling access to valuable items and, more particularly, to processes and systems for managing the security, access, use, siting and transportation of containers. [0003] 2. Background Art [0004] In general, the need for protection and storage of valuables, sensitive information and controlled substances has increased over the past decade, particularly with the introduction of new forms of valuable tangible property such as the higher density optical and magnetic storage media. Contemporary offices rely upon one or more security devices such as mechanical locks placed upon cabinets, safes, doors and buildings to provide physical security for the interior of the office as well as the contents distributed throughout the office during normal working hours. We have noticed however, that these approaches to office security do not provide any audit information about either the use of the security devices or about the personnel who use the devices. The need to control access as well as to provide an accurate record of personnel having access and the time of their access requires both physical and electronic security measures. In an office environment for example, items such as confidential papers, diskettes, engineering documents, and intrinsically valuable materials (such as, by way of example, gold electrical contacts) other tangible items are most conveniently left exposed upon a counter, in an insecure state, during normal working hours. Although these items may be stored in cabinets or desk drawers after hours, the degree of the security provided is poor. Office fixtures are typically only secure temporarily and, in most cases, unauthorized access cannot be detected. Efforts such as the Electronic Interlock For Storage. Assembles of E. O. Warren, U.S. Pat. No. 5,22S,825, and the Locker Unit Comprising A Plurality Of Lockers of K. Kletzmaier, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,219,386 are examples of recent efforts in the art to electronically control access, albeit pay access to stationary objects such as doors and safes, and to provide both physical security and audit information about the use of the security devices. Although some electronic access control systems do endeavor to provide access control and audit capabilities, others such as the Portable Authentication System of L. C. Puhl, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,038; the Electronic Lock And Key System of F. Rode, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,727,369, the Fast Access Electronic Locking System of J. C. Spitzer, U.S. Pat. No. 5,299,436; and the Portable Electronic Access Controlled System For parting Meters Or The Like of Paul Benezet, U.S. Pat. No. 5,278,395 do not consistently, inexpensively and reliably address the need for transportation of assets between remote locations in a secure manner. We have found that the unauthorized and undetected access to sensitive information or materials during transit, or during storage, is a concern that has not previously been adequately addressed by the art. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved security process and container. [0006] It is another object to provide a simplified security process and portable container that conforms to contemporary business office practice by securing valuable items for both storage and transportation to remote locations. [0007] It is yet another object to provide a security process and portable container that is readily and repeatedly usable to quickly receive, store and transport valuable items, while providing a log of the users who gain access to the container. [0008] It is still another object to provide a process and portable container to enhance the security of contemporary offices. [0009] It is still yet another object to provide a process and security container that readily conforms to habits and customs common to a contemporary business office while enabling local protection and remote transportation of items found within the environment of the contemporary office. [0010] It is a further object to provide a process and security container that readily conforms to habits and customs common to a broad spectrum of contemporary business offices while generating a log of users who have gained access to the container. [0011] It is also an object to provide processes and systems for easily and reliably managing the security, access, use, siting and transportation of containers. [0012] These and other objects may be attained with a process that uses a data key to control access to a portable container. The container may be constructed with a housing having one or more walls supporting either a removable lid, or other panel providing access to the interior of the container. The container has a closed interior while that panel is in engagement with one or more walls of the housing, and an open interior able to removably receive items while the panel is dislodged from its engagement with the housing. A port is accessible through one or more of the walls of the container to receive data signals, and a control stage incorporating a non volatile memory is operationally coupled to provide communication with the interior of the container via the port. The controller generates a control signal in response to the occurrence of a coincidence between a data key received via the port and a data sequence obtained by the control stage in dependence upon information stored within the memory. An electromechanical moving element is positioned to engage the lid and hinder removal of the lid from its engagement, and to respond to the control signal by releasing the lid from its engagement to allow access to the interior of the container. A host computer sited externally to the container, communicates with the controller via the port, and drives the container as a peripheral device. In response to a request for access entered via an input device such as a keyboard coupled to the host computer and transmitted by one, or more, of the ports provided by the container, the controller makes a determination of whether to grant the access requested by generating a control signal that allows the moving element lock to release the access panel on the basis of, inter alia, the disposition of the port relative to a source of the data signals, on the basis of the disposition of the container within a scheme for generation of the data signals, and in response to occurrence of a coincidence between a data key received by the controller among the data signals via the port and a data sequence obtained by the controller in dependence upon the information stored within the memory. In addition to the coincidence between the data key and memory, the physical location of the container, via GPS or other determining factors may factor in to the determination of whether to grant access. These and other objects may also be attained with the control stage being operationally coupled to provide communication with the interior of the container via the port, and generate an alarm signal in response to an unauthorized interruption of the communication via the port. An alarm is driven by the controller to broadcast an indication of the unauthorized interruption in response to the alarm signal. The alarm may be located either within the container or driven directly by a host computer that is external to the container and that absent the interruption, communicates with the controller via the port. [0013] It is also an object to provide processes and systems for easily and reliably docking the container and electromechanically fixing or releasing it from its docking location, with or without providing access to the interior of the container in dependence on data signals. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0014] A more complete appreciation of this invention, and many of the attendant advantages thereof, will be readily apparent as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference symbols indicate the same or similar components, wherein: [0015] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a container management system that may be constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; [0016] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portable container that may be constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; [0017] FIG. 3 illustrates the transport of a portable container between a host computer sited at an origin and a host computer sited at a destination; [0018] FIG. 4 illustrates a typical implementation of a host computer connected to a container during the practice of the principles of the present invention; [0019] FIG. 5 illustrates the implementation of FIG. 4, with the access panel removed to provide access to the interior of the container; [0020] FIG. 6 illustrates the transport of a portable container between a host computer sited at an origin connected by a network to a host computer sited at a destination of the portable container; [0021] FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative implementation of the principles of the present invention with a host computer directly driving peripheral components that include a biometric scanner, a card reader and a portable container; Continue reading about Portable security container... Full patent description for Portable security container Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Portable security container patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Portable security container or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Slot device Next Patent Application: Method, apparatus and system for controlling access to a cabinet Industry Class: Communications: electrical ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Portable security container patent info. 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