Enhanced Security Event Notifications for Stolen Cargo Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cargo transportation systems lack effective mechanisms to detect and respond to theft and signal jamming attacks, leading to frequent theft of cargo and transport vehicles, with conventional methods failing to provide timely notification to law enforcement.

Innovation Solution

A data processing system that tracks shipment-related entities using location sensors, identifies unscheduled deviations, and generates enhanced security event notifications (ESEN) to law enforcement for efficient tracking and recovery, including distinguishing details to facilitate accurate identification and resolution of theft or signal jamming attacks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional tracking systems are used to monitor cargo and transport vehicles, then basic location tracking is provided, but timely detection of theft and signal jamming attacks is not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidresponse time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by continuously monitoring location signals and establishing expected co-location patterns before theft occurs. The monitoring system proactively detects deviations from expected patterns and triggers alerts before the theft can be completed, enabling law enforcement to respond in advance rather than after the fact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously comparing actual location signals against expected co-location patterns and providing real-time feedback when deviations are detected. This feedback loop enables the system to immediately identify theft attempts or signal jamming attacks and notify law enforcement without delay.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If basic location tracking is implemented, then cargo position can be monitored, but accurate identification of stolen items and perpetrators is not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveidentification accuracyVSAvoiddistinguishing details
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the tracking information by monitoring multiple individual location signals (cargo, transport vehicle, operator) separately and analyzing their co-location relationships. This segmentation allows the system to identify specific deviations involving particular entities and provide detailed information about which item was stolen and by whom.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system adds another dimension to basic location tracking by analyzing the spatial relationships and co-location patterns between multiple tracked entities. Instead of merely tracking individual positions, the system monitors the relative positions and expected associations between cargo, vehicle, and operator, enabling precise identification of theft events.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of operation

If manual monitoring by operators is used, then some security awareness is maintained, but detection of theft activities is not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperator diligenceVSAvoidtheft detection capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service security monitoring by automatically detecting theft attempts and signal jamming attacks without requiring operator intervention. The electronic monitoring system independently analyzes location data, identifies deviations from expected patterns, and triggers alerts, eliminating reliance on operator vigilance while enhancing detection reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces the mechanical human monitoring process with an electronic automated detection system. Instead of relying on operators to visually or manually monitor for theft, the system uses electronic location sensors, signal analysis, and automated pattern recognition to detect theft activities, providing more reliable and consistent detection capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3695242B1Enhanced alert/notification system for law enforcement identifying and tracking of stolen vehicles and cargo
Publication Date: 2025.09.10 OVERHAUL GROUP INC
  • EP3695242B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3695242B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3695242B1 patent drawingFigure 2A

AI summary

A law enforcement (LE) data processing system (DPS) includes a processor that executes a LE security event notification and dispatch (SEND) utility. The LE DPS receives, from a tracking system communicatively coupled to the LE DPS, an enhanced security event notification (ESEN) that includes information identifying a security event, a location at which the security event occurred, and additional distinguishing details corresponding to entities involved in and affected by the security event. The LE DPS selectively transmits information from the updated ESEN to at least one LE dispatch server supporting LE personnel within one of (i) a geographic vicinity of the location of the security event and (ii) a calculated zone of recapture, the additional distinguishing details enabling the LE personnel to receive a more complete set of relevant details at a LE field device that enables more accurate identification, tracking, and resolution by LE personnel of the security event.