Luggage tracking and surveillance system

摘要

A luggage tracking and surveillance system uses a zipper pull attached to a conventional suitcase closure zipper and a retaining fastener attached to conventional fastening straps securing contents inside the suitcase. An observer is not aware of the specially designed zipper pull and retaining fastener because they mimic the appearance of their conventional counterparts. The external zipper pull communicates wirelessly with the retaining fastener inside the suitcase when a zipper pull touch sensor senses that the suitcase has been opened. This awakens a retainer fastener power supply and activates a recording system in the fastener to create a record of the person who opened the suitcase. The retaining fastener can also sense the presence of a human and independently activate the recording system. Recorded still pictures, video, and audio, along with location information supplied by GPS circuitry in the zipper pull and/or retaining fastener, are transmitted a remote database.

主权项

1. A security system for detecting entry into an item of luggage and recording information relating to an individual gaining entry, the security system comprising:
an exterior member for attaching to a conventional closure device enabling access to the interior of the item of luggage; and an interior member having connector structure for attaching the interior member to a conventional retaining strap disposed within the item of luggage for retaining the contents thereof, wherein: the exterior member includes a housing that mimics the appearance of a conventional device for enabling access to the interior of the item of luggage and encloses (i) a touch sensor that is activated when the exterior member is touched by a human, and (ii) exterior member communication circuitry that sends a signal to the interior member when the touch sensor is activated, and the interior member includes a housing that encloses (i) a power supply, (ii) recording apparatus including at least one of a camera system for capturing images in the vicinity of the interior member and an audio system for recording sounds in the vicinity of the interior member, (iii) interior member communication circuitry for accepting the signal from the exterior member communication circuitry, and (iv) control circuitry for maintaining the interior member power supply in a sleep mode and initiating operation of the recording apparatus when the signal is received from the exterior member.