Abstract: A HAZMAT monitoring system detects a plurality of different hazardous materials and includes first and second pluralities of RSIs. Each RSI of the first plurality forms a node in a first wireless sensor network and is associated with a mobile container and with at least one sensor that is configured to acquire data for detecting a first hazardous material. Each RSI further is configured to receive the sensor data and wirelessly transmit, over the first wireless sensor network, data relating to the received sensor data pertaining to the detection of the first hazardous material. Each RSI of the second plurality is similarly associated and configured. Communications within a respective wireless sensor network do not result in communications within the another wireless sensor network. A gateway is configured to independently communicate with each respective wireless sensor network.

Abstract: The system described here is a bolt-type seal lock which includes a bolt, having a shaft with proximal and distal portions, a head that is wider than the distal portion of the shaft and located at the proximal portion of the shaft, and a microchip containing a unique serial number of the bolt; a locking body having a passageway with an open end for receiving and retaining the distal portion of the shaft of the bolt in locking engagement after the shaft has been inserted a predetermined extent into the open end of the passageway, at which point the shaft cannot be withdrawn from the open end of the passageway; and a housing connected to, and movable relative to, the locking body, having electronics and a power source therein. The electronics and the housing are configured to read the unique serial number of the bolt from the microchip.

Abstract: The system described here is a shipping container security system which includes an RF data communications device; and an RF device mounted on an interior surface of a door of the shipping container and configured to form a short-range communications link with the radio communication component inside the shipping container via the antenna mounted on the exterior of the shipping container when the RF device and the radio communication component are within radio communications range. The RF device is mounted on the interior surface of the door such that, the RF device and the radio communication component are within radio communications range when the door is closed, and the RF device and the radio communication component are outside of radio communications range when the door is opened, whereby the opening and closing of the door of the shipping container is determinable.

Abstract: A sensor network for monitoring of a pipeline comprises a sensor disposed for monitoring of a pipeline, the sensor capable of acquiring data related to the pipeline and communicating sensor data; a first remote sensor interface (RSI) comprising a data communications device capable of receiving the sensor data communicated from the sensor, and transmitting data relating to the received sensor data; and a data communications device capable of receiving the data transmitted by the first RSI and transmitting data related to the sensor data directly or indirectly to a network external to the sensor network. The sensor network comprises a common designation network.

Abstract: The system described here is a bolt-type seal lock which includes a bolt, having a U-shaped shaft with first and second end portions; and a locking body having a passageway therethrough with first and second open ends on opposite sides of the locking body for receiving the first end portion of the shaft of the bolt, and an opening for receiving the second end portion of the shaft of the bolt. The locking body is configured to receive and retain the shaft in locking engagement; and the locking body is configured to permit passage of the first end portion of the shaft through and out of the second open end of the passageway, and withdrawal of the second end portion of the shaft from the opening.

Abstract: The system described here is a bolt-type seal lock which includes a bolt, having a shaft with proximal and distal portions and a head that is wider than the distal portion of the shaft and located at the proximal portion of the shaft; and a locking body having a passageway therethrough with first and second open ends on opposite sides of the locking body. The locking body is configured to receive and retain the shaft in locking engagement after the shaft has been inserted a predetermined extent into the first open end of the passageway, at which point the shaft cannot be withdrawn from the first open end of the passageway, and to permit passage of the distal portion of the shaft through and out of the second open end of the passageway after separation of the head and the distal portion of the shaft.

Abstract: A class-based asset tracking or monitoring system includes wireless radio frequency data communication devices, each including memory in which is stored a common designation; a radio frequency transmitter component and receiver component for wirelessly sending and receiving data packets; and electronics for processing data. Each device is configured to filter a wireless communication received by it for an identification of its common designation within the communication, and process the communication if an identification of its common designation is found therein. The device includes a profile stored in its memory and is configured to automatically and dynamically change its common designation in accordance with its profile. The profile may include a plurality of common designations, which may be conditional. The foregoing common designations may be class designations for use in class-based asset tracking systems. The device may include an interface for sensor-acquired data.

Abstract: In a wireless class-based data communications network, a class-switching method includes configuring a wireless two-way RF data communication device, of a wireless class-based data communications network, to adopt a different class designation of another wireless two-way RF data communication device of a proximate wireless class-based data communications network such that the particular wireless two-way RF data communication device joins the proximate wireless class-based data communications network. Another class-switching method includes communicating a command to a wireless two-way RF data communication device of a wireless class-based data communications network to change its class designation to that of another wireless two-way RF data communication device of a proximate wireless class-based data communications network such that the wireless two-way RF data communication device joins the proximate wireless class-based data communications network.

Abstract: The method described here is for securing a shipping container for transport, and includes the steps of: providing a shipping container having a bolt-type seal lock module, a sensor module mounted to an interior surface of the shipping container configured to wirelessly communicate data to the bolt-type seal lock module, and an RF device mounted on an inside surface of a door of the shipping container; providing a bolt; associating the sensor module with the RF device such that the RF device is specifically coded with a sensor module to deter spoofing the short-range communication link formed between the RF device and the sensor module; associating the sensor module with the bolt-type seal lock such that the bolt-type seal lock is specifically coded with the sensor module to deter spoofing communications between the bolt-type seal lock and the sensor module; and sealing the shipping container.

Abstract: A method for determining a terrestrial location of an apparatus that is deployed in a generally known geographical region includes capturing, by the apparatus, an earthbound image of the sky from a terrestrial location at an identified time; communicating, by the apparatus, data representative of the captured earthbound image of the sky; and determining the terrestrial location of the apparatus based on the data communicated by the apparatus by comparing the captured earthbound image of the sky to a master mapping of the sky relative to the surface of the Earth.

Abstract: A wireless transceiver includes: (a) a low power radio frequency (LPRF) communications component capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal, the LPRF communications component including a transmitter and a first receiver; and (b) a second receiver that is configured to screen a radio frequency broadcast and provide, on the basis of specific data identified therein, the electronic signal to the LPRF communications component in order to power up the LPRF communications component. The second receiver is adapted to draw less current than the LPRF communications component while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency broadcast.

Abstract: A method for communicating to a recipient transceiver from a plurality of transceivers located within the broadcast range of the recipient transceiver includes: transmitting a communication at a first power level such that only a first group of transceivers receive the broadcast, the communication including a command causing each of the first group of transceivers not to respond to a subsequent broadcast; and subsequent thereto, transmitting a communication at a second power level greater than the first power level such that a second group of transceivers greater than and including the first group of transceivers receive the broadcast, but such that only a limited number of transceivers of the second group respond to the broadcast, the limited number of transceivers excluding the first group of transceivers. Each of the plurality of transceivers is associated with a respective sensor for acquiring data and transmitting the data to the recipient transceiver.

Abstract: A method for communicating to a recipient transceiver from a plurality of transceivers located within the broadcast range of the recipient transceiver includes: transmitting a communication at a first power level such that only a first group of transceivers receive the broadcast, the communication including a command causing each of the first group of transceivers not to respond to a subsequent broadcast; and subsequent thereto, transmitting a communication at a second power level greater than the first power level such that a second group of transceivers greater than and including the first group of transceivers receive the broadcast, but such that only a limited number of transceivers of the second group respond to the broadcast, the limited number of transceivers excluding the first group of transceivers. Each of the plurality of transceivers is associated with a respective sensor for acquiring data and transmitting the data to the recipient transceiver.

Abstract: A wireless transceiver includes: (a) a low power radio frequency (LPRF) communications component capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal, the LPRF communications component including a transmitter and a first receiver; and (b) a second receiver that is configured to screen a radio frequency broadcast and provide, on the basis of specific data identified therein, the electronic signal to the LPRF communications component in order to power up the LPRF communications component. The second receiver is adapted to draw less current than the LPRF communications component while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency broadcast.

Abstract: A tactical GPS denial/denial detection system includes a plurality of GPS detection/denial devices, a gateway, and a computer management system. Each GPS detection/denial includes a GPS receiver for determining positional parameters based on the GPS satellite signals, a GPS denier, which may be selectively activated, for disrupting reliable operation of GPS receivers, and a remote sensor interface adapted to extract the GPS parameters from the GPS receiver and to effectuate the activation of the GPS denier. The remote sensor interfaces and the gateway are communication nodes in an ad hoc wireless network. The gateway receives the GPS parameters from the remote sensor interfaces and communicates instructions to the remote sensor interfaces to selectively activate the GPS deniers. The computer management system receives the extracted GPS parameters from the gateway and analyzes the GPS parameters to detect whether an active GPS denial device is present in the vicinity of the system.

Abstract: An arrangement of logically distinct wireless data communication networks share a gateway for communicating with external networks. Each logically distinct network preferably is a class-based network, the nodes of which include a wireless two-way radio frequency data communication device. Each device filter wireless communications received by it for an identification within the communication of its class designation, or for a class, abstract class, or subclass corresponding to its class designation; and process the communication if found and do not process the communication if not found. The gateway wirelessly communicates with each logically distinct network by including the respective class designation for the network with which the communications are desired. The other class based networks do not process messages that are communicated to the desired class-based network, thereby avoiding unnecessary power consumption by the wireless devices.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for determining a position of a wireless communication device. A method includes determining a respective (x,y) position of two wireless communication devices, determining a distance between the two wireless communication devices, and determining a relative elevational differential between the two wireless communication devices. The relative elevational differential is determined based on the determined (x,y) positions of the two wireless communication devices and the determined distance between the first and second wireless communication devices. The (x,y) positions may be determined using GPS receivers incorporated in the wireless communication devices. Determining the distance between the devices may be accomplished using RF ranging. The relative elevational differential may be derived using the Pythagorean theorem.

Abstract: A wireless transceiver includes: (a) a low power radio frequency (LPRF) communications component capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal, the LPRF communications component including a transmitter and a first receiver; and (b) a second receiver that is configured to screen a radio frequency broadcast and provide, on the basis of specific data identified therein, the electronic signal to the LPRF communications component in order to power up the LPRF communications component. The second receiver is adapted to draw less current than the LPRF communications component while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency broadcast.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for determining a position of a wireless communication device. A method includes determining a respective (x,y) position of two wireless communication devices, determining a distance between the two wireless communication devices, and determining a relative elevational differential between the two wireless communication devices. The relative elevational differential is determined based on the determined (x,y) positions of the two wireless communication devices and the determined distance between the first and second wireless communication devices. The (x,y) positions may be determined using GPS receivers incorporated in the wireless communication devices. Determining the distance between the devices may be accomplished using RF ranging. The relative elevational differential may be derived using the Pythagorean theorem.

Abstract: A method for communicating to a recipient transceiver from a plurality of transceivers located within the broadcast range of the recipient transceiver includes: transmitting a communication at a first power level such that only a first group of transceivers receive the broadcast, the communication including a command causing each of the first group of transceivers not to respond to a subsequent broadcast; and subsequent thereto, transmitting a communication at a second power level greater than the first power level such that a second group of transceivers greater than and including the first group of transceivers receive the broadcast, but such that only a limited number of transceivers of the second group respond to the broadcast, the limited number of transceivers excluding the first group of transceivers. Each of the plurality of transceivers is associated with a respective sensor for acquiring data and transmitting the data to the recipient transceiver.