Transport container and transport container managing system

Abstract

A transport container and a transport container managing system are suitable for use for security management when valuable goods are transported by a transportation service. A transport container, which is closed in a condition that goods are housed therein and lock by the key mechanism upon transportation, has a key driving unit for switching a lock/unlock condition of the key mechanism by driving the key mechanism, a storage unit for storing, in advance, position information of a destination of the transportation where the key mechanism is unlocked, a position detecting unit for detecting a present position, a position collating unit for collating the position information of the destination of the transportation stored in the storage unit with present position information detected by the position detecting unit upon an operation to unlock the key mechanism to determine whether these two sorts of position information are in agreement or not, and an unlock directing unit for directing the key driving unit to unlock the key mechanism if the position collating unit determines that the position information of the destination of the transportation and the present position information are in agreement, thereby performing an unlocking operation under a specific condition so that the security of the transported goods may be improved.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A transport container closed in a condition where goods are housed therein and locked by a key mechanism upon transportation comprising:

a key driving means for switching a lock/unlock condition of said key mechanism by driving said key mechanism;

a storage means for storing in advance position information about a destination of the transportation where said key mechanism is unlocked;

a position detecting means for detecting a present position;

a position collating means for collating said position information about the destination of the transportation stored in said storage means with present position information detected by said position detecting means to determine whether these two position information are in agreement upon an operation to unlock said key mechanism; and

an unlock directing means for directing said key driving means to switch said key mechanism to the unlock condition if said position collating means determines that the position information about the destination of the transportation agrees with said present position information.

2. The transport container according to claim 1 further comprising:

a transmitting means for transmitting destination arrival information attached to said present position information, to a host apparatus if said position collating means determines that the position information about the destination of the transportation agrees with said present position information.

3. The transport container according to claim 1 further comprising:

an alarming means for generating an alarm if said position collating means determines that the position information about the destination of the transportation disagrees with said present position information.

4. The transport container according to claim 1 further comprising:

a transmitting means for transmitting alarm information to a host apparatus if said position collating means determines that the position information about the destination of the transportation disagrees with said present position information.

5. The transport container according to claim 1 further comprising:

a receiving means for receiving said position information about the destination of the transportation from a host apparatus before a start of the transportation;

said position information about the destination of the transportation from said host apparatus received by said receiving means is entered and stored in said storage means.

6. The transport container according to claim 1 further comprising:

a receiving means for receiving an unlock command giving a direction to unlock said key mechanism from a host apparatus upon an operation to unlock said key mechanism; and

an unlock command collating means for determining whether the unlock command from said host apparatus received by said receiving means is correct;

said unlock directing means directing said key driving means to switch said key mechanism to the unlock condition if said position collating means determines that said position information about the destination of the transportation agrees with said present position information and said unlock command collating means determines that said unlock command is correct.

7. The transport container according to claim 6 further comprising:

a transmitting means for transmitting abnormal information to said host apparatus if said unlock command collating means determines that said unlock command is incorrect.

8. The transport container according to claim 1 further comprising:

a receiving means for receiving password information for collation necessary when said key mechanism is unlocked from a host apparatus;

a password information input means for inputting password information for unlocking said key mechanism; and

a password information collating means for collating said password information for collation received by said receiving means with input password information input through said password information input means to determine whether these two password information are in agreement upon an operation to unlock said key mechanism;

said unlock directing means directing said key driving means to switch said key mechanism to the unlock condition if said position collating means determines that said position information about the destination of the transportation agrees with said present position information, and said password information collating means determines that said password information for collation agrees with said input password information.

9. The transport container according to claim 8 further comprising:

an alarming means for generating an alarm if said password information collating means determines that said password information for collation disagrees with said input password information.

10. The transport container according to claim 8 further comprising:

a transmitting means for transmitting alarm information to said host apparatus if said password information collating means determines that said password information for collation disagrees with said input password information.

11. The transport container according to claim 8, wherein said password information for collation is a specific password, and said password information input means is a pin pad operated to input the password as said input password information.

12. The transport container according to claim 8, wherein said password information for collation is a specific password, and said password information input means is a magnetic card reader for reading said password information as said input password information from a magnetic card in which said password information is stored in advance.

13. The transport container according to claim 8, wherein said password information for collation is a specific password, and said password information input means is an IC card reader for reading said password information as said input password information from an IC card in which said password information is stored in advance.

14. The transport container according to claim 8, wherein said password information for collation is fingerprint data of a specific unlocking operator who unlocks said key mechanism, and said password information input means is a fingerprint reading apparatus for reading a fingerprint of the unlocking operator as said input password information.

15. The transport container according to claim 8, wherein said password information for collating is fingerprint data of a specific unlocking operator who unlocks said key mechanism, and said password information input means is an IC card reader for reading said fingerprint data as said input password information from an IC card in which the fingerprint data of the unlocking operator is stored in advance.

16. The transport container according to claim 8, wherein said password information for collation is voice data of a specific unlocking operator who unlocks said key mechanism, and said password information input means is a voice input apparatus for picking up a voice of the unlocking operator as said input password information.

17. The transport container according to claim 8, wherein said password information for collation is voice data of a specific unlocking operator who unlocks said key mechanism, and said password information input means is an IC card reader for reading said voice data as said input password information from an IC card in which the voice data of the unlocking operator is stored in advance.

18. A transport container managing system having a transport container closed when goods are housed therein and locked by a key mechanism upon transportation and a host apparatus for managing said transport container comprising:

said transport container comprising;

a receiving means for receiving management information from said host apparatus;

a transmitting means for transmitting information about said transport container to said host apparatus;

a key driving means for switching a lock/unlock condition of said key mechanism by driving said key mechanism;

a storage means for storing, in advance, position information about a destination of said transport container where said key mechanism is unlocked;

a position detecting means for detecting a present position of said transport container;

a position collating means for collating said position information about the destination stored in said storage means with present position information detected by said position detecting means upon an operation to unlock said key mechanism to determine whether these two position information are in agreement;

an unlock directing means for directing said key driving means to switch said key mechanism to the unlock condition if said position collating means determines that said position information about the destination agrees with said present position information;

said host apparatus comprising;

a central storage means for storing management data for said transport container;

a transmitting means on a side of said host apparatus for transmitting management information for managing said transport container to said transport container; and

a receiving means on the side of said host apparatus for receiving information about said transport container from said transport container;

before transportation of said transport container starts, said transmitting means on the side of said host apparatus transmitting said position information about the destination stored as said management data in said central storage means to said transport container as said management information;

in said transport container, said position information about the destination received as said management information from said host apparatus by said receiving means being entered and stored in said storage means of said transport container;

in said transport container, said transmitting means transmitting destination arrival information, which is attached to said present position information, to said host apparatus upon an operation to unlock said key mechanism if said position collating means determines that said position information about the destination agrees with said present position information.

19. The transport container managing system according to claim 18, wherein said transport container further comprising:

an alarming means for generating an alarm if said position collating means determines that said position information about the destination of the transportation disagrees with said present position information.

20. The transport container managing system according to claim 18, wherein in said transport container, said transmitting means transmits alarm information to said host apparatus if said position collating means determines that said position information of the destination of the transportation disagrees with said present position information; and

said host apparatus further comprises a reporting means for reporting an emergency to a department concerned therewith when said receiving means, on the side of said host apparatus, receives said alarm information from said transport container.

21. The transport container managing system according to claim 18, wherein said host apparatus further comprises a position collating means, on the side of said host apparatus, for collating said present position information, which is attached to said destination arrival information received from said transport container by said receiving means on the side of said host apparatus, with said position information about the destination stored as said management data in said central storage means to determine whether these two position information are in agreement;

if said position collating means on the side of said host apparatus determines that said present position information agrees with said position information about the destination, said transmitting means on the side of said host apparatus transmits an unlock command giving a direction to unlock said key mechanism of said transport container as said management information to said transport container;

said transport container further comprises an unlock command collating means for determining whether said unlock command received as said management information from said host apparatus by said receiving means on the side of said host apparatus is correct;

if said position collating means determines that said position information about the destination agrees with said present position information, and said unlock command collating means determines that said unlock command is correct, said unlock directing means directing said key driving means to unlock said key mechanism.

22. The transport container managing system according to claim 21, wherein in said transport container, if said unlock command collating means determines that said unlock command is incorrect, said transmitting means transmits abnormal information to said host apparatus;

said host apparatus further comprises a counting means for counting the number of times of receipt of said abnormal information from said transport container by said receiving means on the side of said host apparatus, a comparing means for comparing a counted value obtained by said counting means with a predetermined value, and a reporting means for reporting an emergency to a department concerned therewith if said comparing means determines that said counted value has reached said predetermined value;

if said comparing means determines that said counted value is below said predetermined value, said transmitting means on the side of said host apparatus transmits again the unlock command giving a direction to unlock said key mechanism as said management information to said transport container.

23. The transport container managing system according to claim 22, wherein in said host apparatus, if said comparing means determines that said counted value has reached said predetermined value, said transmitting means on the side of said host apparatus transmits an alarm command directing an alarming operation as said management information to said transport container;

said transport container further comprises an alarming means for generating an alarm if said receiving means receives said alarm command as said management information from said host apparatus.

24. The transport container managing system according to claim 18, wherein said host apparatus further comprises a position collating means, on the side of said host apparatus, for collating said present position information, which is attached to said destination arrival information received from said transport container by said receiving means on the side of said host apparatus, with said position information about the destination stored as said management data in said central storage means to determine whether these two position information are in agreement;

if said position collating means on the side of said host apparatus determines that said present position information agrees with said position information about the destination, said transmitting means on the side of said host apparatus transmits password information for collation necessary when said key mechanism of said transport container is unlocked as said management information to said transport container;

said transport container further comprises;

a password information input means for inputting password information for unlocking said key mechanism; and

a password information collating means for collating said password information for collation which is received as said management information from said host apparatus by said receiving means, with input password information input through said password information input means upon an operation to unlock said key mechanism to determine whether these two password information are in agreement;

if said position collating means determines that said position information about the destination agrees with said present position information and said password information collating means determines that said password information for collation agrees with said input password information, said unlock directing means directs said key driving means to switch said key mechanism to the unlock condition.

25. The transport container managing system according to claim 24, wherein said transport container further comprises an alarming means for generating an alarm if said password information collating means determines that said password information for collation disagrees with said input password information.

26. The transport container managing system according to claim 25, wherein in said transport container, if said password information collating means determines that said password information for collation disagrees with said input password information, said transmitting means transmits abnormal information to said host apparatus;

said host apparatus further comprises a reporting means for reporting an emergency to a department concerned therewith when said receiving means on the side of said host apparatus receives said alarm information from said transport container.

27. A transport container managing system having a transport container closed when goods are housed therein and locked by a key mechanism upon transportation and a host apparatus for managing said transport container comprising:

said transport container comprising:

a receiving means for receiving management information from said host apparatus;

a transmitting means for transmitting information about said transport container to said host apparatus;

a key driving means for switching a lock/unlock condition of said key mechanism by driving said key mechanism;

a position detecting means for detecting a present position of said transport container;

an unlock command collating means for determining whether an unlock command is correct when said receiving means receives the unlock command giving a direction to unlock said key mechanism from said host apparatus;

an unlock directing means for directing said key driving means to switch said key mechanism to the unlock condition if said unlock command collating means determines that said unlock command is correct;

when said transport container arrives at a destination, said transmitting means transmitting destination arrival information which is attached to said present position information detected by said position detecting means, to said host apparatus;

said host apparatus comprising:

a central storage means for storing management data about said transport container;

a transmitting means on the side of said host apparatus for transmitting management information for managing said transport container to said transport container;

a receiving means on the side of said host apparatus for receiving information about said transport container from said transport container; and

a position collating means on the side of said host apparatus for collating said present position information which is attached to said destination arrival information received from said transport container by said receiving means on the side of said host apparatus, with said position information about the destination stored as said management data in said central storage means to determine whether these two position information are in agreement;

if said position collating means on the side of said host apparatus determines that said present position information agrees with said position information about the destination, said transmitting means on the side of said host apparatus transmitting an unlock command giving a direction to unlock said key mechanism of said transport container as said management information to said transport container.

28. The transport container system according to claim 27, wherein in said transport container, if said unlock command collating means determines that said unlock command is incorrect, said transmitting means transmits abnormal information to said host apparatus;

said host apparatus further comprises a counting means for counting a number of times of receipt of said abnormal information from said transport container by said receiving means on the side of said host apparatus, a comparing means for comparing a counted value obtained by said counting means with a predetermined value, and a reporting means for reporting an emergency to a department concerned therewith if said comparing means determines that said counted value has reached said predetermined value;

if said comparing means determines that said counted value is below said predetermined value, said transmitting means on the side of said host apparatus transmits again the unlock command giving a direction to unlock said key mechanism as said management information to said transport container.

29. The transport container managing system according to claim 28, wherein in said host apparatus, if said comparing means determines that said counted value has reached said predetermined value, said transmitting means on the side of said host apparatus transmits an alarm command directing an alarming operation as said management information to said transport container;

said transport container further comprises an alarming means for generating an alarm if said receiving means receives said alarm command as said management information from said host apparatus.

30. A transport container managing system having a transport container closed when goods are housed therein and locked by a key mechanism upon transportation and a host apparatus for managing said transport container comprising:

said transport container comprising:

a receiving means for receiving management information from said host apparatus;

transmitting means for transmitting information about said transport container to said host apparatus;

a key driving means for switching a lock/unlock condition of said key mechanism by driving said key mechanism;

a position detecting means for detecting a present position of said transport container;

a password information input means for inputting password information for unlocking said key mechanism;

a password information collating means for collating password information for collation with input password information input from said password information input means when said receiving means receives said password information for collation necessary when said key mechanism is unlocked from said host apparatus to determine whether these two password information are in agreement;

an unlock directing means for directing said key driving means to switch said key mechanism to the unlock condition if said password information collating means determines that said password information for collation agrees with said input password information;

when said transport container arrives at a destination, said transmitting means transmitting destination arrival information, which is attached to said present position information detected by said position detecting means, to said host apparatus;

said host apparatus comprising;

a central storage unit for storing management data about said transport container;

a transmitting means on the side of said host apparatus for transmitting management information for managing said transport container to said transport container;

a receiving means on the side of said host apparatus for receiving information about said transport container from said transport container; and

a position collating means on the side of said host apparatus for collating said present position information, which is attached to said destination arrival information which is received from said transport container by said receiving means on the side of said host apparatus, with said position information about the destination stored as the management data in said central storage means to determine whether these two position information are in agreement;

if said position collating means on the side of said host apparatus determines that said present position information agrees with said position information about the destination, said transmitting means on the side of said host apparatus transmitting password information for collation necessary when said key mechanism of said transport container is unlocked as said management information to said transport container.

31. The transport container managing system according to claim 30, wherein said transport container further comprises an alarming means for generating an alarm if said password information collating means determines that said password information for collation disagrees with said input password information.

32. The transport container managing system according to claim 31, wherein in said transport container, if said password information collating means determines that said password information for collation disagrees with said input password information, said transmitting means transmits abnormal information to said host apparatus;

said host apparatus further comprises a reporting means for reporting an emergency to a department concerned therewith when said receiving means on the side of said host apparatus receives said alarm information from said transport container.

33. The transport container managing system according to claim 18, wherein said transmitting means on the side of said host apparatus transmits, on occasion, a position confirm command demanding a transmission of position information about said transport container during transportation as said management information to said transport container;

in said transport container, when said receiving means receives said position confirm command as said management information, said transmitting means transmits present position information about said transport container during transportation which is detected by said position detecting means to said host apparatus.

34. The transport container managing system according to claim 27, wherein said transmitting means on the side of said host apparatus transmits, on occasion, a position confirm command demanding a transmission of position information about said transport container during transportation as said management information to said transport container;

in said transport container, when said receiving means receives said position confirm command as said management information, said transmitting means transmits present position information about said transport container during transportation which is detected by said position detecting means to said host apparatus.

35. The transport container managing system according to claim 24 further comprising an alarming means for generating an alarm if said password information collating means determines that said password information for collation disagrees with said input password information.

36. The transport container managing system according to claim 30 further comprising an alarming means for generating an alarm if said password information collating means determines that said password information for collation disagrees with said input password information.

37. The transport container managing system according to claim 24 further comprising a transmitting means for transmitting alarm information to said host apparatus if said password information collating means determines that said password information for collation disagrees with said input password information.

38. The transport container managing system according to claim 30 further comprising a transmitting means for transmitting alarm information to said host apparatus if said password information collating means determines that said password information for collation disagrees with said input password information.

39. The transport container managing system according to claim 24, wherein said password information for collation is a specific password; and

said password information input means is a pin pad operated to input the password as said input password information.

40. The transport container managing system according to claim 30, wherein said password information for collation is a specific password; and

said password information input means is a pin pad operated to input the password as said input password information.

41. The transport container managing system according to claim 24 wherein said password information for collation is a specific password, and said password information input means is a magnetic card reader for reading said password information as said input password information from a magnetic card in which said password information is stored in advance.

42. The transport container managing system according to claim 30, wherein said password information for collation is a specific password, and said password information input means is a magnetic card reader for reading said password information as said input password information from a magnetic card in which said password information is stored in advance.

43. The transport container managing system according to claim 24, wherein said password information for collation is a specific password, and said password information input means is an IC card reader for reading said password information as said input password information from an IC card in which said password information is stored in advance.

44. The transport container managing system according to claim 30, wherein said password information for collation is a specific password, and said password information input means is an IC card reader for reading said password information as said input password information from an IC card in which said password information is stored in advance.

45. The transport container managing system according to claim 24, wherein said password information for collation is fingerprint data of a specific unlocking operator who unlocks said key mechanism, and said password information input means is a fingerprint reading apparatus for reading a fingerprint of the unlocking operator as said input password information.

46. The transport container managing system according to claim 30, wherein said password information for collation is fingerprint data of a specific unlocking operator who unlocks said key mechanism, and said password information input means is a fingerprint reading apparatus for reading a fingerprint of the unlocking operator as said input password information.

47. The transport container managing system according to claim 24, wherein said password information for collating is fingerprint data of a specific unlocking operator who unlocks said key mechanism, and said password information input means is an IC card reader for reading said fingerprint data as said input password information from an IC card in which the fingerprint data of the unlocking operator is stored in advance.

48. The transport container managing system according to claim 30, wherein said password information for collating is fingerprint data of a specific unlocking operator who unlocks said key mechanism, and said password information input means is an IC card reader for reading said fingerprint data as said input password information from an IC card in which the fingerprint data of the unlocking operator is stored in advance.

49. The transport container managing system according to claim 24, wherein said password information for collation is voice data of a specific unlocking operator who unlocks said key mechanism, and said password information input means is a voice input apparatus for picking up a voice of the unlocking operator as said input password information.

50. The transport container managing system according to claim 30, wherein said password information for collation is voice data of a specific unlocking operator who unlocks said key mechanism, and said password information input means is a voice input apparatus for picking up a voice of the unlocking operator as said input password information.

51. The transport container managing system according to claim 24, wherein said password information for collation is voice data of a specific unlocking operator who unlocks said key mechanism, and said password information input means is an IC card reader for reading said voice data as said input password information from an IC card in which the voice data of the unlocking operator is stored in advance.

52. The transport container managing system according to claim 30, wherein said password information for collation is voice data of a specific unlocking operator who unlocks said key mechanism, and said password information input means is an IC card reader for reading said voice data as said input password information from an IC card in which the voice data of the unlocking operator is stored in advance.

53. A transport container closed when goods are housed therein and locked by a key mechanism upon transportation comprising:

a key driving means for switching a lock/unlock condition of said key mechanism by driving said key mechanism;

a position detecting means for detecting a present position;

a transmitting means for transmitting present position information detected by said position detecting means to a host apparatus;

a receiving means for receiving an unlock command giving a direction to unlock said key mechanism from said host apparatus after said host apparatus confirms that said transport container is at a position of a destination on the basis of the present position information transmitted from said transmitting means upon an operation to unlock said key mechanism;

an unlock command collating means for determining whether the unlock command from said host apparatus received by said receiving means is correct; and

an unlock directing means for directing said key driving means to switch said key mechanism to an unlock condition if said unlock command collating means determines that said unlock command is correct.

54. A transport container closed when goods are housed therein and locked by a key mechanism upon transportation comprising:

a key driving means for switching a lock/unlock condition of said key mechanism by driving said key mechanism;

a position detecting means for detecting a present position;

a transmitting means for transmitting present position information detected by said position detecting means to a host apparatus;

a receiving means for receiving password information for collation necessary when said key mechanism is unlocked from said host apparatus after said host apparatus confirms that said transport container is at a position of a destination on the basis of the present position information transmitted from said transmitting means;

a password information input means for inputting password information for unlocking said key mechanism;

a password information collating means for collating said password information for collation received by said receiving means with said input password information input through said password information input means upon an operation to unlock said key mechanism to determine whether these two password information are in agreement; and

an unlock directing means for directing said key driving means to switch said key mechanism to the unlock condition if said password information collating means determines that said password information for collation agrees with said input password information.

55. A transport container closed in a condition where goods are housed therein and locked by a key mechanism upon transportation comprising:

a storage means for storing, in advance, position information about a destination of the transport container where said key mechanism is unlocked;

a position detecting means for detecting a present position;

a position collating means for collating said position information, about the destination of the transport container which is stored in said storage means, with present position information detected by said position detecting means to determine whether these two position information are in agreement upon an operation to unlock said key mechanism; and

an alarming means for generating an alarm if said position collating means determines that the position information about the destination of the transport container disagrees with said present position Information.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a transport container and a transport container managing system suitable for use for security management in a transportation service by a banking facility, delivery service company, etc. when valuable goods such as money or articles are transported.

In general, when a banking facility transports cash, the cash is housed in a safe, and the safe is locked and loaded on a cash transporting vehicle to be transported to a predetermined place. In a transportation business such as a delivery service, transported goods are loaded on a delivery van to be transported to a predetermined place, as well.

In recent years, there has been a lot of crime as represented by an attack or a robbery on a cash transporting vehicle on duty during transportation of cash by a banking facility or a delivery van on duty during transportation of goods by a delivery service company. For this, there is a demand for an establishment of a transport container managing system as a security managing system for transported goods during transportation thereof by a vehicle on duty.

In a general transport container managing system applied to transportation of cash, when cash is loaded on a cash transporting vehicle and the vehicle comes and goes between the banking facilities to transport the cash, a route for the transportation or a time of the transportation is altered indeterminately, and in addition information about it is kept secret.

Further, during the transportation or at an arrival, a confirmation is made with a security guard company on a radio or the like and in addition the door of the cash transporting vehicle and the case are locked, thereby ensuring security for the transportation service.

However, only a physical lock is provided in the door of a cash transporting vehicle or a case in a general transport container managing system. Only the guard (a transporter while guarding) or the bank clerk possesses a key for the lock in order to ensure security. If someone hijacks the cash transporting vehicle or robbers the case on the vehicle, the lock can be easily opened.

In addition, there has been no way of tracking the cash transporting vehicle. If the cash transporting vehicle is hijacked, it is impossible to locate the cash transport vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To overcome the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a transport container and a transport container managing system in which a means for detecting position information about transported goods is provided and an unlocking control is performed under a predetermined condition so as to improve the security thereof.

The present invention therefore provides a transport container closed when goods are housed therein and locked by a key mechanism upon transportation comprising a key driving means for switching a lock/unlock condition of said key mechanism by driving said key mechanism, a storage means for storing in advance position information about a destination of the transportation where said key mechanism is unlocked, a position detecting means for detecting a present position, a position collating means for collating said position information about the destination of the transportation stored in said storage means with present position information detected by said position detecting means to determine whether these two sorts of position information are in agreement upon an operation to unlock said key mechanism, and an unlock directing means for directing said key driving means to unlock said key mechanism if said position collating means determines that the position information of the destination of the transportation agrees with said present position information.

The transport container of this invention may have a transmitting means for transmitting destination arrival information, which is attached to said present position information, to a host apparatus if said position collating means determines that the position information of the destination of the transportation agrees with said present position information.

The transport container of this invention may have an alarming means for generating an alarm and a transmitting means for transmitting alarm information to the host apparatus if said position collating means determines that the position information of the destination of the transportation disagrees with said present position information.

The transport container of this invention may have a receiving means for receiving said position information of the destination of the transportation from the host apparatus before a start of the transportation, and said position information of the destination of the transportation from said host apparatus received by said receiving means may be entered and stored in said storage means.

The transport container of this invention may have a receiving means for receiving an unlock command giving a direction to unlock said key mechanism from said host apparatus upon an operation to unlock said key mechanism, and an unlock command collating means for determining whether the unlock command from said host apparatus received by said receiving means is correct, and said unlock directing means may direct said key driving means to unlock said key mechanism if said position collating means determines that said position information of the destination of the transportation agrees with said present position information and said unlock command collating means determines that said unlock command is correct.

The transport container of this invention may have a transmitting means for transmitting abnormal information to said host apparatus if said unlock command collating means determines that said unlock command is incorrect.

The transport container of this invention may have a receiving means for receiving password information for collation necessary when said key mechanism is unlocked from the host apparatus, a password information input means for inputting password information for unlocking said key mechanism, and a password information collating means for collating said password information for collation received by said receiving means with input password information input through said password information input means to determine whether these two sorts of password information are in agreement upon an operation to unlock said key mechanism, and said unlock directing means may direct said key driving means to unlock said key mechanism if said position collating means determines that said position information of the destination of the transportation agrees with said present position information, and said password information collating means determines that said password information for collation agrees with said input password information.

The transport container of this invention may have an alarming means for generating an alarm and a transmitting means for transmitting alarm information to said host apparatus if said password information collating means determines that said password information for collation disagrees with said input password information.

According to the transport container of this invention, the position detecting means detects a present position of the transported goods, and the unlock directing means directs the key mechanism to be unlocked if the position collating means concludes there is agreement in the position information as a result of a collation. If the judgement by the position collating means results in a disagreement, an alarm may be generated, and in addition alarm information may be transmitted to the host apparatus. In consequence, it is impossible to unlock the key mechanism unless the position information of the destination of the transportation stored in advance and a place where the key mechanism is unlocked agree with each other. If someone fraudulently obtains the transported goods and tries to open the lock, it is possible to prevent it. This invention may therefore improve the security of the transported goods.

According to the transport container of this invention, it is impossible to unlock the key mechanism of the transport container without receiving an unlock command from the host apparatus. If the position detecting means fails, the security of the transported. goods may be ensured. According to this invention, there are set conditions required to unlock the key mechanism that position collation performed at both the transport container and the host apparatus result in agreement and a collation of the unlock command from the host apparatus results in the unlock command being correct. This invention may therefore increase not only a reliability of a determination of a position collation but also a reliability of the security of the transported goods because the double conditions required to unlock the key mechanism are set.

According to the transport container of this invention, it is impossible to unlock the key mechanism of the transport container without receiving password information from the host apparatus. Even if the position detecting means fails, the security of the transported goods may be ensured. According to this invention, there are set conditions required to unlock the key mechanism that double position collations performed by both the transport container and the host apparatus result in agreement and a collation of the password information from the host apparatus results in an agreement. This invention may therefore increase not only a reliability of a determination of a position collation but also a reliability of the security of the transported goods because the double conditions required to unlock the key mechanism are set.

The present invention also provides a transport container managing system having a transport container closed in a condition where goods are housed therein and locked by a key mechanism upon transportation and a host apparatus for managing said transport container comprising said transport container comprising a receiving means for receiving management information from said host apparatus, a transmitting means for transmitting information about said transport container to said host apparatus, a key driving means for switching a lock/unlock condition of said key mechanism by driving said key mechanism, a storage means for storing, in advance, position information about a destination of a transportation of said transport container where said key mechanism is unlocked, a position detecting means for detecting a present position of said transport container, a position collating means for collating said position information of the destination of the transportation stored in said storage means with present position information detected by said position detecting means upon an operation to unlock said key mechanism to determine whether these two sorts of position information are in agreement, an unlock directing means for directing said key driving means to unlock said key mechanism if said position collating means determines that said position information of the destination of the transportation agrees with said present position information, said host apparatus comprising a central storage means for storing management data for said transport container, a transmitting means on a side of said host apparatus for transmitting management information for managing said transport container to said transport container, and a receiving means on the side of said host apparatus for receiving information about said transport container from said transport container, before transportation of said transport container starts, said transmitting means on the side of said host apparatus of said host apparatus transmitting said position information about the destination about the transportation stored as said management data in said central storage means to said transport container as said management information, in said transport container, said position information about the destination of the transportation received as said management information from said host apparatus by said receiving means being entered and stored in said storage means of said transport container, in said transport container, said transmitting means transmitting destination arrival information, which is attached to said present position information, to said host apparatus upon an operation to unlock said key mechanism if said position collating means determines that said position information about the destination of the transportation agrees with said present position information.

In the transport container managing system of this invention, said transport container may have an alarming means for generating an alarm if said position collating means determines that said position information about the destination of the transportation disagrees with said present position information.

In the transport container of the transport container managing system of this invention, said transmitting means transmits alarm information to said host apparatus if said position collating means determines that said position information about the destination of the transportation disagrees with said present position information. On the other hand, said host apparatus may have a reporting means for reporting an occurrence of an emergency to a department concerned therewith when said receiving means on the side of said host apparatus receives said alarm information from said transport container.

In the transport container managing system of this invention, said host apparatus may have a position collating means on the side of said host apparatus for collating said present position information, which is attached to said destination arrival information received from said transport container by said receiving means on the side of said host apparatus, with said position information of the destination of the transportation stored as said management data in said central storage means to determine whether these two sorts of position information are in agreement. If said position collating means on the side of said host apparatus determines that said present position information agrees with said position information of the destination of the transportation, said transmitting means on the side of said host apparatus transmits an unlock command giving a direction to unlock said key mechanism of said transport container as said management information to said transport container. Said transport container may have an unlock command collating means for determining whether said unlock command received as said management information from said host apparatus by said receiving means on the side of said host apparatus is correct. If said position collating means determines that said position information about the destination of the transportation agrees with said present position information, and said unlock command collating means determines that said unlock command is correct, said unlock directing means may direct said key driving means to unlock said key mechanism.

In said transport container of the transport container managing system of this invention, if said unlock command collating means determines that said unlock command is incorrect, said transmitting means transmits abnormal information to said host apparatus. Said host apparatus may have a counting means for counting the number of times of receipt of said abnormal information from said transport container by said receiving means on the side of said host apparatus, a comparing means for comparing a counted value obtained by said counting means with a predetermined value, and a reporting means for reporting an occurrence of an emergency to a department concerned therewith if said comparing means determines that said counted value has reached said predetermined value. If said comparing means determines that said counted value is below said predetermined value, said transmitting means on the side of said host apparatus may transmit again the unlock command giving a direction to unlock said key mechanism as said management information to said transport container.

In this case, in said host apparatus, if said comparing means determines that said counted value has reached said predetermined value, said transmitting means on the side of said host apparatus transmits an alarm command directing an alarm operation as said management information to said transport container. Said transport container may have an alarming means for generating an alarm if said receiving means receives said alarm command as said management information from said host apparatus.

In the transport container managing system of this invention, said host apparatus may have a position collating means on the side of said host apparatus for collating said present position information, which is attached to said destination arrival information received from said transport container by said receiving means on the side of said host apparatus, with said position information about the destination of the transportation stored as said management data in said central storage means to determine whether these two sorts of position information are in agreement. If said position collating means on the side of said host apparatus determines that said present position information agrees with said position information of the destination of the transportation, said transmitting means on the side of said host apparatus transmits password information for collation necessary when said key mechanism of said transport container is unlocked as said management information to said transport container. Said transport container may have a password information input means for inputting password information for unlocking said key mechanism, and a password information collating means for collating said password information for collation received as said management information from said host apparatus by said receiving means with input password information input through said password information input means upon an operation to unlock said key mechanism to determine whether these two sorts of password information are in agreement. If said position collating means determines that said position information of the destination of the transportation agrees with said present position information and said password information collating means determines that said password information for collation agrees with said input password information, said unlock directing means may direct said key driving means to unlock said key mechanism.

In this case, said transport container may have an alarming means for generating an alarm if said password information collating means determines that said password information for collation disagrees with said input password information. In said transport container, if said password information collating means determines that said password information for collation disagrees with said input password information, said transmitting means transmits abnormal information to said host apparatus. On the other hand, said host apparatus may have a reporting means for reporting an occurrence of an emergency to a department concerned therewith when said receiving means on the side of said host apparatus receives said alarm information from said transport container.

According to the transport container managing system of this invention, the position detecting means detects a present position of the transported goods, and the unlock directing means directs to unlock the key mechanism if the position collating means concludes an agreement of the position information as a result of a collation. If the determination by the position collating means results in a disagreement, an alarm may be generated, and in addition alarm information may be transmitted to the host apparatus. In consequence, it is impossible to unlock the key mechanism unless the position information of the destination of the transportation, which is stored in advance, and a place where the key mechanism is unlocked agree with each other. If someone fraudulently obtains the transported goods and tries to open the lock, it is possible to prevent it. This invention may therefore improve the security of the transported goods.

According to the transport container managing system of this invention, it is impossible to unlock the key mechanism of the transport container without receiving an unlock command from the host apparatus. If the position detecting means fails, the security of the transported goods may be ensured. According to this invention, there are set conditions required to unlock the key mechanism that position collations performed doubly on the sides of both the transport container and the host apparatus result in agreements and a collation of the unlock command from the host apparatus results in the unlock command being correct. This invention may therefore increase not only a reliability of a determination of a position collation but also increase a reliability of the security of the transported goods because double conditions are required to unlock the key mechanism.

According to the transport container managing system of this invention, it is impossible to unlock the key mechanism of the transport container without receiving password information from the host apparatus. Even if the position detecting means fails, the security of the transported goods may be ensured. According to this invention, there are set conditions required to unlock the key mechanism such that double position collations performed on the sides of both the transport container and the host apparatus result in agreements and a collation of the password information from the host apparatus results in an agreement. This invention may therefore increase not only the reliability of a determination about a position collation but also a reliability of the security of the transported goods because double conditions are required to unlock the key mechanism.

The present invention also provides a transport container managing system having a transport container closed in a condition where goods are housed therein and locked by a key mechanism upon transportation and a host apparatus for managing said transport container comprising said transport container comprising a receiving means for receiving management information from said host apparatus, a transmitting means for transmitting information about said transport container to said host apparatus. a key driving means for switching an lock/unlock condition of said key mechanism by driving said key mechanism, a position detecting means for detecting a present position of said transport container, an unlock command collating means for determining whether an unlock command is correct when said receiving means receives the unlock command giving a direction to unlock said key mechanism from said host apparatus, an unlock directing means for directing said key driving means to unlock said key mechanism if said unlock command collating means determines that said unlock command is correct, when said transport container gets to a destination, said transmitting means transmitting destination arrival information, which is attached to said present position information detected by said position detecting means, to said host apparatus, said host apparatus comprising a central storage means for storing management data about said transport container, a transmitting means on the side of said host apparatus for transmitting management information for managing said transport container to said transport container, a receiving means on the side of said host apparatus for receiving information about said transport container from said transport container, and a position collating means on the side of said host apparatus for collating said present position information, which is attached to said destination arrival information received from said transport container by said receiving means on the side of said host apparatus, with said position information about the destination of the transportation stored as said management data in said central storage means to determine whether these two sorts of position information are in agreement, if said position collating means on the side of said host apparatus determines that said present position information agrees with said position information about the destination of the transportation, said transmitting means on the side of said host apparatus transmitting an unlock command giving a direction to unlock said key mechanism of said transport container as said management information to said transport container.

In said transport container of the transport container managing system of this invention, if said unlock command collating means determines that said unlock command is incorrect, said transmitting means transmits abnormal information to said host apparatus. Said host apparatus may have a counting means for counting the number of times of receipt of said abnormal information from said transport container by said receiving means on the side of said host apparatus, a comparing means for comparing a counted value obtained by said counting means with a predetermined value, and a reporting means for reporting an occurrence of an emergency to a department concerned therewith if said comparing means determines that said counted value has reached said predetermined value. If said comparing means determines that said counted value is below said predetermined value, said transmitting means on the side of said host apparatus transmits again the unlock command giving a direction to unlock said key mechanism as said management information to said transport container.

In said host apparatus of the transport container managing system of this invention, if said comparing means determines that said counted value has reached said predetermined value, said transmitting means on the side of said host apparatus transmits an alarm command directing an alarming operation as said management information to said transport container. Said transport container may have an alarming means for generating an alarm if said receiving means receives said alarm command as said management information from said host apparatus.

According to the transport container managing system of this invention, it is impossible to unlock the key mechanism without receiving the correct unlock command from the host apparatus. It is thus possible to manage command information used to unlock the key mechanism for each transport container, and ensure the security of the transported goods even if the position detecting means fails, for example.

According to the transport container managing system of this invention, the transport container may receive the unlock command from the host apparatus for a predetermined number of times until a correct unlock command is input. If a correct unlock command is input before the number of times of receipt of the unlock command reaches a predetermined number of times, it is possible to unlock the key mechanism. It is thus possible to prevent the host apparatus and the alarming means of the transport container from erroneously giving an emergency alarm.

The present invention also provides a transport container managing system having a transport container closed when where goods are housed therein and locked by a key mechanism upon transportation and a host apparatus for managing said transport container comprising said transport container comprising a receiving means for receiving management information from said host apparatus, transmitting means for transmitting information about said transport container to said host apparatus, a key driving means for switching a lock/unlock condition of said key mechanism by driving said key mechanism, a position detecting means for detecting a present position of said transport container, a password information input means for inputting password information for unlocking said key mechanism, a password information collating means for collating password information for collation with input password information input from said password information input means when said receiving means receives said password information for collation necessary when said key mechanism is unlocked from said host apparatus to determine whether these two sorts of password information are in agreement, an unlock directing means for directing said key driving means to unlock said key mechanism if said password information collating means determines that said password information for collation agrees with said input password information, when said transport container gets to a destination, said transmitting means transmitting destination arrival information, which is attached to said present position information detected by said position detecting means, to said host apparatus, said host apparatus comprising a central storage unit for storing management data of said transport container, a transmitting means on the side of said host apparatus for transmitting management information for managing said transport container to said transport container, a receiving means on the side of said host apparatus for receiving information about said transport container from said transport container, and a position collating means on the side of said host apparatus for collating said present position information attached to said destination arrival information received from said transport container by said receiving means on the side of said host apparatus with said position information about the destination of the transportation stored as the management data in said central storage means to determine whether these two sorts of information are in agreement, if said position collating means on the side of said host apparatus determines that said present position information agrees with said position information about the destination of the transportation, said transmitting means on the side of said host apparatus transmitting password information for collation necessary when said key mechanism of said transport container is unlocked as said management information to said transport container.

In the transport container managing system of this invention, said transport container may have an alarming means for generating an alarm if said password information collating means determines that said password information for collation disagrees with said input password information.

In said transport container of the transport container managing system of this invention, if said password information collating means determines that said password information for collation disagrees with said input password information, said transmitting means transmits abnormal information to said host apparatus. On the other hand, said host apparatus may have a reporting means for reporting an occurrence of an emergency to a department concerned therewith if said receiving means on the side of said host apparatus receives said alarm information from said transport container.

In the transport container managing system of this invention, the transmitting means on the side of the host apparatus may transmit, on occasion, a position confirm command demanding a transmission of position information about the transport container during transportation as management information to the transport container. In the transport container, when the receiving means receives the position confirm command as the management information, the transmitting means may transmit present position information about the transport container during the transportation detected by the position detecting means to the host apparatus.

The transport container managing system of this invention may have an alarming means for generating an alarm and a transmitting means for transmitting alarm information to said host apparatus if said password information collating means determines that said password information for collation disagrees with said input password information.

Accordingly, the transport container managing system of this invention may perform an unlocking control on the key mechanism on a condition that a collation of the password information entered in advance with the password information input from the transport container results in an agreement. It is therefore possible to manage the password information used to unlock the key mechanism for each transport container. It is also possible to ensure the security of the transported goods even if the position detecting means fails since the key mechanism of the transport container cannot be unlocked without receiving the password information from the host apparatus.

According to the transport container managing system of this invention, the host apparatus may recognize present position information of the transport container during a transportation. If the transport container encounters a robbery, it is thus possible to detect a position of the stolen transport container.

The present invention also provide a transport container which is closed when goods are housed therein and locked by a key mechanism upon transportation comprising a key driving means for switching a lock/unlock condition of said key mechanism by driving said key mechanism, a receiving means for receiving an unlock command giving a direction to unlock said key mechanism from said host apparatus upon an operation to unlock said key mechanism, and an unlock command collating means for determining whether the unlock command from said host apparatus received by said receiving means is correct, and an unlock directing means for directing said key driving means to unlock said key mechanism if said unlock command collating means determines that said unlock command is correct.

According to the transport container of this invention, the receiving means of the transport container receives an unlock command or password information for collation from the host apparatus. On a condition required to unlock the key mechanism such that the unlock command is correct or a collation of the password information for collation results in an agreement, the security of the transported goods may be, at least, ensured. According to the above embodiment, there is no need to enter, in advance, position information about a destination of a transportation.

The present invention also provide a transport container which is closed when goods are housed therein and locked by a key mechanism upon transportation comprising a key driving means for switching a lock/unlock condition of said key mechanism by driving said key mechanism, a receiving means for receiving password information for collation necessary when said key mechanism is unlocked from a host apparatus, a password information input means for inputting password information for unlocking said key mechanism, a password information collating means for collating said password information for collation received by said receiving means with said input password information input through said password information input means upon an operation to unlock said key mechanism to determine whether these two sorts of password information are in agreement, and an unlock directing means for directing said key driving means to unlock said key mechanism if said password information collating means determines that said password information for collation agrees with said input password information.

According to the transport container of this invention, the receiving means of the transport container receives an unlock command or password information for collation. On a condition required to unlock the key mechanism such that a the unlock command is correct or a collation of the password information for collation results in an agreement, the security of the transported goods may be, at least, ensured. According to this embodiment, there is no need to enter, in advance, position information about a destination of transportation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first aspect of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a second aspect of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a third aspect of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a fourth aspect of this invention;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a fifth aspect of this invention;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a sixth aspect of this invention;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram functionally showing a transport container managing system according to a first embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram block diagram of a security managing system applied to the first embodiment of this invention;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are block diagrams showing hardware structures of a mobile safe according to the first embodiment of this invention;

FIGS. 11 and 12 are flowcharts for illustrating an operation of the first embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart for illustrating an operation of the second embodiment of this invention;

FIGS. 14 through 18 are block diagrams showing hardware structures of mobile safes according to a third embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 19 is a flowchart for illustrating an operation of the third embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 20 is a flowchart for illustrating an operation of a fourth embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 21 is a flowchart for illustrating an operation of a fifth embodiment of this invention; and

FIGS. 22 and 23 are block diagrams showing hardware structures of mobile safes according to other embodiments of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(a) Description of Aspect of the Invention

Now, a description will be made of aspects of this invention referring to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first aspect of this invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 7 denotes a transport container. The transport container is closed when goods are housed in the transport container 7 and locked by a key mechanism 1 upon transportation.

The transport container 7 has a key driving means 2, a storage means 3, a position detecting means 4, a position collating means 5 and an unlock directing means 6, in addition to the key mechanism 1.

The key driving means 2 switches a lock/unlock condition of the key mechanism 1 by driving the key mechanism 1. The storage means 3 stores, in advance, position information about a destination of a transportation where the key mechanism 1 is unlocked. The position detecting means 4 detects a present position.

The position collating means 5 collates the position information of the destination of the transportation stored in the storage means 3 with present position information detected by the position detecting means 4 to determine whether these two sorts of position information are in agreement or not upon an operation to unlock the key mechanism 1.

The unlock directing means 6 directs the key driving means 2 to unlock the key mechanism 1 if the position collating means 5 determines that the position information of the destination of the transportation agrees with the present position information.

The transport container 7 may include a transmitting means for transmitting destination arrival information, which is attached to the present position information, to a host apparatus if the position collating means 5 determines that the position information of the destination of the transportation agrees with the present position information.

The transport container 7 may also include an alarming means 9A for generating an alarm and a transmitting means 9B for transmitting alarm information to the host apparatus if the position collating means 5 determines that the position information of the destination of the transportation disagrees with the present position information.

The transport container 7 may also include a receiving means for receiving the position information of the destination of the transportation from the host apparatus before a start of the transportation. The position information of the destination of the transportation received by the receiving means from the host apparatus may be entered and stored in the storage means 3.

The transport container 7 has the receiving means for receiving an unlock command giving a direction to unlock the key mechanism 1 from the host apparatus upon an operation to unlock the key mechanism 1, and an unlock command collating means for determining whether the unlock command received from the host apparatus by the receiving means is correct or not. If the position collating means 5 determines that the position information of the destination of the transportation agrees with the present position information, and the unlock command collating means determines or judges that the unlock command is correct, the unlock directing means 6 directs the key driving means 2 to unlock the key mechanism 1. The transport container 7 may include a transmitting means for transmitting abnormal information to the host apparatus if the unlock command is determined to be incorrect.

If the transport container 7 includes a receiving means for receiving password information for collation necessary when the key mechanism 1 is unlocked from the host apparatus, a password information input means for inputting password information for unlocking the key mechanism 1, and a password information collating means for collating the password information for collation received by the receiving means with the password information input through the password information input means upon an operation to unlock the key mechanism 1 to determine whether these two sorts of password information are in agreement or not, the unlock directing means 6 directs the key driving means 2 to unlock the key mechanism 1 if the position collating means 5 determines that the position information of the destination of the transportation agrees with the present position information and the password information collating means determines that the password information for collation agrees with the input password information.

The transport container 7 may include an alarming means for generating an alarm and a transmitting means for transmitting alarm information to the host apparatus, if the password collating means determines that the password information for collation does not agree with the input password information.

In the above transport container 7 shown in FIG. 1, the unlock directing means 6 directs the key driving means 2 to unlock the key mechanism 1 if the position collating means 5 collates the position information of the destination of the transportation stored in the storage means 3 with the present position information detected by the position detecting means 4 to determine whether these two sorts of position information are in agreement or not upon an operation to unlock the key mechanism 1, and concludes that the position information of the destination of the transportation agrees with the present position information. Further, the transmitting means may transmit the destination arrival information which is attached to the present position information to the host apparatus.

If the position collating means 5 determines that the position information of the destination of the transportation does not agree with the present position information, the alarming means 9A may generate an alarm and the transmitting means 9B may transmit alarm information to the host apparatus.

The receiving means may receive the position information of the destination of the transportation from the host apparatus before a start of the transportation. The position information of the destination of the transportation from the host apparatus received by the receiving means may be entered and stored in the storage means 3.

The unlock command collating means determines whether an unlock command received from the host apparatus through the receiving means is correct or not. If the position collating means 5 determines that the position information of the destination of the transportation agrees with the present position information, and the unlock command collating means determines that the unlock command is correct, the unlock directing means 6 directs the key driving means 2 to unlock the key mechanism 1. If the unlock command is determine to be incorrect, the transmitting means may transmit abnormal information to the host apparatus.

The password information collating means collates the password information for collation received by the receiving means with the input password information input through the password information input means upon an operation to unlock the key mechanism 1 to determine whether these two sorts of password information are in agreement or not. If the position collating means 5 determines that the position information of the destination of the transportation agrees with the present position information, and the password information collating means determines that the password information for collation agrees with the input password information, the unlock directing means 6 directs the key driving means 2 to unlock the key mechanism 1.

If the password information collating means determines that the password information for collation does not agree with the input password information, the alarming means may generate an alarm, and in addition the transmitting means may transmit alarm information to the host apparatus.

According to the transport container of this invention, the position detecting means 4 detects a present position of the transported goods, and the unlock directing means 6 directs to unlock the key mechanism 1 if the position collating means 5 concludes an agreement of the position information as a result of a collation. If the determination by the position collating means 5 results in a disagreement, an alarm may be generated, and in addition alarm information may be transmitted to the host apparatus. In consequence, it is impossible to unlock the key mechanism 1 unless the position information of the destination of the transportation which is stored in advance and a place where the key mechanism 1 is unlocked agree with each other. If someone fraudulently obtains the transported goods and tries to open the lock, it is possible to prevent it. This invention may therefore improve the security of the transported goods.

According to the transport container of this invention, it is impossible to unlock the key mechanism 1 of the transport container without receiving an unlock command from the host apparatus. If the position detecting means 4 fails, the security of the transported goods may be ensured. According to this invention, there are set conditions required to unlock the key mechanism 1 that position collations, performed doubly on the sides of both the transport container and the host apparatus, result in agreements and a collation of the unlock command from the host apparatus results in that the unlock command is correct. This invention may therefore increase not only a reliability of a determination of a position collation but also a reliability of the security of the transported goods because double conditions are required to unlock the key mechanism 1.

According to the transport container of this invention, it is impossible to unlock the key mechanism 1 of the transport container without receiving password information from the host apparatus. If the position detecting means 4 fails, the security of the transported goods may be ensured. According to this invention, there are set conditions required to unlock the key mechanism 1 that double position collations performed on the sides of both the transport container and the host apparatus result in agreements and a collation of the password information from the host apparatus results in an agreement. This invention may therefore increase not only a reliability of a determining of a position collation but also a reliability of the security of the transported goods because double conditions are required to unlock the key mechanism 1.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a second aspect of this invention. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 8A denotes a transport container managing system. The transport container managing system 8A has a transport container 10 which is closed when goods are housed therein and locked by a key mechanism 11 upon transportation, and a host apparatus 20 for managing the transport container 10.

The transport container 10 has a receiving means 17, a transmitting means 18, a key driving means 12, a storage means 13, a position detecting means 14, a position collating means 15 and an unlock directing means 16, in addition to the key mechanism 11. On the other hand, the host apparatus 20 has a central storage means 20, a transmitting means on the side of the host apparatus 22, and a receiving means on the side of the host apparatus 23.

The receiving means 17 receives management information from the host apparatus 20. The transmitting means 18 transmits information about the transport container 10 to the host apparatus 20.

The key driving means 12 drives the key mechanism 11 to switch a lock/unlock condition of the key mechanism 11. The storage means 13 stores, in advance, position information about a destination of the transport container 10 where the key mechanism 11 is unlocked. The position detecting means 14 detects a present position of the transport container 10.

The position collating means 15 collates the position information of the destination of the transportation stored in the storage means 13 with the present position information detected by the position detecting means 14 to determine whether these two sorts of position information are in agreement or not upon an operation to unlock the key mechanism 11.

The unlock directing means 16 directs the key driving means 12 to unlock the key mechanism 11 if the position collating means 15 determines that the position information of the destination of the transportation and the present position information are in agreement.

The central storage means 21 of the host apparatus 20 stores management data for the transport container 10. The transmitting means on the side of the host apparatus 22 transmits the management information for managing the transport container 10 to the transport container 10. The receiving means on the side of the host apparatus 23 receives information about the transport container 10 from the transport container 10.

Before a start of transportation of the transport container 10, the transmitting means on the side of the host apparatus 22 of the host apparatus 20 transmits the position information about the destination of the transportation, which is stored as management data in the central storage means 21, to the transport container 10 as the management information, and, in the transport container 10, the position information about the destination of the transportation received by the receiving means 17 as the management information from the host apparatus 20 is entered and stored in the storage means 13 of the transport container 10. In the transport container 10, if the position collating means 15 determines that the position information of the destination of the transportation and the present position information are in agreement upon an operation to unlock the key mechanism 11, the transmitting means 18 transmits destination arrival information, which is attached to the present position information, to the host apparatus 20.

The transport container 10 may further have an alarming means 19 for generating an alarm if the position collating means 15 determines that the position information of the destination of the transportation and the present position information are in disagreement.

In the transport container 10, the transmitting means 18 transmits alarm information to the host apparatus if the position collating means 15 determines that the position information of the destination of the transportation and the present position information are in disagreement. On the other hand, the host apparatus 20 may have a reporting means 25 for reporting an occurrence of an emergency to a department concerned therewith if the receiving means on the side of the host apparatus 23 receives the alarm information from the transport container 10.

The host apparatus 20 has the position collating means on the side of the host apparatus for collating the present position information attached to the destination arrival information received from the transport container 10 by the receiving means on the side of the host apparatus 23 with the position information of the destination of the transportation stored as the management data in the central storage means 21 to determine whether these two sorts of position information are in agreement or not. If the position collating means on the side of the host apparatus determines that the present position information and the position information of the destination of the transportation are in agreement, the transmitting means on the side of the host apparatus 22 transmits an unlock command giving a direction to unlock the key mechanism 11 of the transport container 10 as the management information to the transport container 10. The transport container 10 has the unlock command collating means for determining whether the unlock command received as management information from the host apparatus 20 by the receiving means 17 is correct or not. If the position collating means determines that the position information of the destination of the transportation and the present position information are in agreement and the unlock command collating means determines that the unlock command is correct, the unlock directing means 16 directs the key driving means 12 to unlock the key mechanism 11.

In this case, in the transport container 10, if the unlock command collating means determines that the unlock command is incorrect, the transmitting means 18 transmits abnormal information to the host apparatus 20. The host apparatus 20 has a counting means for counting the number of times of receipt of the abnormal information from the transport container 10 by the receiving means on the side of the host apparatus 23, and a comparing means for comparing a counted value obtained by the counting means with a predetermined value, and a reporting means for reporting an occurrence of an emergency to the department concerned therewith if the comparing means determines that the counted value has reached the predetermined value. If the comparing means determines that the counted value does not exceed the predetermined value, the transmitting means on the side of the host apparatus 22 transmits again the unlock command giving a direction to unlock the key mechanism 11 as the management information to the transport container 10.

In the above case, in the host apparatus 20, if the comparing means determines that the counted value has reached the predetermined value, the transmitting means on the side of the host apparatus 22 transmits an alarm command directing an alarming operation as the management information to the transport container 10. The transport container 10 has the alarming means for generating an alarm if the receiving means 17 receives the alarm command as the management information from the host apparatus 20.

The host apparatus 20 has the position collating means on the side of the host apparatus for collating the present position information attached to the destination arrival information received from the transport container 10 by the receiving means on the side of the host apparatus 23 with the position information of the destination of the transportation stored as the management data in the central storage means 21 to determine whether these two sorts of position information are in agreement or not. If the position collating means on the side of the host apparatus determines that the present position information and the position information of the destination of the transportation are in agreement, the transmitting means on the side of the host apparatus 22 transmits password information for collation necessary when the key mechanism 11 of the transport container 10 is unlocked as the management information to the transport container 10. The transport container 10 has the password information input means for inputting password information for unlocking the key mechanism 11, and the password information collating means for collating the password information for collation received as the management information from the host apparatus 20 by the receiving means 17 with the input password information input through the password information input means upon an operation to unlock the key mechanism 11 to determine whether these two sorts of password information are in agreement or not. If the position collating means 15 determines that the position information of the destination of the transportation and the present position information are in agreement and the password information collating means determines that the password information for collation and the input password information are in agreement, the unlock directing means 16 directs the key driving means to unlock the key mechanism 11.

In this case, the transport container 10 may have the alarming means for generating an alarm if the password information collating means determines that the password information for collation and the input password information are in disagreement. Further, the transmitting means 18 transmits abnormal information to the host apparatus 20. The host apparatus 20 may have the reporting means for reporting an occurrence of an emergency to a department concerned therewith if the receiving means on the side of the host apparatus 23 receives the alarm information from the transport container 10.

In the transport container managing system shown in FIG. 2, before a start of a transportation of the transport container 10, the transmitting means on the side of the host apparatus 22 of the host apparatus 20 transmits position information of a destination of the transportation stored as management data in the central storage means 21 to the transport container 10 as the management information. In the transport container 10, the position information of the destination of the transportation received as the management information from the host apparatus 20 by the receiving means 17 is entered and stored in the storage means 13 of the transport container 10.

Upon an operation to unlock the key mechanism 11, the position collating means 15 collates the position information of the destination of the transportation stored in the storage means 13 with present position information detected by the position detecting means 14 to determine whether these two sorts of position information are in agreement or not. If the position collating means 15 determines that the position information of the destination of the transportation and the present position information are in agreement, the unlock directing means 16 directs the key driving means 12 to unlock the key mechanism 11. The transmitting means 18 transmits destination arrival information, which is attached to the present position information, to the host apparatus 20.

If the position collating means 15 determines that the position information of the destination of the transportation and the present position information are in disagreement, the alarming means 19 of the transport container 10 may generate an alarm, and the transmitting means 18 may transmit alarm information to the host apparatus 20. When the receiving means on the side of the host apparatus 23 receives the alarm information from the transport container 10, the reporting means 25 of the host apparatus 20 may report an occurrence of an emergency to the department concerned therewith.

Further, the position collating means on the side of the host apparatus 20 collates the present position information attached to the destination arrival information received from the transport container 10 by the receiving means on the side of the host apparatus 23 with the position information of the destination of the transportation stored as the management data in the central storage means 21 to determine whether these two sorts of position information are in agreement or not. If the position collating means on the side of the host apparatus determines that the present position information agrees with the position information of the destination of the transportation, the transmitting means on the side of the host apparatus 22 transmits an unlock command giving a direction to unlock the key mechanism 11 of the transport container 10 as the management information to the transport container 10. The unlock command collating means of the transport container 10 determines whether the unlock command received as the management information from the host apparatus 20 by the receiving means 17 is correct or not. If the position collating means determines that the position information of the destination of the transportation and the present position information are in agreement and the unlock command collating means determines that the unlock command is correct, the unlock directing means 16 directs the key driving means 12 to unlock the key mechanism 11.

In this case, in the transport container 10, if the unlock command collating means determines that the unlock command is incorrect, the transmitting means 18 transmits abnormal information to the host apparatus 20. The counting means of the host apparatus 20 counts the number of times of receipt of the abnormal information from the transport container 10 by the receiving means on the side of the host apparatus 23. The comparing means compares a counted value obtained by the counting means with a predetermined value. If the comparing means determines that the counted value has reached the predetermined value, the reporting means reports an occurrence of an emergency to the department concerned therewith. If the comparing means determines that the counted value does not exceed the predetermined value, the transmitting means on the side of the host apparatus 22 transmits again the unlock command giving a direction to unlock the key mechanism 11 as management information to the transport container 10.

In the above case, if the comparing means determines that the counted value has reached the predetermined value, the transmitting means on the side of the host apparatus 22 transmits an alarm command directing an alarming operation as the management information to the transport container 10. The alarming means of the transport container 10 generates an alarm if the receiving means 17 receives the alarm command as the management information from the host apparatus 20.

The position collating means on the side of the host apparatus in the host apparatus 20 collates the present position information attached to the destination arrival information received from the transport container 10 by the receiving means on the side of the host apparatus 23 with the position information of the destination of the transportation stored as the management data in the central storage means 21 to determine whether these two sorts of position information are in agreement or not. If the position collating means on the side of the host apparatus determines that the present position information and the position information of the destination of the transportation are in agreement, the transmitting means on the side of the host apparatus 22 transmits password information for collation necessary when the key mechanism 11 of the transport container 10 is unlocked as management information to the transport container 10. Password information used to unlock the key mechanism 11 is input through the password information input means of the transport container 10. The password information collating means of the transport container 10 collates the password information for collation received as the management information from the host apparatus 20 by the receiving means 17 with the input password information input through the password information input means to determine whether these two sorts of password information are in agreement or not upon an operation to unlock the key mechanism 11. If the position collating means 15 determines that the position information of the destination of the transportation and the present position information are in agreement and the password information collating means determines that the password information for collation and the input password information are in agreement, the unlock directing means 16 directs the key driving means to unlock the key mechanism 11.

In this case, the alarming means of the transport container 10 may generate an alarm if the password information collating means determines that the password information for collation and the input password information are in disagreement. The transmitting means 18 may transmit abnormal information to the host apparatus 20. The reporting means of the host apparatus 20 may report an occurrence of an emergency to the department concerned therewith if the receiving means on the side of the host apparatus 23 receives the alarm information from the transport container 10.

According to the transport container managing system of this invention, the position detecting means 14 detects a present position of the transported goods. If the position collating means 15 determines that a position information collation results in an agreement, the unlocking directing means 16 directs to unlock the key mechanism 11. If a result is disagreement, it is possible to give an alarm and transmit alarm information to the host apparatus as well. Unless the position information of the destination of the transportation, which is stored in advance, and the place where the key mechanism 11 is unlocked agree with each other, it is impossible to unlock the key mechanism 11. If someone fraudulently obtains the transported goods and tries to open the lock, it is therefore impossible to open it. This invention may thus improve the security of the transported goods.

According to the transport container managing system of this invention, it is impossible to unlock the key mechanism 11 of the transport container 10 without receiving the unlock command from the host apparatus 20. If the position detecting means 14 fails, for example, the security of the transported goods may be ensured. According to this invention, there are provided conditions required to unlock the key mechanism 11 that a double position collation performed on the sides of both the transport container 10 and the host apparatus 20 results in an agreement and a collation of the unlock command from the host apparatus 20 results when the unlock command is correct. This invention may therefore increase not only a reliability of a determination of the position collation but also a reliability of the security of the transported goods since the conditions to unlock the key mechanism 11 are doubly set.

According to the transport container managing system of this invention, it is impossible to unlock the key mechanism 11 of the transport container 10 without receiving password information from the host apparatus 20. If the position detecting means 14 fails, for example, the security of the transported goods may be ensured. According to this invention, there are provided conditions required to unlock the key mechanism 11 that a double position collation performed on the sides of both the transport container 10 and the host apparatus 20 results in an agreement and a collation of the password information from the host apparatus 20 results in an agreement. This invention may therefore increase not only the reliability of a determination of the position collation but also the reliability of the security of the transported goods since the conditions required to unlock the key mechanism 11 are doubly set.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a third aspect of this invention. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 8B denotes a transport container managing system. The transport container managing system 8B includes a transport container 30 which is closed when transported goods are housed therein and locked by a key mechanism 31 upon transportation, and a host apparatus 40 for managing the transport container 30.

The transport container 30 has a key driving means 32, a position detecting means 34, an unlock command collating means 35, an unlock directing means 36, a receiving means 37 and a transmitting means 38, in addition to the key mechanism 31.

Each of the key mechanism 31, the key driving means 32, the position detecting means 34 and the unlock directing means 36 of the transport container 30 has a function of the corresponding element of the transport container 10 described hereinbefore shown in FIG. 2 (refer to reference numerals 11, 12, 14 and 16).

The receiving means 37 receives management information from the host apparatus 40. The transmitting means 38 transmits information about the transport container 30 to the host apparatus 40.

In practice, the transmitting means 38 transmits destination arrival information, which is attached to present position information detected by the position detecting means 34, to the host apparatus 40 when the transport container 30 gets to a destination of the transportation.

The unlock command collating means 35 determines whether an unlock command is correct or not when the receiving means 37 receives the unlock command giving a direction to unlock the key mechanism 31 from the host apparatus 40. If the unlock command collating means 35 determines that the unlock command is correct, the unlock directing means 36 directs the key driving means 32 to unlock the key mechanism 31.

The host apparatus 40 has a central storage means 41, a transmitting means on the side of the host apparatus 42, a receiving means on the side of the host apparatus 43 and a position collating means on the side of the host apparatus 44.

The central storage means 41 stores management data of the transport container 30. The transmitting means on the side of the host apparatus 42 transmits the management information for managing the transport container 30 to the transport container 30. The receiving means on the side of the host apparatus 43 receives information about the transport container 30 from the transport container 30.

The position collating means on the side of the host apparatus 44 collates the present position information, which is attached to the destination arrival information received from the transport container 30 by the receiving means on the side of the host apparatus 43, with the position information of the destination of the transportation stored as the management data in the central storage means 41 to determine whether these two sorts of position information are in agreement or not.

If the position collating means on the side of the host apparatus 44 determines that the present position information and the position information of the destination of the transportation are in agreement, the transmitting means on the side of the host apparatus 42 transmits an unlock command giving a direction to unlock the key mechanism 31 of the transport container 30 as the management information to the transport container 30.

In the transport container 30, if the unlock command collating means 35 determines that the unlock command is not correct, the transmitting means 38 transmits abnormal information to the host apparatus 40. The host apparatus 40 includes a counting means for counting the number of times of receipt of the abnormal information from the transport container 30 by the receiving means on the side of the host apparatus 43, a comparing means for comparing a counted value obtained by the counting means number with a predetermined value, and a reporting means 45 for reporting an occurrence of an emergency to the department concerned therewith if the comparing means determines that the counted value has reached the predetermined value. If the comparing means determines that the counted value does not exceed the predetermined value, the transmitting means on the side of the host apparatus 42 may transmit again the unlock command giving a direction to unlock the key mechanism 31 as the management information to the transport container 30.

In this case, in the host apparatus 40, the transmitting means on the side of the host apparatus 42 may transmit an alarm command directing an alarming operation as the management information to the transport container 30 if the comparing means determines that the counted value has reached the predetermined value. The transport container 30 may include an alarming means 39 for generating an alarm if the receiving means 37 receives the alarm command as the management information from the host apparatus 40.

In the above transport container managing system shown in FIG. 3, the transmitting means 38 transmits the destination arrival information, which is attached to the present position information detected by the position detecting means 34, to the host apparatus 40 when the transport container 30 gets to the destination.

The position collating means on the side of the host apparatus 44 in the host apparatus 40 collates the present position information, which is attached to the destination arrival information received from the transport container 30 by the receiving means on the side of the host apparatus 43, with the position information of the destination of the transportation stored as the management data in the central storage means 41 to determine whether these two sorts of position information are in agreement or not.

If the position collating means on the side of the host apparatus 44 determines that the present position information agrees with the position information of the destination of the transportation, the transmitting means on the side of the host apparatus 42 transmits an unlock command giving a direction to unlock the key mechanism 31 of the transport container 30 as the management information to the transport container 30.

When the receiving means 37 receives the unlock command giving a direction to unlock the key mechanism 31 from the host apparatus 40, the unlock command collating means 35 determines whether the unlock command is correct or not. If the unlock command collating means 35 determines that the unlock command is correct, the unlock directing means 36 directs the key driving means 32 to unlock the key mechanism 31.

In the transport container 30, if the unlock command collating means 35 determines that the unlock command is not correct, the transmitting means 38 transmits abnormal information to the host apparatus 40. The counting means of the host apparatus 40 counts the number of times of receipt of the abnormal information from the transport container 30 by the receiving means on the side of the host apparatus 43, the comparing means compares a counted value obtained by the counting means with a predetermined value, and the reporting means reports an occurrence of an emergency to the department concerned therewith if the comparing means determines that the counted value has reached the predetermined value.

If the comparing means determines that the counted value does not exceed the predetermined value, the transmitting means on the side of the host apparatus 42 may transmit again the unlock command giving a direction to unlock the key mechanism 31 as the management information to the transport container 30.

In this case, if the comparing means determines that the counted value has reached the predetermined value, the transmitting means on the side of the host apparatus in the host apparatus 40 may transmit an alarm command directing an alarming operation as the management information to the transport container 30, and the alarming means 39 of the transport container 30 may generate an alarm if the receiving means 37 receives the alarm command as the management information from the host apparatus 40.

According to the transport container managing system of this invention, it is impossible to unlock the key mechanism 31 without receiving a correct unlock command from the host apparatus 40. It is thus possible to manage command information used to unlock the key mechanism 31 for each transport container 30, and ensure the security of the transported goods even if the position detecting means 34 fails, for example.

According to the transport container managing system of this invention, the transport container 30 may receive the unlock command from the host apparatus 40 for a predetermined number of times until a correct unlock command is input. If a correct unlock command is input before the number of times of receipt of the unlock command reaches a predetermined number of times, it is possible to unlock the key mechanism 31. It is thus possible to prevent the host apparatus 40 and the alarming means 39 of the transport container 39 from erroneously giving an emergency alarm.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a fourth aspect of this invention. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 8C denotes a transport container managing system. The transport container managing system 8C includes a transport container 50 closed in a condition that transported goods are housed therein and locked by a key mechanism 51 upon a transportation, and a host apparatus 60 for managing the transport container 50.

The transport container 50 has a key driving means 52, a password information input means 53, a position detecting means 54, a password information collating means 55, an unlock directing means 56, a receiving means 57 and a transmitting means 58, in addition to the key mechanism 51.

Each of the key mechanism 51, the key driving means 52, the position detecting means 54, the unlock directing means 56 and the transmitting means 58 of the transport container 50 has a function similar to that of the corresponding elements of the transport container 30 having been described with reference to FIG. 3 (refer to reference numerals 31, 32, 34, 36 and 38).

The transmitting means 58 transmits destination arrival information attached present position information detected by the position detecting means 54 thereto to the host apparatus 60 when the transport container 50 gets to a destination, similarly to the transmitting means 38 having been described with reference to FIG. 3.

The receiving means 57 receives management information from the host apparatus 60. The password information input means 53 is used to input password information for unlocking the key mechanism 51.

When the receiving means 57 receives password information for collation necessary when the key mechanism 51 is unlocked from the host apparatus 60, the password information collating means 55 collates the password information for collation with input password information input through the password information input means 53 to determine whether these two sorts of password information are in agreement or not. If the password information collating means 55 determines that the password information for collation and the input password information are in agreement, the unlock directing means 56 directs the key driving means 52 to unlock the key mechanism 51.

The host apparatus 60 has a central storage means 61, a transmitting means on the side of host apparatus 62, a receiving means on the side of the host apparatus 63 and a position collating means on the side of the host apparatus 64.

The central storage means 61 stores management information for the transport container 50. The transmitting means on the side of the host apparatus 62 transmits the management information for managing the transport container 50 to the transport container 50. The receiving means on the side of the host apparatus 63 receives information about the transport container 50 from the transport container 50.

The position collating means on the side of the host apparatus 64 collates the present position information attached to the destination arrival information received from the transport container 50 by the receiving means on the side of the host apparatus 63 with position information of a destination of a transportation stored as the management data in the central storage means 61 to determine whether these two sorts of position information are in agreement or not.

If the position collating means on the side of the host apparatus 64 determines that the present position information agrees with the position information of the destination of the transportation, the transmitting means on the side of the host apparatus 62 transmits password information for collation necessary when the key mechanism 51 of the transport container 50 is unlocked as the management information to the transport container 50.

The transport container 50 may have an alarming means 59 for generating an alarm if the password information collating means 55 determines that the password information for collation and the input password information are in disagreement. In this case, the transmitting means 58 may transmit abnormal information to the host apparatus 60. The host apparatus 60 may have a reporting means 65 for reporting an occurrence of an emergency to the department concerned therewith if the receiving means on the side of the host apparatus 63 receives alarm information from the transport container 50.

In each of the transport container managing systems 8A and 8C having been described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, respectively, the transmitting means on the side of the host apparatus 22 or 62 transmits, on occasion, a position confirm command demanding a transmission of position information about the transport container 10 or 50 during a transportation as the management information to the transport container 10 or 50. In each of the transport containers 10 and 50, when the receiving means 17 or 57 receives the position confirm command as the management information, the transmitting means 18 or 58 may transmit present position information of the transport container 10 or 50 during the transportation detected by the position detecting means 14 or 54 to the host apparatus 20 or 60.

Each of the transport container managing systems 8A and 8C having been described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, respectively, may have the alarming means 19 or 59 for generating an alarm and the transmitting means 38 for transmitting alarm information to the host apparatus 20 or 60 if the password information collating means 55 determines that the password information for collation and the input password information are in disagreement.

In the above transport container managing system shown in FIG. 4, the transmitting means 58 in the transport container 50 transmits destination arrival information, which is attached to present position information detected by the position detecting means 54, to the host apparatus 60 when the transport container 50 gets to a destination of transportation. The position collating means on the side of the host apparatus 64 in the host apparatus 60 collates the present position information attached to the destination arrival information received from the transport container 50 by the receiving means on the side of the host apparatus 63 with the position information of the destination of the transportation stored as management information in the central storage means 61 to determine whether these two sorts of position information are in agreement or not.

If the position collating means on the side of the host apparatus 64 determines that the present position information agrees with the position information of the destination of the transportation, the transmitting means on the side of the host apparatus 62 transmits password information for collation necessary when the key mechanism 51 of the transport container 50 is unlocked as management information to the transport container 50.

When the receiving means 57 receives the password information for collation necessary when the key mechanism 51 is unlocked from the host apparatus 60, the password information collating means 55 collates the password information for collation with input password information for unlocking the key mechanism 51 input through the password information input means 53 to determine whether these two sorts of password information are in agreement or not.

If the password information collating means 55 determines that the password information for collation and the input password information are in agreement, the unlock directing means 56 directs the key driving means 52 to unlock the key mechanism 51.

If the password information collating means 55 determines that the password information for collation and the input password information are in disagreement, the alarming means 59 of the transport container 50 may generate an alarm, and the transmitting means 58 may transmit abnormal information to the host apparatus 60. The reporting means 65 of the host apparatus 60 may report an occurrence of an emergency to the department concerned therewith if the receiving means on the side of the host apparatus 63 receives alarm information from the transport container 50.

In each of the transport container managing systems shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, respectively, the transmitting means on the side of the host apparatus 22 or 62 may transmit, on occasion, a position confirm command demanding a transmission of position information about the transport container 10 or 50 during a transportation as management information to the transport container 10 or 50. In each the transport containers 10 and 50, when the receiving means 17 or 57 receives the position confirm command as the management information, the transmitting means 18 or 58 may transmit present position information about the transport container 10 or 50 during the transportation detected by the position detecting means 14 or 54 to the host apparatus 20 or 60.

Each of the alarming means 19 and 58 may generate an alarm if the password information collating means 55 determines that the password information for collation and the input password information are in disagreement. Each of the transmitting means 18 and 58 may transmit alarm information to the host apparatus 20 or 60.

Accordingly, the transport container managing system of this invention may perform an unlocking control on the key mechanism 51 on a condition that a collation of the password information entered in advance with the password information input from the transport container 50 results in an agreement. It is therefore possible to manage the password information used to unlock the key mechanism 51 for each transport container 50. It is also possible to ensure the security of the transported goods even if the position detecting means 54 fails since the key mechanism 51 of the transport container 50 cannot be unlocked without receiving the password information from the host apparatus 60.

According to the transport container managing system of this invention, the host apparatus 60 may recognize present position information of the transport container 50 during a transportation. If the transport container 50 encounters a robbery, it is thus possible to detect a position of the stolen transport container 50.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a fifth aspect of this invention. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 70 denotes a transport container. The transport container 70 is closed when transported goods are housed therein and locked by a key mechanism 71 upon transportation.

The transport container 70 has a key driving means 72, an unlock command collating means 75, an unlock directing means 76 and a receiving means 77, in addition to the key mechanism 71.

The key driving means 72 drives the key mechanism 71 to switch a lock/unlock condition of the key mechanism 71. The receiving means 77 receives an unlock command giving a direction to unlock the key mechanism 71 from the host apparatus 80 upon an operation to unlock the key mechanism 71.

The unlock command collating mean