US 12,425,222 B2
Systems, tamper-evident assemblies and methods to detect tampering and/or provide cryptographic evidence of tampering
James M. Canter, Austin, TX (US); Viktor Partyshev, Round Rock, TX (US); and David Orr, Austin, TX (US)
Assigned to Hart InterCivic, Inc., Austin, TX (US)
Filed by Hart InterCivic, Inc., Austin, TX (US)
Filed on Oct. 21, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/506,832.
Prior Publication US 2023/0127682 A1, Apr. 27, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04L 9/00 (2022.01); F16B 41/00 (2006.01); G06F 21/73 (2013.01); G06F 21/86 (2013.01); H04L 9/06 (2006.01); H04L 9/32 (2006.01); H05K 5/02 (2006.01)
CPC H04L 9/3236 (2013.01) [F16B 41/005 (2013.01); G06F 21/73 (2013.01); G06F 21/86 (2013.01); H04L 9/0643 (2013.01); H05K 5/0208 (2013.01)] 34 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system configured to detect tampering and/or provide cryptographic evidence of tampering, the system comprising:
an enclosure comprising a point of entry for accessing an interior of the enclosure;
a tamper-evident fastener coupled to a surface of the enclosure to secure the point of entry on the enclosure, wherein the tamper-evident fastener comprises a screw having a screw head, a screw body and an identification chip, which is embedded within the screw and configured to: (a) store a unique identifier corresponding to the tamper-evident fastener, and (b) transmit the unique identifier via electrical conduction through the screw body when the tamper-evident fastener is coupled to the surface of the enclosure; and
a processing device provided within the enclosure, wherein the processing device is electronically coupled to the screw to receive the unique identifier, which is transmitted from the identification chip and through the screw body when the tamper-evident fastener is coupled to the surface of the enclosure to secure the point of entry, and wherein the processing device and program instructions are configured to detect tampering in response to the unique identifier not being received by the processing device.