Intelligent container

• US 20040075557A1
• Filed: 05/08/2003
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Frederick Philip Selwyn
• Original Assignee: Frederick Philip Selwyn
• Inventors: Selwyn, Frederick Philip
• Application Number:
  US10/416,247
• Publication Number:
  US 20040075557A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/568.1
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 11/1873 all walls are detached from each other to collapse the container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2201/00 Means or constructions for testing or controlling the contents
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2211/00 Anti-theft means
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/80 Packaging reuse or recycling, e.g. of multilayer packaging bio-packaging Y02W90/10

Abstract

A reusable container is formed from a plurality of interlocking panels 1, 16, and each of the panels includes a communication unit (30, 32) capable of communicating with at least one of the other panels such that the communication units co-operate to form an integrated electronic monitoring system for monitoring the structural integrity of the container. Communication may be by means of a wire bus or a non-wire link. Each panel has an electronic identifier. A key panel (16) includes a master communication unit which holds a container identifier and can be programmed with a delivery address. The key panel is capable of communicating with an external docking station to ensure correct delivery.

Claims

1. A reusable container formed from a plurality of interlocking panels (1, 16),

characterised in that each of the panels includes a communication unit (30, 32) capable of communicating with at least one of the other panels such that the communication units co-operate to form an integrated electronic monitoring system for monitoring the structural integrity of the container.

2. A reusable container according to claim 1, in which the communication units communicate by means of non-wire communication links (e.g. light, radio frequency or ultra-sonic waves, 60-63).

3. A reusable container according to claim 1, in which the communication units communicate by means of a physical communication bus (50, 52, 53).

4. A reusable container according to claim 1, including a programmable master communication unit (32).

5. A reusable container according to claim 4, in which the master communication unit is connected to an external communication port (49).

6. A reusable container according to claim 4, in which the master communication unit (32) includes means (44) for storing an identifier for the individual container and a destination address for delivery of the container.

7. A reusable container according to claim 1, in which each of the panels has an electronic identifier for the individual panel.

8. A reusable container according to claim 1, including at least one key panel (16) having a release mechanism (19) which must be operated to gain access to the contents of the container.

9. A reusable container according to claim 8, in which the key panel includes a master communication unit (32).

10. A reusable container according to claim 1, in which a docking station (38) is provided at a destination location which includes latching means for latching the container.

11. A reusable container according to claim 1, in which the docking station includes a communication port (40) for communicating with the master communication unit (32).

12. A reusable container according to claim 11, in which the docking station is arranged to read the identifier and delivery address and latch the container only if the correct delivery address is read.

13. A reusable container according to claim 10, in which The docking station includes a long-distance communication device (42) for sending and/or receiving data from a remote location.

14. A reusable container according to claim 10, in which The docking station includes a local communication device (41) for communicating with a portable data communication unit.