Method and system for utilizing multiple sensors for monitoring container security, contents and condition

• US 20050046567A1
• Filed: 05/17/2004
• Published: 03/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommerceGuard AB (GE Aerospace)
• Original Assignee: All Set Marine Security AB
• Inventors: Bohman, Karl, Boman, Hans, Mortenson, G. R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,479,877 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.130
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/35 Constructional details or hardware or software details of the signal processing chain
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/047 Optimisation of routes or paths, e.g. travelling salesman problem
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0092 for cargo, freight or shipping containers and applications therefore in general
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00 Individual registration on entry or exit
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence

Abstract

A container and contents monitoring system includes a device, a reader, a server, a software backbone and a receptacle for housing a plurality of sensors. The device communicates with the plurality of sensors and the reader in order to determine the condition of the container and its contents. The reader transmits the information from the device to the server. The device determines if a container condition has occurred based on at least one sensor located on or in the container.

Claims

1. A device for monitoring a plurality of conditions of a container, the device comprising:

a plurality of sensors for sensing at least one condition of the container;

a receptacle for housing the plurality of sensors;

means for interfacing the plurality of sensors within the receptacle; and

means for transmitting information relative to the sensed at least one condition to a location outside the container.

2. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the container includes at least one door and the device is adapted for mounting relative to the container between a region of the door and an adjacent region of the container.

3. The device as set forth in claim 2, wherein the adjacent region of the container comprises a vertical beam and adjacent C-channel and the location within the container for mounting at least a portion of the device comprises an area across the vertical beam and adjacent C-channel.

4. The device as set forth in claim 3, wherein the receptacle comprises an elongated housing adapted for receipt within and mounting to the C-shaped channel adjacent the vertical beam.

5. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the receptacle includes magnetic mounting means for securement of the receptacle within a C-shaped channel of the container.

6. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors comprises at least one of a pressure sensor, a light sensor, a motion sensor, a radioactivity sensor, a temperature sensor, a proximity sensor, a biometric sensor, an ammonia sensor, a shock sensor, a vibration sensor, a carbon dioxide sensor, a fire sensor, a smoke sensor, a noise sensor, a humidity sensor, a digital camera, and a combustible gas sensor.

7. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the receptacle includes at least one power source.

8. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a container security device for monitoring the security of the container, and wherein if the container security device determines that at least one of the plurality of sensors indicates signals outside a predetermined threshold, thus indicating that a security breach has occurred, then an electronic security key is erased from a memory.

9. A device for monitoring the condition of a container with a plurality of sensors, the container being of the type having at least one door pivotally mounted thereto, the device comprising:

means for sensing movement of the container door;

means for transmitting information relative to the sensed container door movement;

a receptacle for housing multiple uses of the sensors;

means for maintaining the receptacle inside the container, adjacent to door in communication with the means for sensing movement; and

wherein the means for transmitting is disposed relative to the container for transmission of the sensed door movement to a location outside the container.

10. The device as set forth in claim 9, wherein the sensors comprise at least two of a pressure sensor, light sensor, radioactivity sensor, temperature sensor, motion sensor, combustible gas sensor, a biometric sensor, a proximity sensor, shock sensor, vibration sensor, ammonia sensor, carbon dioxide sensor, fire sensor, smoke sensor, noise sensor, humidity sensor, and a digital camera.

11. The device as set forth in claim 9, wherein the device further comprises a container security device for monitoring the security of the container, and wherein if the container security device determines that a security breach has occurred, then an electronic security key is erased from a memory.

12. A method of detecting a condition of a container and its contents with a plurality of sensors, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a receptacle for mounting within the container, the receptacle being adapted for receipt and securement of the sensors;

placing the plurality of sensors within the receptacle;

interfacing the sensors;

monitoring the sensors via a data unit located within the container;

determining by the data unit whether a change in condition has occurred based on sensed changes in value sensed by the sensor;

communicating by the data unit, of a result of the determining step to an antenna interoperably connected to the data unit and located relative to the container in a position for transmitting data to a location outside the container; and

transmitting by the antenna of information relative to the communication step.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

providing a container security device for monitoring the security of the container;

determining, by the container security device, whether a security breach has occurred; and

erasing an electronic security key from a memory if it is determined that a security breach has occurred.

14. A sensor receptacle for receiving at least one sensor unit, the sensor receptacle comprising:

at least one protrusion extending from the sensor receptacle for abutment to a vertical beam of a container;

a conduit for receiving the at least one sensor unit;

at least one connector for interfacing with the at least one sensor unit; and

wherein the at least one protrusion secures the sensor receptacle via at least one securement means and via pressure or magnetic field generated when a door of the container is closed against the vertical beam.

15. The sensor receptacle of claim 14, further comprising a channel protruding from a rear interior face of the conduit, wherein the channel is offset from center.

16. The sensor receptacle of claim 15, wherein the channel houses the at least one connector.

17. The sensor receptacle of claim 14, further comprising a data bus for transmitting information from the at least one sensor unit to a container security device.

18. The sensor receptacle of claim 14, further comprising first and second protrusions disposed along, and extending outwardly of, opposite ends of the sensor receptacle.

19. A system for monitoring a plurality of conditions of a container, the system comprising:

at least one sensor for monitoring a condition of the container;

a Radio Frequency ID reader for sensing information from tags associated with at least one of a particular piece of cargo, pallet, load unit, and returnable transport unit; and

a sensor receptacle for housing the at least one sensor.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising a container security device for transmitting information from the at least one sensor to a device outside of the container.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the device is a reader.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein one of the at least one sensor unit comprises a communications gateway to the Radio Frequency ID reader.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the communications gateway is a wireless gateway.