System and method for communications of cargo containers in a container security system using wireless ad-hoc networking techniques
First Claim
1. A system for providing robust communications for a container monitoring system for a plurality of containers comprising:
- a short range wireless communications device associated with each container, each short range wireless communication device including a transmitter element and a complementary receiver element;
at least a long range communications device communications device associated with each container;
a control element which dynamically determines a plurality of communications channels between the short range wireless communication elements located on the plurality of containers.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for communications between a plurality of shipping containers using a short range or local area wireless communication device is provided. The system also contains a cellular communications device, a satellite communications device, or both, which are used to transmit information to, and receive commands from remote central monitoring station. The system includes a method which creates dynamic links between the containers using the short range channel. Containers are organized in networks and sub networks, and have built in redundancy features.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A system for providing robust communications for a container monitoring system for a plurality of containers comprising:
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a short range wireless communications device associated with each container, each short range wireless communication device including a transmitter element and a complementary receiver element;
at least a long range communications device communications device associated with each container;
a control element which dynamically determines a plurality of communications channels between the short range wireless communication elements located on the plurality of containers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for dynamic assignment of communications links between a plurality of containers using a short range wireless communications device associated with each container, the method comprising:
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querying each container within the proximity of each short range receiver;
collecting reports back of whether the queried containers have access to a satellite or cellular channel;
measuring energy using a detector which surveys the containers within the proximity of each short range receiver to detect the power of each said short range transmitter for each neighboring container;
ranking the power estimates received from the various container elements;
calculating a most efficient path from any given container to another container, or through a series of containers acting as relays, whereby pertinent data from any given container is relayed to a container having access to a cellular or satellite channel; and
storing a routing table indicating a current connection topology for all containers in an ad-hoc network configuration. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A method wherein a short range wireless channel is used to provide a level of redundancy within a container monitoring system comprising:
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determining that a first container has a failed long range channel and an operational short range wireless channel;
locating at least one additional container having all communication modes operations including short range wireless, and long range wireless;
utilizing the short range wireless channel from the first container to communicate with the at least one second container to allow information relating to the status of the first container to be transmitted by the at least one second container.
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Specification