Mobile wireless mesh technology for shipping container security

• US 20070188322A1
• Filed: 01/20/2006
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Zuver, Christopher, English, Kent
• Granted Patent: US 7,522,043 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.260
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W

Abstract

A security system for sea cargo containers wherein each container is provided with a container security device comprising a processor, a radio, a memory, a battery and one or more sensors. When the containers are within range of each other, the container security devices communicate to form an ad hoc wireless sensor network. That network communicates with a communications infrastructure, such as satellites or GSM communications means, via a gateway that aggregates data originating from the various container security devices.

Claims

1. A cargo container security system comprising:

a wireless sensor network comprising a first container security device attached to a first cargo container, and a second container security device attached to a second cargo container, said first and second container security devices being in intermittent wireless communication with each other; and

an aggregation device that communicates wirelessly and intermittently with said first container security device and with a communications infrastructure, said aggregation device serving as a wireless bridge for the transfer of data between said wireless sensor network and said communications infrastructure,

wherein each container security device comprises a processor, a radio, a battery, a memory, and at least one sensor, and data from said second container security device can be sent to said communications infrastructure via said first container security device and said aggregation device.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and second cargo containers and said aggregation device are aboard a ship.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said aggregation device and/or said first container security device comprises an antenna and a module for processing GPS location signals received via said antenna.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein each container security device comprises a respective detector of one or more of the following:

light, temperature, barometric pressure, sound and motion.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein each container security device has an electronic cargo manifest stored in its memory.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein each container security device operates in a low-power sleep mode in the absence of a mode-changing event.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said aggregation device comprises a module for satellite communications.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said aggregation device comprises a module for GSM communications.

9. A cargo container security system comprising:

a multiplicity of container security devices, each container security device being attached to a respective cargo container, wherein each container security device comprises a processor, a radio, a battery, a memory, and at least one sensor; and

an aggregation device that communicates wirelessly and intermittently with some of said container security devices and with a communications infrastructure, said aggregation device serving as a wireless bridge for the transfer of data between said container security devices and said communications infrastructure,

wherein said processors are programmed to form an ad hoc wireless network whereby some of said container security devices communicate with said aggregation device directly and others of said container security devices communicate with said aggregation device only indirectly via said container security devices that communicate with said aggregation device directly.

10. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein said first and second cargo containers and said aggregation device are aboard a ship.

11. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein said aggregation device and/or at least one of said container security devices comprises an antenna and a module for processing GPS location signals received via said antenna.

12. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein each container security device comprises a respective detector of one or more of the following:

light, temperature, barometric pressure, sound and motion.

13. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein each container security device has an electronic cargo manifest stored in its memory.

14. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein each container security device operates in a low-power sleep mode in the absence of a mode-changing event.

15. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein said aggregation device comprises a module for satellite communications.

16. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein said aggregation device comprises a module for GSM communications.

17. A method for monitoring the security of a cargo container, comprising the following steps:

placing a wireless aggregation device on a support structure;

attaching a first container security device to a first cargo container;

attaching a second container security device to a second cargo container;

using said first container security device to detect an event or condition at said first cargo container;

transmitting a first radio signal from said first container security device to said second container security device, wherein said first radio signal contains information indicating occurrence of said event or condition at said first cargo container;

transmitting a second radio signal from said second container security device to said aggregation device, wherein said second radio signal contains information indicating occurrence of said event or condition at said first cargo container; and

transmitting a signal from said aggregation device to a communications infrastructure, wherein said signal from said aggregation device includes information indicating occurrence of said event or condition at said first cargo container.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein said aggregation device receives said second radio signal and does not receive said first radio signal.

19. The method as recited in claim 17, comprising the following steps:

using said second container security device to detect an event or condition at said second cargo container; and

transmitting a third radio signal from said second container security device to said aggregation device, wherein said third radio signal contains information indicating occurrence of said event or condition at said second cargo container,

wherein said signal from said aggregation device also includes information indicating occurrence of said event or condition at said second cargo container.

20. A method for monitoring the security of a multiplicity of cargo containers, comprising the following steps:

(a) programming each of a multiplicity of container security devices to form an ad hoc network for communicating wirelessly with a wireless aggregation device when some but not all of said container security devices are within wireless communication range of said wireless aggregation device;

(b) attaching each of said container security devices to a respective one of a multiplicity of cargo containers;

(c) arranging said multiplicity of cargo containers in a plurality of stacks on a ship, on a dock or on land;

(d) placing said wireless aggregation device at a location whereat said wireless aggregation device will be within wireless communication range of some of said multiplicity of container security devices;

(e) acquiring sensor data from sensors that measure certain parameters in the vicinity of said container security devices;

(f) processing said sensor data in said container security devices;

(g) transmitting radio signals from said container security devices to said aggregation device via said ad hoc network, said radio signals including information derived by processing said sensor data and information identifying the container security devices that processed said sensor data; and

(h) transmitting signals from said aggregation device that include information derived by processing said sensor data and information identifying the container security devices that processed said sensor data.