Method and system for tracking and managing cargo containers

• US 20080073422A1
• Filed: 07/26/2007
• Published: 03/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: China International Marine Containers Limited (China International Marine Containers Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: China International Marine Containers Limited (China International Marine Containers Company Limited)
• Inventors: Zhou, Shouqin
• Application Number:
  US11/828,742
• Publication Number:
  US 20080073422A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

This application relates to a method and system for tracking and managing a cargo container. The system comprises an electronic seal device mounted on the cargo container, a portable device, a fixed device provided on sluice door, a guide device and a computer bound thereof, and a background management center system. The method and system for tracking and managing the cargo container according to the present invention can realize visible and transparent tracking, monitoring of any cargo container, such that risky and dangerous cargo containers can be effectively selected for a particular sampling inspection to ensure the shipment safety of the cargo container and realize the international antiterrorism of the cargo containers.

Claims

1. A method for tracking and managing a cargo container comprising:

providing an electronic seal device within a closure of the cargo container;

providing at least one portable device for reading and writing the electronic seal device;

providing at least one fixed device for reading and writing the electronic seal device;

providing at least one server for communicating with the portable device and fixed device;

providing a management center for communicating with the server to manage the electronic seal device, the portable device, the fixed device, and user information, wherein the management center comprises a registration and authentication portion and a database portion;

the portable device and fixed device obtaining a seal code from the management center, after passing authentication;

the cargo container sealing the electronic seal device provided in the cargo container with a defined sealing code, after goods are loaded and the closure of the cargo container is closed and after defined information is input through the portable device and/or fixed device, then uploading the sealing code and the defined information to the management center through the server to activate the electronic seal device; and

the cargo container unsealing the electronic seal device of the cargo container through the portable device and/or fixed device when the portable device and/or fixed device pass authentication, after the cargo container arrives at a destination, communicating with the management center via the server through the portable device and/or fixed device, and canceling the sealing code in use to notify the management center that a logistic shipment is accomplished.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the process of sealing the electronic seal device provided in the cargo container with the defined sealing code after the goods are loaded and the closure of the cargo container is closed and after defined information is input through the portable device and/or fixed device, comprises following steps of:

a. getting access to a software system of the portable device through a user name and a password registered in the management center by a user;

b. capturing all electronic seal devices within an effective communication range, and if a plurality of electronic seal devices are captured, selecting an electronic seal device to be operated from a list of the plurality of electronic seal device, or selecting the electronic seal device by recognizing a cargo container ID with unaided eyes;

c. reading memory information of the electronic seal device, if it is read that the electronic seal device is sealed, then unsealing it first otherwise it cannot be sealed, and if the electronic seal device is unsealed, it can be sealed;

d. removing all user information and event record automatically from the unsealed electronic seal device;

e. filling in “

cargo container number”

, “

mechanical seal number”

, and “

packing list”

by operating the portable device, and automatically loading “

consigner code”

stored in the portable device; and

f. activating the electronic seal device and meanwhile removing the history record automatically, and binding ID of the electronic seal device with the filled information by operating the portable device.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the process of uploading the sealing code and the defined information to the management center through the server to activate the electronic seal device, comprises following steps of:

a. binding the sealing information and the sealing code, and writing the bound result into the database portion of the management center;

b. returning an acknowledge by the database portion of the management center; and

c. removing activated sealing codes from the device operated by the user.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the process of sealing the electronic seal device provided in the cargo container with the defined sealing code after the goods are loaded and the closure of the cargo container is closed and after defined information is input through the portable device and/or fixed device, comprises following steps of:

a. providing a startup device of the electronic seal device in a spot where the portable device and/or fixed device is not provided, closing the closure of the cargo container immediately after the goods are loaded by operating the startup device, automatically initiating the electronic seal device after a defined period elapses, and starting to detect a status of the closure of the cargo container and entering an alert status; and

b. When the cargo container enters a spot where a fixed device is provided, reading a status of the electronic seal device by the fixed device, and if there is no alert, then automatically sealing the electronic seal device according to the ID of the electronic seal device, that is, writing “

cargo container number”

, “

mechanical seal number”

, “

packing list” and

“

consigner code”

into the electronic seal device automatically by the fixed device.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the process of uploading the sealing code and the defined information to the management center through the server to activate the electronic seal device, comprises following steps of:

a. binding the sealing information and the sealing code, and writing the result into the database portion of the management center;

b. returning an acknowledge by the database portion of the management center; and

c. removing activated sealing codes from the fixed device operated by the user.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the process of unsealing the electronic seal device of the cargo container through the portable device and/or fixed device when passing the authentication, after the cargo container arrives at the destination, comprises following steps of:

a. entering a software system of the portable device with a user name and a password registered in the management center by a user; and

b. reading information of the electronic seal device, and after the information is confirmed, stopping work of the electronic seal device by the user operating the portable device.

7. A system for tracking and managing a cargo container, comprising:

an electronic seal device comprising a sensor unit, a low frequency wake-up antenna, a high frequency data transceiver antenna, a signal process unit and a power supply;

at least one portable device for reading and writing the electronic seal device, comprising a low frequency wake-up antenna for waking up the electronic seal and a high frequency data transmission antenna for performing a communication session with the electronic seal device and performing data transmission;

at least one fixed device for reading and writing the electronic seal device, comprising a guide device and a high frequency data transceiver antenna for performing a communication session with the electronic seal device and performing data transmission, wherein the guide device is provided with a low frequency wake-up antenna for waking up the electronic seal;

at least one server comprising at least one computer for communicating with the portable device and the fixed device;

a management center comprising at least one computer for communicating with the server to manage the electronic seal device, the portable device, the fixed device and user information, wherein the management center comprises a registration and authentication portion and a database portion;

wherein the portable device and the fixed device obtains a sealing code from the management center, after passing authentication;

the cargo container seals the electronic seal device provided in the cargo container with a defined sealing code, after goods are loaded and a closure of the cargo container is closed and after defined information is input through the portable device and/or fixed device, then the sealing code and the defined information are uploaded to the management center through the server to activate the electronic seal device;

after the cargo container arrives at a destination, the cargo container unseals the electronic seal device of the cargo container through the portable device and/or fixed device when the portable device and/or fixed device pass authentication, then performs communication session with the management center via the server through the portable device and/or fixed device, and cancels the sealing code in use to notify the management center that a logistic shipment is accomplished.

8. The system according to claim 7, further comprises a startup device of the electronic seal device for closing an closure of the cargo container immediately after the goods are loaded by a user operating the startup device, automatically initiating the electronic seal device after a defined period elapses, and starting to detect a status of the cargo container closure and entering an alert status.

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein the portable device is held by a consigner, a consignee and/or staff of customs.

10. The system according to claim 7, wherein the fixed device is provided at a sluice gate of a harbor, and the server is provided at the harbor.