CONTAINER MONITORING SYSTEM AND AN ELECTRONIC CONTAINER LOCK

• US 20080309487A1
• Filed: 06/12/2008
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Trade-Van Information Services Co.
• Original Assignee: Trade-Van Information Services Co.
• Inventors: CHAO, Yuan-Ning
• Application Number:
  US12/138,175
• Publication Number:
  US 20080309487A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/542
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/06 by tampering with fastening
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range

Abstract

A container monitoring system and an electronic container lock are provided according to the present invention; the container monitoring system includes: a first communication device, which is allocated to a container carried by a container vehicle, the first communication device consists of a first communication interface, a monitoring interface, and a lock mechanism that is for locking up door of the container, also the monitoring interface is able to monitor engagement situation of the lock mechanism, and accordingly sending out a first signal if an abnormal situation is detected, subsequently the first signal is sent out via the first communication interface; an intermediate device, which is allocated to the container vehicle, the intermediate device consists of a transmission interface and a first connection interface, the transmission interface is for receiving the first signal transmitted from the first communication device, and then the first signal is transmitted external via the first connection interface; a second communication device, which is allocated to the container vehicle, which has a second communication interface and a second connection interface, the second communication interface is connected to the first connection interface for receiving the first signal transmitted via the first connection interface, and the second communication interface is for transmitting position signal related to location of the container vehicle and the first signal received by the second connection interface; and a cargo tracking terminal, which is for receiving the position signal and the first signal transmitted via the second communication interface of the second communication device; and the electronic container lock has cable winding around door bolts of both right and left door leaves while door of the container being closed, thereby serving as a second device providing security and protection to cargo.

Claims

1. A container monitoring system, which comprises:

a first communication device coupled to a container that is carried by a container vehicle, and comprising a first communication interface, a monitoring interface, and a lock mechanism for locking up door of the container, wherein the monitoring interface is configured to monitor engagement mode of the lock mechanism, so as to accordingly send out a first signal via the first communication interface if an abnormal status is detected;

an intermediate device mounted in the container vehicle, and comprising a transmission interface for receiving the first signal sent from the first communication device, and a first connection interface connected to the transmission interface for sending out the first signal;

a second communication device mounted in the container vehicle, and comprising a second communication interface and a second connection interface, wherein the second connection interface is connected to the first connection interface for receiving the first signal sent by the first connection interface, and the second communication interface is used to send out a position signal related to location of the container vehicle and the first signal received by the second connection interface; and

a cargo tracking terminal for receiving the position signal and the first signal sent from the second communication interface of the second communication device.

2. The container monitoring system of the claim 1, wherein the second communication interface is integrated with a signal processing circuit for Global Position System (GPS) and a processing circuit for wireless telephone system, such that, when the second communication interface sends out the first signal via the processing circuit for wireless telephone system, the position signal of the container vehicle acquired after being processed by the signal processing circuit for GPS is capable of being sent out by the second communication interface.

3. The container monitoring system of claim 2, wherein the processing circuit for wireless telephone system is either General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) or Global System for Mobile (GSM.)

4. The container monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the lock mechanism comprises a lock bar and a lock body, such that the first signal sent from the first communication interface is used to indicate that the lock bar and the lock body are in a separation status.

5. The container monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the cargo tracking terminal is a server and is for storing the received first signal and the position signal.

6. The container monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the second connection interface and the first connection interface are RS-232 transmission interfaces.

7. The container monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the transmission interface and the first communication interface are communication interfaces applying ZigBee protocol.

8. The container monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the lock mechanism is further provided with a monitoring unit electrically connected with two ends of at least one cable, thereby enabling the cable to form a closed circuit, and the cable is exposed to the lock mechanism and winds around door bolts of both right and left leaves of the container door while the door is closed, such that the monitoring unit will output a second signal when an open circuit formed by the cable is detected, and then the first communication interface further outputs the second signal to the intermediate device, for the transmission interface of the intermediate device to transmit the received second signal to the second communication device via the second connection interface connected with the first connection interface, so as for the second communication interface to transmit the second signal to the cargo tracking terminal.

9. The container monitoring system of claim 8, wherein the cable is a cable line or a fiber optic cable.

10. The container monitoring system of claim 8, wherein the cargo tracking terminal is a server for storing the received second signal.

11. An electronic container lock, comprising a non-contact Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip, a lock bar, and a lock body for locking up the lock bar, allowing a container door to be locked by engagement of the lock bar and the lock body;

wherein the RFID chip is for monitoring engagement situation of the lock bar and the lock body and outputting a situation signal to a reader;

the electronic container lock being characterized in;

a monitoring unit is disposed in the lock body and connected with two ends of at least one cable, thereby allowing the cable to form a closed circuit, wherein the cable is exposed to the lock body and winds around bolts of both right and left leaves of the container door while the door is closed, thereby enabling the monitoring unit to output an open circuit signal while detecting that an open circuit of the cable is formed, and enabling the reader to access the open circuit signal.

12. The electronic container lock of claim 11, wherein the cable is a cable line or a fiber optic cable.