Method and Apparatus for Tracking and Monitoring Containers

• US 20090102660A1
• Filed: 09/24/2008
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Savi Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Savi Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Cargonja, Nikola, Nardelli, Albert, Brand, Timothy K., Evans, Allan M., Mim, Reiner G., Zmrzli, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,319,646 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0294 Trajectory determination or predictive filtering, e.g. target tracking or Kalman filtering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols

Abstract

A tag has a circuit portion that functions as a reader capable of wireless communication with other tags. According to a different aspect, a tag has a circuit portion with first and second modes, the circuitry consuming less power in the second mode than the first mode, and exiting the second mode only in response to an act by a human. According to yet another aspect, a tag can receive wireless communications conforming to one of a cellular telephone network communication protocol, a satellite communication protocol, and a wireless computer network communication protocol. The tag responds to receipt of a predetermined wireless signal conforming to the one protocol by carrying out one of first action that includes causing the tag to enter an electronically secure state, or a second action that includes causing the tag to exit the electronically secure state.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising a tag having circuitry that includes a portion integral to said tag, said portion functioning as a reader capable of wireless communication with other tags.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said circuitry is configured to carry out said wireless communication with other tags using wireless signals that are ultra high frequency (UHF) wireless signals conforming to a radio frequency identification communication protocol.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said circuitry includes a further portion capable of wireless communication conforming to one of a radio frequency identification communication protocol, a cellular telephone network communication protocol, a satellite communication protocol, and a wireless computer network communication protocol.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein said tag includes an approximately C-shaped clip having two spaced legs and a bight extending between said legs;

and

wherein said portions of said circuitry each include an antenna, one of said antennas being supported on one of said legs of said clip, and the other of said antennas being supported on the other of said legs of said clip.

5. A method of operating a tag having circuitry with a portion integral to said tag, said method comprising:

carrying out wireless communication with other tags using said portion of said circuitry as a reader.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein said wireless communication with other tags is carried out using wireless signals that are ultra high frequency (UHF) wireless signals conforming to a radio frequency identification communication protocol.

7. A method according to claim 5, wherein said circuitry includes a further portion;

and using said further portion of said circuitry to carry out wireless communication conforming to one of a radio frequency identification communication protocol, a cellular telephone network communication protocol, a satellite communication protocol, and a wireless computer network communication protocol.

8. An apparatus comprising a tag that includes circuitry having first and second operational modes, said circuitry consuming substantially less power in said second operational mode than in said first operational mode, and exiting said second operational mode only in response to an act by a human.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, including a device that is separate from said tag, that includes a manually operable interface, and that is releasably electrically coupled by a cable to said circuitry in said tag, said act by a human including manual operation of said manually operable interface.

10. An apparatus according to claim 8, including a device that is separate from said tag, that has a manually operable interface, and that is capable of wireless communication with said circuitry in said tag, said act by a human including manual operation of said manually operable interface.

11. A method of operating a tag that includes circuitry having first and second operational modes, said circuitry consuming substantially less power in said second operational mode than in said first operational mode, said method comprising causing said circuitry to exit said second operational mode only in response to an act by a human.

12. A method according to claim 11,

including a device that is separate from said tag, that includes a manually operable interface, and that is releasably electrically coupled by a cable to said circuitry in said tag;

and

wherein said causing of said circuitry to exit said second operational mode is carried out in response to manual operation by a human of said manually operable interface.

13. A method according to claim 11,

including a device that is separate from said tag, that has a manually operable interface, and that is capable of wireless communication with said circuitry in said tag;

and

wherein said causing of said circuitry to exit said second operational mode is carried out in response to manual operation by a human of said manually operable interface.

14. An apparatus comprising a tag having circuitry that includes a portion capable of receiving wireless communications conforming to one of a cellular telephone network communication protocol, a satellite communication protocol, and a wireless computer network communication protocol, said circuitry responding to receipt by said portion of a predetermined wireless signal that conforms to said one of said protocols by carrying out one of:

a first action that includes causing the tag to enter an electronically secure state; and

a second action that includes causing the tag to exit said electronically secure state.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14,

wherein the predetermined wireless signal includes a container identification;

and

wherein said first action includes extracting the container identification from the received wireless signal, and saving the container identification.

16. An apparatus according to claim 14,

wherein said circuitry has first and second operational modes, said circuitry consuming substantially less power in said second operational mode than in said first operational mode;

and

wherein said first action includes causing said circuitry to exit said second operational mode.

17. An apparatus according to claim 14,

wherein said circuitry has first and second operational modes, said circuitry consuming substantially less power in said second operational mode than in said first operational mode;

and

wherein said second action includes causing said circuitry to enter said second operational mode.

18. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said wireless communications conform to said cellular telephone network communication protocol, said cellular telephone network communication protocol being the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) protocol.

19. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said wireless communications conform to said satellite communication protocol, said satellite communication protocol being a Satcom communication protocol.

20. A method of operating a tag having circuitry that includes a portion capable of receiving wireless communications conforming to one of a cellular telephone network communication protocol, a satellite communication protocol, and a wireless computer network communication protocol, said method comprising:

receiving in said portion of said circuitry a predetermined wireless signal conforming to said one of said protocols; and

responding to receipt of said predetermined wireless signal by carrying out one of;

a first action that includes causing the tag to enter an electronically secure state; and

a second action that includes causing the tag to exit said electronically secure state.

21. A method according to claim 20,

including configuring the predetermined wireless signal to include a container identification;

and

wherein said first action includes extracting the container identification from the received wireless signal, and saving the container identification.

22. A method according to claim 20,

wherein said circuitry has first and second operational modes, said circuitry consuming substantially less power in said second operational mode than in said first operational mode;

and

wherein said first action includes switching said circuitry from said second operational mode to said first operational mode.

23. A method according to claim 20,

wherein said circuitry has first and second operational modes, said circuitry consuming substantially less power in said second operational mode than in said first operational mode;

and

wherein said second action includes switching said circuitry from said first operational mode to said second operational mode.

24. A method according to claim 20, including configuring said wireless communications to conform to said cellular telephone network communication protocol, said cellular telephone network communication protocol being the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) protocol.

25. A method according to claim 20, including configuring said wireless communications to conform to said satellite communication protocol, said satellite communication protocol being a Satcom communication protocol.