Apparatus And Method For Wireless Monitoring

• US 20090237258A1
• Filed: 06/03/2008
• Published: 09/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark-It Services
• Original Assignee: Mark-It Services
• Inventors: Ferrall, Hart, Heck, Mark, Mansuri, Parvez, Maguire, Sean
• Granted Patent: US 8,334,781 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/585
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A method of collecting data from (and sending instructions and data to) a reefer is provided, the method includes the steps of connecting a monitoring device on a reefer at an existing connection port for collecting (and delivering) data related to the reefer and wirelessly transmitting the data. A software management system for collecting and monitoring data of a reefer is also provided, the software management system has a monitoring device for obtaining data from a reefer at an connection port of the reefer and wirelessly transmitting the data, and a software system for receiving the data and monitoring and controlling the status of the reefer based on the data received.

Claims

1. A method of collecting data from a reefer, the method comprising:

connecting a monitoring device on a reefer at a data connection port;

collecting data related to the reefer; and

wirelessly transmitting the data.

2. The method of collecting data from a reefer of claim 1, further comprising:

providing two-way communications to reefer machinery.

3. The method of collecting data from a reefer of claim 2, further comprising:

sending control instructions to the reefer.

4. The method of collecting data from a reefer of claim 1, further comprising:

disconnecting the monitoring device.

5. The method of collecting data from a reefer of claim 1, wherein the monitoring device is a radio frequency extraction device.

6. The method of collecting data from a reefer of claim 1, wherein the device uses a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

7. The method of collecting data from a reefer of claim 1, further comprising:

mounting the device on a reefer frame.

8. The method of collecting data from a reefer of claim 5, wherein the device is detachable.

9. The method of collecting data from a reefer of claim 1, wherein the data is wirelessly transmitted to a software system.

10. The method of collecting data from a reefer of claim 1, wherein the device has an internal rechargeable battery.

11. The method of collecting data from a reefer of claim 1, further comprising:

alerting a user if a battery level of the device is low.

12. A device for collecting data from a reefer, the device comprising:

a monitoring device for obtaining data from a reefer and wirelessly transmitting the data; and

a connector connected to the monitoring device at one end and connected to a connection port of the reefer at the other end.

13. The device for collecting data from a reefer of claim 12, the device further comprising:

a magnet for attachment of the device to a reefer frame.

14. The device for collecting data from a reefer of claim 12, wherein the monitoring device is a radio frequency extraction device.

15. The device for collecting data from a reefer of claim 12, wherein the device uses a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

16. The device for collecting data from a reefer of claim 12, wherein the device has an internal rechargeable battery.

17. A software management system for collecting and monitoring data of a reefer, the software management system comprising:

a monitoring device for obtaining data from a reefer at a data connection port of the reefer and wirelessly transmitting the data; and

a software system for receiving the data and monitoring the status of the reefer based on the data received.

18. The software management system for collecting and monitoring data of a reefer of claim 17, the software management system further comprising:

a server for storing the data received by the software system.

19. The software management system for collecting and monitoring data of a reefer of claim 17, the software management system further comprising:

a user interface for viewing the reefer and additional reefers located in a facility/vessel.

20. The software management system for collecting and monitoring data of a reefer of claim 17, wherein the software system provides an alert to a user if the data of the reefer is above/below a predetermined threshold.

21. The software management system for collecting and monitoring data of a reefer of claim 17, wherein the monitoring device is a radio frequency extraction device.

22. The software management system for collecting and monitoring data of a reefer of claim 17, wherein the device has an internal rechargeable battery.