Locking Device, Method and System to Determine the Relative Position of an Edge-Lock to a Container or of a Group of Container Edge-Locks in Relation to Other Container Locs

• US 20100171597A1
• Filed: 06/11/2008
• Published: 07/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lox Container Technology AB
• Original Assignee: Loxysystem AB
• Inventors: Tryggö, Dag
• Granted Patent: US 8,228,186 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.400
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2590/0083 Computer or electronic system, e.g. GPS systems
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/0013 Twist lock
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5009 For portable articles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5031 Receptacle

Abstract

The invention relates to a method to determine the relative position of a container corner lock and/or a group of container corner locks in relation to other container corner locks. The method comprises the steps of: requesting information regarding identification from those locks (1) that are within a certain area; transferring said information to each lock (1) within said area; storing, in each lock (1) within said area, said requested information from other locks within the area; determining, based on said stored information, the relative position of the lock and/or of the group of locks. The invention also relates to a system and a container corner lock.

Claims

1-16. -16. (canceled)

17. A method of determining a relative position of a container corner lock or of a group of container corner locks in relation to other container corner locks, all container corner locks locking the same container having been allocated an identification and belonging to the same lock group, comprising:

requesting information regarding identification from those locks that are within a certain area;

transferring requested information to each lock within the area;

storing, in each lock within the area, requested information from other locks within the area; and

determining, based on the stored information, the relative position of the lock or group of locks.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the requesting takes place from the respective lock.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising requesting identification information from at least one communication unit within the area, and storing the requested information in each lock.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising detecting and storing information regarding a signal strength or a quality by which the information was received.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the relative position is determined based on only information the signal strength of which exceeds a certain value.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising detecting and storing information regarding at least one of which time instant the information was transferred, which time instant the information was received, and how long time a transfer took.

23. The method of claim 17, further comprising transferring and storing information regarding a size of the container the respective lock locks.

24. A system of determining a relative position of a container corner lock or of a group of container corner locks in relation to other container corner locks, comprising:

a plurality of locks arranged to be connected to a container and to work as connecting elements between two containers, wherein each lock within a certain area includes a device configured for requesting information regarding identification from other locks that are within the area;

a device configured for transferring requested information to other locks within the area;

a memory for storing the requested information from other locks within the area; and

a device configured to determine, based on stored information, the relative position of the lock or of the group of locks.

25. The system of claim 24, further comprising a memory configured to store information regarding at which time instant requested information was received.

26. The system of claim 24, further comprising a memory configured to store information regarding at least one of which time instant requested information was transferred, which time instant requested information was received, and how long time an information transfer took.

27. The system of claim 24, further comprising a memory configured to store information regarding a size of the container the respective lock locks.

28. A container corner lock arranged to be connected to a container and to work as a connecting element between two containers, comprising:

a device configured for requesting identification information from a lock that is within a certain area;

a device configured for transferring identification information to another lock that is within the area; and

a memory configured for storing requested information from another lock within the area.

29. The container corner lock of claim 28, further comprising a device configured for determining, based on requested information, a relative position of the lock or of a group of locks.

30. The container corner lock of claim 28, further comprising a device configured for detecting and storing information regarding at least one of a signal strength and a quality by which requested information was received.

31. The container corner lock of claim 28, further comprising a device configured for detecting and storing information regarding at least one of which time instant information was transferred, which time instant information was received, and how long information transfer took.

32. The container corner lock of claim 28, further comprising a device configured for transferring and storing information regarding a size of the container the respective lock locks.