METHOD AND DEVICES FOR TRACKING AND MONITORING CONTAINERS IN GLOBAL TRANSPORTATION
First Claim
1. A method for tracking and monitoring containers in a global supply chain based on a network system, which comprises a management center consisting of at least one server, multiple terminals accessible into said network through the Internet, and multiple readers respectively in communication with relevant associated terminals, said method comprising steps of:
- providing a container to be monitored with an electronic device configured with a unique identifier number;
inputting basic information of said container to be monitored into said electronic device and performing encryption through a reader at a departure point;
detecting automatically the status of said container by said electronic device during the transportation, to generate a status message responsive to the detected status and record into said electronic device in real time;
recording events information into said electronic device by readers of any inspection stations when said electronic device passing through the inspection stations;
decrypting and extracting information of said electronic device by a reader at a destination point;
characterized in thatuploading immediately any newly generated status message and recorded event information of said electronic device in real time to the management center through relevant associated readers and terminals in the whole monitoring process; and
retrieving and modifying information for a container in real time by a subscriber authorized to access said network system through a terminal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for tracking and managing containers in a global supply chain based on a network includes steps of providing a container with an electronic device, inputting basic information of said container into said electronic device and performing encryption at a departure point; detecting automatically status of said container during the transportation to generate a status message responsive to the detected status, record into said electronic device in real time and upload immediately to a management center; recording events information into said electronic device when the container passing through the inspection stations and upload to the management center immediately; and finally decrypting and extracting information of said electronic device at a destination point. An authorized subscriber may retrieve and modify basic information of a container at any time through a terminal. The invention also relates a reader and an electronic device for managing and tracking containers in the global supply chain.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for tracking and monitoring containers in a global supply chain based on a network system, which comprises a management center consisting of at least one server, multiple terminals accessible into said network through the Internet, and multiple readers respectively in communication with relevant associated terminals, said method comprising steps of:
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providing a container to be monitored with an electronic device configured with a unique identifier number; inputting basic information of said container to be monitored into said electronic device and performing encryption through a reader at a departure point; detecting automatically the status of said container by said electronic device during the transportation, to generate a status message responsive to the detected status and record into said electronic device in real time; recording events information into said electronic device by readers of any inspection stations when said electronic device passing through the inspection stations; decrypting and extracting information of said electronic device by a reader at a destination point;
characterized in thatuploading immediately any newly generated status message and recorded event information of said electronic device in real time to the management center through relevant associated readers and terminals in the whole monitoring process; and retrieving and modifying information for a container in real time by a subscriber authorized to access said network system through a terminal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An electronic device for tracking and monitoring a container in a global supply chain based on a network system, wherein said network system comprises a management center consisting of at least one server, multiple terminals which are accessible into said network through the Internet, and multiple readers respectively in communication with relevant associated terminals, and each container to be monitored being provided with an electronic device, said electronic device comprising a main control unit, various sensors, a memory, radio frequency transceiver, and a power supply device, wherein said main control unit includes:
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a status message generator, which is configured to immediately transmit a newly generated status message via the radio frequency transceiver, so as to allow uploading the current status of the electronic device onto the management center through the associated readers and terminals in real time; and an information management module, which is configured to modify the basic information of the container according to instructions made by a subscriber authorized to access said network system.
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15. A reader for tracking and managing a container in a global supply chain based on a network system, wherein said network system comprises a management center consisting of at least one server, multiple terminals which are accessible into said network through the Internet, and multiple readers respectively in communication with relevant associated terminals, and each container to be monitored being provided with an electronic device, said reader comprising a main control unit, a memory, a radio frequency transceiver, an interface in communication connection with the associated terminal, and a power supply device, wherein said main control unit includes:
a communication control module, which is configured to process a status message received from an electronic device and immediately upload the processed status message through the terminal onto the management center; and
send instructions for modifying the basic information of a designated container made by a subscriber authorized to access said network system to a corresponding electronic device of said container.
Specification