Identification and Association of Refrigerated Containers with Dispatch Orders

• US 20100257115A1
• Filed: 01/25/2010
• Published: 10/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Startrak Information Technologies LLC (ORBCOMM Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Startrak Information Technologies LLC (ORBCOMM Incorporated)
• Inventors: Slifkin, Timothy P., Karuppanan, Venkateswaran, Robinson, Thomas A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,849,723 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/332
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/003 for movable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0832 Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/26 at least one of which is mobile

Abstract

A database dispatches data to a wireless device on the particular source that powers a container during any segment of its journey.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

dispatching from a database information concerning a plurality of containers on one or more segments of a journey;

communicating from a plurality of power sources each energizing one of said containers, return information concerning a condition of said container back to said database on one or more segments of a journey.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein said power sources are each transient relative to said containers.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein said power sources are each transient relative to said containers, and said power sources each transmit the identity of the container to which the power source is connected.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein said step of communicating includes transmitting from a wireless device on each of said power sources an identification of the wireless device and the associated power source, and further transmitting from the wireless device data from the container to which the power source is connected.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein said container is a refrigerated container, and the step of communicating includes transmitting from a wireless device on each of said power sources operational data of said refrigerated container.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein the step of dispatching includes searching a plurality of shipment orders and matching a shipment order with a container id.

7. A method as in claim 1, wherein the step of dispatching includes responding to return information to terminate the shipment order at the end of a trip.

8. A method as in claim 1, wherein the step of dispatching includes responding to return information to terminate the shipment order at the end of a trip, and releasing the power source and he container to seek a new order.

9. A system, comprising:

a database;

a plurality of containers on one or more segments of a journey;

a plurality of power sources each associated with a container on one segment of a journey;

a wireless device on each of said power sources associated with information concerning the container and communicating with said database on one or more segments of a journey of the container.

10. A method comprising:

dispatching from a database information concerning a plurality of containers on one or more segments of a journey;

communicating from a plurality of power sources each energizing one of said containers, return information concerning a condition of said container back to said database on one or more segments of a journey;

tracking a shipment between Shipment Origin, Destination or Interchange locations (SODILs) and transmitting to a customer event and alarm signals.

11. A method as in claim 10, wherein said step of communicating includes the container number, the power source id, a shipment reference number, a gps location, and wherein said step of dispatching includes dispatching the event type, an alarm condition if any.