SYSTEM, METHOD, APPARATUS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR MONITORING THE TRANSFER OF CARGO TO AND FROM A TRANSPORTER

• US 20110163159A1
• Filed: 03/15/2011
• Published: 07/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: ASP Technology Group Incorporated
• Inventors: Thomas, Patrick, Scheppmann, Leroy E. II, Alvarez, John Charles
• Granted Patent: US 8,181,868 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/384
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 13/46 Position indicators for suspended loads or for crane elements
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 13/48 Automatic control of crane drives for producing a single or repeated working cycle; Programme control
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for monitoring the transfer of cargo, such as a shipping container, to and from a transporter, such as a truck. Identification codes are provided on the cargo and the transporter to aid in the identification of the cargo and the transporter. One or more identification code receiving devices, such as a camera, may be associated with a cargo moving apparatus, such as a crane, and configured to automatically capture the transporter identification code and the cargo identification code as the cargo is being transferred to or from the transporter. The transporter identification code and the cargo identification code can be associated with each other along with other information about the transfer in order to monitor the transfer. In this regard, identification information may be communicated to a shipping terminal'"'"'s operating system to provide real-time information about one or more transfers occurring within a shipping terminal.

Claims

1. A system for identifying a transporter and cargo during a loading or unloading operation, the system comprising:

a transporter identification component configured to receive a transporter identification code from the transporter during the loading or unloading operation and determine transporter identification information therefrom, wherein the transporter identification component is configured to capture a machine-readable representation of the transporter identification code; and

a cargo identification component configured to receive a cargo identification code from the cargo during the loading or unloading operation and determine cargo identification information therefrom, wherein the cargo identification component is configured to capture a machine-readable representation of the cargo identification code.