Changing the operating mode of an electronic device associated with a transport unit

• US 20140125452A1
• Filed: 01/15/2014
• Published: 05/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
• Original Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
• Inventors: Josefiak, Frank
• Granted Patent: US 9,268,312 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/4.34
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 9/00 Equipment for handling freight; Equipment for facilitating passenger embarkation or the like emergency equipment B64D17/00, B64D19/00, B64D25/00; structures integral with fuselage to facilitate loading, fuselage floors specially adapted for freight, steps mounted on and retractable within aircraft B64C; ground installations B64F
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2590/0083 Computer or electronic system, e.g. GPS systems
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/14 by air
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 1/01 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

It is inter alia disclosed an apparatus (1; 3) with a detecting means (2) for detecting whether a transport unit (4) to be transported by a vehicle is secured by at least one securing means (5; 7) against a movement in at least one direction relative to the vehicle, and with a means (10; 30) for changing an operating mode of an electronic device associated with the transport unit (4) depending upon a result of the detecting, or for outputting a signal for changing the operating mode depending on a result of the detecting. Moreover, a corresponding method (200; 300; 400), a corresponding computer program and an apparatus (1′) for receiving the output signal and for changing the operating mode on the basis of the received signal are disclosed.

Claims

1. Apparatus, comprising:

A detector configured to detect whether a transport unit to be transported by a vehicle is secured by at least one securing unit against a movement in at least one direction relative to the vehicle, and

an operating mode changing unit configured for one of changing an operating mode of an electronic device associated with the transport unit depending on a result of the detecting and outputting a signal for changing the operating mode depending on the result of the detecting,

wherein the change in the electronic device'"'"'s operating mode comprises at least one of deactivation and activation of at least one radio component of the electronic device;

wherein at least a part of the detector is configured to be arranged between the securing unit and at least a part of the transport unit, via which the securing unit secures the transport unit against movement in at least one direction relative to the vehicle; and

wherein at least the part of the detector that can be arranged between the securing unit and at least the part of the transport unit is configured in flexible form so that the part of the detector can be guided around the transport unit.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a first operating mode with radio activity is active as long as no securement of the transport unit is detected, and a second operating mode without radio activity is active while the securement of the transport unit by at least one securing unit is detected.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the part of the transport unit is one of a part of a base plate and a part of a profile near the bottom of the transport unit.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the securing unit overlaps the part of the transport unit at least partially when the transport unit is secured by the securing unit.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detector is configured to detect the securement of the transport unit by the securing unit on the basis of a contact that is formed between the securing unit and at least a part of the transport unit when the transport unit is secured by the securing unit.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detector is configured to detect the securement of the transport unit by the securing unit on the basis of a force that is exerted by the securing unit on the part of the detector arranged between the securing unit and the part of the transport unit when the transport unit is secured by the securing unit.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the force causes a change in one of an electric resistance, an electric capacity, an electric inductivity, an electric voltage, a magnetic field and a pressure in the part of the detector and wherein securement of the transport unit by the securing unit is detected based on this change.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least the part of the detector that can be arranged between the securing unit and the part of the transport unit is configured as one of a belt, cable and conduit.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one end of the part of the detector is fixedly connected to the apparatus and the other end of the part of the detector is detachably connectable to the apparatus.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the change in the electronic device'"'"'s operating mode comprises at least one of the following changes:

Switching the electronic device at least one of on and off;

at least one of interruption and restoration of a power supply to the electronic device;

at least one of transition to and exiting of a standby mode of the electronic device; and

at least one of transition to and exiting of a mode in which one of the following holds for the electronic device;

it transmits no information, and can transmit no information.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of the following holds for the apparatus:

it is a part of the electronic device, and it is detachably connectable to the electronic device.

12. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of the following holds for the apparatus:

it is a part of the transport unit, and it is detachably connectable to the transport unit.

13. Apparatus, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive the signal output by an apparatus according to claim 1 that comprises the operating mode changing unit configured for outputting a signal for changing the operating mode depending on the result of the detecting, and

a processor for changing the operating mode of the electronic device on the basis of the received signal.

14. Method comprising:

Detecting, with a detector, whether a transport unit to be transported by a vehicle is secured by at least one securing unit against a movement in at least one direction relative to the vehicle, and

one of changing an operating mode of an electronic device associated with the transport unit, depending on a result of the detecting and outputting a signal for changing the operating mode of the electronic device, depending on the result of the detecting,

wherein the change in the electronic device'"'"'s operating mode comprises at least one of deactivation and activation of at least one radio component of the electronic device;

wherein at least a part of the detector is configured to be arranged between the securing unit and at least a part of the transport unit, via which the securing unit secures the transport unit against movement in at least one direction relative to the vehicle; and

wherein at least the part of the detector that can be arranged between the securing unit and at least the part of the transport unit is configured in flexible form so that the part of the detector can be guided around the transport unit.

15. Method according to claim 14, wherein a first operating mode with radio activity is active as long as no securement of the transport unit is detected, and a second operating mode without radio activity is active while the securement of the transport unit by at least one securing unit is detected.

16. Method according to claim 14, wherein the securing unit overlaps the part of the transport unit at least partially when the transport unit is secured by the securing unit.

17. Method according to claim 14, wherein the detector is configured to detect the securement of the transport unit by the securing unit on the basis of a contact that is formed between the securing unit and at least a part of the transport unit when the transport unit is secured by the securing unit.

18. Method according to claim 14, wherein the detector is configured to detect the securement of the transport unit by the securing unit on the basis of a force that is exerted by the securing unit on the part of the detector arranged between the securing unit and the part of the transport unit when the transport unit is secured by the securing unit.

19. Method according to claim 18, wherein the force causes a change in one of an electric resistance, an electric capacity, an electric inductivity, an electric voltage, a magnetic field and a pressure in the part of the detector and wherein securement of the transport unit by the securing unit is detected based on this change.

20. A data storage medium apparatus storing a computer program comprising program instructions that cause a processor to at least one of execute and control the method according to claim 14 when the computer program is running on the processor.