CONTAINER VERIFICATION THROUGH AN ELECTRICAL RECEPTACLE AND PLUG ASSOCIATED WITH A CONTAINER AND A TRANSPORT VEHICLE OF AN INTERMODAL FREIGHT TRANSPORT SYSTEM

• US 20150095255A1
• Filed: 12/08/2014
• Published: 04/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spireon Incorporated (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Spireon Incorporated (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Baade, Levi Marshall, Hall, Christopher, Wright, Jason, Yu, Jionghao, Anderson, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 9,779,379 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/333
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/16 Anti-theft; Abduction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking

Abstract

A method and system related to container identification through an electrical receptacle and plug associated with the container of an intermodal freight transport system is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method includes coupling an electrical power plug of a container and an electrical power receptacle of a transport vehicle. Also, the method includes activating a tracking device of the container through a switch and actuator coupling. Further, the method includes verifying an identity of the container upon coupling the electrical power plug to the electrical power receptacle through an identification tag of the container and an electronic reader. Furthermore, the method may include conserving battery power through deactivating the tracking device of the container when the electrical power plug is de-coupled to the electrical power receptacle. The method may also include delivering an alert message to a driver when an incorrect container is identified.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

detecting a cargo event within a container of a transport vehicle, using a cargo sensor;

determining if a predefined time interval has elapsed since a last cargo status determination;

determining a cargo status using the cargo sensor;

generating a cargo status data;

transmitting to an administrative server, through a network, the cargo status data through at least one of a tracking device of the container and a tracking device of a transport vehicle,

wherein the cargo event is at least one of a loading of a cargo and an unloading of the cargo.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the cargo event is detected through at least one of a vibration of the container, a motion within the container, a container door opening, the container door closing, and changes in light intensity observed by a light sensor.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the predefined time interval is dynamic, depending upon at least one previous cargo status data, such that the predefined time interval is shorter when the cargo status data is changing rapidly, and longer when the cargo status data is changing slowly.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the cargo sensor comprises an ultrasound device, and the cargo status is determined using ultrasound range finding.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a cargo status comprises:

capturing a photograph of an interior of the container;

comparing the photograph with a baseline photograph of the interior of the container;

determining the cargo status using differential imaging,

wherein the cargo sensor comprises the camera.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a cargo status comprises:

detecting fluctuations in the strength of a radio signal within the container;

correlating the fluctuations with previously observed fluctuations; and

determining a cargo status using the correlated fluctuations.