INTERNAL CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20200132352A1
• Filed: 10/31/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: DeLuca, Lisa Seacat, Anders, Kelley, Fox, Jeremy R., Greenberger, Jeremy A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,935,291 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00771 the input being a vehicle position or surrounding, e.g. GPS-based position or tunnel
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/3226 Self-contained devices, i.e. including own drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/3232 particularly adapted for load transporting vehicles B60H1/3226 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/20 Refrigerated goods vehicles air treatment of goods space B60H; air-conditioning means for freight cars, isothermic wagons B61D27/0027; superstructures for refrigerated goods vehicles B62D33/048
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/005 of safety devices F25B49/02 and F25B49/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold

Abstract

A method and system for enabling climate control is provided. The method includes monitoring a refrigerated section of a vehicle. The refrigerated section includes a first cargo container comprising a first cargo type and first sensors describing the first cargo type. A cooling apparatus of the vehicle is currently maintaining a first specified temperature range within the refrigerated section. Second integrated cargo sensors describing a second cargo type of a second cargo container being placed within the refrigerated section of the vehicle are detected and associated data is analyzed. A second specified temperature range for storing the second cargo type is determined and compared to the first specified temperature range. An associated difference is compared to a temperature range threshold value and a response action associated with the first cargo container and the second cargo container is executed.

Claims

1. An internal climate control method comprising:

continuously monitoring, by a processor of a controller hardware device via a plurality of detection sensors of a vehicle, a refrigerated section of said vehicle, wherein said refrigerated section of said vehicle comprises a first cargo container comprising a first cargo type and first integrated cargo sensors describing said first cargo type, and wherein a cooling apparatus of said vehicle is currently maintaining a first specified temperature range within said refrigerated section of said vehicle based on detecting said first integrated cargo sensors;

detecting in response to said continuously monitoring, by said processor via said plurality of detection sensors, second integrated cargo sensors describing a second cargo type of a second cargo container being placed within said refrigerated section of said vehicle;

analyzing, by said processor, data retrieved via said second integrated cargo sensors;

determining, by said processor based on results of said analyzing, a second specified temperature range for storing said second cargo type;

comparing, by said processor, said first specified temperature range to said second specified temperature range;

comparing, by said processor, a difference between said first specified temperature range and said second specified temperature range to a temperature range threshold value;

determining, by said processor, that said difference exceeds said temperature range threshold value; and

activating, by said processor in response to said determining that said difference exceeds said temperature range threshold value, a response action associated with said first cargo container and said second cargo container.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said response action comprises:

generating a warning indicating said that said difference exceeds said temperature range threshold value; and

presenting said alarm to an individual associated with said vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said warning further indicates a removal action for removing said first cargo container or said second cargo container from said vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said first cargo type and said second cargo type each comprise perishable items, and wherein said response action comprises:

determining a third specified temperature range configured for maintaining said first cargo type and said second cargo type; and

adjusting a temperature of a refrigeration apparatus of said vehicle such that said third specified temperature range is maintained within said refrigerated section of said vehicle.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said perishable items comprise items selected from the group consisting of food associated items and medical associated supplies.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said response action comprises:

determining a second specified temperature range configured for maintaining an energy usage optimization plan with respect to a refrigeration apparatus of said vehicle maintaining said first cargo type and said second cargo type; and

automatically controlling said refrigeration apparatus of said vehicle such that said second specified temperature range is maintained within said refrigerated section of said vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting in response to said continuously monitoring, by said processor via said plurality of detection sensors, third integrated cargo sensors describing a third cargo type of a third cargo container being placed within said refrigerated section of said vehicle;

analyzing, by said processor, a signal broadcast via said third integrated cargo sensors;

determining, by said processor based on results of said analyzing, a third specified temperature range for storing said third cargo type;

comparing, by said processor, said first specified temperature range to said second specified temperature range and said third temperature range;

comparing, by said processor, differences between said first specified temperature range, said second specified temperature range, and said third temperature range to an additional temperature range threshold value;

determining, by said processor, that at least one of said differences exceed said additional temperature range threshold value; and

activating, by said processor in response to said determining that said differences exceed said additional temperature range threshold value, an additional response action associated with said first cargo container, said second cargo container, and said third cargo container.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting in response to said continuously monitoring, by said processor via said plurality of detection sensors, third integrated cargo sensors describing a third cargo type of a third cargo container being placed within said refrigerated section of said vehicle;

analyzing, by said processor, data retrieved via said third integrated cargo sensors;

determining, by said processor based on results of said analyzing, a fourth specified temperature range for storing and maintaining said third cargo type;

adjusting, by said processor, a first temperature associated with a first zone of a refrigeration apparatus of said vehicle such that said second specified temperature range is maintained within said first zone of said refrigerated section of said vehicle, wherein said first cargo container and said second cargo container are both located within said first zone; and

adjusting, by said processor, a second temperature associated with a second zone of said refrigeration apparatus such that said third specified temperature range is maintained within said second zone, wherein said third container is located within said second zone.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said first cargo type and said second cargo type each comprise perishable items, and wherein said method further comprises:

before loading said first cargo container and said second cargo container in said refrigerated section of said vehicle, adjusting, by said processor, a temperature of a refrigeration apparatus of said vehicle such that said second specified temperature range is maintained within said refrigerated section of said vehicle; and

after determining that said second specified temperature range has been detected for a specified amount of time, issuing, by said processor, an alert indicating that said second cargo container being may be placed within said refrigerated section of said vehicle.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing at least one support service for at least one of creating, integrating, hosting, maintaining, and deploying computer-readable code in the computing system, said code being executed by the computer processor to implement;

said continuously monitoring, said detecting, said analyzing, said determining said second specified temperature range, said comparing said first specified temperature range, said comparing said difference, said determining that said difference exceeds said temperature range threshold value; and

said activating.

11. A computer program product, comprising a computer readable hardware storage device storing a computer readable program code, said computer readable program code comprising an algorithm that when executed by a computer processor of a controller hardware device implements an internal climate control, said method comprising:

continuously monitoring, by said processor via a plurality of detection sensors of a vehicle, a refrigerated section of said vehicle, wherein said refrigerated section of said vehicle comprises a first cargo container comprising a first cargo type and first integrated cargo sensors describing said first cargo type, and wherein a cooling apparatus of said vehicle is currently maintaining a first specified temperature range within said refrigerated section of said vehicle based on detecting said first integrated cargo sensors;

detecting in response to said continuously monitoring, by said processor via said plurality of detection sensors, second integrated cargo sensors describing a second cargo type of a second cargo container being placed within said refrigerated section of said vehicle;

analyzing, by said processor, data retrieved via said second integrated cargo sensors;

determining, by said processor based on results of said analyzing, a second specified temperature range for storing said second cargo type;

comparing, by said processor, said first specified temperature range to said second specified temperature range;

comparing, by said processor, a difference between said first specified temperature range and said second specified temperature range to a temperature range threshold value;

determining, by said processor, that said difference exceeds said temperature range threshold value; and

activating, by said processor in response to said determining that said difference exceeds said temperature range threshold value, a response action associated with said first cargo container and said second cargo container.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein said response action comprises:

generating a warning indicating said that said difference exceeds said temperature range threshold value; and

presenting said alarm to an individual associated with said vehicle.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein said warning further indicates a removal action for removing said first cargo container or said second cargo container from said vehicle.

14. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein said first cargo type and said second cargo type each comprise perishable items, and wherein said response action comprises:

determining a third specified temperature range configured for maintaining said first cargo type and said second cargo type; and

adjusting a temperature of a refrigeration apparatus of said vehicle such that said third specified temperature range is maintained within said refrigerated section of said vehicle.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein said perishable items comprise items selected from the group consisting of food associated items and medical associated supplies.

16. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein said response action comprises:

determining a second specified temperature range configured for maintaining an energy usage optimization plan with respect to a refrigeration apparatus of said vehicle maintaining said first cargo type and said second cargo type; and

automatically controlling said refrigeration apparatus of said vehicle such that said second specified temperature range is maintained within said refrigerated section of said vehicle.

17. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein said method further comprises:

detecting in response to said continuously monitoring, by said processor via said plurality of detection sensors, third integrated cargo sensors describing a third cargo type of a third cargo container being placed within said refrigerated section of said vehicle;

analyzing, by said processor, a signal broadcast via said third integrated cargo sensors;

determining, by said processor based on results of said analyzing, a third specified temperature range for storing said third cargo type;

comparing, by said processor, said first specified temperature range to said second specified temperature range and said third temperature range;

comparing, by said processor, differences between said first specified temperature range, said second specified temperature range, and said third temperature range to an additional temperature range threshold value;

determining, by said processor, that at least one of said differences exceed said additional temperature range threshold value; and

activating, by said processor in response to said determining that said differences exceed said additional temperature range threshold value, an additional response action associated with said first cargo container, said second cargo container, and said third cargo container.

18. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein said method further comprises:

detecting in response to said continuously monitoring, by said processor via said plurality of detection sensors, third integrated cargo sensors describing a third cargo type of a third cargo container being placed within said refrigerated section of said vehicle;

analyzing, by said processor, data retrieved via said third integrated cargo sensors;

determining, by said processor based on results of said analyzing, a fourth specified temperature range for storing and maintaining said third cargo type;

adjusting, by said processor, a first temperature associated with a first zone of a refrigeration apparatus of said vehicle such that said second specified temperature range is maintained within said first zone of said refrigerated section of said vehicle, wherein said first cargo container and said second cargo container are both located within said first zone; and

adjusting, by said processor, a second temperature associated with a second zone of said refrigeration apparatus such that said third specified temperature range is maintained within said second zone, wherein said third container is located within said second zone.

19. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein said first cargo type and said second cargo type each comprise perishable items, and wherein said method further comprises:

before loading said first cargo container and said second cargo container in said refrigerated section of said vehicle, adjusting, by said processor, a temperature of a refrigeration apparatus of said vehicle such that said second specified temperature range is maintained within said refrigerated section of said vehicle; and

after determining that said second specified temperature range has been detected for a specified amount of time, issuing, by said processor, an alert indicating that said second cargo container being may be placed within said refrigerated section of said vehicle.

20. A controller hardware device comprising a computer processor coupled to a computer-readable memory unit, said memory unit comprising instructions that when executed by the computer processor implements an internal climate control method comprising:

continuously monitoring, by said processor via a plurality of detection sensors of a vehicle, a refrigerated section of said vehicle, wherein said refrigerated section of said vehicle comprises a first cargo container comprising a first cargo type and first integrated cargo sensors describing said first cargo type, and wherein a cooling apparatus of said vehicle is currently maintaining a first specified temperature range within said refrigerated section of said vehicle based on detecting said first integrated cargo sensors;

detecting in response to said continuously monitoring, by said processor via said plurality of detection sensors, second integrated cargo sensors describing a second cargo type of a second cargo container being placed within said refrigerated section of said vehicle;

analyzing, by said processor, data retrieved via said second integrated cargo sensors;

determining, by said processor based on results of said analyzing, a second specified temperature range for storing said second cargo type;

comparing, by said processor, said first specified temperature range to said second specified temperature range;

comparing, by said processor, a difference between said first specified temperature range and said second specified temperature range to a temperature range threshold value;

determining, by said processor, that said difference exceeds said temperature range threshold value; and

activating, by said processor in response to said determining that said difference exceeds said temperature range threshold value, a response action associated with said first cargo container and said second cargo container.