Use of mutter mode in asset tracking for gathering data from cargo sensors
First Claim
1. A method of tracking and gathering data from cargo sensors comprising the steps of:
- affixing a tracking unit to each respective container of cargo to be tracked;
situating an environmental sensor in proximity to goods in at least some of the containers to which tracking units are affixed, each of the sensors transmitting an environmental condition sensed at periodic intervals;
monitoring, at each tracking unit for a first predetermined period of time, transmissions from a specific one of said environmental sensors situated in proximity to the goods in a specific container to which said each tracking unit is affixed;
logging, at said each tracking unit, times of reception of transmissions from said environmental sensors;
thereafter, monitoring, at said each tracking unit for a second predetermined period of time centered on logged times, transmissions from the specific one of said environmental sensors; and
recording, at said each tracking unit, data transmitted by the specific one of said environmental sensors.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The condition and/or integrity of goods is monitored while in transit using a local area network of tracked assets. Autonomous electronic sensors are situated in proximity to the cargo being shipped. These sensors communicate with an asset tracking unit affixed to the container for the goods via a mutter mode transceiver. The tracking unit has the ability to relay the cargo sensor data to the central station on demand, on exception, or on a predetermined schedule established by the central station. Communication between the cargo sensors and the tracking unit may be one-way (i.e., sensor to tracking unit) or two-way. Multiple sensors may communicate with each tracking unit.
-
Citations
12 Claims
-
1. A method of tracking and gathering data from cargo sensors comprising the steps of:
-
affixing a tracking unit to each respective container of cargo to be tracked; situating an environmental sensor in proximity to goods in at least some of the containers to which tracking units are affixed, each of the sensors transmitting an environmental condition sensed at periodic intervals; monitoring, at each tracking unit for a first predetermined period of time, transmissions from a specific one of said environmental sensors situated in proximity to the goods in a specific container to which said each tracking unit is affixed; logging, at said each tracking unit, times of reception of transmissions from said environmental sensors; thereafter, monitoring, at said each tracking unit for a second predetermined period of time centered on logged times, transmissions from the specific one of said environmental sensors; and recording, at said each tracking unit, data transmitted by the specific one of said environmental sensors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
Specification