Container monitoring system and method

• US 5,712,789 A
• Filed: 08/28/1995
• Issued: 01/27/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wireless Media Innovations LLC
• Original Assignee: K&T, Ltd.
• Inventors: Radican, Joseph E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elmore, Reba I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWN, THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US08/519,888
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 364/478.01, 364/478.03, 364/478.09, 364/478.08, 364/478.1, 364/478.13, 364/478.14, 364/478.15, 364/478.16, 364/478.17, 235/375, 235/383, 235/385, 395/228, 395/229
• US Class Current: 700/226
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials

Abstract

A container monitoring system and method tracks location and load status of shipping containers within a defined premises and generates container status reports for customers receiving containers, suppliers or shippers of goods, and container carriers. Carrier and container identifiers are used to track and monitor movements and status of each container from a point of departure to a final destination and return. A combined computer and telecommunications system is also disclosed for executing the tasks of the container monitoring system.

Claims

1. A container monitoring system for accumulating and storing information on shipping containers including container location and container load status, the system comprising:

a receiving area for receiving containers to be monitored by the system, said receiving area within a defined boundary within which containers are to be monitored by the system,

a container entry point at the boundary at which containers are identified by pre-existing identification codes which are recorded at the container entry point,

a switching vehicle for moving containers to and from a receiving area and to and from a facility within the boundary according to instructions received from the facility, and

means for recording information on locations and load status of containers within the defined boundary.

2. The container monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising a container monitoring control system for receiving, storing and reproducing carrier and container identification codes and container location data.

3. The container monitoring system of claim 2 further comprising a communications link between the container monitoring control system and a customer management information system whereby the customer management information system can receive container identification and location data from the container monitoring control system.

4. The container monitoring system of claim 2 further comprising a communications link between the container monitoring control system and a carrier management information system, whereby a carrier management information system can receive container identification and location data from the container monitoring control system.

5. The container monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the container monitoring control system and a data entry terminal connected to the container monitoring control system is located at the code identification and container entry point.

6. The container monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the receiving area is within the boundary.

7. The container monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the receiving area is outside the boundary.

8. The container monitoring system of claim 2 further comprising mobile telecommunications means associated with the switching vehicle whereby movements of containers by the switching vehicle are communicated to the container monitoring control system via the mobile telecommunications means.

9. A method for monitoring location and load status of shipping containers comprising the steps of:

identifying carriers and containers by identification codes at a point of entry to a facility,

recording identification codes of containers to be monitored,

moving a container from the point of entry to a receiving area and recording the location of the container within the receiving area,

moving a container from a receiving area via a switching vehicle to a final destination according to instructions received from the facility and recording the location of the final destination of the container,

moving the container from the final destination to a receiving area and recording the receiving area location of the container and the status of a load in the container.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of recording an empty load status of a container.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of reporting an empty load status of a container to a corer associated with an empty container.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of defining a boundary within which containers are monitored and identifying containers at a point of entry located at the defined boundary.

13. The method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of moving a container from a receiving area back to a final destination and back to a receiving area and recording all moves of the container between a receiving area and a final destination.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of communicating information on all movement of a container to and from receiving areas and final destinations from a container movement vehicle to a container monitor control system.

15. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of monitoring load status of a container at receiving areas and final destinations.

16. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of recording container information on container location and load status by entry of data into a container monitor control system.

17. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of verifying recorded container locations in receiving areas.

18. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of monitoring racks within containers.

19. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of generating reports which contain information recorded on monitored containers.