Container tracking system

• US 6,483,434 B1
• Filed: 09/28/2000
• Issued: 11/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IFCO System Europe GmbH
• Original Assignee: IFCO System Europe GmbH
• Inventors: UmiKer, Hans
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US09/670,815
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/572.8, 340/568.1, 340/825.06, 340/10.1, 340/10.3, 340/10.32, 340/10.4, 340/10.51, 340/825.36, 340/5.92, 340/5.63
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/205 Means for the attachment of labels, cards, coupons or the like; cards or coupons for the other types of rigid or semi-rigid containers B65D25/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/80 Packaging reuse or recycling, e.g. of multilayer packaging bio-packaging Y02W90/10

Abstract

The container tracking system comprises a computer system for tracking a plurality of container or carriers. For the purpose of easily tracking any individual container or carrier, a transponder is disposed on the body of the container or carrier. The transponder can be inserted into the body of the carrier in a protected and safe manner. The transponder has a memory configured for transmitting and receiving electronic data, like identification codes, location codes etc. The memory of the transponder (first electronic level) exchanges data with read/write units (second electronic level). A plurality of such read/write units is located on a track or a trajectory of the containers, i.e. is disposed relatively close to a track of the transponder. The computer system of the container tracking system is completed by a processing unit disposed remote from the containers (third electronic level). The distant processing unit receives data from the read/write units thereby permitting a monitoring of all data memorized in the transponders.

Claims

1. A container tracking system comprising:

a trackable container or carrier including;

a housing body; and

a transponder disposed on the housing body, the transponder having a memory and being configured for transmitting and receiving data to and from the memory; and

a computer tracking system comprising;

a plurality of read/write units, each unit being configured for transmitting and receiving data to and from the memory of the transponder, the data concerning at least a location of the container corresponding to a location of said each read/write unit, and a processing unit disposed at a distance remote from the container and being configured for receiving the data from at least one of said read/write units and the transponder, the processing unit thereby permitting a monitoring of the data;

wherein the transponder includes a timer coupled to the memory therein for recording a time between two events, the timer being adapted to generate a value corresponding to the time elapsed and to transmit the sensed value to the memory, the data thereby including the value corresponding to the time elapsed, wherein the two events correspond to a starting and a stopping of the timer by two of the read/write units.

2. The container tracking system according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit is further configured for interrogating the transponder in a trajectory thereof between two read/write units.

3. The container tracking system according to claim 1, wherein the transponder includes a sensor coupled to the memory therein for sensing a variable pertinent to at least one of the containers or contents thereof, the sensor being adapted to generate a sensed value for the variable and to transmit the sensed value to the memory, the data thereby including the sensed value.

4. The container tracking system according to claim 3, wherein the variable is at least one of a temperature, a humidity level, a luminosity and a radiation level within the container.

5. The container tracking system according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the two events corresponds to indirect starting and/or an indirect stopping of the timer by said processing unit via a read/write unit.

6. The container tracking system according to claim 1, wherein the memory is further adapted to store data concerning at least one of an origin, destination, and departure time from the origin and arrival time at a destination of the container.

7. The container tracking system according to claim 1, wherein the remote processing unit is coupled to the Internet for transmitting the data thereto, the data thereby being available online.

8. The container tracking system according to claim 1, wherein the remote processing unit is coupled to a global position system (GPS) link.